Professional Interior Design

There is perhaps an art and a science when it comes to remaking the home wherever you may be. For one thing, you need to be aware that what is out there is a whole list of companies and individuals who are expert at these sort of things, and at the end of the day, your home is your castle and you really want to distinct yourself from other homes, or if you have just purchased a new place, what you need to do is to actually ensure that what you have is a place that is uniquely you, surrounded by all the things that you do like. Now, do not get mistaken to think that interior design is the same as renovation, as they are quite different in every respect and terms.

For one thing, what you need to understand is that renovation is about remodelling and restructuring your house to fit a certain need, or keep a certain design element in. This is the blue print of the house, the skeleton, if it is ever akin to surgery. What you are doing is shaping the infrastructure for the interior designer to come in and just to his or her thing. What they do is that they add that little bit of colour and vibrancy, and of course change the look and feel of the household according to your taste. This can range from things like combining colours and textures for your walls, so that they bring out a certain characteristic of the house.

They could then add in bespoke furniture and other stuff to bring out a certain theme or element of the place. They also introduce the areas of lighting and this can come in the form of natural or unnatural lighting. For one, the source of natural light is important in the whole concept of interior design in that it gives the place the kind of spatial element that it needs. While this is true for natural lighting, what happens with artificial light like lamps or spotlights is that it adds the mood to the house, and this is really important when thinking about the overall interior design quality of the place.

Theme is the utmost importance here, as it sets the entire mood for the interior designer to come in and add their creativity to the place. There can be many themes to choose from, modern, contemporary, lush, natural, Balinese, wood-work – the list is quite endless if you think about it. This is just the jist of what you can expect from professional interior design firms or individuals who you will in fact come into contact with when you are thinking about the areas of making your house and adding personality to it. With interior design, you can transform the house into your own personal castle, suited to your own tastes and serves your purpose. Whether you want to relax or be immersed in ambience when you enter your place, a professional interior design firm can help you achieve all this and more.

Best Destinations in Asia For Luxury Travel

The mystery and intrigue of Asia has long attracted crowds of curious visitors. But the shabby chic and flea markets which characterised the backpacking trail of the 1960s now blend seamlessly with a rather more indulgent style of travel.

Designer shopping, lavish hotels, modern comforts – all the hallmarks of great luxury travel can now be found among Asia’s best cities and islands. Here are five of the very best destinations for luxury travel in Asia.

Seoul, South Korea

Recently named one of the top three cities to visit in 2010, Seoul is an increasingly cosmopolitan and modern city. If labels are your thing, shopping here is heaven – Myeongdong is packed shoulder-to-shoulder with boutiques. The shiny Coex Mall is another fine sight, situated in the most desirable residential area in the city.

When you’ve worked up an appetite at the shops, the Samsung Tower in Jungno-Sam-Ga offers both a lavish menu and interesting city views. Seoul also boasts a fabulous boutique hotel, The W at Walkerhill. Inside, the clean-cut red and white décor contrasts the opulence of Bosch soundsytems, Jacuzzi bathtubs and the longest bar in the city.

Chiang Mai, Thailand

Forget Bangkok and Phuket, Thailand’s ‘New City’ – the meaning of Chiang Mai in English – has both traditional culture and modernist luxury at hand. Skyscrapers sit side by side here with hill treks, jungle tours and elephant rides, with the facilities and soft sheets of a lavish hotel never far away.

Bali, Indonesia

The tropical azure seas and soft white sands of Bali will never fail to disappoint a visitor to Asia. Despite becoming increasing popular, Bali hasn’t lost its idyll and unspoiled nature. Surrender your mind, body and spirit to total tranquillity at one of the five star spa hotels which the island now enjoys.

The Maldives

If Bali isn’t quite remote enough for your tastes, The Maldives has the answer. A string of tiny coral islands each circling a lagoon – known as atolls – scattered across the Indian Ocean, this is the place for travellers who are seeking total privacy and isolation. This doesn’t mean forgoing comfort, however – many of the islands are now private luxury resorts designed for indulgence.

Singapore

A firm favourite amongst the rich and glamorous for its clean living and sleek modernist architecture, Singapore is still one of the best destinations for shopping and dining in Asia. Rivalling Milan and New York as a fashion-forward city, the Takashimaya and ION malls are home to every designer shop imaginable, from Cartier to Gucci.

Sandals Resorts – Jamaica

Sandals Resorts offers romance with a capital ‘R”. Starting in Montego Bay, Jamaica, with the first property, Sandals now has more than a dozen (and growing) spread out over several other islands, including St Lucia, Antigua, and the Bahamas. The resort company’s all-inclusive, couples only concept continues to score a “ten” with honeymooners for a number of reasons. For starters, their ultra-inclusive plan, whereby you pay one price up front for virtually everything, is a real winner. Accommodations, meals, snacks, bar beverages including name-brand liquors, water sports, tennis, golf, tips, and just about anything else you can think of are all rolled into the package. Since many young couples have a set amount to spend, knowing there will be no surprises when they check out provides a high level of emotional comfort.

The resorts themselves are romantic and special. Guided by its dynamic founder and chairman, Gordon “Butch” Stewart, Sandals have a reputation for consistently delivering what it promises: a “no problem” romantic holiday. Sandal’s standards are king-size beds, beautiful décor, a whole range of sports and fitness facilities, every water sport you can think of including scuba diving and staffs that radiate as much good cheer as kids on their first day of summer vacation.
The fact that you can walk up to any of the bars and order the drink or food at will without having to sign a chit or pull out your wallet is a big plus. This also goes for the restaurants. You can eat at the same one every night or eat around. You can order anything on the menu, wine, beer, mixed drinks, whatever you’re in the mood for, and it’s all part of the package.

There is huge list of activities available to guests, all complimentary. On hand to keep the mood upbeat and arrange special activities and parties are the energetic Playmakers. If you like to be on the go from dawn to dusk water skiing, hiking, or playing tennis or golf at the Sandals Golf and Country Club, you can pick out at the vast array of activities on tap on any of the Sandals properties. And if you tire of the scenery where you’re staying, you can hop on a shuttle and spend the evening at one of the other Sandals resorts as part of their “Stay at One, Play at Six, Enjoy All” concept.

You’ll find many other young newlyweds to exchange wedding stories with on your honeymoon at Sandals, and since the resorts operate exclusively for couples, you won’t have to share your pool space with any kids. Many couples marry here and go on to make friendship that may last a lifetime.

The restaurants in Sandals are wonderful. Dinners feature a la carte menus, and couples can dine alone or with other couples. Breakfast and lunch are buffets, but a nice Sandals touch is the “white glove” service, where a waiter carries your tray to your table. Each resort averages four restaurants, and all offer a distinctly different dining experience, ranging from informal to elegantly casual. Most of the restaurants are oriented to the sea, and the Bali Hai restaurant at Sandals Royal Jamaican is actually on its own island.

If you like Italian food, you can head to Cucina Romana, at Sandals Montego Bay, where you can dine on freshly made pasta of your choice while enjoying the sunset view from your table on the open-air deck. Next door, at Sandals Royal Jamaican, the Courtyard treats its diners to fresh-grilled specialties. And if you like Japanese food, you can try Kimonos at Sandals Negril. Here you’ll dine on exotic Oriental food prepared right in front of you.

Sandals went all the way to Holland to find an authentic Indonesian chef for Bali Hai. Since the restaurant is located just offshore from Sandals Royal Jamaican, getting there via the resort’s private launch is part of the fun. Once you arrive at the entrance of the restaurant, a hostess wraps a colorful silk scarf around you, your “costume” for the evening. Diners sit at long tables where hot and spicy as well as mild dishes are placed in the center for everyone to sample.
In the elegant category, Sandals Montego Bay’s Oleander Room, brainchild of Horace Peterkin, the resort’s enterprising general manager, has stenciling on the ceiling and warm décor accented with brass lamps, chandeliers and Palladian windows overlooking the sea. This is your chance to try some tasty Jamaican specialties.If you get hungry between meals, each Sandals resort has an “anytime grill” open well into the night, offering snacks as well as made-to-order meals. Each of the Sandals properties offers the same quality of services and amenities. Where you choose to stay, however, will depend what is really important to you. Each place has its own unique attractions.

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