Product> Small Spaces and High Design in the Bath

Read article : Product> Small Spaces and High Design in the Bath

Open Space Shower by Duravit

Designing for a smaller spaces shouldn’t translate to a reduction in quality finishes and fixtures. Following are a selection of bath fittings that serve as exceptional finds for tight rooms.

Open Space Shower
Duravit

Vienna-based Eoos has collaborated on a folding shower that’s perfect for a bathroom with limited square footage. Available in clear or mirrored glass, the four walled unit folds into a chrome frame that conveniently hides all fittings, including shower and fixtures, when not in operation. The bottom can be outfitted with Duravit’s shower tray or set onto a tiled floor with a drain.

Maris Wall-Hung Toilet by TOTO

Maris Wall-Hung Toilet
TOTO

Toto’s trim Maris wall-hung toilet offers space-saving solutions for powder rooms or small bathrooms. Besides adding nine inches of floor space, the hidden tank and dual flush system optimizes water efficiency without sacrificing performance. The bowl is protectively coated with Sanigloss, which makes cleaning a breeze.

Williams District Tile-Crown Molding by Waterworks" src="http://42mzqz26jebqf6rd034t5pef-wpengine.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/Waterworks.Molding-Crown_800-550x412.jpg" width="550" height="412" />

Roman and Williams District Tile-Crown Molding by Waterworks

Roman and Williams District Tile-Crown Molding
Waterworks

Robin Standefer and Stephen  Alesch’s new R.W. Atlas fittings line of bath fixtures for Waterworks includes a tile collection as well as District Tile Trimmers, hand glazed ornamental tile details that come in a range of 16 shades, and in 14 sizes. The addition of crown molding to a tiled wall can add architectural interest while creating the illusion of a master bath, even in a tiny abode.

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Gentle Single Lever by Dornbracht

Gentle Single Lever
Dornbracht

Italian designer Matteo Thun’s Gentle fixture collection now includes everything a proper bath requires: a towel rack, hook, tub handle, and soap dish. The single lever wall-mounted faucet in polished chrome takes up limited wall space and can be switched on with a flip of the wrist.

Quadtwo by Boffi

Quadtwo
Boffi

American designer Jeffrey Bernett has created the perfect solution for a tight squeeze. Quadtwo, an all-in-one sink and cabinet combination, is made from MDF, lacquered in a matte finish, and offered in 15 colors. The surface is manufactured from Cristalplant with drawers that have the option to be specified on the left or right side.

Kilo Sink by Hastings

Kilo Sink
Hastings

Hasting’s new Whitestone collection of ceramic sinks comes in a variety of shapes and sizes, all recessed, inset, and wall-hung. Offered
in 25 styles and cast from clay, the Kilo sink’s thin construction creates the illusion of lightness while the support is knockdown sturdy.

A climactic ending for Eric Prydz with Deadmau5 at Hï Ibiza

Read article : A climactic ending for Eric Prydz with Deadmau5 at Hï Ibiza

Eric Prydz is one of the most successful electronic producers on this planet. As his first residency came to a close, here's how it all went down.

Looking at his long career you cannot deny that the Swedish craftsman is able to do it all. His music style varies greatly, a truly diverse producer of dance sounds. First, you have the popular releases under his own surname, notably the chart topping 2004 hit Call On Me. Then you have the trance stylings of Pryda, releasing huge tracks like The End, under a progressive house infused label named Pryda as well. He delves even further into the music with Techno projects like Cirez D moniker and his other label, Mouseville. Truly a man of many talents. In previous years on the island of Ibiza, he has played at Amnesia, gathering many fans whilst doing so.

This year, there has been a shift in the Ibiza clubbing world. Many events have changed venues, some new events have been formed. The Ushuaïa Entertainment owned, Hï Ibiza was built over the winter of 2016/17 and stands in place of where Space was. The brand new venue is like something out of a science fiction movie, unbelievably cool and crisp decor with fantastic sound and lighting production inside.

With such a high profile venue fresh on the White Isle, all that was left was to book great artists to play over the summer season. The booking of Eric Prydz's 10-event residency was a brilliant choice. Prydz has been recently amazing audiences with his globally successful 4.0 show and electronic music fans have pretty excited, filling the venue every week.

Over the past 10 shows, we have seen a massive amount of fantastic artists come and feature alongside resident Prydz. Matthew Dear, Kölsch, Pig & Dan, Agoria, Catz 'N Dogz, Tube & Berger and Dusky have all featured on the island, with some memorable sets. But the act for me stood out from the all rest of them over the season was deadmau5.

I went to both dates he played. For me, it was the fulfilment of a 10-year wait to see him and he did not disappoint. As his first appearance on the island after two years, it was great to see him at the closing party of the season, first alongside Cristoph in the Theatre room and then a special back-to-back set from Andrea Oliva and Nick Curly in the Club room, the ending of this epic residency was an incredible experience.

Starting off proceedings for the evening, Cristoph, who is newly signed to Pryda recordings played an atmospheric techno set with heavy selections such as Receiver by HD Substance and a 2pole remix of Inter Galaxy. The British DJ warmed the crowd ready for the arrival of deadmau5. Inside the Theatre room, you could clearly hear that a lot of time and money has been spent on the sound system, an Adamson system now fitted in the place of a Funktion-One rig.

Just outside the Theatre is a beautifully decorated smoking area, like stepping into a scene from Avatar with its glowing neon trees. Around them are various drink-specific bars serving beer, cocktail, tequila and other alcoholic beverages, each decorated in a different way. My personal favourite is the cocktail bar featuring a pink neon sign and flamingos, looking like something straight out Vice City.

Stepping back into the venue, deadmau5 had begun his set, mixing electro samples with hard techno beats, very different from his usual style of productions, more akin to his Testpilot alias. Dancing along to the thumping beat of the kick drum, he masterfully adjusted his analogue kit to bring in chopped and screwed samples of Sometimes Things Get, Whatever followed by dark techno selections such as Sin Control by Raxon.

The black coated Theatre room is a perfect performance space for the Canadian DJ, with strobes and spotlights flashing in time to the beat, lighting the raving audience. The crowd cheered as he placed on his famous mouse head. Next he dropped Onze by Kiko, and the bass rumbled through the dance floor the music pulsating through everyone in the venue. In true deadmau5 fashion, he added a comedic element to his by adding Armageddon vocal snippets (show me what you got!) from popular cartoon Rick and Morty.

Taking a short break from the Theatre room, I took this time to wander around the rest of the venue, stopping first by the Wild Room, the unofficial third room where the bathrooms are. There Paul Reynolds was entertaining a small crowd with funky house tracks like Most Precious Love by Blaze and The Word is Love by Steve Silk Hurley. This area was a welcome change to the hard beats of the other rooms, a nice winding down area of sorts, where you can stop for a bathroom break and still boogie.

In the Club room, Andrea Oliva and Nick Curly were smashing out a Tech House set in a brilliant b2b unison. The lighting in the Club room is more minimal. In here, strips of blue lights flashed from the ceiling as Oliva dropped in the funky, Barrump by Claude VonStroke. Curly followed this with Disco Rain by Gaetano C & Ninho, a techy track with a disco vocal flavour added, also combining tribal percussion elements for an overall more upbeat offering in comparison to the darker Theatre offerings of deadmau5.

With the end of deadmau5 time on stage imminent, he played Systematika by Guy Mantzur & Roy Rosenfeld, a simple but effective techno track which builds and builds into a peak. At this point, he slipped in the famous Ghosts n Stuff vocal and the crowd erupted, every hand reaching to the ceiling of the Theatre. It was an exhilarating feeling that the whole room experienced as this electronic anthem played out to the end of deadmau5 set.

It was now time for Eric Prydz to take over the room in what was the most anticipated part of the evening. He started off in customary Prydz fashion by playing all of his unknown ID tracks first. These, of course, are always the best, grabbing the crowd's attention straight from the get-go. The rising sounds lifted up the audience, with drops sending them wild, dry ice cannons firing and strobe lights flickering. The scene in front of me was one of Prydz dominating the dance floor, fully in control of his musical arena.

The previous time I had seen Eric Prydz he had opted for a darker set, playing tunes that you would expect him to play as Cirez D, for example, his new release under Mouseville, as well as The Accuser, a dark tech monster which has been rocking dance floors this season. However, for the closing, he opted for a more trance and progressive style of set, which was extremely well received. Throughout his set he was flirting with the crowd, adding in synths very close to some of his signature tunes and raising the elation in the room.

He then rewarded the eager crowd with his remix of Flashback by Calvin Harris. The visuals in the Theatre were vamped up for Prydz set as the ceiling LED roof parts lowered, rotating over the crowd displaying space age visuals. Prydz then dropped in the anthemic Rush, a track from his Pryda project as green lasers shone brightly from the stage. These moments make Eric Prydz shows so special.

As the night drew to a close, one last trip around the venue revealed the secret garden tucked away in the corner of the venue. Similarly decorated to the other outside venue, but with a scattering of Tipis where clubbers enjoyed the cool Playad'en Bossa evening in comfort. My friend for the evening said, “The future of clubbing is now”. In some ways he is right, Hï Ibiza has gone to a lot of effort to distinguish itself from other clubs in Ibiza and for the most part, they have created a space that caters to a new generation of clubbers very effectively.

Once more stepping onto the Theatre dance floor, I caught another great track by Pryda: Power Drive was keeping the crowd well-entertained with its electro progressive vibe. As a final present, he brought in a private edit of Pjanoo, which was met with rapturous applause by the audience.

The emotion in the room was one of pure happiness, with everyone smiling. The vibe was shared by Prydz who clapped along with the crowd. His persona on stage is of a man who really enjoys his job and he is right to do so, as it is one of the best jobs in the world. Now with a hugely successful season completed, I hope we can expect more of Eric at Hï Ibiza for many years to come.

Park Hyatt Sanya Sunny Bay Resort Opens

Read article : Park Hyatt Sanya Sunny Bay Resort Opens

By: Hyatt Hotels & Resorts |  0 Shares     12 Reads

Opening sets new standard of luxury for Sanya Island in China

February 02, 2015 // Franchising.com // CHICAGO – Hyatt Hotels Corporation (NYSE: H) today announced the opening of Park Hyatt Sanya Sunny Bay Resort in Sanya on Hainan Island, China’s southernmost province widely known as "the Hawaii of China." The hotel marks the fifth Park Hyatt hotel in China, as well as the 35th Park Hyatt hotel in the world.

Situated on a stunning inlet and featuring a private lake and white-sand beach, Park Hyatt Sanya Sunny Bay Resort combines the luxury of privacy and exclusivity with accessibility, being a mere three mile drive from Yalong Bay, the island’s most popular tourist destination.

"We are delighted to introduce the Park Hyatt brand to Sanya," said David Udell, Group President, Asia Pacific, Hyatt Hotels Corporation. "This opening is a testament to our commitment to strategic, thoughtful and purposeful growth in China. The tourism and hospitality industry in Sanya has been booming in recent years, and we are proud that the Park Hyatt brand can be part of that growth. We look forward to welcoming travelers to our most premium brand, where we create sophisticated and enriching experiences."

"It is extremely exciting for us to open our doors in this incredibly unique location -- a place where our guests can enjoy privacy and exclusive access to our beautiful bay and beach overlooking some of the most breathtaking views in Sanya, all while remaining close to the vibrant Yalong Bay only minutes away," said Nicholas Lacey, General Manager, Park Hyatt Sanya Sunny Bay Resort. "Topped off with the elegantly designed spaces and personalized service that Park Hyatt hotels are known for, Park Hyatt Sanya Sunny Bay Resort will be a sanctuary for our many guests from around the world."

Design and Guestrooms

Park Hyatt Sanya Sunny Bay Resort was created by the award-winning Belgian architect, Jean-Michel Gathy of the renowned design-consultancy firm, Denniston. The strikingly modernist development comprises six standalone, arch-shaped buildings designed to allow chi, the traditional Chinese notion of energy, to flow unhindered between ocean and mountains. Set amid the lush landscape next to the beautiful Nan Hu Lake, the placement of every building and internal space has been carefully considered to maximize guests’ enjoyment of the breathtaking view. The six buildings are linked by wide walkways and are decorated with paintings and sculptures to create a tranquil and rarefied art-walk experience.

Designed to replicate the feeling of living in a private mansion by the sea, the sophisticated, elegant interiors are residential in style with a subtle Chinese sensibility. As in private homes, the spaces are wholly flexible. Park Hyatt Sanya Sunny Bay Resort features 207 luxurious guestrooms, including 26 suites and 17 villas. At almost 700 square feet, the standard rooms are among the largest on the island, and almost all of the guestrooms enjoy unadulterated views of the South China Sea.

Drinking and Dining

The ethos of the international culinary team at Park Hyatt Sanya Sunny Bay Resort is to offer a range of authentic Chinese and Western dishes that incorporate ingredients of the highest quality, sourced locally wherever possible. In keeping with the residential concept and ambience of a resort setting, guests are welcome to order from the menu or request bespoke dishes as relaxed and freely as they might do at home. The culinary team is primed to create unique and memorable dining experiences for guests, whether it is a champagne breakfast on the beach, a family barbecue in the villa, or a sunset supper on a yacht.

There are eight main drinking and dining venues: Dining Room, Cellar, Pool House, Pool Bar, Bath House, Library, Terrace and Tea House, following the notion of rooms within a large residence. At each establishment, guests can order from the menus of any of the other dining venues.

Dining Room is the main residential-style dining space offering Chinese cuisine focusing on seafood and steaks. Cellar is a cozy extension of the Dining Room, offering private dining in an intimate setting.

Next to Cellar, in a traditional Chinese-style building topped with ceramic-roof tiles, is Tea House. The impressive, light-filled space, featuring a mezzanine floor and a 30-foot high ceiling strung with myriad birdcages, will serve a premium selection of Chinese teas, an afternoon tea menu, and regional Chinese cuisine.

Guests can also enjoy Western and Chinese comfort food such as pizza, burgers or chilled noodles, either at Pool House, Pool Bar, or Bath House alongside the pools. Library and Terrace are also great choices for guests who want to relax and read a good book – or take in the ocean views – while sipping on a cold drink or a premium cocktail.

Meetings and Events

Park Hyatt Sanya Sunny Bay Resort aims to be the most desirable, upscale event venue in Hainan. The hotel features eight unique, residential-style event venues, ranging from 450 square feet to over 3,600 square feet. All venues feature an abundance of natural light, outdoor terraces and state-of-the-art audio-visual equipment and lighting.

Chamber is the largest indoor event space, measuring just over 3,600 square feet and comprising three separate spaces: a reception area, an open kitchen and a main dining area. Equally unique is Gallery, a long, 3,100 square foot space with paintings and sculptures decorating both sides to resemble an art gallery. The Salons are perfect for smaller, more intimate events. The almost 1,700 square foot Grand Salon with its 36-foot ceiling height and walls lined with wooden lattice, is an ideal venue for a wedding or gala dinner. The 6,500 square foot lawn in front of Pool House is ideal for atmospheric outdoor events.

Recreation and Activities

The recreation team has spent years researching and testing activities to offer guests the most unique and memorable activities during their time at Park Hyatt Sanya Sunny Bay Resort. Five separate pools – a 375 square foot pool, a children’s pool, a family pool, a spa pool and an indoor pool – are available to suit all types of swimmers. While at Camp Hyatt, kids and young adults will be both entertained and educated with activities like cooking classes and eco-activities by availing themselves of the latest toys and video games or simply by reading or resting in the "silent room."

With a focus on local culture, as well as marine and environmental education, the resort offers myriad outdoor activity options for all ages, include hiking, golfing and stargazing, along with tours to nearby attractions such as Butterfly Valley, Nanshan Temple, Yazhou Ancient City and the Ganzaling Nature Reserve. Water sports enthusiasts will be thrilled with Baifu (Fortune) Bay – a private bay right next to Sunny Bay – renowned for offering some of the best diving conditions in China, as well as being an ideal spot for boating and kayaking.

The Spa at Park Hyatt Sanya Sunny Bay Resort is due to open in late 2015. Located by the lake and accessed by buggy, the spacious, light-filled spa will be built in a traditional Chinese style and will feature a main, two-story building and eight freestanding villas around an open-air courtyard. The semi open-air villas will each include a couple’s treatment room, a private foot treatment room, a freestanding tub, a shower, a walk-in wardrobe and an oversized daybed. Meanwhile, the main spa building will feature four additional treatment rooms; three foot-treatment rooms, a TCM consultancy chamber and a lounge on the first floor. The floor below features a gym, a yoga studio and an outdoor infinity pool. Benefit-driven treatments will be carefully conceived to incorporate proven traditional Chinese practices, as well as the very latest in international spa techniques.

For more information on Park Hyatt Sanya Sunny Bay Resort, please visit the hotel’s website.

About Park Hyatt

Park Hyatt hotels provide discerning, affluent business and leisure guests with elegant and luxurious accommodation and offers them highly attentive personal service in an intimate environment. Located in several of the world's premier destinations, each Park Hyatt hotel is custom designed to combine sophistication with a distinctive regional character. Park Hyatt hotels feature well-appointed guestrooms, meeting and special event space for groups, critically acclaimed art, food and beverage programs, and signature restaurants featuring award-winning chefs.

There are currently 35 Park Hyatt hotels in the following locations: Abu Dhabi, Beaver Creek, Beijing, Buenos Aires, Busan, Canberra, Carlsbad, Changbaishan, Chennai, Chicago, Dubai, Goa, Hamburg, Hyderabad, Istanbul, Jeddah, Maldives, Melbourne, Mendoza, Milan, Moscow, New York, Ningbo, Paris, Saigon, Sanya Sunny Bay, Seoul, Shanghai, Siem Reap, Sydney, Tokyo, Toronto, Vienna, Washington D.C., and Zurich. www.parkhyatt.com.

About Hyatt Hotels Corporation

Hyatt Hotels Corporation, headquartered in Chicago, is a leading global hospitality company with a proud heritage of making guests feel more than welcome. Thousands of members of the Hyatt family strive to make a difference in the lives of the guests they encounter every day by providing authentic hospitality. The Company’s subsidiaries develop, own, operate, manage, franchise, license or provide services to hotels, resorts, branded residences and vacation ownership properties, including under the Hyatt, Park Hyatt, Andaz, Grand Hyatt, Hyatt Regency, Hyatt Place, Hyatt House, Hyatt Zilara, Hyatt Ziva, Hyatt Residences and Hyatt Residence Club brand names and have locations on six continents. As of September 30, 2014, the Company's worldwide portfolio consisted of 573 properties in 48 countries. For more information, please visit www.hyatt.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

Forward-Looking Statements in this press release, which are not historical facts, are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Our actual results, performance or achievements may differ materially from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by the use of words such as "may," "could," "expect," "intend," "plan," "seek," "anticipate," "believe," "estimate," "predict," "potential," "continue," "likely," "will," "would" and variations of these terms and similar expressions, or the negative of these terms or similar expressions. Such forward-looking statements are necessarily based upon estimates and assumptions that, while considered reasonable by us and our management, are inherently uncertain. Factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from current expectations include, among others, the rate and pace of economic recovery following economic downturns; levels of spending in business and leisure segments as well as consumer confidence; declines in occupancy and average daily rate; if our third-party owners, franchisees or development partners are unable to access the capital necessary to fund current operations or implement our plans for growth; changes in the competitive environment in our industry and the markets where we operate; our ability to access the capital markets; and other risks discussed in the Company's filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, including our Annual Report on Form 10-K, which filings are available from the SEC. We caution you not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements, which are made as of the date of this press release. We undertake no obligation to update publicly any of these forward-looking statements to reflect actual results, new information or future events, changes in assumptions or changes in other factors affecting forward-looking statements, except to the extent required by applicable laws. If we update one or more forward-looking statements, no inference should be drawn that we will make additional updates with respect to those or other forward-looking statements.

SOURCE Hyatt Hotels Corporation

Contacts:

Lillian Zhang
Hyatt Hotels & Resorts – China
+86 10 5928 1234
lillian.zhang@hyatt.com

Jamie Rothfeld
Hyatt Hotels & Resorts – Corporate
+1 312 780 6070
jamie.rothfeld@hyatt.com

###

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Shopping advice - Mirror Online

Read article : Shopping advice - Mirror Online

Need expert advice on your home? Email Zena at homes@sundaymirror.co.uk

Q - I need to create an office space in my spare room (with sofa bed), which will look like an office most of the time, but that I can easily convert back for guests. What tips do you have? I only have a budget of around £200.

Alexander, by email

A ZENA SAYS: I think the secret to success lies in wall-mounted shelving, which will release the floor space for other essentials, such as your desk and sofa bed. Look for shelving units with ends, as opposed to the open-ended shelves. Children’s furniture stores, such as Aspace and Great Little Trading Company are very good at these. A narrow-depth desk will also save space but still give you that office look.

The Loft desk is more like a console table and measures 105 (length) x 52 (width) x 90cm (height) and costs £199. Or you could even have a wall-mounted desk - a friend recently made the one in our photograph at a cost of £43! Either option could easily be cleared and the office chair removed when guests arrive.

***

I am looking for a small, ­contemporary sofa to fit into my bay window. It should be no wider than 150cm. Any suggestions?

Cliff Andrews, Edinburgh

ZENA SAYS: The Harry two-seater from House of Fraser (call 0845 602 1073) would look so cute in a bay window. It measures 132cm wide comes in a choice of lime green or the lovely aubergine fabric in our photo (right). ­Usually it would cost £849 but it’s ­currently on sale at just £499.

If you’d like to support an up-and-coming company offering designer furniture and ­accessories direct from the makers at ­discount prices, the Ritchie ­(below) is very similar. It costs £449 from www.made.com and is also available in pearl grey.

***

Q - Our electric shower is faulty and needs to be replaced. This will be the second time in five years. Would a non-electric shower have a longer life and is that an option for us, as we have all the fittings for electric? My children have just started showering so it must be safe for them too.

Zach Summers, Leeds

ZENA SAYS: There is a good chance that you live in a hard water area and the limescale build-up is affecting your shower. Mixer valve showers cope much better with hard water and will last longer than an electric shower. A qualified person can easily replace your electric shower with one. Bristan has just launched two exposed valve ar showers – Zing and Frenzy – with Cool Chrome Technology, which is ideal where youngsters are around. The shower body stays cool to the touch and because it’s thermostatically controlled the temperature stays constant. They come with a rub clean handset, which is ideal for cleaning limescale. Zing is priced at £99 and Frenzy from £119 (valve only) and £149 (with kit). Call Bristan on 0844 701 6273 for a local stockist.

***

Q - I recently spent a week on a self-catering holiday in Wales. They had a set of Brabantia Vision saucepans which I would love to buy but cannot find anywhere. Could you tell me if/where I could get them?

Janet Shields, by email

ZENA SAYS: Your encounter sounds like a bit of a holiday romance, Janet. For some strange reason you cannot buy this set of pans direct from Brabantia but Amazon sells them. Prices start at £23.01 for a 14cm stainless steel milk pan.

***

The stair carpet in the communal area of our block needs to be replaced but we freeholders don’t know where to buy a new one or what to look for. I imagine standard hall carpet will be insufficient.

Sarah Brown, Leamington Spa, Warks

ZENA SAYS: According to The Society of British Interior Design, the wear rating of the carpet should be “heavy contract”. They suggest a high-quality 80/20 wool/nylon or 100 per cent polyamide (nylon) pile fibre, as it is very tough.

If the staircases are ­concrete, then non-slip safety nosings must be fitted. Try Vorwerk, an eco-friendly brand which is allergy-free, and Weston-Hammer for a customised design.

Some domestic carpets are also rated for contract or commercial use, too. For example Lano’s Scala range has a fleck option to help hide the dirt until vacuuming. It is rubber backed which helps with spills and ­water from shoes and stops moisture getting into the underlay.

Here’s some technical info with which to baffle your fellow freeholders – Scala is made of 100 per cent solution-dyed two-ply polypropylene for maximum durability and has been solution dyed for ease of maintenance. It costs about £22 a square metre.

The fully impervious backing means that it can be used in areas prone to accidents and where day-to-day performance is of the utmost importance.

However, the SBID does not recommend polypropylene. Although hard-wearing and inexpensive, they say this fibre soils quicker than any other pile fibre, and goes very flat and untidy.

You should also avoid natural flooring such as sisal, coir and sea grass because they get slippery and stain easily.

***

Q - Do you have the web address where I can buy “tile on a roll” wallpaper?

Kate Henson, by email

ZENA SAYS: Tile-effect wallpaper has been around for decades and is a really useful and cost-effective way of covering kitchen and ­bathroom walls that are exposed to water splashes. The designs are very bright and modern and technically, they’ve been brought up to date, too. Graham and Brown’s ­Contour antibacterial range offers protection from bacteria and it’s a paste-the-wall paper, making it really easy to hang. The Keep Calm paper in our photo costs £18 per roll. Call 0800 328 8452.

***

Savvy savers

Alison Cork gets you more... for less.

Home improvement

LIDL always has great prices and now there’s also a sale on home improvement products, too. So whether you’re moving house or just moving the sofa, spare your floors with their five-piece Furniture Transport set, only £4.99. You get a robust steel lever to lift the furniture, and four transport rollers with castors to get it from place to place.

***

Asda home sale

Save on practical kitchen and home accessories during Asda Direct’s home sale, with 30 per cent off products, on now. I ­especially love these collapsible mixing bowls, reduced from £4 to £2.80. They’re perfect for saving ­precious cupboard space and they are easy to wipe clean.

***

Drying balls

Does the wet weather have you using your tumble dryer yearround? Save up to 30 per cent on drying time and energy with these Ecozone Dry Cubes from Nigel’s Eco Store. It’s £9.95 for a pack of two cubes that can be used again and again. Call 0800 288 8970.

***

Be alarmed

You can often get a discount on your home contents insurance if you have a burglar alarm and now’s the time to buy one as B&Q currently have half-price savings on security and alarms. The Standard Wireless Door and Window Contact alarm is reduced to £7.49, and the Standard Wired PIR DC7 motion detector is just £4.99.

For bed linen and other accessories, see Reader Offers.

***

Coining it

Why is it that when you need a pound coin – be it for a parking meter, shopping trolley or vending machine – you can never find one? This clever Coin Stash Waterproof Coin Capsule (£4.95) attaches to your keys, storing an emergency stash of five one pound coins for when you need them, while keeping your pockets and car free from easily misplaced loose change. Buy one for Dad at www.gadgets.co.uk

For more gift ideas for Dad, see Reader Offers.

***

Standby for action

According to British Gas, every year we waste around £30 leaving products on standby. Save dosh with an automatic standby shutdown plug, like this one from Energenie. It recognises when you’ve left an appliance or computer on standby and switches off the mains power. Get it from www.homebargains.co.uk for £3.99.

For more computing accessories, see Reader Offers.

***

Shower power

Save water, time and money with a Water Drop shower timer from Eco Savers. Just £4.99, it sticks to the wall – you set the timer and it bleeps when your time is up. It’s a great way to cut bills.

***

Website of the Week

Save on mobile, broadband and energy bills with Incahoot.com. The site uses collective buying power (think Groupon or KGB Deals) but focuses mainly on utilities and practical services. Basic membership is free.

***

For more great shopping offers, visit Reader Offers.

Where celebrities stay when in Baltimore

Read article : Where celebrities stay when in Baltimore

In June, when Sade was preparing to kick off her first tour in more than a decade, the husky-voiced crooner tweeted about her love of Baltimore and entertained reporters while relaxing in her 2,100-square-foot suite at the Hotel Monaco. When in town, actor Gene Hackman has been known to chat up other guests at the bar in the Radisson Hotel at Cross Keys.

Movie stars and musicians have a long history of coming to Baltimore for gigs. But in recent years, the city has attracted more high-profile shows and films, from Rihanna and U2 to HBO's "Game Change." And while the A-listers are here, local hotels are willing to go great lengths to accommodate them. The long-term benefits of hosting a celebrity far outweigh the occasional pesky request, hotel officials said.

"We love it when celebrities stay with us," said Lindsey Grocholski, sales manager for Radisson Hotel Cross Keys. "It's fun for us. It's cool to be able to say that we hosted these celebrities."

Proximity to venues — such as 1st Mariner Arena or M&T Bank Stadium — a hotel's reputation and discretion play a role in the hotels chosen by the visiting rich and famous. City hotels have hosted the likes of John Travolta, Joaquin Phoenix, Tim Allen, Jodie Foster and Clint Eastwood, according to Jack Gerbes, director of the Maryland Film Office.

"One of the benefits of having a film shoot in Maryland is that many times, actors, celebrities and out-of-town cast and crew get to enjoy Maryland hotels and their hospitality," Gerbes said.

In just two years, Hotel Monaco has established itself as a prime spot for celebrities to stay while in Baltimore. With its pet-friendly policy, boutique feel and willingness to meet requests for such things as European honey or exotic teas, it's no surprise that rapper Common, or singers Sade, Robin Thicke and Melanie Fiona have all stayed at the hotel in the past year.

"We have a lot of A-list entertainers," said Todd Unger, director of sales and marketing for Hotel Monaco. "We give them VIP status, and we respect their rights and privacy."

At Hotel Monaco, celebs generally stay in the Mediterranean Suites and the Majestic Suite. The Majestic Suite, which was occupied by Sade, can be reserved as a one- or two-bedroom suite. The entire Majestic Suite, which runs $1,500 a night, can accommodate up to 20 guests for a reception and sleeps four as a one-bedroom suite or eight as a two-bedroom suite. The smaller Mediterranean Suites have housed such celebs as Common, Danny Glover and Dennis Haysbert. The suites sleep four and feature a private bedroom with a king-size bed, as well as a Fuji spa tub and separate shower.

At the Radisson Hotel at Cross Keys, celebrities generally stay in the Presidential Suite, a three-room cluster that takes up a little more than 1,500 square feet. The space costs between $500 and $600 a night, depending on time of year.

When celebrities aren't using the space, bridal parties usually occupy the space.

At the Radisson, hotel staff decorate the celebrity rooms with fresh flowers, leave towels shaped like animals in the bathroom and add special complimentary touches, such as a bottle of wine or chocolates on the nightstand.

"We're always doing little things that make their stay more pleasant," said Jessica L. Morrison, director of operations for the Radisson.

The hotel attracts Preakness royalty each summer, veteran celebrities such as Liza Minnelli, and local television personalities who stay at the hotel during inclement weather. Soul singers Etta James and Chaka Khan stayed at the hotel when they performed at past Artscape festivals.

Patti Labelle once stayed at the hotel, struck up a friendship with the front office manager and took her out for an afternoon of shopping and dinner. She also invited the employee to watch her perform in concert. Singer Jewel almost stayed at the hotel last spring, but a stalker kept her confined to her tour bus while her road crew stayed in the hotel.

Hotel Monaco benefits from its proximity to downtown venues. The hotel has a preferred relationship with 1st Mariner Arena, meaning that it's recommended to visiting performers by the venue, according to Unger. The hotel also attracts a number of acts performing at the nearby Hippodrome.

Unger has seen all types of requests from celebrity guests. One celebrity wanted a certain brand of honey made overseas; another wanted bottled water chilled at a specific temperature; a third wanted candy in a certain color.

"We'll do anything within reason," said Unger. "Nothing has been too crazy or over the top. If we can get it, we will."

At the Radisson in Cross Keys, celebrities have demanded everything from the most up-to-date Zagat guide to daily fruit baskets — for one particular celebrity, sans bananas. Sports journalist Bob Costas once requested that 10-pound dumbbells be waiting for him in his room.

But the item celebrities are pickiest about is their water, according to Tom Cook, general manager at the Radisson.

"Celebrities are very particular about their bottled water," said Cook. "They want Fiji, Perrier and Voss."

All in all, celebrity visits are quite tame, unlike in the past when the rich and famous — especially rock stars — were notorious for their crazy hotel antics. Those days are long gone, according to Cook.

"They are literally resting," he said. "They want sleep before their performance."

Not all celebs are perfect guests, though.

On Thanksgiving 2005, rockers 311 and former Creed singer Scott Stapp got into a fight in the bar of the InterContinental Harbor Court Hotel, according to MTV, which reported the altercation. No charges were filed.

To shield against gawkers and autograph hunters, Baltimore hotels have a number of safeguards in place to protect the privacy of their celebrity guests.

At Hotel Monaco, the elevator system works with room keys that only access the floor where the guest is staying. In certain instances, the hotel has blocked off the front entrance of the building to prevent eager fans from snapping photos or asking for autographs.

At the Radisson in Cross Keys, the Presidential Suite can only be entered only through an unmarked door on an undisclosed floor. The hotel's website doesn't even list the trio of rooms that make up the suite as a room option. The suite has to be booked directly through the hotel.

Venues such as 1st Mariner Arena have provided plenty of celebrities for area hotels. It's a win-win for the city, according to Frank Remesch, general manager for the arena.

"We love to hear that artists are choosing to stay in Baltimore hotels rather than hop on a tour bus," Remesch said. "How cool is it to hear that an artist, say, stopped by the Capital Grille for dinner, or you spotted someone in a neighborhood shopping? It just proves that Baltimore really is a hip place."

john-john.williams@baltsun.com

• Angled & Curved Radiators •

Read article : • Angled & Curved Radiators •

Bay Window Radiators - Angled & Curved, Single and Double ...

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Pala Casino Resort & Spa Influencer Event

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Pala Casino Resort & Spa Influencer Event" class="aligncenter" />

Recently, Bill and I traveled south to San Diego County to attend the Special Influencer Event at Pala Casino Resort and Spa. Today I am sharing details and favorite highlights from our stay and the influencer event.

Pala is located in San Diego County not far from Temecula, Temecula Wine Country and Fallbrook. We took a winding road though some beautiful canyons and groves of avocado trees to the Pala reservation.

This Four Diamond resort is a getaway destination for many throughout California and the Southwestern states. Pala offers a variety of options for guests from Las Vegas-style gaming, full-service spa, 11 restaurants, venues for live music, meeting space, shopping, and more.

Bill and I checked in the day before the event. Pala’s Social Media and PR Specialist, Erika, greeted us in front of the resort and showed us around the property. Our check in at the front desk went quickly and smoothly. Soon we were headed to our guest room.

Pala’s 507 guest rooms are over 500 square feet and offer mountain or pool views. We were on the 8^th floor and had breathtaking views of the pool area and the Palomar Mountains. Each morning, the fog would hang over the mountain tops before the sun would slowly burn it off, making for another sunshine-filled day.

Our room was comfortable, spacious and had all the amenities I would expect from a Four Diamond Award Winning resort.

We were surprised with a big gift basket waiting for us in our room along with a dozen white long-stemmed roses.

PALA POOL

After we checked in and unpacked, we were ready for lunch. We decided to have a quick meal and a tropical cocktail at the pool. It was a lovely day, not a cloud in sight.

The pool area currently has 12 cabanas guests may rent. However, the pool will be closing this fall in order to make major changes and improvements. Next spring, the new pool area will be even more luxurious. I can’t wait to see the finished project.

PALA SPA

The 10,000 square-foot Pala Spa is located just across the lawn from the hotel and adjacent to the pool area.

It has a retail boutique, fitness center, spacious locker rooms – one for men and one women – with showers, steam rooms, dry sauna and indoor whirlpools. The spa has 14 treatment rooms and two Signature Spa Suites, which is where Bill and I were treated to a couples massage.

Our massage therapists gave us the option of an indoor massage experience or having our massages outdoors on the secluded patio. We opted for the patio. I loved the tranquil and somewhat tropical setting. We had Swedish massages and I have to say, my massage was the very best I have ever had. It was just the right pressure, the right amount of time and in such a perfect atmosphere.

After our 50-minute massages, we were told we had an hour to ourselves in the spa suite! The suite had a whirlpool bath for two, which was already filled and ready for us, along with a chilled bottle of local sparkling wine and heart-shaped chocolates. It was heavenly and so relaxing! The Pala Spa really knows how to pamper and spoil their guests.

LUIS REY’S

After our amazing massages we went up to our guest room to change for dinner. The friendly and helpful staff at Pala told us that Luis Rey’s, a casual outdoor/indoor lounge and bar that serves a variety of Mexican and California-style appetizers, serves $1 street tacos during happy hour. We’ve rarely met a street taco we didn’t want to devour and had to try one. It did not disappoint! If we didn’t already have dinner plans, I would have ordered another one…or three!

Soon Tamera Beardsley and her husband, Jeff who were also attending the influencer event, arrived. They checked in that afternoon and we arranged to meet for cocktails and dinner at Pala, just the four of us. I love spending time with Tamera. She is much more than a fellow blogger, she has become a dear and wonderful friend. I was so happy to have some time to catch up with her!

After drinks at Luis Rey’s we went to The CAVE for dinner. The CAVE has a restaurant and lounge, which is where we had dinner, as well as an underground wine cave that we would visit during the next day’s influencer event.

The CAVE restaurant has an impressive wine list that includes over 480 different wines and a Mediterranean style dinner menu that features a variety of tasty dishes from pastas, pizzas and flat breads to steaks and seafood. They also have a delicious selection of appetizers. We had a wonderful dinner and the service was impeccable and friendly.

What a fun evening we had with Tamera and Jeff!

SPECIAL INFLUENCER EVENT!

 Meet and Greet at The CAVE

The next morning the influencer event got off the ground. We would have a full day of experiences at Pala ahead, which would conclude with an outdoor concert performance by UB40!

First, we went to The CAVE lounge for a meet and greet. Our event had a darling pineapple theme. We were treated to a selection of Hawaiian cuisine and tropical drinks – both with and without alcohol. The prawns served in tiny pineapple halves were my favorite. And I loved the cute little paper straws with pineapple print.

Fellow influencers, along with their guests, trickled in and soon we had amassed quite a crowd of people! I always enjoy meeting new people so it was fun to chat with some of the other bloggers and influencers.

After spending some time taking photos with Tamera in front of the striped Pala backdrop and having one more prawn in a pineapple, we got ready to take our group to the casino floor. We would competing in a slot tournament!

Slot Tournament

We were divided into groups of about 10 then each assigned to a slot machine. For three minutes we did our best to rack up points by pressing button and tapping the screen. It was a fast-paced and fun contest and most of us had tired hands by the time three minutes was up. Neither Bill nor I won any prizes but we still had a blast!

I got a chance to meet and chat with Dawn Lucy of Fashion Should Be Fun who also attended the event. She was with her friend Rachel. They were both such a kick and I am so glad I got to hang out with them.

Pala Underground Cave

After our slot tournament concluded, it was time to eat again! Our large group of about 30 people was divided into two. Our group would go to The CAVE’s Underground Cave first for wine tasting and appetizers.

I was so impressed with the wines in the wine cave. Some of Napa Valley’s finest wines were featured including Far Niente and Joseph Phelps, as well as numerous Italian and French wines.

We enjoyed some local wines from Temecula wine country along with lots of nibbles that were passed around throughout our visit to the wine cave.

Pala Underground Cave also offers live entertainment on select nights as well as top shelf spirits and craft beer.

The Oak Room

Next we made our way to The Oak Room for a fine dining experience. This elegant restaurant is a world-class steak and seafood house with an extensive wine list, knowledgeable waitstaff and beautiful ambiance.

We were introduced to Oak Room’s sommelier, who led us through a food and wine pairing. The food and the wine were phenomenal, definitely meeting the high standards we have here in Sonoma and Napa. Chef Yee Thomas Feng also came to our table to tell us about the food we enjoyed. What a treat the Oak Room was for this wine and food lover – from start to finish!

Pala Casino

As part of the influencer event, we were each given $50 in casino play, which I turned into $160! I have always been partial to the poker machines and was thrilled to hit a four of a kind.

Having spent my childhood in Las Vegas, I know a thing or two about casinos. Pala Casino is very much a Las Vegas-style casino. They have 2,000 state-of-the-art slot and video machines, 80 table games, and a poker room. They also had live music going on every time we walked through the casino area.

Later that night we attended the outdoor UB40 concert. It was the perfect clear night for a concert and the music sounded great. What fun! Pala has a packed calendar of well-known bands and performers. One of my favorite singers, Olivia Newton-John, will be performing there in October.

The next morning, we packed up our things then met our influencer group for breakfast in one Pala’s meeting spaces. We enjoyed a tasty breakfast buffet, then said our farewells.

I definitely recommend Pala Casino Resort & Spa as a destination getaway to have fun, enjoy fantastic food, wine and cocktails as well as live music. Treat yourself to a phenomenal massage and try your hand at the slots and tables, if you like. There is a wide variety of activities and amenities to experience at Pala – something for everyone!

Disclosure: Our stay at Pala Casino Resort and Spa was complimentary as part of our participation in the Influencer Event. All opinions expressed here are, as always, my own. 

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