condochic.net

Imagine living in a condo unit built entirely from truck containers? Yes, and if this is approved by the Detroit city, it’s going to be one of the cheapest in town. It’s going to cost $1.8 million only, compared to the “normal” condominium costing 75% more. The location for the groundbreaking will be near Wayne State University in 2009.

“It’s been done in Europe and, to a limited extent, in this country. But no one has looked at organizing the process on a larger scale incorporating a range of recycled materials and efficiencies that could save a homeowner as much as 60% annually in energy costs,” she said.

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The many unique finds you can get from the many weekend markets that are springing up all over the place cannot be understated as they are a very good source of recyclable furniture and other trinkets that can be turned into unique stuff. Using some basic tools, loose crystals from antique chandeliers and some silver bits and parts can be made into very attractive lighting fixtures that would be the envy of your peers. Most chandelier crystals have holes which were used to hang them and with some gold or silver wire, available at crafts stores, these can be turned into light accents or other interesting pieces that would allow you to create one of a kind masterpieces. Read the rest of this entry »

Curtains and other coverings can be easily made for old sofa’s that would give them a new light making them more interesting seemingly changing with the times as it passes by. Scraps from yard sales and thrift shops where odds and ends can be sewn together cheaply making them look as if they were quilts or purpose made covers. Have the measurements made by a professional seamstress if you don’t have the necessary skills or simply wing it and get it on to find that creative side of you that’s been hidden for a long time. Sill can’t find your groove Read the rest of this entry »

Lighting can be use to create dramatic effects for a small condo or an even bolder one for a big one. So lighting is a way of bringing to light some of the hidden features of your house you might want to share or not with your guests. Use it to sine light on an impressive collection of vases you have on the shelves. Behind plants, they add drama combined with the beauty of your green friends.
Ugly corridor you hate, use a centerpiece at the end of it and get the ceiling re-done perfect installed with indirect lighting and you get drama on the ceiling, that once the guests eyes leave that area, the art piece of sculpture takes over. Got a bland bedroom, use indirect lighting with colors to bring it to life. Be sure to use your inner artist and sure enough you get something personal and not store bought or copied right off a magazine.

Styling a condo is more challenging because of the limited space. But that doesn’t mean you have to resign yourself to living with functional but ugly furniture. There are a lot of new designs that are suitable for condos (compact!), but are still chic and stylish. I especially love ingenious transforming furniture such as this:

The Doc sofa/bunk bed unit by Bonbon Trading is a single couch that swings easily into two separate beds. Now that’s what I call a real space saver!

Image Source: www.kauai-condo-vacation.com
Most colleges and universities provide (usually for a fee) single or multiple occupancy rooms for their students. These buildings consist of many such rooms, like an apartment building, and the number of rooms varies quite widely from just a few to hundreds. Many colleges and universities no longer recognize the word “dormitory” and staffs are now using the term residence hall or simply “hall” instead. This is promoted as better describing a living and the learning community that is part of the larger academic institution. When the word “dorm” was first adapted for universities and colleges, the atmosphere of the buildings served as places for students to sleep. Often students had a curfew to be in the building for “lights out” and a “dorm mother” was in charge of running the building.. Features of life such as cafeterias, academic centers, active and passive programming, resident assistants and hall coordinators have given a new experience to living on campus.