Planning and costing your single storey extension

Read article : Planning and costing your single storey extension

1. Decide what you need

Use our checklist to think about the features you would like to include in a main bathroom or en suite.

Your essential elements:

• Fitted bath
• Freestanding bath
• Shower bath
• Shower
• Pedestal basin
• Console basin
• Twin basins
• WC
• Bidet
• Built-in storage
• Freestanding storage
• Heated towel rail or radiator
• Waterproof television
• Built-in hi-fi
• Lighting controls
• Automated bath filler
• Underfloor heating

2. Work with professionals

You could choose a bathroom design specialist firm or employ individual contractors. ‘All of your products and features need to be considered before your installation team quotes for the renovation,’ says David Smith, senior designer at Ripples. ‘Forward planning will allow for accurate pricing and a realistic project schedule of works.’

3. Employ expert designers

A bathroom specialist can manage the entire renovation project for you. ‘The specialist company will be qualified in all aspects of the installation, including tiling, electrics and carpentry,’ says David. ‘Check whether the company has experienced tilers and plasterers, or whether it contracts this work out – an inexperienced tiler or plasterer may take three times longer. Will your installer take responsibility for all the work and oversee the quality? Check for recommendations from friends; ask for quotes before signing contracts, and don’t be afraid to request references.’

You should spend time discussing the space with your designer. ‘A site visit is imperative to take the dimensions of the room, check the direction of the floorboards, the heights of ceilings, and to measure water-pressure systems, along with observing the style of the house,’ David explains.

4. Pick individual contractors

If you have decided to employ individual contractors for your project, ask for personal recommendations, and make sure that anyone you use is accredited.

For builders, tilers, plasterers and electricians, look to trade organisations, such as the Federation of Master Builders, or government-licensed TrustMark.

You can also find local electricians through trade bodies, such as NICEIC. For electrical, heating and hot-water contractors, visit ELECSA, while NAPIT provides a list of electricians and plumbers.

5. Agree on the plans

You will need to assess the feasibility of your plans at an early stage. ‘Discuss options with your installer and bathroom designer,’ says David. ‘Loft conversions lend themselves to large, light bathrooms that make a real design statement. Often the best place is directly above your existing bathroom, as this should ensure that you can connect into the existing drainage and water supplies without requiring excessive pipework.’

6. Organise necessary permissions

You probably won’t need planning permission for a new bathroom, but if it’s part of a loft conversion, check whether this needs an approved application or falls under the permitted-development regime. If you live in a terraced or semi-detached house, the Party Wall etc Act may apply. Look at planningportal.gov.uk and check with your local authority.

Drainage and electrical works may be subject to building regulations. If you are using a room where there isn’t a bathroom now, approval will probably be needed. The floor may have to be strengthened if you are fitting a bathroom suite where there wasn’t one. A structural engineer or surveyor can create the documentation needed. A surveyor (see rics.org) can arrange agreements, or find details on planningportal.co.uk.

7. Employ specialist designers

A new bathroom may place more demands on plumbing. ‘Ensure that the boiler produces enough hot water for the shower and bath,’ says Dorian Bowen, director of design consultancy Project One. ‘For an unvented system, go for a low-pressure thermostatic mixer or install a pump.’ Also, check that your water system will cope if the new bathroom is in the loft.

8. Select fittings and features

The location and size of your bathroom will affect the choices that are available. ’With limited space, consider made-to-measure products,’ says David Smith. ‘Where there are height restrictions, use a bespoke glazing company. They will template the space and know how to provide easy entry to the shower, and so water doesn’t splash out.’

Budget

Bathroom suite and installation

The specification of the suite or individual pieces will have a big influence on your final costs, whereas plumbing costs will be much the same whether you choose a less expensive bath, basin and WC or designer fittings. However, if you are refitting an existing bathroom, remember that your final costs will also be influenced by the layout.

‘Installation prices will vary depending on whether you are simply replacing items – such as removing an old sink and bath and installing a new one in the same place – or redesigning the bathroom,’ says David.

For a bathroom with WC, basin and bath, costs range from around £4,000 to around £10,500, depending on where you source the pieces. For a shower room with WC, basin and shower cubicle, budget from around £4,500 to around £11,000, depending on where you shop, from DIY stores to high-end showrooms.

Bathroom specialist

If you’re working with a specialist bathroom company, the price should include all elements. ‘The ideal place to start any project is with a budget,’ explains Dorian Bowen. ‘A good company will then design and install to that figure.’

Planning

If you’re putting a bathroom in a loft conversion and cannot carry out work under permitted development rights, budget £172 for a householder planning application in England. When making use of your permitted development rights, a certificate of lawful development costs £86 (England). See planningportal.co.uk for other fees.

Party walls

If your bathroom is in a loft conversion and the Party Wall etc Act applies, plus you need to employ a surveyor, factor around £850 per neighbour into your budget.

Building control

If you’re converting the loft, building control fees are likely to be around £960 to £1,200 for a standard conversion. Otherwise, budget for around £300, but check with your local authority.

Heating

You may have to upgrade your boiler to meet your new bathroom’s needs. According to the Energy Saving Trust, a straightforward gas boiler replacement will cost around £2,300.

Underfloor heating

For an electric system for your new bathroom, factor in from around £14 to £22 per square metre. If your bathroom is going to include a wet underfloor heating system, the costs are likely to be from £36 to £48 per square metre.

Electrical

‘You might have to upgrade your consumer unit if you have no residual current device on your electrics,’ says Dorian. ‘An average cost would be £400 to £500.’

Decorating

‘Tiling is a huge contributor to what can go wrong in a bathroom,’ explains Dorian. ‘Factor in the correct materials over using the cheapest product. If your project is a wet room, make sure that you use the right tanking system.’

If tiling is not part of your overall project cost, allow from around £28 per square metre upwards to cover it.

Motor Yacht RM ELEGANT – ‘THE PARTY BOAT’ available for Cannes Film Festival & Monaco Grand Prix yacht charter

Read article : Motor Yacht RM ELEGANT – ‘THE PARTY BOAT’ available for Cannes Film Festival & Monaco Grand Prix yacht charter

Known as ‘ The Party Boat’,  motor yacht RM ELEGANT is the best choice if you are in search of a superyacht to host a large party or a corporate event. This extremely large and spacious luxury vessel is available for €65,000 per day plus expenses during the Cannes Film Festival as well as Monaco Grand Prix. Mega Yacht RM Elegant was built by Lamda Shipyard according to naval architecture by Nafpigiki Hellas and design by L.Poulias. She is one of the few private luxury yachts based in the Western Mediterranean (French Riviera, Italy, Sicily, Sardinia, Corsica, Spain etc.) able to accommodate up to 30 guests overnight in 15 staterooms. RM Elegant is extremely well suited for hosting  parties, birthdays, special events, charity events or anniversaries, with a capacity of 100 guests at anchor and 150 guests when berthed.

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Luxury mega yacht RM ELEGANT

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Charter yacht RM ELEGANT at night

Known as one of the most elite charter yachts, her dynamic and futuristic profile ensures that the RM Elegant yacht is the most unmistakable mega yacht in the world. At 72 m and with accommodation for 30 guests she is indubitably a world leader. This yacht has been created for those who appreciate truly luxurious living and are ready for the sheer joy of life aboard a design masterpiece. Together with her highly trained crew of 31, RM ELEGANT can guarantee that you will be provided with an outstanding level of service ensuring the perfect charter.

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Motor yacht RM ELEGANT - Sundeck

It is impossible not to awestruck by the yacht’s vast open deck space. 250 sq m provide an enormous area for both sunbathing and partying. The 12-person spa-pool is serviced from the double sided bar where, alternatively you can sit and enjoy the spectacular panoramic views sipping a glass of champagne. The Sun Deck is accessed by a lift from all the guest decks and there are two shower-rooms on either side of the superstructure.

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The aft saloon deck - Mega Yacht RM ELEGANT

Mega Yacht RM Elegant‘s  covered outdoor dining area has four round tables convertible into two large oval tables for a total of 30 guests. Should your party be but  a handful we do not want you to feel lost, therefore the ability to have this flexible seating arrangement allows for intimate dining. The area is serves by a fully equipped bar and has direct access to the galley from where, our four first class chefs, produce the most delectable menus.

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Motor yacht RM ELEGANT - MAIN SALOON

Effortlessly elegant, the Main Saloon exudes a sense of luxury, while simultaneously giving an informal atmosphere. The room is finished in light colour, thus emphasising the triptych painted by the renowned artist Katerina Georgantas that adorns one entire wall. Equipped with a boudoir grand piano, a games tables and a 55 inch plasma-screen television, it is indeed the ideal place to relax and perhaps indulge in an after-dinner aperitif.

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Mega yacht RM ELEGANT - INTERIOR DINNING

For more formal dining aboard RM ELEGANT superyacht  it is definitely worth experiencing a meal in these superb surroundings while you indulge in an exceptional culinary experience. The style here is modern and clean with an art deco ambience. The innovative kidney shaped dining tables each seat 15 guests and there is a cozy corner where a further 5 guests cab enjoy an intimate meal. Cleverly separated from the rest of the room by curved wall and deep sofas is a fully equipped bar where our crew are ready to serve you the drink of your choice.

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Motor yacht RM ELEGANT - Owner's Saloon

The Owner’s saloon is an extremely attractive room with a library atmosphere, leather sofas and a fireplace. Although classic in looks, the entertainment system is right up to date with another large plasma screen television and full cinema surround system.  The yacht’s extensive DVD and CD library are housed here. As this room backs on to the Diamond Suite it cab be closed off for exclusive use.

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Motor yacht RM ELEGANT - MASTER DIAMOND CABIN

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Motor yacht RM ELEGANT - MASTER Diamond Bathroom

Diamond Suite is the Owner’s Stateroom and is located on the Bridge Deck just aft of the Bridge and occupies the full width of the superstructure, thus providing ample space for searing area, desk and vanity table. It is extremely appointed in copper tones with oak panelled marquetry and sand blasted glass with copper leaf inlay. The adjoining immense bathroom is equipped with both a circular shower and full-sized spa bath overhead Swarovski crystal fibre optics setting the scene for a very romantic bath time.

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Motor yacht RM ELEGANT - VIP RUBY CABIN

The VIP suite on board luxury charter yacht RM ELEGANT is called the Ruby Suite and is made up of a main bedroom, a small sitting room and a large bathroom with full-sized spa bath and shower. Like all areas of the yacht everything cab be regulated by Creston remote control. This includes the adjustable lighting with which you can set the mood in your stateroom. Both the Diamond Suite and Ruby Suite have their own lap top computers.

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Motor yacht RM ELEGANT - Cabin

The staterooms aboard the charter yacht RM ELEGANT are all similar in size but vary in colour schemes. Designed with oak panelled marquetry and mirrored walls, they each incorporate a seating area, have a small desk, a full entertainment systems including an LCD screen and a safe. Each room has direct dial telephone and internet access. All the beds convert from king sized to twin. The most interesting aspect of these staterooms is the curved glass panels decorated with silver leaf that separate the main bedroom from the marble finished en-suite bathroom.

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Motor yacht RM ELEGANT - BUSINESS

There is also a Business Centre set up in order to facilitate the business man. The computers, fax machine and printer are all for the guests’ use. Video conferencing is also available and an LCD screen can constantly transmit the news or stock markets via satellite TV. Internet is accessible from this centre but also from all areas of the yacht.

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Motor yacht RM ELEGANT - MASSAGE

The fitness centre on the main deck of RM ELEGANT is equipped with professional CYBEX equipment televisions and music system. The sauna is there for your use and the yacht’s on-board beauty therapist will be happy to give you a relaxing massage. Also available to guests is RM ELEGANT’s professional hairdressing saloon.

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Water sports - Luxury yacht RM ELEGANT

When it comes to the water sports, there is a direct access to the sea from the extendable aft swimming platform. From here boarding tenders is made easy. The three jet skis and the mass of toys are all at the guests’ disposal.

RM ELEGANT is only one of many luxury yachts available for charter during the upcoming Cannes Film Festival as well as the Monaco Grand Prix. Our team at CharterWorld will help you to choose the best yacht to suite your needs and expectations. We have a large list of  charter yachts available in Cannes or the Mediterranean in general, within several price ranges in different size groups, being it for a small private charter or large corporate functions.

Here are Ten Terrifying New York Housing Stories to Mess Up Your Day

Read article : Here are Ten Terrifying New York Housing Stories to Mess Up Your Day

There are so many ways housing in New York can go wrong: a Craigslist scam, a crazed roommate, a radiator that screams like a jet engine without heating the apartment, or, best case scenario, just an enormous rat king that takes up residence beneath the stove. But no matter how bad you think you’ve got it, this Reddit thread of terrible apartment stories has something worse. There are wolf spiders and screaming junkies and cockroaches. Thousands and thousands of cockroaches.

There are dozens of stories on the thread so far, many of them involving vermin, poop, and various kinds of roommate mental instability. Here’s a sampling. Let’s start with the ones that are funny in an awful way and descend downwards, ending with the the stories that make us retch with despair and our souls long to leave our bodies. Gird yourselves:

(All reactions courtesy of Reaction Gifs and Giphy)

– See also: NYC’s Ten Worst Tenants

10. Odd couple:

I had a roommate that was a hippie. She didn’t shave, use deodorant, work out, etc. Her parents dumped $500 into her bank account weekly. She never did laundry. Dishes (including mine that she and the other suitemates would use) would end up growing ecosystems when left in the sink for weeks. I had to wash my dishes in the shower and kept them in my room to avoid sharing. She would have weekly movie viewing parties on weekdays like Tuesday and Wednesday in the living room with far more people than should fit in that room until 2 AM when I was trying to study or sleep. Pubes consistently everywhere in the bathroom. (Mine were a different color so that eliminated that problem.) She took fiber supplements and took the most massive shits that left shit rings in the toilet after she flushed. (Earning her the nickname “Queen of Saturn” from me and my boyfriend.) The final straw was when she left a used tampon behind the toilet. Still don’t understand how you miss throwing it out/dropping it into the toilet.

Appropriate reaction:

9. Kool-Aid Man sounds like a real dick:

A guy I used to be friends with lived in Queens and his neighbor was FUCKING crazy. One day while he was at work, his neighbor busted through his wall like Kool-Aid man, leaving a man sized hole in the wall. His neighbor thought my friend was fucking his wife and wanted to kill him.

Appropriate reaction:

8. Ordinary Williamsburg Apartment:

While looking for a place I went to look at a place in East Williamsburg kinda near the Morgan L. It was a loft with about seven ramshackle bedrooms with eight roommates already, some stacked on top of each other, most of them closed off with cloth instead of doors, the whole place was probably about a 750sq ft. The shower didn’t work and was made from a plastic water tank and some tubing and was located in a closet along with two cats’ litter boxes.

The table in the main room was covered end to end with empties and then there were stacks of empties near the windows and alongside the walls. When I asked the roommates what they did for fun “We drink a lot.” The “room” was a 5 foot high cubby box up a step ladder with no door.

They wanted 800 dollars a month for it.

Appropriate Reaction:

[

7. Love story, with weed:

I was a subletting from this young couple in Queens. Everything was going decently well other than over hearing a few verbal fights between them. Then one day I get a call from the girl’s sister asking when I was going to be back at the apartment, because both of my roommates were in jail.

Long story short, it turned out that she assaulted him and he defended himself, then they both called the cops on each other. The cops came quickly, and they forgot that they had left a POUND of weed out in the open.

They used my security deposit on bail, and the girl apparently snapped and had a mental breakdown of some sort. She accused me of being a cop because on my license I used to live on a street that ended with “Court.” So she apparently thought I lived in a courthouse or some shit. I noped out as soon as I could and found my own place.

Appropriate reaction:

6. Furniture party:

I once had one of my roommates move out on short notice and had to rush to find a replacement. My other roommate found someone through her coworker that needed a 3 month sublet. The girl came over on 2 separate occasions to take a look at the apartment and the room, and decided that she wanted to move in, everything seemed to be going smoothly.

My first red flag was when she asked me the day before moving in if it was okay for her to bring a “large desk and small couch” that she really didn’t want to part with. Now, my apartment is a loft so it’s pretty open feeling, but it’s not actually that big, the bedrooms are tiny, and it was obviously already fully furnished. I told her we could try and find room for it, and she assured me that if I ended up not being okay with it she would move them to storage.

The next morning she came with movers to bring her bed, dresser and the aforementioned furniture. The couch actually fit okay, and we propped up the disassembled desk in a corner – a slight eyesore but not too in the way, I could live with it for a few months. Sublet girl left to get the rest of her personal belongs, and my roommate and I left for a friend’s barbecue for the day.

What we came home to that night was surreal and terrifying (I should add that we ate a pot brownie and were super-duper stoned.) When we entered we found what appeared the be the entire contents of another apartment in our apartment. Tables, stools, chairs, dressers, a standing keyboard, floor lamps, table lamps, full length mirrors, a full set of pots and pans, plates and flatware, a toaster oven, and just boxes upon boxes of things. You could barely walk it was so cluttered.

When we told her that she had brought way more stuff than we agreed to she started insisting that she could make it all fit. Apparently, she had planned on just getting rid of most of her furniture but “at the last minute realized it would be a waste of money” (she seriously phrased it just like that,) so she had her dad help her bring it all over while we were gone. I told her there was no way it would all fit and that she would have to move the stuff into storage (as she had previously offered) and she flipped out. She started screaming about how I thought I knew everything was generally very rude and insulting, telling me how I “must have never lived with roommates before.”

As she became more aggressive I really started to freak out, realizing I was going to have to kick this girl out. I had to just leave the apartment at that point to avoid a full blown panic attack. When I came back I told her that this wasn’t going to work and she had to find somewhere else to live. She continued to be angry and aggressive, screaming at me and throwing a fit, but finally agreed to have all her stuff out by the next week.

Appropriate reaction:

5. The Double Move:

For a few months during the Summer of 2009 I was floating between different living situations in Greenpoint while waiting for a more permanent place to become available.

One location was near McGolrick Park, which I found on Craigslist. I checked out the room and met the roommates, and it seemed ideal for the month or two I’d be there. I rented the U Haul, got a friend to help me move, packed up my belongings and moved them to this new spot on the top floor of a four floor walk up. It took a good part of a day, and as is customary, I took my helper friend out to dinner after the move.

After dinner I went back to the new apartment to unpack and setup my bed. I get in the front door, turn on the lights, and the walls and floor are moving: cockroaches of all sizes, thousands of them. I’ve never seen so many roaches. I stood there in disbelief. Fear turned to anger.

I called up my buddy and told him the situation. He offered me his couch to sleep on for the night, so I headed down to Williamsburg.

The next day I went to work and told my coworkers the story. One of them knew of an open apartment down the street from the infested place that I could use for two weeks. My boss told me to deal with is ASAP, so I left work, went back to U Haul, packed my shit up and moved.

Moving twice in a 24 hour period is not fun.

Appropriate reaction:

[

4. Shower Party Favors:

The ceiling above the bathtub dripped for over a year. Luckily, it was the best place to have a leak. But the thing dripped almost daily.

The super, management and 311 were called on a biweekly basis. The super would come, paint over the leak and the new paint would fall into the tub with that night’s dripping.

One day it was real bad. Water bubbles appear all over the ceiling, a stream of water running down the walls. The super told me he’d be over in 20 minutes. I wanted to take a quick shower, so I hopped in. I stepped forward to pick up the soap and the ceiling caved in on me. But it wasn’t just the drywall, oh no, the ceiling had all sorts of goodies stuffed in it: a Trader Joes bag, tiles, sponges, t-shirts, towels, rags, tupperware. It was as if the previous tenants made the same complaints and the super just stuffed junk in to absorb the leak.

The super repaired the leak by patching the hole, and the whole process repeated itself over and over again. He told me there was no leak.

After over 20 calls to 311 a lawyer contacted me (how did they find out?). I told management it just three weeks ago they retiled the bathroom upstairs and redid our ceiling. It hasn’t leaked since.

Appropriate reaction:

3. All the rats everywhere:

I was living in Bushwick, and after Sandy, a lot of Brooklyn’s rats got pushed inland. One night i heard a rustle, something got got on a plastic bag. It was too loud to be a mouse. After investigating my girlfriend and I found large droppings under the sink, so we invested in glue traps. The next night, the rat got into a bag of cadbury eggs left on the table. So I think: great, they like chocolate. I put the eggs on the glue traps hoping it would catch it. The next morning, I woke up to see all of the eggs plucked off. Smart bastard. So instead of placing the glue traps in different parts of the kitchen, I put them all together like one large glue trap valley, and this time it worked. Later that night I heard a squeaking and the rat got all jumbled up in traps, hysterically scampering across the floor. I had to throw another glue trap on top of it, making a bit of a rat-trap sandwich. I knew I had to kill it as reminded by my girlfriend, standing on a chair screaming bloody murder — it was honestly the largest animal I’ve ever had to kill. Rising to the occasion, I crushed it with my foot until the squeaking stopped. You know in movies when the villain suffocates the person in the hospital with a pillow? It was kind of like that.

I lifted my foot and took a deep breath — sending a prayer out to the rat gods. There was silence for a moment. An then it started squeaking… again. Because, as I would find out later, rats can RESTART their fucking hearts. So we go through the whole excruciating scene again, with the suffocating with the foot like the villain with the pillow in the hospital until this time I was sure it was dead. I didn’t pray to the rat gods that time. Undead fucker.

Crisis over. Right? What I didn’t know was that, when you see one rat…it means there are hundreds. Rats are routine based, they have a list of stops per day, and if they put you on their schedule, there is no way getting off of it. So it began that every night, as soon as the sun went down, they came. Like gremlins. The following things actually happened:

• woke rat up after getting home from work, was sleeping in my sweater
• rat jumped out of garbage, as I was discarding soup contents.
• woke rat up after getting home from a show, was sleeping in my bed.
• scratching, lots of scratching everywhere.
• dead rat under kitchen table
• rat staring at me having sex
• rats playing in the walls. loudly.
• two rats hiding out in my kitchen
• rat poop on my bed

Appropriate reaction:

[

2. Wild Kingdom:

Used to live in a five bedroom basement apartment in Alphabet City. It was gross, and dark, and damp. We kept it very clean though, and the rent was absurdly cheap so I was willing to put up with literally anything, including:

Lots and lots of wolf spiders. Wolf spiders in the bed, wolf spiders in your shoes, wolf spiders crawling on naked girlfriend’s back as she slept.

A thousand times more of those whiskery centipedes. We got used to those and just let them live to help us out against the…

Massive waterbug infestation. Every. Single. Morning. I would hunt and kill a huge cockroach before taking a shower. But that was fine by comparison because…

A rat died in the bathroom ceiling, it wasn’t the first (we’ll get to that later), but it led to…

A huge infestation of maggots dropping out of the bathroom ceiling fan on naked female roommate as she was about to get into the shower. Those weren’t the only larva in the bathroom though, at another point we had these really long thin worms attacking our toilet brush.

Unstoppable regular cockroaches everywhere. Every single appliance would have tiny dead cockroaches in the little LED screen. We were like “fuck it” though because you can only kill so many bugs in a day.

Then there was the rat invasion. Somehow rats managed to work their way into the walls of the apartment from the front of the building. We’d hear them running across the ceiling, fucking, fighting, etc. I’ll always remember the Beijing Olympics as being punctuated by the screams of a constant rat orgy. Then the exterminator came, and then we had a solid New York summer of decomposing rat smell.

And yet, despite all this the place remained populated (not by me, but by other roommates) all the way up until Sandy took it out.

Appropriate reaction:

1. Oh dear God:

I had neighbor a few years ago. It was an older woman who apparently let a war vet stay with her some 2 years before I moved in, but he was only supposed to be there for “a few weeks”.

Well I frequently told my landlord about the very wrong noises, shouts, screams coming from the apartment. Sometimes so loud I’d leave my apartment to go to the bar and I could still hear the sounds all the way down the block. Moans, yelps, “fuck me, fuck you”, whimpers… very disturbing stuff.

The cops would sometimes spend an hour or more when they’d get called trying to get in, or get the guy in question out. I watched him take on 12 officers in a scuffle outside our doors in the hallway, him spitting, swinging, yelling “I’ll KILL you!” usually followed by “Just KILL me!”… Always with the same end result. Dude getting put on a gurney and mask looking like Hannibal.

After almost 2 years of living next to this, the landlord got eviction granted. The woman was taken to the psych ward and put under suicide watch and some family of hers was contacted. Apparently the war-vet was physically and mentally torturing her and another war-vet that was a quadriplegic. Blood letting, drugs, fucked up fetishes… the dirt/disease and stench of the place when they finally started clearing it out… My landlord likened it to “Up the river in Apocalypse Now” in terms of depravity.

After that the roaches largely left the building and now there is a nice family living there.

Appropriate reaction: That one is too terrible for a funny GIF. Never mind. We’re very sorry for ruining your morning.

A Rare Top-Floor Classic at the Iconic Beresford |

Read article : A Rare Top-Floor Classic at the Iconic Beresford |

A top-floor spread at the historic Beresford on Central Park West (Photo: Tom Sibley)

“You get the whole skyline, so it’s good for fireworks, for the parade,” Stribling vice chairman Kirk Henckels told the Observer as we peered out the south-facing living room window in the Beresford that afforded views of  Central Park West and the reservoir.

“She has a big party every year for the Thanksgiving Day parade,” Mr. Henckels added of the owner, who has resided in the 20th-floor apartment at 7 West 81st Street for nearly 25 years. Alas, now that her children are grown, she has decided to list her 3,000-square-foot co-op for $10.5 million.

The children are now in their twenties. (Photo: Tom Sibley)

While one of the three bedrooms, each with en-suite bath, has since been converted into an office, another looks untouched—twin beds with names hand-painted on the headboards, a few posters adorning the otherwise pristine walls.

“This is the top floor of the western tower. I wish we had a blue sky today—it’s just glorious,” Mr. Henckels lamented as we strolled into the master suite, which appeared to be fully prepared for spring, with a flowery duvet cover that complimented the equally floral curtains. Like the living room and office, the master has southern exposures; other rooms have east and west views.

The décor—antique tables and oil paintings in ornate gold frames—went nicely with the original Emery Roth-designed moldings and hardware, along with herringbone strip oak floors in the entertaining rooms and entry. The master bath contains another of the famed architect’s touches.

“It’s a toe tester,” Mr. Henckels said excitedly, pointing to a small golden faucet in the shower. “So one doesn’t scald oneself!”

The more modern kitchen had been recently renovated, with white cabinets and countertops and a rather unique feature underfoot.

Cork! (Photo: Tom Sibley)

“The floors are cork,” Mr. Henckels told us. “I love them! We’re both from Texas, so we both grew up with cork floors.”

A very Beresford-esque library. (Photo: Tom Sibley)

Directly off the kitchen, adjacent to a formal bar, is a library, where one of the two feline inhabitants had taken up residence. “One year, [the owner] had a party and couldn’t find the cat after,” Mr. Henckels said. “She got a call from the downstairs neighbors—the cat had jumped down to the air conditioner on the floor below!”

Gillingham Terrace, Bath, Somerset BA1, 3 bedroom terraced house for sale - 43006116

Read article : Gillingham Terrace, Bath, Somerset BA1, 3 bedroom terraced house for sale - 43006116

This lovely home features a number of period features including stripped wood floors and period fireplaces. It is light and bright with south facing city views and is well presented throughout.

Gillingham Terrace is a row of period houses tucked away in a no-through road, 0.8 miles walk from Bath city centre. A popular road with a real community feel, the residents have a street party here every year. Amenities can be found on Camden Road or London Road, including supermarket, café, pubs and health centre. Larkhall village also has an excellent array of independent shops. It is conveniently located for a number of highly regarded local schools including St. Stephen's and St. Saviours CofE primary schools and the Royal High and Kingswood secondary schools. Access to the A4 and M4 is more convenient via Lansdown or the London Road.

On the ground floor there is a reception room with sash window to the front and bedroom three which could also be a second reception room. On the lower ground floor there is a spacious kitchen/diner, well fitted, with a door leading out to the garden, a large family bathroom and utility cupboard. On the first floor there is a master bedroom with an en-suite shower room and a third bedroom. On the top floor is a loft space currently used as bedroom four with stunning city views.

The south facing garden has been recently landscaped and is ideal for entertaining.

Entrance Hall
Front door. Dado rails. Coving. Wall mounted radiator. Stripped wood flooring. Staircase to upper and lower floors.
Living Room - 13'3 into bay x 10'10(4.04m into bay x 3.30m)
Sash bay window to front. Coving. Two wall mounted radiators. TV point. Power points. Oak flooring.
Bedroom 3/Reception Room 2 - 12'8 x 9'1(3.86m x 2.77m)
Sash window to rear. Coving. Wall mounted radiator. Period fireplace. Power points. Carpeted flooring.
Kitchen/Diner - 16'6 x 15'5(5.03m x 4.70m)
Sash window to rear. Recessed lighting. Tiled splash backs. Stainless steel inset sink and drainer unit. Range of matching base and wall units, cupboards and drawers. Laminated worktops. Space and plumbing for dishwasher. Inset gas hob. Stainless steel cooker hood with stainless steel splash back. Fitted double electric oven. Space for fridge/freezer. Pantry cupboard. Utility cupboard housing space and plumbing for washing machine and tumble dryer. Wall mounted radiator. Power points. Door to rear garden.
Bathroom
Frosted window to front. Recessed lighting. Part tiling to walls. Panelled p-shaped bath with shower and screen over. Pedestal wash hand basin with light points and wall mounted mirror above. Low level WC. Heated towel rail. Radiator. Extractor fan. Large storage cupboard. Tiled flooring.
Landing
Sash window to rear. Dado rails. Stripped wood flooring. Under stairs storage cupboard.
Bedroom 1 - 14'8 x 11'0(4.46m x 3.35m)
Two sash windows to front. Period fireplace. Shelving fitted in recess. Wall mounted radiator. Wall mounted radiator. Power points. Stripped wood flooring. Door to en-suite shower room.

En-suite shower room:
Fully tiled walls. Shower enclosure with rainfall shower read. Wash hand basin. Low level WC. Heated towel rail. Tiled flooring.
Bedroom 2 - 12'8 x 9'5(3.87m x 2.87m)
Sash window to rear with far reaching views. Period fireplace. Stripped wood flooring. Wall mounted radiator. Power points.
Loft Space - 14'4 x 13'5(4.38m x 4.10m)
Currently used as fourth bedroom. Four Velux windows with far reaching views. Wall mounted radiator. Under eaves storage.
Rear Garden - 18'0 x 14'9(5.49m x 4.50m)
Fences to sides and rear. Laid to slate flagstones. Raised wooden decked area. Gated rear access.

4 bedroom property for sale in Boston Avenue, Southend-on-sea

Read article : 4 bedroom property for sale in Boston Avenue, Southend-on-sea

****NO ONWARD CHAIN****
This stunning Edwardian architectural style four bedroom detached family home is a wonder to behold!

As you walk through the beautiful original stained glass entrance porch into the grand hallway, one will be impressed by this spacious and lovingly cared for home .

This property is located close to Southend town centre and both mainline stations to London Liverpool Street and Fenchurch Street.

Offered with no onward chain, viewing is strongly advised to avoid missing the opportunity to acquire such a beautiful property.

ENTRANCE
Original wooden panelled door with ornate stained glass inserts leading into:

HALLWAY
An original stained glass windows to front, a high ceiling with original coving, dado rail, ground floor solid oak flooring and a beautiful solid wooden banister staircase leading to first floor landing. In keeping with the style of the property, character high skirting boards and two radiators.

GROUND FLOOR CLOAKROOM
Double glazed window, low level wc and wash hand basin.

LIVING ROOM 6.32m x 3.61m (20'9 x 11'10)
Double glazed obscured window to side aspect, two further feature windows to side, original leadlight French Doors leading to conservatory. Feature high ceiling with original cornice/ceiling rose and dado rail. Feature cast iron fireplace with oak surround and granite hearth, character high skirting board, fitted carpet and radiator.

CONSERVATORY 3.76m x 2.82m (12'4 x 9'3)
Double glazed windows with feature stained glass fanlights, ceramic tiled flooring and double glazed sliding patio doors leading to garden.

DINING ROOM 5.28m x 4.42m (17'4 x 14'6)
Double glazed bay window with stained glass fanlights to front aspect, feature high ceiling with original cornice/ceiling rose and dado rail. Coal effect limestone fireplace, character high skirting boards, fitted carpet and radiator.

MORNING ROOM 3.58m x 3.05m (11'9 x 10')
Double glazed window to side aspect with stained glass fanlights, feature high ceiling with original cornice/ceiling rose and dado rail. Feature fireplace original character built-in storage cupboard, solid oak flooring, character high skirting and radiator. Archway leading to:

KITCHEN 3.58m x 3.02m (11'9 x 9'11)
Double glazed window to rear aspect overlooking garden and further double glazed door to side aspect. Range of solid pine base and eye level units, stainless steel single drainer sink with mixer taps and tiled splash backs. Integrated gas hob, double oven and grill. Freestanding fridge, freezer, tumble dryer and integrated dishwasher which will be included within the sale (untested). Ceramic tiled flooring and radiator.

UTILITY ROOM
Single glazed window to rear aspect, base units, stainless steel single drainer sink with mixer tap, additional space for free standing washing machine which is to be included in the sale (untested) Space for fridge/freezer appliances and ceramic tiled flooring.

FIRST FLOOR LANDING 5.21m x 1.78m widening to 2.34m (17'1 x 5'10 widen
Beautiful feature leadlight double glazed stained glass half bay window to side aspect, feature high ceiling with original cornice and loft access, dado rail, character high skirting boards, fitted carpet and radiator.

MASTER BEDROOM 5.28m x 2.69m widening to 4.04m (17'4 x 8'10 widen
Larger than average sized bedroom with double glazed curved bay window to front aspect with stained glass fanlights, high ceiling with original cornice, dado rail, character high skirting boards, fitted carpet and radiator.

EN SUITE
Double glazed obscured window to side aspect, large double walk-in shower, low level wc, pedestal wash hand basin, wall mounted chrome heated towel rail, spotlights, fully tiled walls and flooring.

BEDROOM TWO 5.79m x 3.63m (19' x 11'11)
Double glazed leadlight window with stained glass fanlights to rear aspect plus small obscured glazed window to side aspect. High ceiling with original cornice, dado rail, character high skirting boards, fitted carpet and radiator.

BEDROOM THREE 3.48m x 3.25m (11'5 x 10'8)
Double glazed window to rear aspect, high ceiling with original cornice, large fitted storage cupboard, built in wardrobe, high character skirting board, fitted carpet and radiator.

BEDROOM FOUR 3.58m x 2.29m (11'9 x 7'6)
Double glazed leadlight window with stain glass fanlights to front aspect, dado rail, built-in wardrobe, high character skirting board, fitted carpet and radiator.

FAMILY BATHROOM
Double glazed obscured window to rear aspect. Corner Carronite bath with shower over and glass screen, pedestal wash hand basin, low level wc, heated towel rail/radiator, large airing cupboard housing a Worcester boiler and water tank. Tiled flooring.

SEPARATE WC
Double glazed window to side aspect, cornice to ceiling, low level wc, wash hand basin, half tiled walls and vinyl flooring.

REAR GARDEN
Beautiful landscaped garden comprising of a patio area and pond. Steps leading down to a lawned area with mature shrubs borders, wooden shed and fencing to all boundaries.

FRONT
Block paved driveway providing off street parking for four/five vehicles.

GARAGE
With power, light and inspection pit.

Disclaimer (SOS)
These particulars are believed to be correct and have been verified by or on behalf of the Vendor. However any interested party will satisfy themselves as to their accuracy and as to any other matter regarding the Property or its location or proximity to other features or facilities which is of specific importance to them. Distances and areas are only approximate and unless otherwise stated fixtures contents and fittings are not included in the sale. Prospective purchasers are always advised to commission a full inspection and structural survey of the Property before deciding to proceed with a purchase.

30 Ways To Upgrade Your Apartment On A Budget

Read article : 30 Ways To Upgrade Your Apartment On A Budget

So you’ve just moved into your first apartment on your own (or with roommates), and you seem to be baffled by how expensive everything is! Well don’t worry, because there are ways to upgrade your apartment on a budget. Sure, you pay electricity and internet.. and water..and heat. There is some serious budgeting needed in order to live comfortably. I also understand that you want to know more than just “put baking soda in your fridge to avoid it from stinking up.” So here are 15 great ways to upgrade your apartment while on a budget! Good luck!

*This article is in collaboration with Kayla Nannariello.

1. Use Command Hooks!

The most standard tool among students! Command hooks have a universal purpose, to make life easier. I have command hooks for clothes, I have command hooks for lights, I have command hooks for my whiteboard and anything else I want to hang. they can hold a lot of weight depending on the size of hooks you get. I have hooks for my keys, my umbrella, any dangling wires and even my night light! These little life and space savers not only make it easier to find stuff, but also make your place look so much cleaner and organized…something you definitely want to see when you come back from a long day of classes. This way you will have a place to put your keys instead of throwing them around and regretting it the next morning when you’re rushing around.

2. Use the free cups and bottles you get around campus fairs (housing fair, clubs and organizations fairs, career fair.)

Don’t just use them to drink; use them as pen stands, stands to hold your dish washing brush, fill them up with change that you don’t want in your wallet. I covered my cup with three layers of paper on the top and made a slit through the center and there you have it, your college piggy bank (you’re going to need that money for laundry and err..)
The bottles particularly, can be used to store pretty much anything. One of my bottles is filled up with paper clips. The other is in the fridge so I have cold water when I need it, and another one makes for an easy lime-juice dispenser.

3. Don’t hold back, get a huge trash can.

This is by far the most convenient thing I have done for myself in the apartment. We bought a 55 gallon trash can from Walmart and now we save on trash bags all the time…and the best part? We don’t have to take it out very often. If you want to budget and you’re lazy, this is a win-win. Moreover, these giant cans have a cover, so they don’t stink up the apartment even if you decide to dump food that’s days old because, come on, let’s face it, every college student forgets to throw away old food for a long time because they actually forgot or they’re just procrastinating.

4. Keep those twist ties you get with almost anything you buy.

You know when you buy a loaf of bread or something that has wound up wire over it? And you decide to throw it away? Don’t. These things can come in handy at any time in your apartment. Leaving for summer and don’t want to let the cutlery just lie around? Use this to wind up the spoons together and store them away. Phone charger too long for where its plugged in? Wind it up a bit and hold it together with this! Tape can make it sticky, very easily. Opened a pack of Doritos and want to save it for later? Don’t leave it open, use these!

5. Use an old or cheap blanket as a window blind.

I’m not kidding, some blankets at Walmart go for less than $8, and if you are renting an apartment, it’s highly unlikely that it will come with fancy blackout curtains. Get a blanket, and use command hooks to hang it up right around your window. Put two loops at the bottom corners so you can roll it up and hook it to the hooks on the top to make a blind, there you go! Cheap and easy blackout curtains to help you sleep in after that rough Friday night.

6. Use over-the-door hooks.

You don’t want to have to deal with putting 5 command hooks up when you know you need them there, and you want something that you can load up more than just the capacity of those sticky magicians. They’re cheap and there are so many options on Amazon. There are no restrictions for these and you do not need to do any work, just stick the hooks over the door so they hold on and hang away! In any case, most rental apartments will not allow you to drill holes and screw in hooks and this is the only alternative to get hooks as strong.

7. Get LED strip lighting for your apartment.

Ever get that feeling when you don’t want any lights on but also want to be able to see and move around your room? Here’s your solution, and it’s pretty cool. These lights go for anywhere between $15-$25, and they come in lengths up to 32 feet! You simply put them across the top of your room’s walls with command hooks (of course) or if the wall is flat enough then you can even use their built-in adhesive. They have a remote, and they are LEDs, so they’re barely using any electricity. They have brightness control and color changing capabilities for when you’re throwing that Saturday night party. It’s easy, cheap and will impress any guests. They can set the mood, become an ideal everyday light and even become party strobe lights.

8. When life gives you lemons, CLEAN!

You know how after you make a glass of lemonade, you throw out the squeezed lemon…right? Wrong. This is the perfect way to save yourself from over-spraying the kitchen with Febreze. Just throw that thing into the sink disposal, run it and run warm water as you do so. Crushed lemon will release a fresh aroma, much better than using any spray since it’s acidity will clean as well. Got a dirty or stinky microwave? Grab any microwavable mid-sized bowl and fill it halfway with water, cut a lemon in half and squeeze both halves only a little into the water, not all the way. Now dump them into the water and microwave for 3 minutes. Once it’s done, your microwave will smell fresh and will be much easier to clean!

9. Use a giant bowl of water to keep your room air from being too dry.

The weather gets dry and cold in the winter, which means we all start having dry hands, and feel really dehydrated. Our apartment heaters can be the culprit in this dry air problem. A simple solution is to take a large bowl, fill it with water and simply place it in your room. This works, and it works well. It will keep the air slightly humid and especially if you’re from a less cold region, you will be saved from terrible and painful dry skin. Save your money and don’t buy those heavy and space hogging humidifiers, do this instead!

10. Use Brita filters!

If you’re the kind that likes to drink bottled or filtered water, you’d be spending at least $4 a day or more than those who drink tap water. But what if I said you could drink filtered tap water? Look no further! If you don’t already know about Brita jugs and filters, you need to know. These things have filters built into them, so it’s as easy as filling up a jug by turning on the faucet. It even reminds you when to change a filter, and no its not every week, it’s around every 4 months.

11. Buy everything in bulk.

If you’re at Walmart and you love getting orange juice for that night, it is very likely that you will come back to get more. Instead, save yourself the trouble and the money…buy a giant jug of it, or even four jugs of it. Buying bigger packs saves more than you think, and you will have to make less trips, so there’s time and energy saved too! This applies to pretty much anything from frozen food to toilet paper. I would even recommend buying the large boxes of laundry detergent/pods. You’re not going to stop doing laundry, so you might as well stock up.

Using Amazon’s ‘dash buttons’ is a pretty neat way to be lazy too. Just press the button when you’re running low and there you have it, delivered supplies to your doorstep. They even have these things for Red bull and Gatorade cases, and they don’t cost anything extra. You get a discount on your first order that matches the amount you paid to get the button so that’s pretty neat and convenient.

12. Buy Windex, a lot of it.

This magical solution we all know is much more useful than you think it is. You can use it to clean counters, tables, wall stains, floor spills and pretty much anything that your apartment life can throw at you. Simply buy a refill after your first spray bottle. Fear not, Windex can even clean your stained bathroom mirror very easily so you can look good and feel fresh every morning!

13. Buy space-savers for literally everything.

I have one for snacks, one for stationery and one for cutlery. We also have one in the living room which helps when we simply leave our stuff out. There are sizes that fit on a table to keep small items and sizes that stand alone and can even be used as a bedside table or in my case, a place to keep the bowl of water so the air doesn’t get too dry!

14. Look into Mainstays products.

They make inexpensive household items such as the space-savers I mentioned. They also make furniture, so if you’re looking for a desk in your room, a chair, a comfortable chair to watch TV in, sheets, blankets and anything else you might need, they probably have it. Remember, most of these items are the cheapest when the semester starts and the large stores are having their sales. Most of my kitchen, including plates, cooking vessels and cutlery is from Mainstays, they have great deals and it’s definitely worth it.

15. Add some Throw Pillows!

Throw pillows are a great way to spruce up your apartment without spending too much     money. They come in millions of prints, so you’ll always be able to find ones that match your personal style and the look you’re going for!

16. Use decorative baskets as opposed to plastic storage bins.

Baskets are a great alternative to plastic storage bins. They act as decor but keep your things organized just as well! There are so many cute basket options out there whether you enjoy wired baskets, canvas, or woven ones and they come in all shapes and sizes to fit into whatever space you need!

17. Wall art makes a huge difference!

Dress up any boring drab walls you have in your apartment with some wall art. The possibilites here are endless! You can even buy just the prints or download prints from sites like Etsy and add your own frame.

18. Add slipcovers to your furniture.

Do you have an old beat up couch and can’t afford to buy a new one? No worries, just buy a slipcover. Slipcovers are awesome because they come in so many different colors and designs, and you can switch them out whenever you want a new look!

19. Make your space more inviting with picture frames.

Another cheap way to spruce up your apartment is to buy cute picture frames and fill them with your favorite pictures! It’s a great way to add a personal touch to your apartment. This will make your living space feel more cozy just like the home you grew up in!

20.  A rug.

If you don’t like your flooring, area rugs are a great way to cover it up. They come in so many different sizes that you’re bound to find one that will fit your space. A good rug can do wonders for an apartment by covering up any messed up flooring and making your apartment look bigger than it actually is.

21. Set out some candles.

They’re cheap, they smell good, and they act as decor. Candles have a great way of turning any drab apartment into an inviting atmosphere!

22. Decorate with artificial succulents.

Fake succulents are great because they require no maintenance. And unlike real plants, you don’t have to worry about replacing it when it dies.

23. Your table lamps can make a statement.

Instead of buying simple lamps for your end tables, get more interesting ones. Not only will they dress up the room, but they are bound to be a conversation starter.

24. Buy simple furniture.

When buying furniture, don’t buy anything crazy. Go for things that are neutral colors and won’t go out of style and can look timeless in any setting.

25. Choose the right comforter.

Your comforter can make or a break a room, and unless you are absolutely in love with a printed comforter, I wouldn’t buy it. Instead, go for a solid color, preferably a neutral. This way you aren’t limited on how you decorate your room. The solid color also gives the room a very clean feel.

26. Opt for placemats.

Placemats are a super cheap way to make your dining room or kitchen look instantly more put together.

27. Get a shower curtain.

Shower curtains take up the most room in a bathroom, so make sure yours is something that people won’t mind looking at. Resist the crazy printed ones and instead, go for a simple print that will dress up your bathroom and make it seem brighter and bigger.

28. Add a good throw blanket into the mix.

Throw blankets are great because they give a cozy feel to the room and it’s always great to have a blanket nearby, but they also work as decoration.

29. Add some mirrors to your walls.

Mirrors are amazing because they make the room look bigger and they tend to draw in people’s attention.

30. If you ever need anything for your apartment, always look it up Amazon first.

When I was setting up my apartment, there were many things I found that I didn’t even know would help me so much! For example, many of my sockets have a switch extension, so I can turn them off while I am not using them, without unplugging them. This is especially useful for behind the bed and under the desk sockets, since unplugging requires a lot of effort and plugging it back in is even worse…you might even have to move the entire piece of furniture. Power strips, USB adapters and anything you can think off, it’s probably cheaper on Amazon.

Do you have any other good ideas on ways to upgrade your apartment on a budget? Share in the comments below!

*This is a sponsored post. All opinions are my own.

Featured Image source:http: //homelk.com/apartments/cute-college-apartment-bedrooms-for-girls

Tags: apartment essentials, apartment hacks, things you need for your first apartment, upgrade your apartment, upgrade your apartment on a budget, ways to upgrade apartment

Miami's Top Hotel Penthouse Suites

Read article : Miami's Top Hotel Penthouse Suites

When a standard room simply won’t do, it’s a good thing that Miami’s already luxurious hotels can accommodate with over the top digs—and price tags to match. Here’s a peek inside Miami’s most sought after suites with room to spare, floor-to-ceiling windows, private rooftop pools, marble bathrooms, and panoramic views stretching from the Atlantic Ocean to the downtown skyline. This is our ranking of the most outrageous penthouses in Miami.

1. The Setai 

The Setai (pictured at top) is perhaps the most expensive hotel in South Beach—period. And the penthouse gives you 10,000 square-feet of zen-luxe accommodations, including a 3,000 square foot ocean front terrace—all for a mere $32,000 a night. The views from the 40th floor are best enjoyed from the private terrace’s infinity pool and Jacuzzi. The four-bedroom, four-bath suite also includes a Steinway piano, a full-service kitchen and amenities like butler service upon request, Frette linens, a rainfall shower, and a Bose surround-sound system. 2001 Collins Ave., Miami Beach; 305-520-6000; thesetaihotel.com.

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2. Faena

Checking into the Faena Suite is like setting foot on a Baz Luhrmann movie set. The filmmaker and his wife, set and costume designer Catharine Martin, collaborated with Alan Faeana on the creative direction of the hotel. The suite is awash in lush red velvet, lavish animal prints and turquoise and gold accents. Connecting to a premiere oceanfront suite, it can be arranged into an extravagant four-bedroom suite at 3,549-square-feet. Drink in panoramic views of the Atlantic from multiple bathrooms or retreat in one of the five oversized bathrooms with a soaking tub. From $20,000 per night. 3201 Collins Ave., Miami Beach; 305-534-8800; faena.com. 

 

3. The Miami Beach EDITION 

A two-story bungalow at The Miami Beach EDITION is like a little slice of heaven. With blonde oak and walnut wood paneling and plush, white sofas piled high with pillows, the aesthetic is all understated elegance. Outfitted with a separate bedroom, dining room and living room, the bathroom is a spa-like treat with a personal sauna. Top floor bungalows are equipped with private rooftop soaking tub and all enjoy panoramic views of the sea with oversized balconies. 2901 Collins Ave., Miami Beach; 786-257-4500; editionhotels.com/miami-beach.  

 

4. Mandarin Oriental Miami

Famous for being a Forbes Travel Guide Triple Five Star Hotel in Miami, the Mandarin Oriental, Miami features two presidential suite options that channel this tranquil-luxe experience. The Oriental Suite on the 20th floor is the largest room in the hotel at 2,365 square-feet. With floor-to-ceiling windows, an oversized master bathroom, and a working fireplace, it’s a cozy retreat with a wraparound balcony and sweeping views of the city and Biscayne Bay. There’s also a fully equipped kitchen, a dining room that entertains eight, and a piano “christened” by Luciano Pavarotti. For the true spa seeker, reserve the Mandarin Suite on the 19th floor and enjoy a personal therapist on call 24 hours a day for in-room services in your designated relaxation room. The 2,000 square-foot room also boasts an infinity-edge soaking tub and a two-person, glass-enclosed steam shower. A night in either room will run you $9,500. 500 Brickell Key Dr., Miami; 305-913-8288. mandarinoriental.com/miami.

5. The Confidante Miami Beach

The 14th floor penthouse at The Confidante Miami Beach boasts a wraparound private terrace with both ocean and city views. The 980-square-foot pied a terrehas a master king bedroom with separate living and dining room and can be expanded to include an additional 367-square-foot deluxe king room with balcony. The luxurious bathroom includes a rainfall shower and whirlpool tub. All of this in Confidante’s signature playful palette of bright colors and patterns with a touch of vintage glamour. Nightly rates start at $1,500. 4041 Collins Ave., Miami Beach; 786-605-4041; theconfidante.unbound.hyatt.com

6. W South Beach

The W South Beach has a collection of VIP suites, but none is so glamorous as the E-WOW Penthouse. The 2,600 square-foot suite has three bedrooms, all outfitted with king-sized beds and four balconies with unrivaled views of the Atlantic Ocean. The modern-luxe furnishings are complimented with fresh orchids, a Nespresso machine, and a plush robe and slippers. Add to this a rooftop deck with private plunge pool and a grill, and you’ve found your home away from home. E-WOW comes with all the perks of a true VIP, including personalized concierge service, guaranteed entry into W’s nightclub Wall, and a farewell gift on the night of your departure. The E-WOW Penthouse is $4,000 a night. 2201 Collins Ave., Miami Beach; 305-938-3000; wsouthbeach.com.

 

7. JW Marriott Marquis Miami

Situated 41 skyscraping stories above downtown Miami with sweeping views of Biscayne Bay and the Miami River, the JW Marriott Marquis’ Presidential Suite with floor-to-ceiling soundproof windows seems to float above it all. At 2,479 square-feet, the suite includes two bedrooms with Brazilian cherry wood floors, two and a half baths with Italian marble, a living room, dining room, office, and private treadmill room. This modern luxury in the clouds can be yours for $4,000 a night. 255 Biscayne Blvd. Way, Miami; 305-421-8600; marriott.com.

8. SLS South Beach

You can party like a rock star—or just sleep like one—at the SLS South Beach inside one of Lenny Kravitz’s Kravitz Design Inc. penthouses. Choose from the Villa overlooking the action at Hyde Beach or the Tower on the top floor of the historic tower originally designed by architect L. Murray Dixon in 1939. Each high design penthouse is about 1,500 square-feet with a spacious ocean view balcony. The Tower features a grand living room, dining room, bar, and master suite with sumptuous interiors, like black and white marble, glass mosaic tile, textured leather, and screen-printed wallpaper in pewter and gold. The Villa has a contemporary feel with Cyprus wood paneled walls and stone floors, and a master bath with white Thassos marble walls and glass mosaic floors. If “you’re gonna go [this] way,” pricing starts at $2,500 per night. 1701 Collins Ave., Miami Beach; 305-674-1701; slshotels.com/southbea ch.

 

9. InterContinental Miami

Originally named for President Ronald Reagan and Princess Caroline of Monaco, the InterContinental Miami’s pair of penthouse suites have been given an upgrade thanks to a 30 million dollar hotel renovation and the eye of tennis superstar Venus Williams and her V Starr design firm. Now named the Royal Palm and the Metropolis, each 3,300 square-foot suite offers a master bedroom, living room, dining room, multi-media room, office, and kitchen with gorgeous views of Miami and Biscayne Bay. A favorite hotel of competitors and attendees of the annual Sony Open Tennis tournament, Williams’ aesthetic is the perfect compliment to this classic downtown destination. Both penthouses start at $3,000 per night. 100 Chopin Plaza, Miami; 305-577-1000; icmiamihotel.com.

 

10. 1 Hotel South Beach

At 3,600 square-feet, boasting two king master bedrooms, two-and-a-half baths, a living room, pool table alcove, media room and a balcony with sweeping ocean views and a daybed for lounging, 1 Hotel’s Presidential suite is a luxurious retreat. With furniture made of rough hewn white oak and natural fibers, wood-grained tile floors and nature-inspired pendant lamps, 1’s penthouse reflects the aesthetic of “bringing the outside in” at this eco-driven luxury hotel. Bathrooms feature walk-in showers and free-standing Boffi tubs. A throne-worthy rattan swing adds a touch of whimsy to the blissful space. Rates available upon request. 2341 Collins Ave., South Beach; 305-604-1000; 1hotels.com/south-beach.

11. Delano

Delano is considered the original South Beach “scene” hotel. Designed by Philippe Starck to resemble a glamorous stumble down the rabbit hole in Alice in Wonderland, it has an equally stylish penthouse. At 1,660 square-feet, it features a master bedroom, dining room, sitting area, and wet bar. Picture dazzling all-white rooms with Starck-designed custom furniture and the signature bowl of green apples amidst billowing floor-to-ceiling white curtains. The bathrooms feature oversized Italian marble soaking tubs, and there’s also a spacious private balcony for discreet sunbathing and incredible views of the aquamarine sea. Rates are available upon request. 1685 Collins Ave.; Miami Beach; 305-672-2000; morganshotelgroup.com/delano.

Shayne Benowitz is Miami.com’s Travel Editor. Sign up for her monthly newsletter at ShayneBenowitz.com.