I love these different designer fabrics. Great post with info!

Stylish Design Services

This article provides a brief history of several iconic fabric houses and patterns including Missoni, Marimekko, Ikat and Suzani.

Missoni: Missoni is an Italian fashion house based in Varese, Italy that was founded by Ottavio and Rosita Missoni in 1953.  They are famous for their use of a multitude of patterns such as stripes, geometrics, and abstract florals, in a rainbow of colors and the liberal use of many different fabrics such as wool, cotton, linen, rayon and silk.

Marimekko: Marimekko was founded in 1951 by Viljo and Armi Ratia.  Unikko is perhaps the most famous and recognizable pattern from Marimekko, featuring a bold, colorful poppy design.  The iconic print was designed in 1964 by pioneering Marimekko designer Maija Isola.

Marimekko was first introduced to the United States when architect Benjamin C. Thompson featured them in his Design Research stores. They were made famous when Jacqueline Kennedy wore Marimekko dresses frequently during the 1960 US Presidential campaign.

Retailer Crate and Barrel began a relationship with Marimekko…

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Curve Appeal

Adding curves to your apartment space will create a whimsical feel and bring comfort to the eye. Hard edges no more. The following are some great ideas for you Allentown apartment. Adding a bit of circle to your space may bring you a round! Have fun.

Above image from Rug Centre. Infinite Damask rug in red and cream.

Sybarite Round sofa, curved, comfy and fun.

Canasta circular sofa…

A more classic style with a round coffee table ottoman.

Dare to be different with a curved bed.

Crop circle wallpaper add interest to any ordinary space. Consider decals for the walls to add interest and artistic flare.

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Book Lovers, Unique Shelf Ideas for Your Apartment

As an avid book lover I once had my apartment covered in shelves, walls of shelves to store all my literary finds. (I still visit the local library’s book sale each year!) After a few years I had quite a collection and my shelves filled up. Perhaps you face the same dilemma with your own collection in your Doylestown apartment. If so, I’ve found some great creative options that I wish I’d tried in my own space, like this very unique rotating Helical Shelf unit from City Joinery.  It’s an expensive buy, but what a creative way to divide a room, or situate a shelf in a corner if you have limited space. The unit rotates so you have access to all sides and levels. It can also be adjusted to any ceiling height. Great in an office too! Custom options. Starting at $4300.  Image from City Joinery website.

Another bright idea: enclosed bookshelves in white finish. Doors keep books from getting too dusty. Found at Apartment Therapy.

Bookshelves that attach directly to the wall seem to float in space. Be sure to check with your Doylestown apartment landlord for the okay to screw these shelves into the walls.  They make quite a design statement. Creative bookends will add a nice touch. These shelves, found at Design to Inspire, have built in ends to hold books in space. Placing a shelf above the doorway to store lesser used books is a wonderful way to display them as art.

Finally….one can dream…

This amazing spiral staircase with integrated bookshelves I just had to share. Of course I realize this is hardly a design option for your Doylestown apartment, but I simply had to share.  The staircase was built into the former home of Portuguese philosopher and poet Antero de Quental. The building is now used as a literary center, with this incredible architecture as its centerpiece. More info at Dezeen.

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Sharing an Apartment: Roommate Questionnaire

Finding a roommate to share your Allentown apartment can be a difficult task, but one of the key strategies on your search is to meet the potential roommate in person and interview them. They in turn may do the same. I discovered through experience some interesting questions that you should include on your questionnaire and thought I’d share.

image: Cafe by Stockholm Syndrome

As protocol for the meet up, make sure you decide on a public place to have the interview, especially if this is a stranger responding to your ad for a roommate. Make it a comfortable place, where you can have a coffee or tea and get to know each other. Avoid bars and liquor. You want to have a clear head and a clear atmosphere. Also, I suggest you meet during the day if possible, on a weekend perhaps if you both work full time, or during a lunch hour.

Open your meeting with a nice greeting, and a handshake. First impressions? Take notes in your mind when you can. Your first impression will take you far. Trust them. An immediate bad feeling can be telling you something. When you sit down, don’t be afraid to bring out your list and take notes. This is your place you want to share after all. You will want to find someone truly compatible to make life easier, not more stressful. With that said, here are the questions:

• Have you shared an apartment with someone before?
• Was the person you roomed with a relative, girlfriend or boyfriend, co-worker, or friend?
• Why did you decide to move out?
• Was there any problem with your previous roommate?
• Do you have a full time job?
• What are you work hours?
• Do you do any work at home? How often?
• Do you smoke?
• Do you use recreational drugs or alcohol?
• Are you in a serious relationship? Will your boyfriend or girlfriend be staying over and how often?
• Do you have a special diet that you follow, vegetarian, diabetic, vegan, or any other?
• Are you religious? Does your religious principles effect you daily living and how so?
• Do you consider yourself a neat person or carefree and sloppy?
• Will you be will to do a share of the chores to maintain a neat and clean apartment?
• Will you share the cost of cleaning products for the apartment?
• Are you willing to work out and divide the cost of a grocery list each week?
• Do you have any pets? If so, what kind?
• Friends? How many?
• Will your friends visit a lot, and do you like to throw parties for your friends? (This isn’t a bad thing, as long as the two of you are in agreement!)
• Do you watch much television? What do you watch? How often?
• What time do you usually go to bed, and what time do you get up?
• Are you a musician? What instrument do you play? How often do you practice?
• Are you willing to co-sign a lease?
• Are you willing to sign a roommate agreement?
• Are you able to supply references from previous roommates, employer, or previous landlord?

Asking any of these questions will open a dialogue with your new acquaintance and will help you get a feel of what the person is like. Keep in mind that this list is designed for an interview with someone you’ve never met before.  If the person you’re meeting is an acquaintance, adjust the questioning accordingly….or perhaps not! It’s up to you, but do take the time to get to know a person before jumping in to sharing your Allentown apartment.

Visit Apartments To Like.com for more renters information and advertise a rental to share for FREE.  Please visit and list!

Country Kitchen Design

My love for the country style kitchen knows no bounds…Unique ideas for creating a comfy, welcoming country space can be found all over.  Implementing a few creative decor features can change up a dull kitchen and bring it to life.  Keeping it simple, as always, is key.  Using fresh pale colors, like this House of Turquoise country kitchen, makes this space feel clean and at ease all the time.

Country kitchen ideas can be found at Kitchen Building. Wondering about that opening in the floor….to a root cellar?  Wine cellar?  Dungeon?

This lovely Spanish influenced country kitchen design has warmth and depth. Love the simple accessory arrangements and easy access doors and drawers for cooking.  Arch Things.com

Not to forget the country table highlights…This country star pattern is feminine and stylish.  Check out Country Porch for more country decorative pieces.

The country style is more popular now than ever.  We see a surge in French country living designs for their homey and comfortable feel as well as the elegance it brings to any apartment or home.

Short on cabinet space?  This Elle Decor solution with a country-style flare…rough hued wooden shelf unit stacked with all your readily available dishware.  The spot for the microwave is a nice touch also.  This is a nice, creative way to show off your stylish dish collection, as if they were artwork.  Fascinating…

Lastly, such a cool apartment decorative idea in this fresh French country kitchen design…Large cut-out letters, painted in a contrasting hue, spelling out a kitchen-y words such as this sample.  Love the simple retro accessories on counter.

If you are looking to move to a new apartment or home check out the Renters Corner at the top of this blog for the most creative step by step information to make your move easy and stress free.  Also visit Apartments I Like, our affiliate website.

Creative Entertainment Centers

In your new apartment you’ll need a sure-fire way to place your TV and entertainment appliances in your living space with style and easy access.  Consider some of the following ideas to make your living room interesting.

This Play Plasma TV stand created by Cattelan Italy is a super-modern way to store your entertainment equipment.  The simplicity and cleanness of a glass feature makes this an easy choice with modern decor.

We like the simplicity of this modern entertainment center we found at Spacify.

Is your apartment not so modern in furniture design?  There are numerous options out there to make your TV center look stylish and be functional as well.  This Toscana Corner TV Console is great find, and has angled back panels to fit snuggly into any vacant corner of your living room. From Ashley Furniture.

Another Ashley Furniture find. X-cess 60″ TV stand in a sleek dark finish.

Media console from Studio 455 collection at Thomasville.

Need to save space?  Consider a wall mounted TV center with shelves to set up your flat screen and other media players.  (You may have to ask your landlord for the okay before mounting).

And here are the coolest TV stands that we wish we knew about sooner.  These simple modern colorful MOR Colorado TV stands are fully customizable  at the MOR Furniture website.  You can select a size to fit your living space, and choose from 33 colors to express your creative entertainment design style.

If you are looking to rent or are ready to move into a new apartment check out your Renters Corner at the top of this blog for useful info on making your move easy and stress-free.  Also check out Apartments i Like for more renters news and useful articles.

Unique Bar Stools

Many apartments have service counters or bar areas within the kitchen/dining rooms for serving and eating.  Making this feature of your Allentown apartment can be a fun creative way to show your decorative expression.  I found some incredible examples of uniquely designed bar stools to enhance your apartment, like these retro zebra print bar stools found at Etsy.com.

Eli Comtemporary bar stool in orange suede from http://www.1contemporary.com.

Ultra modern bongo bar stools will add great conversation piece to your Allentown apartment.  These are from Ibebi, found on http://www.trendir.com

Your Allentown apartment might be enhanced with these Rio bar stools for a perfect modern expression…found at Furniture Italia.

For a more classic look in your Allentown apartment…this swivel bar stool in black from http://www.barstools.com

And who can resist 6, 7, and 8…sculpted with black and white fiberglass by Bulgarian designer Svilen Gamolov?

We just wonder how comfortable they can be to sit in?…but what wonderful conversation pieces they’d make in your Allentown apartment.

If you are looking to move, or looking to move to Allentown Pa, use the Renters Corner at the top of this blog for information on making your move stress-free.

If you are a landlord and would like to like an available apartment in the Allentown area (and other Pa areas also) please visit Apartments i Like for more information on listing.

 

The Romance of Candles

Adding candles to your Allentown apartments can add instant romance, elegance, and a softer mood.  Everyone looks better in candlelight!
Why not start with a classic pair of lead crystal candlesticks like these, found at My Tableware.  They were made in Slovenia and are $84.99.

A fun Valentine’s gift, to someone special, or to yourself are these cute realistic looking cupcake candles featured at Carolina Candles.  A unique fun arrangement of them on a plate and lit would add a nice touch for Valentine’s Day at your Allentown apartment.

One of my favorite delights…the floating candle.  Set them afloat in a large glass bowl of water (add coloring to water if you wish) and light away.  The soft glowing reflections adds warmth and romance to your Allentown apartment.  Light, right before guests arrive.

Along with the floating candles, I found these delightful spheres at Home Decor Arcade.  Just love the shape, and the glass holders. They are scented too!  Would add a nice conversation piece to any Valentine’s dinner occasion.

And here’s a project I’m considering doing…creating my own soy candles.  Found all the simple instructions for a soy candle project at Country Home.  By using some old sturdy glassware that you find in your Allentown apartment, you can make these wonderful decor additions.  Waste not. Don’t throw away the chipped glass. Easy to do, and these are wonderful romantic examples.

If you are looking to rent an apartment in Allentown or are a landlord who has an available apartment to list please visit Apartments i Like for more information.

In and Around Bethlehem Pa

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Bethlehem is a beautiful town. Just take a walk or drive downtown and experience the architecture and the wonderful shopping you will find.  Leaving your Bethlehem apartment will be easy with so many things to do and see.  Bethlehem is a charming city with a rich industrial history.

You will find plenty of things to do outside your Bethlehem apartment.  The town is home to many art and music festivals, including Musikfest and Christkindlmarkt.  Dining and sophisticated shopping can be found everywhere.

Just minutes away is the Sands Casino Resort, where you can get your game on, take a chance, socialize, shop, and meet new people.  Consider all the wonderful things you can do when looking for your Bethlehem apartment.

If you are looking for an apartment in Bethlehem or are a landlord and would like to list an available apartment visit Apartments To Like.com for more information.

The Arts in Bethlehem, Pa

When venturing out of my Bethlehem apartment, I discovered that the town of Bethlehem is full of artistic interests.  The first interesting find is the Bethlehem Bach Choir. Founded in 1898, it is the oldest Bach choir in America. Musical America has this quote about the choir: “Having heard the Bethlehem Bach Choir pour its heart into the master’s vocal music, one will never listen to it in quite the same way again.”

The present 95 volunteer members “sing with dedication and enthusiasm of the Bach Choir of a century ago.”  The concerts feature a full professional orchestra and world renowned soloists.  When living in your Bethlehem apartment be sure to check out this fascinating group for musical inspiration.
More information at the website.

Once settled into your Bethlehem apartment, the artist in you will have to visit the Banana Factory.  This dynamic cultural arts center includes three galleries, 28 resident artists, a glass works studio (the only one in area), The Olympus Digital Imaging Center, and the Fowler Arts and Education Center.

The main objective of the Banana Factory is to make the arts accessible to everyone.  The cultural center offers art education classes and programs for area schools.  Explore your creative side by taking one of the 200 plus visual arts classes or workshops offered throughout the year.  A children’s summer camp is also available.

If you are a film fanatic, living in your Bethlehem apartment will be a wondrous move, for the SouthSide Film Festival community is right around the corner.  The Third Thursday Film Club is a communal event designed to bring awareness to independent films.  The screenings are free and usually feature well-crafted documentary works not presented in movie theaters.  Films are usually shown at the Victory Firehouse on Webster Street.  The organization also features an annual art festival and benefit parties, a great excuse to get out of your Bethlehem apartment and join the community.  Visit the website for more info on parties, films, artists, and the 2011 Film Festival.

Are you an amateur or professional photographer?  Why not join the Lehigh Valley Photography Club?  They meet at the Banana Factory, right near your Bethlehem apartment, and offer photo-inspiration assignments to club members.  The intent of the club is for people in the Lehigh Valley community to share their work, meet each other, and discuss photo experiences. The LVPC is a member of the Photographic Society of America.  Visit here for more information on the club.

If you are looking for an apartment in Bethlehem, Pa or are interesting in listing an apartment for rent in Bethlehem please look at Apartments To Like for more information.