Recent Articles Lifestyle Section

Recent Articles

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	‘Calvin Klein Creates a Christmas Dollhouse‘ 2008-12-29 11:47:14 Every year around this time, tourists and locals flock to the streets of Manhattan for the ultimate in free entertainment – checking out the elaborate holiday window displays at NYC’s many upscale department stores and boutiques.  And while one of this year’s top offerings can hardly be described as “Christmas-y” at all, it offers an incredible array of seasonal delights for fans of… Read More…
	‘Bedding Down With Leo DiCaprio‘ 2008-12-29 11:45:20 Women – and some men – dream of spending the night with him.  Now, people everywhere will be able to rest their heads at Leonardo DiCaprio’s place, even though the superstar actor may be nowhere in sight.  The 30-year-old star of acclaimed and successful movies from “Titanic” to “The Departed” is entering into the hotel business, having purchased an island (yes, ladies, he now owns… Read More…
	‘Auto Designer Turns Eco Chairmaker‘ 2008-12-29 11:43:35 Born and educated in the UK, Jolyon Yates made a name for himself in what is possibly the most impersonal, least eco-friendly industry around.  Armed with a degree in Automotive Styling (yes, you can actually study that in school!) from the Royal College of Art in London, he began his career designing for the automotive and boat industry.  Yates was an instant superstar, becoming part… Read More…
	‘Celebrating the Christmas Sweater‘ 2008-12-29 11:42:02 With Christmas just around the corner, now might be an ideal time to focus on holiday fashion.  No, we’re not talking about the latest festive creations from Dolce and Gabbana or Tory Burch.  We’re talking about the most enduring symbol of seasonal fashion.  The Christmas Sweater.  No doubt you’ve seen a few as a lifetime of Decembers have rolled by.  The red one with… Read More…
	‘Supreme Sofas – 2008’s Award Winners‘ 2008-12-29 11:39:58 Sofas – If you’re looking for what’s on the absolutely on the cutting edge of furniture design this year, don’t go another day without checking out Interior Design Magazine’s Best of the Year Awards.  This year’s seating offerings were especially impressive – with a range stretching from a Frank Gehry-esque sofa made from bent strips of wood to a day bed that appears to float on a cloud of… Read More…
	‘Aussie Architect Takes 2008’s Top Honors‘ 2008-12-29 11:37:44 One of Australia’s most famous and beloved architects has been recognized (or as they say Down Under, recognised) for his achievements yet again.   Having already been awarded the Pritzker Prize, known as the most prestigious prize in architecture, in 2002, Glenn Marcus Murcutt, is now the recipient of the 2009 AIA American Institute of Architects Gold Medal.  The man behind… Read More…

12 tips to keep Your Sofa Looking Like New

All Sofas Looking Like New

A Sofa is a major investment, so you want to keep it looking like new for as long as possible. With the new fabrics and treatments on the market, it’s easier than ever to do so.

Still, there is some maintenance you need to do to ensure that your sofa lasts even longer. read more

Add a Sofa to Your Office

If you have a business, especially a successful one, chances are good that your clients will be needing to wait to meet with you from time to time. And while you can always go with the tacky plastic chairs that seem to line every waiting room across America, several sofas can really make you stand out in the business world.

While you could conceivably use a domestic sofa or sofa set for your office, you may want to go with something a little less frilly and a little more durable, particularly if your business receives a lot of clients, such as a law firm, a doctor’s office or a counselor.

When buying an office sofa, you want to consider two main things, color and style. The style of the sofa should match your business. If you are a professional, such as a counselor or lawyer, you may want to go with modern furniture in a brown or black leather. If you want to create a more relaxing environment, you may want to go with something a little more rounded and informal, such as a camel back.

Color is another important consideration. Color not only affects the cohesiveness of the room’s décor, but affects the emotions and moods of visitors. A red sofa is energetic while a blue sofa calms. Of course, you can never go wrong with muted tones or earth tones. Black is good too. Avoid white or any bright shades of any color since it will show dirt quickly.

When you’re in the process of selecting a sofa, you want to find one that’s low maintenance. Be sure to have your sofa treated with a stain retardant. This will keep the sofa from becoming stained with the usual suspects, such as food and spilled sodas.

You also want to find a sofa that is easy to keep up in appearance. Don’t bother with pillow back sofas. Office staff will be driven mad trying to keep all the pillows straightened. Stick with cushion backs – the fewer, the better. This goes for the seat cushions as well.

An office is the one place where comfort isn’t a great concern. Unless your clients or patients are waiting for an hour or more to see you, comfort doesn’t have to be the main consideration for a change.

If you’re just starting out or need to keep your cash flow positive, you may want to consider leasing your office sofa along with your other office furniture. Just be sure you’re getting a good deal. Drive a hard bargain or you may find that the leased goods are costing you more than an outright purchase.

Finally, be sure you take advantage of the tax breaks related to office expenses. You may find that a more expensive sofa or other office furnishings will kick you into a more favorable tax bracket when tax time rolls around.

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