Banana

During our last trip, we spent one night at Banana Inn Hotel (Bandung, West Java, Indonesia). The hotel located at strategic place, especially if you plan to shop at factory outlets nearby. Though its name is Banana, I don’t see yellow stuff in this hotel’s interior. We complained nothing as we’re satisfied enough with the whole service. 

Here are yellow stuff that I saw in the room:

MellowYellow 

How to Improve Your Home Interior to Maximize Your Property Investment

With so many properties for sale or for rent on the market, the task of making your investment unique can be tricky.  There is no doubt that a well-presented home is surely going to attract many potential buyers or future tenants. So how do you make sure that your property is decorated and furnished in a way that will win over your potential future tenants?   Before you start rushing to the next furniture wholesaler, here are a few things you may want to consider while making your choices.

Do some research and find out what is popular with tenants.  Although you might be tempted to choose something that you like, this may not appeal to your potential buyer or tenant.  Look at magazines, find out current décor trends and see what is practical.  For example, silk paint is preferred in rented property, as it is easy to maintain and clean, as opposed to wallpapers.  For many years, magnolia was the preferred choice of colour for many properties, but if you have a very large room, you could get away with a darker colour to make the place feel cosier. Remember that bathrooms are preferred white, and if you are going to use paint, make sure it is mould and water resistant.

Consider the flooring carefully.  Light-coloured carpets can make a room lighter and bigger, but they are difficult to keep clean, and the cost of deep cleaning carpeted rooms can be quite high for both you and the tenants.  Wooden floors are great in halls, reception rooms and bedrooms; vinyl or tiles are best in the kitchen and bathrooms areas.  You may want to enquire at your local property management Connecticut about what other landlords opt for if you are planning to rent out your property.

A well-lit property is always more appealing.  Make sure that the type of curtains you choose doesn’t block too much light from your windows.  In some areas, it may be that all you need is a blind which, when rolled up, maximises the amount of light that comes into the room.  Internal glass panel doors or glass stair panels are a great way to let light flow through your house.  Mirrors placed on the opposite side of a window can add more light into a room while adding an attractive feature to an otherwise plain wall.

If you are not sure about furnishing or partly furnishing your property, ask your local property management Connecticut about their tenant’s profile.  If they are students, consider providing desk and storage space.  But if they are professionals, providing a cooker, washing machine and a fridge freezer will attract more tenants and even a higher rent.  Bear in mind that having electrical appliances will incur regular yearly checks to make sure that they comply with the appropriate standards and legal requirements.

Don’t forget the exterior of your property.  Make sure that all gardens, back and front patios are well maintained, and that all wall façades are clean and newly painted.  Add security devices to your property such as lockable gates, motion-sensor lighting and good-quality fencing.  If your house is regularly checked, maintained and appropriately decorated, then it will always attract tenants, and retain them for longer, too.

Flora Andrino is a UK based writer who covers topics such architecture, construction and home improvements.  She writes on a freelance basis for major online firms, often writing about topics like property management Connecticut.

The Trend of Building Custom Homes Lead in New Home Construction Trends in Florida

The sunny state of Florida has always been a favorite destination for settling down and Home building. This is due to the rising value of real estate in this part of the country, the availability of wide open green spaces, as well as excellent amenities, including a first rate school system. A lot of the new Construction that has taken place in the area has been following modern and futuristic trends. In keeping with a growing national trend of green home Construction, quite a bit of new Construction activity in the state is along those lines. To facilitate this, the Florida Green Building Coalition administers an FGBC designation. Initiatives like this help in the process of documenting green homes.

Another huge trend is the preference for Custom homes. In planning these homes, stress is laid on having an intelligent and innovative approach to Home building. A few salient features of what would constitute a custom built home are given below-

A fully custom home would be built using a brand new design, and there would be no element of referring to what is called a portfolio home.

Close coordination between the owner of the house and the designer about the design of the custom home.

Conforming to new-age building templates like energy efficiency.

Like in the other parts of the US, a lot of new age Construction techniques and materials are increasingly being used in the state of Florida.  A few examples, out of the many in different stages of implementation in new Property development are:

·         Using LED and even newer and more efficient lighting technology.

·         Use of robots in the building materials manufacturing process.

·         Use of fiber reinforced polymer composites

·         Use of solar paint.

The state of the home Construction industry has always been seen as the barometer of the health of an economy. However from an environmental point of view, the industry was always viewed with a lot of suspicion. Now, new age building materials and techniques, as well as revolutionary changes in house designing has changed all that. The housing industry is now increasingly acting as a harbinger of better things to come, with its eager acceptance and indeed deployment of technology, from the frontiers of science. This is as true of Florida, as any other state.

The growing trend of Custom homes ensures that there are no standard- size solutions imposed on a large mass of people. Active engagements between the builder, designer and home owner augurs well for everyone with better and optimal implementation of resources. So the perception that custom houses are more expensive to build, is not at all correct. There are a lot of top notch builders and designers whom you can consult on this. They will show you how to save thousands on account of reduced energy costs. Also the better and sturdier Construction designs increase the longevity of the house.

What to Consider when Planning the Perfect Bathroom

Planning the perfect bathroom isn't always easy, after all it is one of the most important rooms in the house, but get it right and a well designed bathroom can please all the family and even add value to your house.

Planning
Whether you are redesigning a current bathroom or putting together a completely new room from scratch, it helps to first of all think about the size of the space you have available and how it is going to be used in the future. For example, an en-suite bathroom might not need to be as practical as a well-used family bathroom, but it also may not be big enough to house both a shower and a bath. Smaller bathrooms need to be more economical with fittings and perhaps use colour or lighting to create the idea of more space. If you are lucky enough to have a larger room you may not be so limited and could consider two sinks or a separate bath and shower unit, but when it comes to family bathrooms, you need to ask yourself what the important factors are, such as, will you be bathing young kids? Will you need warm, non-slip flooring that can cope with the amount of use a family bathroom will get?

Don't Forget The Extras!

There is no doubt you will have an idea of which shower, sink or toilet you want, but don't forget to consider other bathroom furniture as well, in particular, your storage options. Nothing will make a bathroom feel smaller than lots of clutter lying about, so make sure you have planned in enough cabinets and cupboards to store everything you need to. If you are short on space, there is a wide selection of furniture available these days that is designed to suit smaller rooms, taking advantage of space that may otherwise be wasted. Also, extra fittings such as vanity cabinets and mirrors can work extremely well at making a small room appear larger.

Get Creative

With all the basics covered, knowing which bathroom pieces you want and where they will sit, it is time to think about the style and design you want. Modern lines are clean and elegant, but remember you need to compliment furniture with the right flooring and fittings to make sure the overall look fits together. It is also at this stage that you can have a little fun adding colourful touches with towels, decorations and even health and beauty products that have stylish packaging are worth putting on display. Consider how lighting might play a part in the finished look of the room, with a number of up lighters, spotlights and even under floor lighting now available for bathrooms.

AUTHOR BIO

Anna Mathews is an experienced interior designer who specialises in creating the perfect bathroom spaces for her clients. She writes regularly on designing bathrooms and choosing the right bathroom furniture for a range of interior design and lifestyle websites and blogs.

The Warning Sign

 This sign was captured on the Ciwidey White Crater (Bandung, West Java Province, Indonesia).  Visitors aren't allowed to step on the mud crater.

The Weekend in Black and White