How One Barcelona Firm is Taking the City's Historic Housing to Stylish New Heights

How One Barcelona Firm is Taking the City's Historic Housing to Stylish New Heights



Apartments in the seaside Spanish city of Barcelona, especially those situated in the late-19th-century Eixample district, often come with desirable assets: double-height ceilings with fancy friezes; French doors leading to balconies; cement tile floor tiles embellished with a riot of colors and patterns.

What most don’t have is a layout suitable for modern life: Original kitchens tend to be minuscule (they were designed for the maid after all), and windowless bedrooms can make you feel like you are doing penance.

"The first thing we do is look at the light and the how we can alter the floor-plan to let more of it in," says Rubén Berenguer, one-third of Nook, a Barcelona studio that has become the go-to for (principally foreign) buyers looking to turn their fixer-uppers into homes as sunny as the city's weather.

The other two "Nook People" (as they call themselves) are Ann García and Joan Cortés. They work together in an old industrial loft in the Poblenou neighbourhood, which they converted into a spectacular co-working space with a freestanding volume in its center that serves as a meeting room.



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45+ Fabulous ideas for spring decor on your balcony

45+ Fabulous ideas for spring decor on your balcony




Now that spring has sprung, its time to start thinking about ways to infuse spring style into your outdoor balcony, through updating and refreshing to give it a whole new look! Just like your interior spaces, your balcony can benefit from a seasonal spruce up by re-arranging your furnishings and adding some new accessories. If you are looking for just a quick fix, you can add a planter, some small pots, a lantern or other outdoor decor items to you space. You may want to consider an area rug and since it is springtime, you may want to infuse some bright pops of color with stripes or graphic prints. A watering can left on a side table or on the ground can be multi-purpose, there when you need it to water your plants and used as a cute decorative accent. Other great amenities to add to your springtime balcony, a small barbecue, a tabletop fireplace—check Target for a nice selection—an oil lamp, or even a fire bowl (if you are in an apartment you may want to check your lease or first). A big change would encompass adding some brand new outdoor furniture pieces to your space or hang some string lights to create a serene oasis that will look great at night!
If your balcony is not spring ready, than have a look below for some beautiful and inspiring ideas that we have gathered together for you that we hope you will find useful. If you want more outdoor inspiration on 1 Kindesign, then have a look here. Enjoy!


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5 Reasons You Need to Know Your Credit Score

5 Reasons You Need to Know Your Credit Score

Do you know your credit score? Credit affects more aspects of your financial life than you may realize -- the ability to buy a home or car, get a credit card, rent an apartment, or even get a job can be affected by your credit score. To help you better understand the importance of credit scores, Odysseas Papadimitriou, CEO and Founder of personal finance website WalletHub Opens a New Window. shared five important reasons why you should know yours.

Better interest rates on loansThe most obvious reason it's important to know your credit score is because your score determines your ability to qualify for loans and to get better interest rates when borrowing.
If you know your credit score, a little research can let you know how much you should pay in interest on a loan before you apply. For example, according to recent data, a consumer with a credit score of 720 can expect an interest rate of around 3.56% on a $250,000 30-year mortgage. So if you know your score is a 720 and a bank offers you a rate of 4%, you'll know to keep looking.

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15 Quick and Easy Ways to Revamp Your Home Decor in 24 Hours

15 Quick and Easy Ways to Revamp Your Home Decor in 24 Hours


Retire the drapes and let more light into your home. Sheers come in color too and you can dress up the windows while obstructing as little light as possible.

Bring New Seating Inside and Out

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4 Easy Ways to Invest in Real Estate If You're Not Donald Trump

4 Easy Ways to Invest in Real Estate If You're Not Donald Trump



No, you don't have to be The Donald to make good money investing in real estate -- but if you're not throwing around billions of dollars, don't expect to blazon your name on any high-rises, either.

Aside from the malls, office buildings, or ultraluxe residences preferred by the 1% of the 1%, there are plenty of opportunities that are more realistic for the rest of us. Here's a look at some of the most common options for a rookie to invest in real estate, along with the pros and cons of each.

1. Vacation homes



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4 Cleaning Solutions You Never Heard Of

4 Cleaning Solutions You Never Heard Of

As we become more and more aware about the effects of household chemicals on our health and on the environment, it is becoming easier than ever to find alternatives to using store-bought cleaning supplies. Most of the commercially produced products contain chemicals like ammonia and bleach, and even though they clean well they can damage the nervous and respiratory systems and be harmful to both your family and your pets.

With a few simple ingredients and a little time, you can make your own cleaning supplies that not only reduce the number of toxic substances in your home but will even save you money.

Most of the non-toxic cleaning supplies use the same basic ingredients such as castile soap, white vinegar, baking soda and essential oils. For baking soda and vinegar, consider stocking up on larger sizes of these items from either a restaurant supply store or a warehouse store — not only is it more economical, but once you start making your cleaners at home, you will want to be able to refill your supply easily.

1. Granite Cleaner

• 1/4 cup of rubbing alcohol
• 3 drops of castile soap
• 1 cup water
• 5-10 drops of essential oils (for scent)
• Put the rubbing alcohol into a 16 oz spray bottle. Add the soap, essential oil and water. Shake to combine.

2. Toilet Bowl Cleaner

• 1/2 - 3/4 cup baking soda
• 8 - 10 drops tea-tree or melaleuca essential oil
• 1/2 - 3/4 cup distilled white vinegar
• Pour the baking soda directly into the toilet bowl, then add oil, then vinegar. Let sit for 10 minutes and scrub with toilet brush.

3. Soft Scrub

• Make this in small batches and store in an airtight container so that it does not dry out between uses.
• 3/4 cup baking soda
• 1/4 cup castile soap
• 1 tablespoon water
• Combine the baking soda and soap. Add the water and stir to make a paste-like consistency. Use a sponge to scoop out the scrub and use to clean tile, sinks and other hard surfaces.

4. Oven Cleaner

• 1 1/2 cup baking soda
• 1/2 cup sea salt
• 1/2 cup washing soda
• Filtered water (to make a thin paste)
• 1/2 cup white vinegar
• 10 drops melaleuca oil
• Preheat your oven to the lowest temperature possible and then turn it off.
• Mix baking soda, sea salt, and washing soda in a small bowl. Add melaleuca oil then add vinegar to the mixture — it will fizz a little. Slowly add water until you have a thin enough paste to spread in your oven. Leave the paste in the oven overnight and wipe it out in the morning.

With a few ingredients and a little ingenuity, it is inexpensive and easy to make at home a non-toxic version of these common (and most chemical-laden) cleaning products.

How much house can you afford? Two easy ways to tell.

How much house can you afford? Two easy ways to tell.

Buying your first home is an exciting process, but it’s not just about finding the features you want. If you’re like most people, price plays a major role in your decision. After all, even if you feel confident that you can afford a property, you’ll still have to convince a lender.
All lenders have unique lending guidelines, but they usually include some of the same key benchmarks. Here are two metrics they’ll use to decide how large a loan to issue you:

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12 Sneaky Ways to Save Money on Your Water Bill

12 Sneaky Ways to Save Money on Your Water Bill

 

Replace Those Guzzlers

A lower water bill starts with newer, more efficient appliances. When shopping for new washers, pay close attention to the labels that indicate the efficiency of the machine. Look specifically for the WaterSense and Energy Star seals, which indicate that the machine runs on 35% to 50% less water and 50% less energy per load. Consider purchasing a front-loading washer, which uses substantially less water than a top-loading model.

 

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Home of the Week from Rosa Thelma Garza YOUR San Antonio REALTOR

7 Ways Being Debt Free Can Hurt You

Owing money to banks and credit card companies is usually a guaranteed way of never achieving the financial freedom you want. But there are cases when taking on some debt can be useful, especially as part of a long-term plan. Here are seven times when eschewing debt can be a bad financial move:

1. Market Returns May Be Higher Than Interest Rates

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For sale, minutes away to Lackland Air Force Base!!!

If you or anyone you know is looking for a home minutes away from Lackland Air Force Base, in San Antonio, Texas, please let me know.



Rosa Thelma Garza


(210) 367-1758


www.homesforsale-SanAntonio.com

Finally a homeowner

Buying a house is tough. Coming up with enough money is a major issue, and once you do, it’s still way more complicated than you would expect. Around here, we call the number of steps needed to buy a home “the real estate monster.” We’re used to seamless, integrated and delightful products and services. The way housing works is neither seamless nor integrated — let alone delightful.

 

Part of the reason it’s tough is that for many of us, it’s the first time we’ve ever done a transaction like this. That newness in itself can be daunting. Paired with that are a number of confusing steps and many, many pieces of complex paperwork. In the end, this doesn’t make for an enjoyable process.

 

Let’s take a closer look at some of the parts of the process

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Always good to remodel.

When Alec and Jennifer Harmes spent $264,900 for their first home in 2011—a 1,500-square-foot ranch fixer-­upper in Austin, Texas—they assumed they would be living there for many years. So the couple, millennials in their early 30s, embarked on a series of home improvements to make it suit their tastes and needs. They refinished the kitchen cabinets, and installed new stainless-steel...


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Home of the Week from Rosa Thelma Garza YOUR San Antonio REALTOR

Selling your home call Rosa Thelma Garza YOUR San Antonio REALTOR

 

9 Little Things You Can Do to Help Sell Your House

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10 Simple Home Staging Tips Every Seller Should Know

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