September 2016

Hotel Castille, located at 33 Rue Cambon; the street made famous by Coco Chanel (her day-time apartment; now shrine, is located at 31 Rue Cambon), is a quaint, cool hotel conveniently situated close to stores, restaurants, monuments (The Louvre, Place Vendome, Place De La Concorde etc).

You can immediately see huge influences of 18th and 19th century in the decor; with wood floors, teal walls and large elegant mirrors. You can pick between having a Venetian-inspired room in the Opera wing that leans on the classic European side or a room in the Rivoli wing that features modern touches.

The beds are soft, warm and fluffy. The thing with European hotels is that they don’t usually have good beds so having one after days of sleeping on a squeaky mattress is always a welcoming feeling.

The rooms have ample space (for a European hotel); both storage and floor and an individual room for you to do both your Number 1 & 2. That frees up the bathroom which is an added convenience; you don’t have to wait for someone to finishing dropping the kids off at the pool before you can wash your hands or brush your teeth.

The shower bath area is roomy but it needs to be worked on. There is nothing to stop the toilet from flooding whenever someone showers except this flimsy piece of plastic (that seems like an after thought because people have probably complained about how the whole toilet gets wet after a shower). There is also no drainage hole for water to seep into so the only thing you can do is to throw towels on the floor and wait for it to dry. This can all be averted by installing a shower curtain.

The service is engaging and helpful and you can feel like they enjoy what they do. The staff speak good English and know the streets around the hotel like the back of their hands. I’ve had to ask the concierge the quickest way to get to a location more than once and they’ve been spot on every time.

They offer free internet use at their business center; which is sort of an exaggeration because it is a small hole-in-the-wall in between their Italian restaurant. But don’t let the size fool you; with an ink printer, paper, pens, envelopes – this hole-in-the-wall will come in handy if you ever need to double check your travel itinerary or do some work.

If you ever need a workout during your trip, the 24/7 gym is located on the first floor – it’s not a big room but it is sufficient to burn excess calories from those pastries. A steam room is also available for when you need to chill before a night on the town.

As an added incentive, there is a Chanel boutique literally right next door to the hotel. The Ritz and its iconic Hemingway Bar is right across the street. Taxi drivers know exactly where the hotel is which is always a plus.

All in call, Hotel Castille is a great hotel; both for business or leisure. With its close proximity to stores, helpful …

Selling your house fast can be challenging in these times. It is tricky and almost impossible in some parts of the country to sell property quickly. In today’s markets, your property should be impressive to attract the buyers. Well, you can take follow the below given tips to sell your house fast.

Take a look of your house inside out and make a list of repairs that need to be done before you sell it. Replace any dripping faucets, leaking pipes, torn window screens, damaged decking and more.

Organize your closets and cabinets because the buyers are here to see the maximum potential of your house in terms of everything including storage. Remove away any extra belongings and even the extra furniture for the time being. In addition, get rid of any clutter from your house. It will help make your home look extra spacious and orderly. Your house should look like a magazine layout, organized and glossy, if you are serious about selling it fast.

Next thing is make your house thoroughly clean before any prospective buyer comes to view your house. A clean house is sure to make a lasting impression in the minds of people who are coming for the first time. Clean all the windows, window panes, dust the furniture, remove cobwebs, wax the floors, and clean the shower gout and more. If it needs paint, go for it. When you show your home, everything should be spotlessly clean.

Pay special attention to the entrance area of your house since an attractive entrance will help your sell your house fast. Make the porches and walkways clean; place some pots with flowers near the entrance to make it beautiful. Also, make sure that hardware on the door is polished and doorbell rings. The foyer should be well-lit, clean, attractive and comfortable.

To uplift the mood and make it brighter, make sure that is well-lit on all sides, open the drapes and curtains. Also, make sure that there is no bad smell doing rounds in your house when the buyers make a visit. It is better to use a lightly scented air freshener or some fresh aroma coming from kitchen.

Even after doing all these efforts, you are not able to sell house quickly within the period you want, it is best to contact cash house buyers. These legitimate companies buy houses and other properties in any condition and at any location.…

Ever started trying to cook or wash dishes and found out that the kitchen drain was clogged. What a nuisance! Food particles, gunk, cold grease and grime all play their part in stopping up your sink.

Luckily there are easy steps that anyone can take to prevent this from happening. A little preventative maintenance goes a long way. By following this advice and keeping your sink clean you can avoid having to call an emergency plumbing company who will charge you extremely high fees for short-notice service.

Tip #1

Grease builds up in your sink like you would not believe. Many times when grease is being poured into your sink it is hot and is in a liquid form. It is just coming off the stove, oven or microwave. But as it is going in the sink it cools, rather quickly. As it does so it becomes rather thick and over time forms a gooey barrier that keeps not only water from leaving but catches all kinds of debris.

You need to pour a degreaser down your sink on a regular basis, especially after you have cooked any kind of meat. Pour it slowly and make sure a lot of it gets to the drain pipe.

After you pour some degreaser into your sink let it sit there a while. Boil some hot water and then pour it down the drain. Do this one a month and you will find that very little grease is trapped in your drain.

Tip #2

Here is a mix that does an excellent job at cleaning your drain: boiling hot water, apple-cider vinegar and baking soda.

Start by pouring some baking soda down your drain. Make sure it cakes the lining on the inside of your sink. Next, pour a couple teaspoons of vinegar and let it react with the baking soda. As it reacts it will also clean the drain. It will break up food particles, bacteria and left over deposits that did not get washed down. Wait five minutes and then pour the hot water down the drain. Presto! All of the grease and debris is washed away.

Tip #3

Garbage disposals are worth their weight in gold. The problem is we think they can handle more than they actually can. Do not put large chucks of food down your sink. Try to throw as much food as you can away if its trash. The garbage disposal is the last ditch effort but too many people use their sinks as a glorified trash can.

By following these three tips you should avoid having to ever call a plumber out to unclog your kitchen sink.…

Pure Elegance! That’s the look of crushed velvet. It’s back! You see a resurgence in crushed velvet in fashion, in home decor, and in home furnishings! It has a certain rich, quality look that just can’t be duplicated in other upholstery fabrics. That is one of the reasons it’s making a big comeback in bedrooms everywhere. Maybe you’ve been thinking about getting a crushed velvet bed yourself, but have some questions.

Crushed velvet beds, complete with their sophisticated button upholstery, create a warm, inviting nest for you to land in after a long day. If you think you can’t afford this look, think again. They are surprisingly affordable… no more expensive to buy than your average bed.

When you decide on a crushed velvet bed, you will be delighted to see the way the fabric catches the light. The bed truly becomes the center of attention in your bedroom decor. It makes the other furniture jealous!

These beds are gaining in popularity at a dizzying pace. The smart looks, and the feel of luxurious velvet are hard to beat. Some are very practical as well, designed as “ottoman style” with built-in storage in the frame, under the mattress. It seems as though it might be a bit awkward moving the mattress. But, what a great idea for storing your out of season wardrobe!

Crushed velvet beds are similar to velvet beds. The fabric starts out the same. Crushed velvet consists of a slightly larger loop in the fabric. Then, it’s pressed, or “crushed” in different, random directions to give it the rich, patterned appearance. The pattern is what causes it to diffuse the light in a way that regular velvet doesn’t. The random pattern with the contrasting button upholstery, creates the perfect look.

What about cleaning it? Most people are a little hesitant to invest in this fabric, because they’re worried about keeping it up. It’s really quite easy to care for. You will clean spills or stains the same way you clean other upholstery fabrics. You can opt to have a professional come in and clean it. Or course, we always recommend that. But if you want to give it a try, you can clean it with a little laundry soap mixed with water. Pat it on the dirt… don’t rub it! Dry it with a hair dryer. Keep the dryer far enough away that it doesn’t overheat the fabric. Use a soft toothbrush to restore the nap if you need to.

When it comes to color selection, you’re going to have to stay pretty conservative. There is not a huge choice. Browsing online, it looks like the most popular color for crushed velvet beds is silver/gray. Some cream-colored, and some brown. You will find some variations on those themes, but don’t plan to stray too far from that palate, unless you’re planning to custom order one in hot pink!

If you are looking for a nice way to jazz up an old, boring bedroom, go for crushed velvet! …

Natural remedies for Centipedes do exist, you don’t need to turn to pesticides to get rid of your house Centipedes.

You need to understand that getting rid of Centipedes means destroying their habitat.

Make your home inhospitable to them, and they’ll be forced out. This can be achieved using a variety of means.

Chemicals are one option, but many argue against using them inside of the home. I strongly caution giving the room a minimum of 12 hours of being well ventilated, if you decide to use chemicals.

Understand these chemicals are killing large insects, they are not to be taken lightly.

However, this article is about natural remedies for getting rid of Centipedes, so you’ve already decided not to use chemicals, I applaud you!

I didn’t use any chemicals, and I’ve been Centipede free forever. I used to get the red ones all the time in my basement. Yes I call them the red ones, I know their Scutigera Coleoptrata, but red ones is an easier name for me to use.

I definitely couldn’t forget the white ones either, in my sinks and showers! Those made me miserable plenty of times!

Once I knew I had to get rid of them, it was just a matter of determining how.

All over the internet you’ll find the simplest natural remedies.

Even the best natural remedies might not get rid of your Centipedes, but they should help. Centipedes can be a real pain to get rid of!

The most effective natural remedies for killing Centipedes are using a dehumidifier to dry out the area they inhabit, and to seal up any cracks leading into your home. Using sticky pads where you see them repeatedly can also be a huge help.

Use these natural remedies, chemical free, to get rid of the Centipedes invading your home.…

If you own a home, you probably notice that the land your house is built on is not all house. There are some areas that are blank. These items are left to your imagination as to what purpose it will serve. It is a shame, really, because there is a lot of things you can do with these blank spaces.

Some of the most common things people create out of these blank spaces are concrete patios, pergolas, ponds just to name a few. However, one thing that is more often built than anything else is a garden full of lush greens and colorful flowers and ornaments.

If everybody is building a garden, it does not automatically mean that you have to build one for yourself in your house as well. Like anything else, it is still your decision and like any decision you must weigh the pros and cons of your decision.

Some people may think that a garden is the most obvious decisions but there are some real concerns that you need to think of when you want to convert that empty patch of dirt in your backyard.

One major concern that comes with building a garden is all of the responsibility that comes with it. A garden requires a lot of attention, especially, when you consider a concrete patio instead. A concrete patio only requires you to wash it from time to time, but a garden need you to water it, give it nutrients and, sometimes, replant and prune. Definitely hard work, if you consider that you are not getting paid to do it.

The cost of filling in the empty space in your home should also play a big part in your decision on what to use on that blank canvas you call your home. A garden can be less expensive to make if you choose the right kind of plants. Plants can cover more area cheaply compared to concrete but a garden requires continues maintenance and resources. If you want something that does not require you an immediate large payout and spreads out the costs through a longer period of time, then a garden is the way to go.

Another advantage to having a garden is having the opportunity to express your own sense of style. Landscaping is like any art form. You choose a media, in this case it is plants and the ground, and then you decide where to place the elements to create an overall design. If done correctly, you can create a beautiful garden that can rival any painting out there.

The disadvantage to building a garden as your means of self expression is that you are severely tied down by its horticultural needs. You cannot just place any plant anywhere. These plants have specific needs, such as amount of sun and drainage, and as such need to be placed in areas that will help fill those needs.

Planting a garden is also a great way to increase the value of your …

Symbolism of a House in a Dream

The house is a very, very common object in a dream. What does a house mean in a dream? The house has many meanings! Here is a dream I had as a young teen:

House and Tower Dream

I went through a house, climbing higher and higher. A man with a knife chased me the entire way. When I reached the topmost rooms, I realized I had to jump. The man and a gang of demons were pounding on the door to break through to me. As the wood began to splinter, I leapt through the glass, shattering it into hundreds of shards as I exited the room into the air. The man reached for me, but failed.

As I fell, I could see the house- now it was a tower. I fell, fell, fell. Hairy arms ending in sharp animal claws broke the glass to reach for me. They all missed. I was very surprised when I landed comfortably on the sand. I began to walk down a beach. Many people walked past me, or I passed their blanket on the beach. None seemed to know or understand my amazing trial, all the things that happened to me, and my great escape.

The Meaning of the House Dream

That dream was realized. It was my life. The anger of my stepfather, and the violence of my youth ended when my mother divorced him. He did pull a knife once, but, like in the dream, did not cut anyone with it. Later in life, I realized: nobody knows what ordeals other people survived. We are as normal as anyone else.

That home which became a tower represented the years of my youth. At first, I was free and loved. Later, home was like a prisoner’s tower. I did take a lot of beatings. But, my step father did some great things as well. I forgave him long ago!

The beach represents the remainder of my life. “Life is a beach” is a common phrase.

Christian Dream Interpretation of a House

I have heard the interpretation of many dreams from Christians involving a house as well. Interpretation belongs to God, after all. (Ask Daniel and Joseph.) The Christian interpretation of a house in a dream seems to be almost always prayer.

Prayer forms a barrier between the prayer warrior and the will of the enemy of God. I have seen a barbed wire fence in a dream. It was a wall of prayer.

I have seen stone fences which also represented prayer.

The walls of a house can represent the protecting prayers of a Christian.

Houses, Generally

Houses have multiple levels. Each of these represents a different aspect of a person. The ground floor represents daily, conscious life. This is the level of life we can plainly see. The attic represents the subconscious and sometimes it can represent an interaction with spiritual issues.

Basement

The basement stores things out of use, or which will …

Termites are a bigger worry for homeowners than even fire or food. That alone should be sufficient for anyone to understand the capacity of these termites to wreck havoc in any house. They can destroy the wood in the house completely unless they are stopped at the right time. The best time to fight the termites is even before they attack your house.

Surprisingly most of the termite attack is caused by the actions of the home owners themselves. That is why it is important to understand things that encourage termites to attack your house, so that you can avoid them completely.

The most common reason for termite attack is the plants kept near the sides of house especially ones that have grown out of control. That is why you should always try to keep the plants away from the sides of the house. If you or your neighbour must keep plants, take care to ensure that no part of the plants including the root is touching your house.

The second most common reason of termite infestation is the use of wood, the choicest food of termites, to build shed or deck in the backyard. If you still decide to go ahead with the plan, then at least make use of wood that is less attractive to the termites. Cedar and juniper are few wood types that are less loved by the termites. Please try to for such wood items even though they tend to be a little more expensive than other wood items.

All the above reasons of termite attack had to do with availability of wood as a bait for the termites to attack your house. Moisture is another item that is equally attractive for the termites. Look out for any source of moisture near your home and try to solve the issue. If it is the rain water falling down from the roof then put gutters on the roof to catch the water and then divert it to a spot away from the side of your home. Leaking pipe lines is another cause of moisture around the home. Look for any such source of water in your yard and get them repaired as soon as you can.

I find it really stupid to expose your home to the attack of termites by ignoring such small details. Try to follow all the above advices to reduce the risk of termite attack on your home and furniture.…

The quality of one’s home can be greatly improved by simple things such as small bathroom remodeling. One thing to consider is that it is not nearly as costly to remodel a small bathroom as it is to remodel a large one. It is also easier to redecorate a smaller bathroom, however, care must still be taken to complete the project competently. It takes a little of both time and money, but the results are well worth it.

One thing that is very important when a person is considering the remodeling or redecoration of a small bathroom, and that is lighting. The bathroom is typically the first room one heads to upon arising, and the last one he or she visits before retiring. It is also a place where most people conduct their personal hygiene such as shaving, brushing one’s hair, or applying make-up. These and many other factors make lighting a very important aspect when remodeling the bathroom. Lighting in a smaller sized bathroom can easily appear dreary and one must make sure that whichever type of lighting fixture he or she chooses, will be capable of creating the brightest light possible.

Sometimes bathroom lights can be implemented in stages, for instance, one set of lights for the shower, and another set placed in the area of the sink or vanity. However, it’s important to keep in mind that lighting placed directly over a mirror will shadow one’s face which could make it difficult to shave or apply make-up. Lighting fixtures obtained to illuminate the area where a mirror will be hung should be placed on either side of the mirror, rather than above it.

Bright white light bulbs should be chosen for a bathroom, as this is typically where cosmetics will be applied, and white bulbs offer a more realistic skin tone than yellow or soft white. White bulbs can always be temporarily switched for yellow if one wishes to indulge in a bubble bath or some other type of relaxation where a soft white or yellow light bulb would be more appropriate.

One should decide what his or her most important objectives are for the bathroom before beginning the remodeling procedures.There are many variations of lighting and sometimes one simple thing can change the whole ambiance of the bathroom. Any lighting ideas a person comes up with can be implemented very easily in a small bathroom remodel project. Changing lighting and fixtures can make it easier to get ready to go to work in the morning, as well as relax and unwind after a stressful day.…

You've just bought a new house and only adding a few more details to make it all complete. Before breaking that bottle of wine, make sure that you've also installed home burglar alerts to protect your home. Even if your house is inside a village or in an exclusive subdivision, there will still be instances of burglary and other types of crimes that you often see in television.

Before you become part of the breaking news on TV, plan for a home security system. There are free tips online that you can look up before you choose a device that will suit the needs of your house. If the construction is done and you have already called off the workers, you can just do the installation yourself. Employing the help of security agencies to install the devices will certainly be an easy alternative but with a cost of course, so if you do need to do it yourself, then it should be fine as well.

Aided with a manual provided by the manufacturer of the alarm system, you should be able to make it work. You may also ask some help from relatives so the work is easier and you can have a clarification on proper placements. A slap-dashed work, if you have to do it alone, is unacceptable especially when the safety of your family will be put at risk.

Buying a new home and feeling safe inside your home is probably the best feeling for a homeowner. Home security devices will certainly be the icing on the cake for your brand new home. …