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Summer Home Rentals

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Written by Administrator | 10 August 2011

Megan Gates is an active blogger and handles communications on behalf of Elliman.com. She provides written work to the blogosphere pertaining to New York Luxury Real Estate, Long Island Rentals, and the latest in architecture, design and fashion. Follow her on Twitter @ MEGatesDesign.

Even with the end of July in sight, there is still plenty of summer left for people to enjoy a vacation getaway. Renting a summer home is a great way to get out of town, live like a local and gather with a bunch of friends and family. Whether you own a property near the ocean, a lake, or a destination city, what sort of summer home are people looking to rent?

Summer homes are meant for people to enjoy time together. Having a house with an open concept, especially in areas like the living and dining room, are beneficial for achieving that goal. The negative aspect for having a house that is too open is that people also crave privacy, especially if they are sharing the space with a lot of other people. There lies the benefit of having more closed off rooms, privacy. The negative side of a more closed concept can make a property feel smaller than it is.

When it comes to functionality, no one wants to go to a summer home & fight over bathroom time like they do at home. Renters want something different than what they’re used to at home and usually more luxurious. Having a property with a lot of bedrooms makes a great vacation home to rent because people tend to vacation with friends and family. The housing trend for this year calls for bigger, more luxurious bathrooms. Having a lot of bathrooms or adding one may not be always be an option in a rental property. However, giving whatever bathrooms are available a face lift to give them a spa feel would be a must have for renters.

A hot trend of new homes is outdoor living space. This doesn't include your typical space of plastic patio furniture and pink flamingos in the garden. People want outdoor kitchens, living rooms and garden rooms. The outdoor space can now be created to be an extensive of your property's square footage instead of a separate area. In terms of flow, keep the outdoor kitchen close to the indoor kitchen.

When it comes to interior design, work with what you have. If you own a home on a beach, play up the beach theme by using inspiration but all the water and sand elements around you. If you have a cabin on a lake, use the natural elements and colors around you for design inspiration. Remember that renters are looking for luxury when they vacation so trying to incorporate a lavish feel into the rooms is a benefit.

With these design tips, your property will become as hot as the summer heat and rented just as quickly. Share any other summer home tips below!

Modern Interior Design Ideas

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Written by Administrator | 11 August 2008

There's a lot to be said for modern interior designs and most people have already said it! The descriptions for these designs can range from, soulless to spacey to clinically pristine. Not everyone thinks this way of course, that's just the school of thought which believes that black on black, or chrome and white color schemes are the devil's answer to all things interior design.

I have to agree on the fact that the white and chrome color scheme does leave a lot to be desired but there are other, different modern interior designs which can charm quite a few people. For instance some of the modern interior designs have achieved a unique balance between the old and the new, and try to encompass the best of both worlds.

Sometimes they might fall flat on their faces in their efforts to achieve this look, but more often than not they succeed and the outcome is very elegant and glamorous indeed. Just the other day I saw the perfect example of what I've been talking about.

Instead of using chrome as if it were about to go out of fashion, this interior designer had only incorporated it in a few key places, thus ensuring that the person entering the room didn't get an eyeful of chrome first thing. And along with this, wooden butcher's blocks and granite counters had been complimented with wooden flooring and modern appliances.

The whole look of this kitchen came together beautifully and pleased the eye, and this was, inspite of the deep eye-catching green color that one wall was painted in. It's this type of modern interior designs that gives hope to the future of interior design, and makes you believe that the old school style of interior designs won't be left completely in the dust when the time comes for it die a natural death.

However this passing away of the old and tried does not have be a sad occasion. This is because the new interior designer of the future will someday look through the pages of history and maybe bring a few of the trends from our times into the future.

Everything has its time and everything must pave way to the new and untried while the old style fades into the background and becomes a classic look. Just think about it, would you have the old Regency style interior decor in your homes now? So modern interior designs will take over the world sooner or later and we can only sit back and hope that we have changed sufficiently to admire these designs.


Kevin Andersen seeks to provide Home Interior Design Ideas

Building A Family Legacy Thru Interior Design

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Written by Administrator | 11 August 2008

After 40 plus years as a furniture restorer, it still warms my heart when a client brings in an old item for review, wondering if it might be possible to do something with it. There was a time long ago when if the item presented was not really worth the time, I would recommend against the restoration. As I have grown a little older I have begun to realize, there is a kind of value that defies appraisal.

The furnishings and other artifacts we have, and pass along to our kids and grandkids are more about preserving a family tradition and carrying on a pride in our family and loved ones than just a place to sit.
As I slow down and really listen to what my clients are saying, it starts to become more and more clear, It isn't really about the chair or end table or whatever on the surface it seems to be. The little thing they brought along for me to see. The thing they are trying to grab onto is really more a legacy than any thing else. It's a way to preserve what seems good about the past, and to bring that forth in their home today.

Maybe that thing lives inside the chair, where as a kid they remember Grandpa sitting on the front porch, smoking his pipe and telling stories of how it was when his daddy raised him. It's a reminder of stories from a time before people had electricity in the house, and chilly visits to the outhouse on a cold November night.

For example, not long ago, a client of ours named Barbara stopped by to drop off a family piece. My associate commented about a rocking chair, it was laying just inside the door of our shop in pieces where barb left it just a moment before, I think something like "why in the world, would anybody spend money on that?" At face value, it's a valid question. The chair wasn't that good. The cost of restoration probably was every bit or more what it would cost to replace the rocker, but there was more to it than that, he had totally, missed the point as so many do. The rocker belonged to Barbara's Mother whom had used it to rock barb and her little brother when she herself, was a young mother, it was a gift to her from her mom and in turn Barbs Mom had given to her just before passing away. I'm pretty sure that Barb had a lot of other chairs, and I'm sure she could have gone out and bought one just as nice for the money she was spending for the restoration, but knowing what we now know, that's not the point is it?

As time goes on, my hair gets thinner, and my belly gets thicker, and I see more and more, the importance of leaving a legacy, as individuals, families and even as a country. And the stuff we have in and around our homes, while it is so true that we can't take it with us, what we leave behind helps us to tell a story. The story of what we hold dear, the values we ascribe to and the example we set for future generations to model.

Christmas dinner on Grandma's dining set will always taste better, and a book enjoyed in front of a fireplace is more intriguing if you are seated in mom's rocking chair.
So, when taking inventory and planning what to do with potential heirlooms when they come your way think twice. Remember, it's not only about cost benefit analysis and replacement cost.
When you decide to keep that rocker, or table or dining set, keep this in mind, these things are heavy laden vehicles, vehicles that transport fond memories, important values and sometimes several lifetimes worth of identity. I believe, that if you plan your interior design projects with these thoughts in mind, you will develop a real beautiful and warm home, a back drop for all the things you hold dear, and an opportunity to teach the next generation what is good and true and praiseworthy in life.


John VerHines is a seasoned restorer and president of Gramco. With 40+ years experience in the craft of furniture restoration.  To learn more visit http://www.GramcoFurnitureRestoration.com Copyright 2006 Gramco Furniture

How-To Get Started in Interior Design

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Written by Administrator | 11 August 2008

If you want to redecorate your entire home, then learning interior design and decorating might be the thing to do. So, with that in mind, interior design software could be one of your purchases, especially if you don't want to employ a decorator. There are of course advantages and disadvantages to the whole idea of "Do It Yourself". First, If you're not a computer-friendly person then you might find it a bit difficult to pilot the waters of interior design software. Again, there is always the alternative, to get yourself an interior decorator where you will shell out substantially more than you can afford. Which in turn, means that you might have to cut down on some of your decorating needs. If you are anything like me, you would be saying right now - "I don't think so!"

Now, here you are, you have made the decision to give it a go yourself. Leaving the designers and decorators behind. Congratulations! It needn't be as difficult as you think and can even be absolute incredible fun. The only time that you'll truly might get a worry is when you need to do your budget. After that it's a matter of sliding your way downhill through your home interior design plan. And hopefully with barely any bumps or detours. But, those can be exspected, so don't get discouraged, keep moving forward in your interior design plans.

Now back to the software. If you're not too well-situated with your artistic abilities and visual image skills you might look to some relief of a well know friend to help you understand the software. However, if you are a die hard and want to learn it yourself, by all means, don't hesitate. The learning will pay off for you. It doesn't actually matter either way how you go about it as long as you get you home interior design project off the ground.

After all there's only so long that you can stand and watch your house fall to pieces around you. Ok, Though that might have been a bit of an exaggeration, if you're thinking about home interior design or remodeling then now is the time to do it. If you put it off now, there's no telling when and if there will be a next time.

And one of the very first things you can do for your home interior design project will be to decide precisely what you're going to do. For example, are you going to go through the entire house one room at a time or are you going to do only one or two rooms right now. This is an important decision, so take your time and make sure it is what you want to do. This decision dictates the how, what and when of then next phases.

After you decide that, then you can move on to the next phase which is provision, what you're planning to do. And this is where the home interior design software comes in handy. I told you earlier, the learning will pay off, well guess what, here is where it pays off. With this little visual image aid you can imagine what your redecorating plans will do to your rooms and make your life just that much more easier. And in the end that's really what you want isn't it, to make your life easier. So, stop putting it off with excuses. Learn the fundamentals of interior design and decorating, get yourself a good piece of interior design software and bring you home back to life.
Bowe is the webmaster, content provider and author of the e-book: "Interior Design Made Easy". Please visit his site at: Learn Interior Designand start redecorating today.

Comtemporary Design -- A Classic Flair

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Written by Administrator | 11 August 2008

You can refresh your living space with modern flair, using contemporary interior design. The sleek lines and smooth textures of this style create an inviting and interesting space. It's a mistake to think of this style as uncomfortable and spare. The new contemporary design is clean and smooth, but livable. Contemporary interiors can impart a modern feeling no matter what kind of living space you have.

Furniture for contemporary design is sleek and linear. Simply finished wood, steel, or other clean finishes are desirable. Old-fashioned or traditional pieces are out of place here. You can mix and match styles of furniture if you stay within the same tone and material range for all pieces, such as brushed steel. Wooden pieces tend to either be dark or very light to provide contrast.

Window treatments are generally clean and without frills. Blinds in wood or bamboo are popular, as are simple shades in lightly textured fabric. Using such materials as wool, slubbed silk, and linen provides a contrast to the many shiny surfaces common in contemporary interior design. Don't go overboard and use too many, or you'll risk spoiling the effect. Complicated patterns are also to be avoided, as they provide a cluttered look.

Splashes of color bring interest to the generally neutral palette in contemporary interior design. Bold tones can be incorporated in accessories and accents like lamps, artwork, and rugs. Paintings and sculpture should be chosen in styles that go with the rest of the themes. Abstracts or expressionistic work often go well. Pay attention to the colors in your artwork, so that they don't clash or interfere with what you plan to use elsewhere in the room. Accessories should generally be clean and without frills or excessive decoration. Naturalistic, organic forms provide excellent contrast to sharp edges and vice versa.

How you light your room can play a big part in how it is perceived. Track lighting, recessed lighting, and standalone lamps are popular. The old time ceiling light is less desirable. When locating fixtures for lighting your room, look for modern stylings and simple, bold finishes. Accent lamps can be bright, colorful affairs, but one or two colors in the piece is usually sufficient. You can also use simple wood or steel lamps with undecorated shades.

Contemporary interior design can be easily added to a room without breaking the bank. You can find items at sales or fix up second hand pieces. To achieve this look, you don't need very many items, too. With contemporary interior design, less is more. With only a little planning and effort, any home can be improved by contemporary design.


Lee Dobbins writes for Decor2Day - Decorating Tips 4 2day where you can get decorating ideas for many design styles and learn more about contemporary interior design.

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