April 22, 2008
Unfortunately, pets are not allowed inside the condominium premises. There are some that allow owners to acquire one, but most of them? They don’t.
It’s not for anything actually. They’re just protecting the rights of your neighbors to silence. Since condominium units are only separated from each other by a 2 feet thick wall, all loud sounds that you do reverberate through it. So if Max, your favorite dog, barks, the people living on the other end will hear it (it echoes in hallways too). Your neighbor has all the right to call your attention (it’s written in the by-laws of the condominium). He/she has the option of whether to call your attention personally or through the management. The management can issue you warnings or violations with/without fines and you have no option but to comply (shape up or ship out scenario).
Photo taken from http://www.flickr.com
Posted in Condo Living by editor and tagged by-laws, bylaw, condo, dog, pet • Post a comment
April 18, 2008
Do you have money to splash for interior design yet you don’t want those frilly designs I have mentioned earlier? How about getting your home a 1940’s look?
Don’t feel miserable. The 1940’s look is not so bad, it’s chic in fact! Loud colors that contrast each other were “in” during those times. Red and white, gold and gray… anything goes. Since you are living a convenient and fast-paced lifestyle, getting things mixed-and-matched is not anymore a concern.
Also, since we’re talking about the 1940’s, expect that you’ll have to splurge on some antiques. No, not the uber expensive ones, but those little paraphernalia (figurines perhaps?) that have a 1940’s touch in them. Maybe you could add in your shopping list some glass doorknobs too so it’ll be more authentic looking.
Photo taken from http://interiordesign.lovetoknow.com
Posted in Designing tips by editor and tagged 1940's, old school design, vintage • Post a comment
April 15, 2008
Are you a plant lover but your strong and heavy home decorations do not seem to go with plants? Then better adopt the French Country design and start having those plants that you yearn for. The French Country motif basically makes use of green as its base color. Green is seen as something lively, easy on the eyes and it exudes a fresh feel to a person’s senses. Plants such as lavenders and stargazers go with toiles.
Toile is a type of French cloth (or any other material) that has a light background (mostly beige) and has repeating images printed on it. Decorating your home using these two materials (flowering plants and toiles) will surely bring you that invigorating French feel.
Photo taken from http://www.bellahomefashions.com & http://discount-wallcovering.com
Posted in Designing tips by editor and tagged flowers, french country, toile • Post a comment
April 11, 2008
Do you think your house is quite dull to look at? Then why don’t you try adding colors to it?
Perhaps Mediterranean interior design is the answer to your home dilemma. It uses a mixture of earthly colors that depict certain picturesque scenes. Such colors include red, yellow and orange to represent sunsets. Or perhaps, blue green, turquoise, and blue to have that cool oceanic look.
As per the furniture, this design motif normally uses pine wood as its primary material for tables, chairs, and sofa frames (you can actually get those from local dealers for a cheap price, or if you’re lucky, maybe a second hand is available at the thrift shop nearest you). You can also add colorful paintings to your walls or some mosaic for that Spanish Mediterranean feel. Plus, don’t forget that Mediterranean design is not complete without those colorful pot flowers.
Photo taken from http://www.bishopshotel.co.uk
Posted in Designing tips by editor and tagged mediterranean design • Post a comment
April 8, 2008
If you are planning to redecorate your condo unit, might as well have themes in mind. One of the most soothing (to the senses) designs is that of the Japanese. Japanese designs usually make use of natural and earthly colors, avoiding those flashy colors most commonly used by Western styles, as they want to be faithful to their dictum which is simplicity. Symmetry is also important to achieve that Japanese look in your home, so if you buy little mats in your thrift shop, might as well buy it in pairs (ask for a discount if possible). Japanese style is also affiliated with “anything environmental” so you might as well put a flowering plant beside that coffee table of yours (some ikebana would be nice!). Don’t forget the famous short table
Photo taken from www.turbosquid.com
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April 4, 2008
If you own the unit you are residing in, you will actually be compelled to pay an assessment fee. This assessment fee is important because this will determine the accurate market value of your unit. If for example your unit costs $1,000.00 (hypothetically), come next year, after you have paid the assessment fee, the government will “assess” or review the value/worth of your unit. It may change or it may retain its original amount depending on the status of the building’s environment. If the street where the building is located was paved, the market value of your unit will increase. Or perhaps if a new mall was built near it, then it’ll have the same effect on its market value. This is actually beneficial for those who wish to rent or sell their units in the future.
Photo taken from http://www.carspace.com
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April 1, 2008
All condominium dwellers pay association dues. If you think you’re done with paying your monthly house bills, then you’re wrong. Having all the perks and privileges of a condominium comes with a price—a small price that is.
The fees are small but the coverage is big. The amount you pay to the administrator of the building is inclusive of security (for the security guards), use of amenities (pool and gym), maintenance (for keeping your hallways and garbage chutes clean), parking space (although a few condominiums exclude this) and many more.
Now, if you’ll get all these for a small fee, won’t you consider it a sweet bargain?
Photo taken from http://www.danakohut.com
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