How Renting Furniture Lowers Your Stress Levels

The term “renting” is something that all students have heard of. Whether you are renting textbooks or renting a car, the term is well-known around the campus sector.

One of the most well-known “renting” options for students is more recognized when it is called a loan. You borrow and then have to give it all back at some point. Renting can be stressful, but still an easy way of going about things when you are a college student. You have enough on your plate with classes, jobs, and especially if you are dealing with moving into a new apartment from the dorms.

You have a whole new set of issues to look into. Your main focus and the main focus of most people is furniture. Where are you going to sleep? Eat? Sit in your living room? All very good questions.

You may not have all the time in the world to go out furniture shopping or you may not have the money at the moment to buy any good furniture pieces. All of these concerns can cause your stress levels to go up and we don’t need that whatsoever.

Have you ever thought about renting furniture? Yes, I said renting furniture. Oh, you didn’t know that was a thing? Well neither did I until I did some digging. It is very much a thing and people do it all the time. It saves them time and money tremendously. Of course, just like everything in the world, not everyone is going to jump on the bandwagon for this idea, but majority rules on saying this one is a good idea.

Stress doesn’t need to be a factor when it comes to furniture rentals and here are a few reasons how that works out to be true:

•You have zero furniture? Rent. Simple. It gets done in 48 hours max, so you won’t be in a furniture-less place for long.

•Depending on the contract you sign at your apartment complex you could get good deals on furniture rentals. Companies give good rates to students depending on the type of contract they sign for. It saves you time and money in the long run.

•It works if you are living somewhere for a set amount of time. Technically that is the ultimate best setting for renting furniture. Get it in, then get it out. Simple as that. If you know your end date somewhere, renting furniture might be your best bet, that way you won’t be stuck with unnecessary furniture that you don’t need or want.

•Do you hate moving furniture? Yeah so do I. When you rent furniture you won’t have too. That is what the moving furniture rental people get paid to do! So if you move again, don’t worry about trying to gather all your friends and family to help you move out — they will not be needed.

•Is there something you have seen and wanted to try, but don’t know if you actually want it in your house or apartment for a good amount of time? Never fear, you can actually rent pieces of furniture before you fully commit. You can rent for a month or two and then send it back.

•Redecorating can be a cool experience if you want something new to wash out the old, yet, redecorating with furniture that you have to sell to make room for new pieces is a harder task than people let on. When you rent furniture, certain sets can have different expiration dates, so the movers come in and clean you out and then you get a whole new set that they move in for you. No hassle, no worry; and you get a whole new décor.

•There are rent-to-own programs, meaning that if you don’t have the money to buy furniture right then and there you can enroll in the program which requires you to make monthly payments up until the time the furniture is paid off.  Although doing this may cause you to be paying more for the furniture than if you had just paid for it outright in the beginning.

•You can coordinate what you want. You can have a full-on living room set if you want it and not waste time picking out every little piece of furniture. Each set is most likely for a flat rate price each and you don’t have to worry about picking out things that match and then being upset if nothing works. Just have the rental company get a good set to you.

Renting is something that will be in society forever, so just take a breath and let it ease your mind. Don’t hassle yourself too much when you don’t have to; take the easy road, it is better on your stress levels.
Resource: http://www.uloop.com/news/view.php/210078/How-Renting-Furniture-Lowers-Your-Stress-Levels

Why Rent-to-Own Is a Bad Idea

Rent-to-own plans may seem like a good idea at first. But once you look into the total cost, it is apparent that these plans are just too good to be true. In fact, according to Dave Ramsey, it is "one of the worst moves you can make with your money."
How the Plan Works

With a rent-to-own plan, you can enjoy the freedom of making a large purchase with smaller weekly or monthly payments, over a prolonged period of time. The payments include the interest charged and a portion of the principal. Repaying this obligation is similar to repaying a credit card obligation.
It'll Cost You in the End

The problem with these programs is the finance charge. Even using a credit card with a 20% APR would save you money compared to a rent-to-own program, which you will need to pay off over a significant amount of time (on a weekly, semimonthly, or monthly basis). The longer your contract is, the more you will pay in finance charges.

Rent-to-own plans are significantly more expensive than outright purchases. By paying the purchase cost and effective interest rate over time, you can expect to spend significantly more than the retail price. In fact, according to Consumer Affairs, "Even in the best-case scenario, you'll pay at least twice the standard retail price." (See also: This Is How Much a "Rent-to-Own" TV Really Costs)
Rent-to-Own Programs Are Unregulated

Rent-to-own programs do not require credit and are not a form of credit, so they are excluded from regulation by federal law. While some states do effectively regulate the purchase agreements, there are other states that have no regulations at all, which means that the buyer is taking on all the risk.
What About Missed Payments?

Some rental centers are lenient about missed payments and might just charge a late payment fee, but will allow you to keep the item. However, there are some rental centers that will repossess the item should you miss a payment. In this case, you will experience the worst of both worlds. You will lose the money that you invested toward the purchase of the item, and the item will be repossessed.

Unexpected Additional Fees

If you will only be using the item for a short amount of time, such as for a prolonged business trip, make sure the rental center you choose offers free repairs, delivery, pick up, and set up. This should be standard because the last thing you want is to be paying additional fees on top of the already exorbitant prices. These unexpected additional fees can really add up, so make sure to inquire about them before signing any agreements.
Is It Ever a Good Idea?

The only time rent-to-own may be a good idea (for the short-term) is in the following situations:

    You are traveling for business and need furniture and appliances for a short period of time. The benefit of rent-to-own programs is you only pay for the item as long as you need it, and you can stop making payments once you are ready to return the item.
    
    You need appliances or furniture right away and you can't wait until you have the money to purchase them.
    
    You frequently get bored with your appliances and like to upgrade often. Some rental centers will allow you to upgrade to newer products and technologies at no extra cost, as often as you want. In this case, you can think of it almost like leasing a car.

Bad Credit or No Credit?

Rent-to-own will allow you to buy items without credit, so if you have bad credit or no credit, it will be much easier to sign up for a rent-to-own program rather than trying to get your new TV financed. With a rental center, they will not check your credit or base their decision on mistakes you've made in the past. This also means that it won't show up on your credit, so the plan won't hurt or help your current situation.

Certain rental centers, like Rent-A-Center, will allow you to purchase the item within 90 days or less with no interest charges. This means you can purchase an item with 0% APR over three months. If you can pay off the item within three months, then this may be a good idea for you.
What About Large Purchases?

If you can't qualify for a mortgage loan, a rent-to-own agreement will allow you to live in your dream home today, with the option to purchase it down the road. However, this can be a pitfall for renters and may end up costing you more in the end. (See also: 5 Things You Need to Know When Renting-to-Own a Home)

Rent-to-own can apply to vehicles as well. The agreement is similar to a leasing agreement, except the money you pay every week or month will go toward the eventual purchase price of the vehicle. Whereas with a leasing agreement, your payment does not go toward the purchase price and you need to return the vehicle at the end of the term.
Consider Layaway Plans Instead

Instead of signing on to a rent-to-own agreement, consider a layaway plan. With a layaway plan, you can split the cost up into payments that meet your budget until it is paid off. Generally, you will need to make a down payment (usually 10%–20% of the purchase price) and can then arrange payments on a weekly, biweekly, or monthly basis.

A layaway plan is almost identical to a rent-to-own plan, except you won't have to worry about the high finance charges, and with layaway, your item will stay in the store until you have paid it off. There is generally a small service fee involved, but it is nothing compared to the finance charges you would face with rent-to-own.

Do you have any positive or negative experiences with rent-to-own programs? Please share your thoughts in the comments!

Resource :http://www.wisebread.com/why-rent-to-own-is-a-bad-idea

Design Recipes: How to furnish a vacation home

You just purchased the perfect vacation or weekend home, while the excitement is great, furnishing it may be a bit overwhelming.

Oftentimes the weekend home becomes the dumping ground for a hodgepodge of excess furniture or whatever may be collecting dust in storage. Instead, why not make that vacation home a showpiece in design? And there is no need to break the bank.

Getting started

Think about how the home will be used. Will it be used for solely you and your family to enjoy, or will it be rented out and used partially as an investment property?

Homes used for rental purposes will receive more wear and tear than one used just for you and your family. As a result, materials such as hospitality- or commercial-grade fabrics should be considered along with leather or Naugahyde as opposed to lighter or more fragile fabrics. Hospitality- and commercial-grade fabrics are also great solutions for everyday residential use, especially for those who have pets and children.

Furniture

Vacation and weekend homes are often places to bring and invite guests, so how you plan to entertain may also play a role in your furniture selections.

An investment in a good quality sofa should top your list.

■Choose a sofa made of kiln-dried hard wood as opposed to a soft wood such as pine.

■Learn about how the foundation of the sofa is created, as the sturdiness of the frame will impact its longevity. In general, the more springs, ties and reinforcement, the better.

■Feel the back of the sofa. You should not feel staples or wood — these are indications of a poorly wrapped frame.

■Choose partial down- or foam-filled seat cushions as opposed to those filled with pure down. While down is cozy and soft, down eventually begins to flatten and will not look as plump as it once did.

Beyond your sofa selection, the next important selection should be the flooring material or floor covering.

Flooring for an investment property should be durable, so be sure to select a low-maintenance flooring solution such as porcelain tile or hardwood that is well-protected. In general, carpeting may not be the ideal solution due to potential staining and odor.

Colors

Why not consider those that are soft and soothing? As this is a home in which to get away from it all, creating an inviting oasis will help increase your enjoyment.

Some colors to consider include:

■Charcoal gray. Charcoal gray pairs well with light and bright colors and will also hide potential stains.

■Blue. Blue is a calming, soothing, cool color that helps to relax a space.

■Yellow. Yellow is a bright, happy color that can help perk up potentially dark spaces.

■Green. Green is a color that can add a lot of interest to a space and serves as a great accent color.

How much should you spend?

Furniture, lighting and accessories can be little or big ticket items depending on your budget and taste. Expect to pay the most for your larger items such as sofas and beds.

When making your purchasing decisions consider how long you plan to keep the home. Buying furniture that will be long-lasting has its advantages. However, if you only plan to keep a home short term, you may wish to consider furnishing your home using a blend of pieces that are high and low.

Keep in mind, however, that just because an item isn’t expensive doesn’t mean it isn’t well-designed, so be sure to pay attention to construction quality.

Don’t forget to include artwork and accessories, as this can help create a home that feels finished.

Cathy Hobbs, based in New York City, is an Emmy Award-winning television host and a nationally known interior design and home staging expert with offices in New York City, Boston and Washington, D.C. Contact her at info@cathyhobbs.com or visit her website at cathyhobbs.com.
Resource :http://www.detroitnews.com/story/life/home-garden/2016/08/11/vacation-home-furnishings/88587470/

Boyhood chums find market ready for Uberlike mover

When Hunter Riley decided to help his brother out by hauling art from his North Little Rock gallery to Chicago in his pickup, he didn't anticipate it would lead to an entirely different career path.

While there, someone heard Riley had a pickup and asked for help moving a credenza. Something soon became clear to Riley and his childhood friend John Goodwin, a fellow Arkansan working in advertising in Chicago at the time.

Growing up on Topf Road in North Little Rock, the two childhood neighbors always had a friend with a pickup. Not so for many people in places like the Windy City, they realized.

So they founded Schlep to match people with large vehicles and brawn to customers who had bulky items too big to be easily moved but too small to justify hiring a moving service.

"You're going to call on anyone with a truck and an extra set of muscles if you have something heavy to lift across town," said Riley, who has a background in international development and nonprofit and startup consulting. "We really formed a vision around that ... anyone with a pickup truck, a cargo van or SUV could utilize them in a way to make extra money."

"We consider ourselves part of the 'gig economy,' the idea that anyone can plug in through our platform and our marketplace, the vision that individuals with these resources could make extra money." Short-term rental company Airbnb and ride-sharing service Uber are examples of this kind of marketplace, providing platforms for part-time income to independent contractors.

Schleppers, as the movers/drivers are called, go through three levels of vetting before they can claim jobs: personality, professionalism and full background checks.

"The screening process is the most important part and the reason we've grown in such a particular way," Riley said. "It really boils down to 'are you comfortable with this person? Would you be comfortable with them in your home?'

"We're offering an independent contractor network for people to make extra money with the neighborliness from Arkansas, the idea that the person delivering your things is someone you'd want to have a conversation with," Riley said.

The company's tagline, "Your Neighbor with a Truck," encapsulates this.

"We're just two Arkansas boys bringing Arkansas values to a Chicago-based company," Riley said.

Once the pair started digging into the issue, it became clear that there were individual and business needs for this service. Event planners, interior designers and furniture stores previously had to rely on expensive and large moving companies and courier services often unable to handle quick turnarounds.

"We still Schlep for consumers who have a one-off need like for a move, but we primarily plan to make ourselves part of the local logistical business, insert ourselves into this ecosystem," Riley said.

"Prior to using Schlep, we would contract out our Chicago-area moves to different providers. This was costly and not scalable," said Schlep customer Michael Stone of Interior Define, a Chicago furniture store. "Partnering with Schlep provides us with the security and efficiency to handle any type of move and has really made a huge impact on our business in Chicago."

"Everyone wants to associate our business as the Lyft or Uber of," Riley said. "But we never saw that as the end-all, be-all of the company. We've adopted a hybrid model."

Independent contractors range from people with seasonal jobs and students to Crossfit instructors. These "Schleppers" get first dibs on jobs posted on the Schlep app, planned generally a week in advance, unlike the instantaneous Uber or Lyft. However, also unlike the popular ride-sharing services, Schlep has six full-time employees who do deliveries, promote and work events, and train independent contractors. Full-timers are relied on if no one is able to take a job.

All contractors are paid per move. Each delivery's price is determined based on how far something has to go and how many "obstacles" are involved, like a staircase or elevator. Riley estimates a typical Schlep is a sectional sofa moving about four miles with one obstacle, which costs about $75-$80.

"Honestly, I think it's one of the best workplace environments, because we [Schleppers] create it," said Josue Barrera, who has replaced two part-time jobs with a job with Schlep on his own schedule. "Yes, the standard set by Schlep is high in regard to quality, but I'm practically working for myself. I'm my own boss.

"I think of Schlep as a broker providing customer leads. I just show up and do the easy part -- lift couches, etc."

Since their first Schlep delivery on Sept. 1, 2014, the company raised investment capital and has now set a goal of $1 million. They currently handle hundreds of jobs per month.

"It is a great idea -- simple and beneficial for the community, especially on short notice," said Aaron Wolf, a part-time contractor and full-time outfitter and wilderness guide. "People love it."

Riley and Goodwin hope to expand the company nationwide.

"The ultimate vision is to really define the Schlep niche," Riley said. "We think this is a niche that doesn't yet have a solution. It's too often defaulted to people doing it themselves or having to spend way more money than they should."

SundayMonday Business on 08/14/2016

Print Headline: Boyhood chums find market ready for Uberlike mover
Resource: http://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2016/aug/14/boyhood-chums-find-market-ready-for-ube/?f=business

How to furnish a vacation home

You just purchased the perfect vacation or weekend home, while the excitement is great, furnishing it may be a bit overwhelming.

Oftentimes the weekend home becomes the dumping ground for a hodgepodge of excess furniture or whatever may be collecting dust in storage. Instead, why not make that vacation home a showpiece in design? And there is no need to break the bank.
Getting started

Think about how the home will be used. Will it be used for solely you and your family to enjoy, or will it be rented out and used partially as an investment property?

Homes used for rental purposes will receive more wear and tear than one used just for you and your family. As a result, materials such as hospitality- or commercial-grade fabrics should be considered along with leather or Naugahyde as opposed to lighter or more fragile fabrics. Hospitality- and commercial-grade fabrics are also great solutions for everyday residential use, especially for those who have pets and children.
Furniture

Vacation and weekend homes are often places to bring and invite guests, so how you plan to entertain may also play a role in your furniture selections.

An investment in a good quality sofa should top your list.

When looking for a sofa, here are some aspects to consider:

— Choose a sofa made of kiln-dried hard wood as opposed to a soft wood such as pine.

— Learn about how the foundation of the sofa is created, as the sturdiness of the frame will impact its longevity. In general, the more springs, ties and reinforcement, the better.

— Feel the back of the sofa. You should not feel staples or wood — these are indications of a poorly wrapped frame.

— Choose partial down- or foam-filled seat cushions as opposed to those filled with pure down. While down is cozy and soft, down eventually begins to flatten and will not look as plump as it once did.

Beyond your sofa selection, the next important selection should be the flooring material or floor covering.

Flooring for an investment property should be durable, so be sure to select a low-maintenance flooring solution such as porcelain tile or hardwood that is well-protected. In general, carpeting may not be the ideal solution due to potential staining and odor.
Colors

Why not consider those that are soft and soothing? As this is a home in which to get away from it all, creating an inviting oasis will help increase your enjoyment.

Some colors to consider include:

— Charcoal gray. Charcoal gray pairs well with light and bright colors and will also hide potential stains.

— Blue. Blue is a calming, soothing, cool color that helps to relax a space.

— Yellow. Yellow is a bright, happy color that can help perk up potentially dark spaces.

— Green. Green is a color that can add a lot of interest to a space and serves as a great accent color.
The budget

Furniture, lighting and accessories can be little or big ticket items depending on your budget and taste. Expect to pay the most for your larger items such as sofas and beds.

When making your purchasing decisions consider how long you plan to keep the home. Buying furniture that will be long-lasting has its advantages. However, if you only plan to keep a home short term, you may wish to consider furnishing your home using a blend of pieces that are high and low.

Keep in mind, however, that just because an item isn’t expensive doesn’t mean it isn’t well-designed, so be sure to pay attention to construction quality.

Don’t forget to include artwork and accessories, as this can help create a home that feels finished. Artificial blooms and succulents can serve as the icing on the cake.

Resource :http://www.winonadailynews.com/lifestyles/home-and-garden/how-to-furnish-a-vacation-home/article_0a54483e-867f-5438-91f5-308c41bb3c0a.html

Rent a lifestyle

Live your dream life without spending much. NAVEENA VIJAYAN speaks to companies that offer clients the chance to experience luxury at a fraction of the cost

Dream this up: a limousine (around Rs. one crore) drops you at your friend’s 21st birthday party. You step out, wearing an Anita Dongre lehenga and top (close to Rs. 54,000), a matching diamond necklace set (around Rs.1,50,000) and ALDO stilettos (around Rs. 8,000). Now, just turning this part into reality can cost you a little over a crore. Unless you win a jackpot or acquire a mountain of wealth from your parents, this dream would remain one until you are too old to attend birthday parties. Or, would it?

As it turns out, there is a way around the issue of not being able to afford one’s ideal lifestyle — don’t buy, just rent.

Now, let’s go back to the dream and apply this. Rent a Chrysler limousine from Eco Rent a Car for Rs. 15,000 (basic package), an Anita Dongre lehenga from Swishlist for Rs. 5,500, a diamond necklace from Eves24 for Rs. 8,500, and ALDO stilettos from The Clothing Rental for Rs. 1,000. Your total expenditure works out to a fraction of what it would if you bought them.

The concept of renting, which is quite established in the West with popular online rental sites such as Rent the Runway (which has a whopping five million members, including celebrities and billionaires), Gwynnie Bee, Bag Borrow or Steal, and more, is now creating a buzz in the country.

Over the past few years, there has been an explosion in the number of rental sites for premium products such as luxury cars, fashion wear, designer shoes and designer furniture, and essentials like home appliances, study tables and even a bean bag! It almost seems like renting is the new buying, especially for those between 20 and 40 years.

Besides being a choice made for economical reasons, renting fashion wear makes sense, given “most of today’s fashion trends are defined by Snapchat, Facebook or Instagram. They usually change in a short period. And today’s fashion-conscious youngsters like to keep pace with it. So, why would they buy a Rs. 50,000 worth label, if they cannot repeat it for more than one event”? asks Vedika Oberoi, co-founder of Mumbai-based Swishlist that gets between 100 and 300 requests per month, and rents out labels such as Manish Malhotra, Ridhima Bhasin and Amit Aggarwal for just around Rs. 5,500. Fashion rental sites such as The Clothing Rental started off renting out high-end gowns to stylists and celebrities, but later opened to the public because of demand. Be it for a wedding or a weekend party, there are at least a dozen sites such as TheDuffl, Secret Wardrobe and more, where you can browse for the perfect dress.

“When it comes to jewellery, two reasons why people buy it are indulgence and investment. If a woman buys a necklace worth Rs. five lakh, she might not want to wear it more than once, as most family functions tend to have a similar crowd. The piece is then sent into the locker. And, buying a necklace is not a good investment if you consider the making and wastage charges. A better option would be to buy a gold bar. Even if you put that money in a deposit, you’ll still get Rs. 5,40,000 in a year. On the other hand, renting jewellery worth Rs. 5 lakh from us might cost you Rs. 20,000, just a fraction of your returns from the savings,” explains Rahul Banka, founder, Eves24.com, which runs a ‘Jewellery Library’ for people to borrow jewellery from, with some pieces costing as much as Rs. 10 lakh.

The wiser lot among the millennials are shedding the idea of ownership — not just on houses or cars, but also on fashion wear, jewellery, and articles of everyday use, such as a vacuum cleaner or bedside lamp. The attitude has shifted from owning the best to experiencing it. “One of the reasons for this trend is that in most metro cities (where a majority of the e-commerce sites are functional), the population is constantly migrating. According to a survey, Delhi has the highest migration rate of 43 per cent, followed by Mumbai, Pune, Bangalore and Chennai. People stay for, probably, three months in a city, before moving to another, or even abroad. Ninety per cent of our customers stay in rented flats. During their stay here, it doesn’t make sense for them to buy a new refrigerator, television or furniture. That’s when we come into the picture,” says Shubham Jain, co-founder of GrabOnRent, which has served over 4,000 customers since it began in September 2015.

Then, there are sites such as Furlenco which focus on providing high-end designer furniture for those capable of buying it, and are not migrating, but simply do not want to own it. The site rents out designer furniture, and packages include everything from pillow and table covers to beside lamps and beds. “The idea is to help people who do not want to be forced to stay committed to a piece of furniture. Those who want a change in the look of their room can swap the furniture settings every six months!” says Ajith Mohan, founder and CEO, Furlenco.

“People are warming up fast to the idea of renting. In about five to seven years, the industry will touch the $20 billion mark. We had 150 subscribers when we started out last year; now, the number stands at 6,000. That’s a good indicator!”

***

Luxury cars

Chennai-based Luxury8 and its sister concern Travel Point rent cars along with chauffeurs for business meets, weddings, and more. They rent out cars on an ‘eight-hours, 80-km’ package, and prices vary depending on the cars. Other options include Eco Rent a Car, Luxury Limo, MylesCar, Zoomcar.

Home appliances and furniture

Hire anything from a recliner, book shelf, table and a plush bed to designer furniture, refrigerator, TV and bean bag from Furlenco, GrabOnRent, Rentmojo.com, RentOne.com

Fashion wear

Rent high-end labels and celebrity gowns from Swishlist, Secret Wardrobe, Flyrobe, Klozee, Liberent, stylebank.in, wrapd.in

Camping and trekking gear

Get a hiking pole, trekking shoes, walkie talkie and Go Pro on Shoes on Loose

Art

Popular sites include Hang Art, Rise Art and Artsicle in the West. In India, sites such as ArtEnthuse are picking up
Resource: http://www.thehindu.com/features/metroplus/rent-a-highflying-lifestyle/article8942915.ece

Home, but not alone

You don’t always need a pad of your own to enjoy complete freedom

It was just another day at work. The Gurgaon sky was colourless. The routine edit meeting was unremarkable. My lunch looked the usual. And I had no exciting after-work plans to look forward to. It didn’t look like a day that would change my life — temporarily. During a coffee break at the small round table in the one-room office, my colleague sowed the seeds of that change in my head: “Shweta, why don’t you become my flatmate?” The suddenness of the suggestion drew nothing but a blank stare from me. Move in with her, but why? She is not a close friend... Just a colleague with whom I am cordial, I thought.

Thirty minutes later, after another cup of strong coffee, the idea took root. From ‘but why’, I graduated to ‘why not’. During the metro ride home — the spacious Model Town apartment I shared with my parents, brother, sister-in-law and a niece — I thought some more. By the time I entered the house (to the welcoming fragrance of my mom’s chicken curry), I was ready for the experiment.

A couple of weeks later — in July 2012 — I broached the topic at home. I took my mother into confidence, knowing fully well her strong views on the importance of girls being self-reliant. Her response was positive. I quickly assigned her the task of breaking the news to the rest of the family. My father was next in queue. “But why do you want to leave us? You have everything you need. You have your room, your TV, your reading corner... How much more space does one need?” he asked over dinner one night. It’s not about space, I replied. “I am going to be 30 soon and I want to be in charge of my life. Pay rent, do groceries, cook and clean, make my own budget.” What I didn’t add to the list I rattled off was ‘stay out till late with friends and not worry about missing the last metro’. The word ‘freedom’, quite strangely, didn’t figure in the discussions that followed. I harped on the importance of discovering self-worth. And managed to connect it to having a separate address.

It took less than a week for my father to give his nod. By August, I’d moved into my new oyster — a windowless, dingy room in a modest two-bedroom apartment near Saket in south Delhi. I had to share a bathroom. There was no room for my winter clothes in the steel almirah, so I left them in the safety of my old wardrobe. Instead of a table laden with fresh, homemade food, I often returned to an empty refrigerator. Evening plans for movies, beer and pizzas slowly lost ground to buying veggies and doing laundry. And phone calls to my mother became more about quick recipes for dinner than the latest wedding in the extended family.

From an early-to-bed, early-to-rise person, I transformed into a night owl. I accompanied my flatmate to gigs, house parties, movies and pubs. My TV, which I had installed in the living room, started to look lonely and unwanted. In less than two months, I was ready to give anything to be able to sleep before prime-time TV hours. The drudgery of household chores was taking the wind out of my sails. And keeping up with my highly social and energetic flatmate proved tougher than remembering Chaucer. I started to miss the long metro rides to work and back. The comfort of being driven around — by my flatmate in her new car — did little to ease the headache of being stuck in traffic during peak hours.

Very soon, I started going back to Model Town almost every day of the week. My parents looked both puzzled and happy, but they spared me the questions. All I could think of in those days was my sunlit room, the one I had lived in for more than 12 years, and home food. At the end of a tiring day, I was happy to come home and play with my niece. The drinks, the disco, the music, the excitement of meeting new people — everything paled in comparison with the rest and relaxation I was craving.

I bid goodbye to the new home in less than a year. Back in my own corner, I realised I was lucky to have my personal space in a house filled with people. In fact, my family, after my return, went out of their way to give me more space. This doesn’t mean that I am shy of having my own pad someday. But it won’t be on the pretext of being self-reliant or experiencing complete freedom.

Shweta Andrews works with a publishing house in Delhi NCR
Resource  : http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/blink/cover/home-but-not-alone/article8978805.ece

8 Home Flaws to Stop Feeling Guilty About

While it's easy to get consumed by all the actions you want to take to physically improve your space, we want to take a moment to focus on bettering the way we think about our space. In short, we want to let go of the guilt we have over our home's imperfections.

To get you on your merry way toward home love, here are eight things to stop feeling guilty about:
Still Renting

Your best friend has a white picket fence and walls she can paint without needing to ask permission. You, meanwhile, are still sending off rent checks every month and crossing your fingers that the flatscreen you mounted in the wall won't mean saying goodbye to your deposit when you move out — if you ever move out. I get it; I've been there. While it seems like everyone you know is moving on to greener pastures, in reality, you're not alone. Instead of having home ownership envy, focus on all the perks of renting, like having a landlord to manage and pay for all maintenance.
Designs in Progress

When I moved into my current apartment, I discovered that all the living room furniture from my previous home was a complete mismatch in the new space. Financially unable to overhaul the entire room at once, I spent months redecorating, inching toward my vision one baby step at a time. Eventually the room reached a liveable place, but for one old and dirty love seat. Ashamed of the incongruous furniture piece, I insisted on leaving a swatch of the fabric I was planning on (one day) reupholstering it in as a means of explanation. A year later, the swatch looked more ridiculous than explanatory. I finally removed it and owned the mismatched seat as it was.
Hacks and DIYs

Yes, it would be great to have real hardwood floors, but for now wood laminate will have to do. Make the best of what you have spending what you can afford, and don't apologize for it. An Ikea kitchen remodel, Craigslist bedroom set, or DIY bathroom tile job should be domestic badges of honour, not reason to feel inferior or ashamed. One of the best pieces of furniture in my house is a media console I found on the street corner, took home, and refinished, and I love to brag about how little ($30 in all!) the project cost.
Dead Houseplants

There are numerous benefits to having live flora and fauna in the house — unfortunately, these benefits can only be reaped if the plant is kept alive. Despite successfully caring for a dog and baby, I have yet to keep a potted plant going for more than a month. Que sera, sera. Faux ferns it is for this black thumb.
A Visible Television

Televisions feel like an eyesore, but they're an unavoidable part of home life. As long as you haven't focused your entire living room around the screen, there's no need to feel guilty. If it's going to be in the room anyway, might as well accept it and be grateful today's models are sleeker and less aesthetically disruptive than the bulky tube models of yesteryear.
Some Dirt and Messiness

Your co-worker's home looks positively spotless in the background of the baby pic she posted on Instagram, but in reality, ruffled blankets, piles of toys, and dirty dishes were merely pushed out of the tiny square frame. Homes get dirty. It's an inevitable byproduct of living in them. Cleaning as you go is the best way to quell the chaos, but on any given day you could run out of time to make your bed or load the dishwasher. It happens, and it's OK — even if guests come over and see it. A little grime or clutter doesn't classify you as a slob, just as a human.
Outdated Rooms

You moved in with big ideas for updating the bathroom and overhauling the kitchen — and then the property taxes increased and the plumbing went, along with your reno budget. You are not the ugly tiles on your kitchen backsplash, and no one is judging you for them. Eventually they will reflect your design aesthetic, but Rome wasn't built in a day and neither will your dream home. Stop fretting, and make the best of what you have right now.
Large and Beloved Collections

When you live in a small space, shelves flowing with books, rows of antique teacups, and racks of shoes take up valuable real estate. While it's always a good idea to sort through and clean out these collections regularly, don't feel bad for having them. Your home is defined by you — your interests and passions — and your collection is a part of this that you shouldn't give up entirely. Quite on the contrary, we recommend you display them with thought and gusto. 

Resource:http://www.popsugar.com.au/home/Home-Flaws-OK-Have-42188210

Adopt-A-Family Uniform Drive helps change students' lives

Every August when I write about Kevin Buckel's Adopt-A-Family Uniform Drive, I also write a check. I feel compelled to because it's such a perfect program and helps so many children.

I know that every dollar raised goes to buy school uniforms, and I love getting thank you notes from the kids. Usually, the notes are from elementary school students, and they're illustrated with rainbows and crooked houses and smiling children wearing new uniforms. But last year, I got a note from a junior high student that took up a whole page.

She said her house had burned down and that she did not know where she would end up or how her parents would find the money to buy her and her brothers new uniforms and other clothes. She explained how worried she was about her future.

"Then about a week before school I found out that we had uniforms," she wrote. "I was so happy I was jumping out of my skin. That means that we are one step closer to getting our new home and getting everyone situated. You have made a really big step in our lives, and I can't thank you enough."

Her words reminded me of the whole purpose of the program, and why Buckel began it back in the '90s.

In 1992, touched by the poverty of many New Orleans families, he dreamed up his nonprofit Adopt-A-Family program, a way for groups with something to give to help families living on the edge. He asked schools, civic groups and church groups to collect household goods for people who'd lost their belongings in a fire or were moving out of a shelter into an apartment. It helped families dealing with a crisis.

His Adopt-A-Family Uniform Drive grew out of his program. When he was getting Adopt-A-Family started, New Orleans public schools were adding uniforms, and parents would tell him uniforms for their kids were what they needed most.

He figured out a plan that has been outfitting the city's neediest children for more than two decades. It works like this:

People send contributions in any amount, and school social workers identify students and use $50 vouchers to buy two complete uniforms for them. Everyone who supports the program gets a thank-you note and a receipt for the uniform purchase.

Buckel, who moved to Long Beach, Miss., years ago, works with school social workers to make sure uniforms go to the students most in need, and two local businesses help with the paperwork and costs of running the drive.

Staff members at Pedelahore & Company, a New Orleans accounting firm, copy and mail the receipts and send out the thank-you notes, and the company also donates the postage. 

Cynthia Cabibi Bird writes the checks and does the bookkeeping, and her father's law firm, Cabibi and Cabibi in Metairie, does an audit every year to make sure all the money goes towards uniforms.

"All of us, working together, make a good team," Buckel said, when I talked to him a few days ago. "Every year, when the checks start coming in, I feel a certain responsibility and obligation to make sure we're doing it right."

Last year, one of the most successful since Hurricane Katrina, the drive outfitted 970 students across the New Orleans area. This year, the needs are as great as ever, and schools are already opening.

At Arise Academy on St. Claude Avenue, which opened this past week, school social worker Kathleen Stevens sent Buckel a request to cover 51 of her students.

"I had more requests than I usually have," she said, when I talked to her on Wednesday. "I am surrounded by uniforms in my office."

She was grateful that Buckel was able to get them to her so quickly.

"I sent him an email, and he approved my request in a day, and I had the uniforms a few days later," she said. "The uniforms mean we have no bullying because of clothes. They help the students blend in with their peers."

Stevens was a second-grade teacher at Arise before she moved to Chicago to go to graduate school and become a social worker. She never planned to move back to the city.

"But you can't get away from New Orleans, and whenever I came back to visit, Arise was always one of my first stops," she said. "We have a great sense of community here, and I've been able to see a lot of the kids grow up."

For Paula Brandon, the mother of two sons and a daughter who attend Esperanza Charter School on South Carrollton Avenue, Buckel's drive is a godsend, though she never expected to be on the receiving end of it.                                 

"I donated so many uniforms over the years to help other families, thinking 'One day that could be me,' but I never really thought it would be," she said.

Then this past year she had to move her children from the house they were renting because the owner wanted to sell it. Her new home in Gentilly is more expensive, and she isn't getting as many hours of work at City Park as she needs right now.

"I do weddings, and things are slow because it's hurricane season," she said. "I clean houses, too, but school starts so early this year, and I just don't have the money for uniforms."

Her daughter is in kindergarten, and her boys are 9 and 13, and quickly outgrow their clothes.

"They're good children. They're awesome kids," she said, " I really wanted them to have nice uniforms when school opened."

When she went online, she found Buckel's program, and she called him to see how she could qualify for it.

"I got a phone call back, and he told me how to get the help I need," she said. "He was just so nice. He understands that everybody goes through rough times."

Buckel -- who is director of sales and marketing for Ship Island -- has never forgotten the roots of his program. He still matches up families in jeopardy with those who are able to help. This July, when he sent out letters to donors, he reminded us that he also needs gently-used household items, furniture, toys, books -- things people starting over might need.

"I'm working with with five or six homeless families right now," he said.

He recently delivered items to a family of six in eastern New Orleans who had almost nothing in the rugged place where they were staying.

"It was really eye-opening. I felt like I was in a third-world country," he said. "The woman told me, 'I'm just glad I've got a place to live.' It's one step at a time when you're in those situations."

Since he sent out the letters, Buckel has been hearing from people who have items they'd like to donate, but no way to deliver them. So he's looking for a volunteer or two.

"I'm getting offers of a lot of good stuff, but I need someone with a pickup -- maybe a retired person who knows the city, who'd like to give me a little help," he said.

That's all Buckel has asked of us from the beginning: A little help.

He started the Adopt-A-Family Program nearly a quarter of a century ago, and it's still going strong. He's learned that all of us, working together, make a good team.

Checks should be made out to Adopt-A-Family and sent to Adopt-A-Family Uniform Drive, P.O. Box 457, Long Beach, MS 39560.

Find out more about donating household items to the Adopt-A-Family program at www.la-adoptafamily.com. If you have a pickup and the time and desire to help struggling families, contact Buckel at 228.343.2245 to learn more about delivering donated items in the New Orleans area.

Resource: http://www.nola.com/education/index.ssf/2016/08/adopt-a-family_uniform_drive_h.html

Pune: Rented furniture peps up living spaces of new-age city residents

The trend of hiring furniture on rent seems to be catching up among Puneites, especially the youngsters, who stay on rent or have a transferable job.

Sometime in 2015, when Mehtab Khan and his wife were planning to shift from their house in Kolkata to a rented apartment in Pune, his wife didn’t want to sell their furniture and other goods due to sentimental values attached to them.

Instead, she started looking for options that allowed her to take the furniture on rent and she stumbled upon a firm catering to her requirement. Once the couple shifted to Pune, they ordered the entire furniture for their living room and bedroom as well a television on rent. The couple pay around Rs 4,000 a month on rented furniture and appliances. The option, they say, is hassle-free and keeps them away from the worry of shifting furniture from one city to another or one apartment to another.

The trend of hiring furniture on rent seems to be catching up among Puneites, especially the youngsters, who stay on rent or have a transferable job. This is why firms are tapping the growing trend and are looking at the city as an emerging market in the furniture rental industry.
RentoMojo, which began catering to Puneites in October 2015, has been recording a steady 30 per cent month-on-month growth. Geetansh Bamania, CEO and Founder of RentoMojo, attributes it to the fact that population of those aged between 22 and 35 years is higher in Pune. “The city sees people, especially students and young IT professionals, migrating to Pune from different cities. Besides, the difference in the amount one spends on an unfurnished and furnished flat is huge. And thus, renting comes as an economical option. In Rs 3,000 to Rs 3,500, one can not only take furniture for the entire house but also appliances like TV, fridge and washing machine,” said Bamania, adding, the most rented items in the city are beds, mattresses, wardrobe, bedside table, wardrobe, bean bags, study table and dressing table.

While most customers rent minimum for a year or more, there are also customers who prefer changing it every six to eight months. Anantpal Singh Saluja (28), who stays in a rented apartment in the city, is a wedding photographer and travels a lot. Pointing out another benefit of rented furniture, he says, “Other than being a convenient and economical option, this concept also offers me a choice to change my furniture anytime I want.”

Furlenco, an online furniture rental company, which started operating in Pune in April this year, rents out an array of award-winning designer furniture that is high on quality and comes with matching furnishing and decor for a minimum subscription fee of Rs 999.

Ajith Karimpana, CEO and Founder of Furlenco, a firm that designs and curates its own furniture, says, “What attracts customers to our concept of renting furniture is that it’s hassle free. We don’t want our customers to be tied down by contracts of any kind. We have affordable premium furniture, which makes setting up a home really easy. What works for us is a subscription model, which allows customers to avail facilities such as free relocation of furniture, damage waiver of up to Rs 10,000, cleaning and interior services.”

Siddhant Jajodia, a 24-year-old bachelor, says that in the last seven years, he has shifted five cities for his education. Presently, he is in Pune for his job. “Buying luxury furniture is a costly affair. Besides, when one shifts from one place to another, there’s a possibility of damage to the goods. Hence, I feel renting makes it convenient. The kind of luxury furniture I have taken on rent is not something that I can afford with my current salary,” he says.

Resource: http://indianexpress.com/article/lifestyle/life-style/pune-rented-furniture-peps-up-living-spaces-of-new-age-city-residents-2904696/

New office' helps staff create and firms profit

TOKYO —

The office is changing. No longer just the place we go to work, it has become much more entwined with corporate identity and the way staff see themselves.

Indeed, an office that is designed well can be a hub for collaboration, creativity, productivity, and safety. It can also be a place for fun; a space that enhances the wellbeing of workers.

Conversely, poorly designed offices can not only taint the reputation of a company, but can lead to financial loss, low productivity, dissatisfaction, and poor health.

It comes as no surprise, then, that the office design and creation industry is experiencing change. But it is not only the space and its furnishings that are undergoing a revival. Where, how, and with whom we work are also evolving.

WORK–LIFE

The business case for a well-designed office is clear, say the experts, including US-based office furniture and architectural design company Steelcase.
“The most successful organizations are now turning their attention to employee wellbeing as a way to gain emotional, financial, and competitive advantage,” it argues in issue eight of its in-house 360 Magazine.

The company points out the wealth and healthcare issues at hand. On the rise are stress- and sedentary lifestyle-related illnesses—from obesity to diabetes to heart disease.

And while greater demands are being made on the average employee, research shows that their senses are inundated with some 11 million bits of information per second; “but the conscious brain can effectively process only 40 bits of information.”

If that level of distraction leads to a person switching from one task to another, it can reduce their productivity by 40 percent.

Steelcase’s survey of over 37,000 North American workers is even more revealing: 95 percent said they need a quiet spot for private conversations; 95 percent said a quiet place for concentrated work is important; 50 percent said they don’t have pleasing views; and 30 percent said the air quality at work is poor.

And what about a company’s bottom line? The cost to the economy due to distracted and unhealthy employees is more staggering still, research shows.
Gallup’s 2013 State of Global Workplace Report shows the cost to the economy from disengaged employees in a number of countries, including the US ($450–550 billion), Germany (€112–138 billion), and the United Kingdom (£52–70 billion).

IDENTITY AND BELONGING

While the cost of a poor work environment is becoming increasingly clear, the benefits are also gaining recognition: workplace satisfaction bolsters employee engagement, productivity, and wellbeing. It also boosts the company’s corporate identity and bottom line.

In an interview with The Journal, architect and frontofficetokyo co-founder Koen Klinkers said, “The office space has become a reflection of what you want your brand to be.”

Jean-Charles Touquet, project director at Midas Company, Ltd., an office environment solutions provider based in Tokyo, agrees. And the research seems to back them up.

“One common request from our clients is design that will help them attract and retain employees,” said Touquet.

A Steelcase/Ipsos poll shows that 11 percent of workers were highly satisfied with their work environment.

These workers “were also the most highly engaged,” showing high levels of concentration (98 percent), as well as the ability to express ideas fully (97 percent), choose where to work in the office (88 percent), and feel a sense of belonging to the company (97 percent).

JAPAN LAGS

Companies in Japan lag behind those in the United States when it comes to office design. “Japanese companies do not spend as much money,” explained Hideo Sugano, president of The Design Studio, a Tokyo-based facilities consultancy and architectural design office. “That is because companies here have not noticed the importance of the office environment for the employee’s loyalty and productivity.”

Olga Vlietstra, general managing director at Servcorp, makes a similar observation, noting that the idea of serviced offices — an area in which her firm is a global player — has yet to reach its full potential.

“In the United Kingdom and the United States, the idea of a serviced office is very common; around 4 percent of every building has such offerings. In Japan, serviced buildings are less common,” she said.

Part of the reason for this, Vlietstra believes, is that there has been a tradition in Japan for companies to manage and own their property. She is bullish, however, that the services her company provides — including “virtual offices” — will continue to expand in this market.

ROAD WARRIOR

Flexible workspace provider Regus, which operates in over 977 cities in 106 countries, offers products that cover a wide range of work styles. Regus is a good option for those who need a place to work short-term as space can be reserved for five or ten days at a time. This can be especially useful for travelers, consultants, and others who occasionally need a quiet space in the city with secure Internet access and business amenities. There are also options for those with longer-term needs. “Customers can own personal desk space in a shared office environment with access to all the benefits of Regus,” explained Marketing Director for Japan Satomi Kawasaki.

MAKING WAVES

More companies in Japan are beginning to add color to their offices and are shaking off the cobwebs. US-headquartered commercial real estate services company CBRE Group Inc. is an example.

When The Journal featured CBRE in 2014, the company had just rebranded their Tokyo headquarters based on the idea of Activity-based Work (ABW) styles and eye-catching color.

ABW styles are designed to create offices in which people are “efficient, collaborative, productive, and simply happier,” the company stated in 2014. Such styles offer flexibility in how and where staff work.

Over a year after the rebranding, The Journal asked CBRE for an update. “Based on our post-move survey, we have seen the following results: 90 percent feel the current environment reflects the CBRE brand and promotes a positive image of the company,” said Laurent Riteau, director of Workplace Strategy at the company.

Additionally, more staff prefer the new work environment (88 percent), say they are more productive (76 percent), and believe the new office is a great tool for recruiting talent (79 percent).

Other improvements since the revamp include a reduction in overall real estate space (18 percent), reduction in on-site paper storage (92 percent), and room to increase headcount (more than 10 percent) without a change in layout.

CBRE’s results show that concerted efforts to reform the office environment can lead to positive results.

SERVICED OFFERINGS

In addition to Servcorp, Midas, and The Design Studio, companies such as Regus, Mitsubishi Estate Co. Ltd., and Space Design Inc., are making their mark on the office rental, design, and serviced buildings market in Japan by offering services such as office design and project management consultancy, furnished or unfurnished offices, bilingual secretarial support staff, and information, communications, and technology services.

Which begs the question: To whom do they cater? Inbound high-end firms wishing to establish a foothold in the Japanese market and established local firms in need of professional and modern services are examples, Servcorp’s Vlietstra said.

All of them — especially new market-entry firms (many of which are established in other markets) — want to hit the ground running, and rely on serviced office providers to ensure smooth operations here, she explained.

This is not to say there are no challenges. Speaking to The Journal, Saori Fujita, service office general manager at Space Design, explained one surprise that inbound companies may face in this market.

“The amount of deposit one pays when renting an office space in Japan may surprise non-Japanese. It is usually 6–12 months. In other countries, this rule may not apply. In such cases, we have to find an alternative solution.”

That said, Fujita and her colleague Kaoru Okabayashi have noticed a recent trend in the run-up to the Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games: the demand for serviced apartments — something their company offers in addition to serviced offices — is rising.

Even while the concept of serviced offices takes hold in Japan, there are players to ensure needs are being met.

GET UP AND GO

According to Steelcase research, we spend more time at work (36 percent) than on anything else—more than on sleep (32 percent), leisure and sports (10 percent), caring for others (5 percent), or eating (4 percent).

The company has also identified six areas that, if improved, can lead to employee wellbeing: optimism, mindfulness, authenticity, belonging, meaning, and vitality.

Considering the last point — vitality — five design strategies are recommended: areas that give people choice over the level of sensory stimulation; easily adjustable furniture that promotes all-day movement; in-house cafés and healthy food choices; natural daylight, views, and ventilation; and support active lifestyles. In a nutshell, increased “get up and go” in the workplace.

MOVING PARTS

Institutions, companies, and communities, are taking note, and global players in the office design and creation sector—such as home and office furnishings suppliers IKEA Japan K.K. and Herman Miller Inc.—are leading the way.

One item that both companies are pioneering is the height-adjustable table. As Herman Miller Japan’s Marketing Manager Keiko Maezawa notes: “The average worker spends eight hours a day at their desk. [And] research shows that many of us sit more than we sleep.

“Height-adjustable furniture can reduce sitting time by up to 60 percent, giving great health benefits by a simple change of posture.”

IKEA Business Country Manager Alan Mackenzie sees similar opportunities in the market, adding: “We want people to get away from the idea that they are anchored to the desk.”

To this end, both companies have made innovations in office products that can be used, reassembled, repaired, and maintained repeatedly using standard parts, thereby making them sustainable.

Indeed, a trend originating in the US and Europe that is becoming prevalent in Japan is the open-design office. Modular and easy to reshape, such arrangements banish traditional dividers and cubicles. Instead, office desks are organized into easy-to-reassemble modular formats, white boards that allow for co-creation are installed, and lounge areas where people can relax are added.

The idea is to “reduce barriers to communication and mobility at work and promote camaraderie among staff.” The rest, as research shows, will follow.

THIRD PLACE

The mobile and decentralized office environment has given rise to a relatively new concept known as “the third place,” says The Design Studio’s Sugano.
He distinguishes this from the first place (home) and second place (traditional offices). The third place encompasses in-house business lounges, zoned spaces, cafeterias, coffee shops, cafés, shared offices, and co-working spaces.

Some of the top-end third place providers in Tokyo are Servcorp and The Design Studio, as well as real estate companies such as Mitsubishi Estate and Mori Building Co. Ltd.

Mori’s Academy Hills, for instance, is a co-working space that attracts businesspeople — mainly from the fields of finance, IT, and consulting — who seek spaces to work, network, and study, said Manager Hiromi Arasawa.

The mixed-use space — of which the company has three in Tokyo — offers meeting rooms, library, work stations, and café-style lounge.

Seeing opportunity for growth in this area, Mitsubishi Estate has created five co-working spaces in the Marunouchi area, Manager Yoshio Sakai told The Journal.

The location in one of Tokyo’s key business districts attracts many tech, creative, and media companies from Silicon Valley, Sakai’s colleague Asuka Kitagawa added.

NOMADIC CREATIVES

But high-end co-working spaces are just the tip of the iceberg. When Robert Millar looked into starting a co-working space in Tokyo in 2014, his research showed that there were at least 70 such places in the city. Millar is an entrepreneur catalyst who runs Ginza Hub, a shared office space that holds about 12 people from various industries.

It was access to such a community that attracted Alex Fazel, CEO of marketing consultancy Chameleons Customer Service Eigo, who joined the hub more than a year ago.

“I’ve come to realize that it’s not just the place; it’s the people. I get free consultancy from sharp individuals on a daily basis!” Fazel told The Journal.

Along similar lines, the Impact Hub Network brings creatives, founders, venture capitalists, and consultants from a number of sectors together via co-working spaces around the world, said Misaki Iwai, events and community and entrepreneurship program manager at the initiative’s Tokyo branch.
The community, Iwai explained, acts as an accelerator for startups and outsourced company projects, and has more than 15,000 members in five regions around the world.

Spacee Inc., a startup based in Impact Hub Tokyo, aims to become “the AirBnB of workplaces” according to the company’s co-founder Takuya Umeda.
Via Spacee’s platform, any unused office space in the city—such as a meeting room—can be located and used (for a fee) by anyone who happens to be in need of such a space.

COOL AND CREATIVE

A niche player in the co-working market is Lowp, a community-driven company catering to the digital arts and crafts community. “We are a worker–maker space with a focus on monozukuri, making things,” explained the company’s Social and Creative Director Guy Totaro.

“All of our residents have access to our micro-factory, which has tools such as 3D printers, laser cutters, and saws. This means designers working upstairs in the space can realize their ideas in the basement of the same building instead of outsourcing it.”

Lowp — which stands for “low impact, high profile” — has a fully functional gourmet kitchen that can be rented.

“The idea of the kitchen is to reimagine networking,” Totaro explained. “Rather than taking a client or family and friends to an izakaya (traditional Japanese tavern), you can cook and wine and dine with them here.”

The prospect of gourmet dining with clients and like-minded peers was one of the reasons that Andrew Peters joined the co-working space. Founder and president of Best IT, an executive search company based in Japan that serves the Asia–Pacific region, Peters was also attracted by Lowp’s “cool creative vibe, unique facilities, and convenient central location.”

Among its future offerings, the company is planning “hacker events” at which residents can repurpose everyday items such as furniture.

MIRROR OFFICE

While the digital arts and crafts movement in Japan may be in its infancy, the idea has gained a strong reputation elsewhere in the world.
Referring to the modern Maker Movement, issue 70 of Steelcase’s 360 Magazine notes: “Modern craft is becoming an antidote to uninspired workspaces, not only heightening functionality and aesthetics but also humanizing the workplace experience.”

From serviced offices to high-end co-working spaces, and from founder hangouts to maker–hacker communities, the modern office looks increasingly less like its predecessors and more like the creatives who manage and occupy it.
Resource: http://www.japantoday.com/category/lifestyle/view/new-office-helps-staff-create-and-firms-profit

Furniture Rental for Apartments

Renting furniture is a suitable option for those who relocate within the country often.  In such situations it becomes a laborious and tedious task to carry your furniture along wherever you go by keeping track of shipment, its security, timely deliveries and of course damage control.  In order to get rid of this troublesome battle, Ahuja Rentals offers a flexible and economical way to meet your short/long term furniture needs. 

Ahuja Rentals is a pioneer in offering premium furniture rental services in Delhi NCR. We offer our clients a mix of contemporary and modern styled furniture, while projecting a new genre of wooden furniture. Ahuja Rentals offer furniture rental solutions ranging from sole pieces to complete packages. We provide an exhaustive range of furniture at affordable prices through convenient payment methods, suiting the buyer’s needs. 

For most of us, living in a hotel room is not a cost effective idea, be it an outsider or a newcomer, when you prefer to personalise your space. Thus, to ensure a comfortable stay for you, Ahuja Rentals offers Apartment Furniture Rental and homes, which help you redefine your living space, exactly the way you want it to be. We also seek to fulfil the needs of our clients with our continuous efforts which is a primary task for the Ahuja Rentals team.

 

Ahuja Rentals has created a unique blend of high-quality rental furnishings, intended to ensure consumer satisfaction. Our job is to help you get settled in your short term living or working quarters, while you take care of the rest. We bring in stylish and affordable rental furniture to light up dull surroundings. With delivery done direct at your door-step, providing a hassle-free furnishing setup for your home is our foremost priority.

 

Ahuja Rentals boasts of 100% consumer loyalty to its clients and guarantees a peaceful settlement to the buyer. We believe in making your living happy and comfortable.

Resource:https://furniturerentalnews.wordpress.com/2016/08/09/furniture-rental-for-apartments/