Category Archives: Wrought Iron

Wrought iron beds for The Longcroft Luxury Cat Hotel in Welwyn Garden City

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Welwyn Garden City cat hotel looks to expand

By Ross Logan

A WELWYN Garden City entrepreneur is looking for franchisees to continue the phenomenal success of her luxury boutique hotel business… for cats.

The Longcroft Cat Hotel has proved a hit with owners and pets alike
DOES you dream job consists of working from home and looking after cats?

If so, then a WGC businesswoman may be able to help you achieve it.

After two hugely successful years in charge of the Longcroft Luxury Cat Hotel – a “five star” cattery in Longcroft Lane, WGC – owner and founder Abi Purser is looking for franchise holders to take the company county-wide.

The 36-year-old launched the unique business from her home in Longcroft Lane, in 2010, in response to what she believed to be a dearth of quality catteries in the UK.

With “guests” treated to wrought iron beds, individually decorated suites and a gourmet menu all served on bone china, Abi’s eccentric business model quickly attracted the attentions of both the media and cat-loving customers looking for a safe place to leave their moggy while they were away.

The concept has garnered mum-of-three Abi with a host of award nominations, and bookings are currently being taken for Christmas 2013.

In order to meet the ever-growing demand for spaces, Abi’s looking for partners to join in Longcroft’s success – and has already received interest from a number of potential franchisees.

“Running a business from home and looking after cats is my dream job,” said Abi.

“When we first set up the business, we knew there was a demand for a truly five-star cattery dedicated to looking after much-loved feline guests while their owners are away.

“We just massively under-estimated the level of that demand and are excited about offering our business formula to others who want to be cat hoteliers in the region.”

Each potential franchisee will be vetted by Abi herself, with successful applicants receiving full training in order to meet Longcroft’s precise and exacting standards.

They will be given help with the planning application and building materials for the hotel, and help and advice whenever needed.

“We are looking for partners who want to run their own sustainable and profitable business from home, which fits perfectly around any type of lifestyle or family commitments,” said Abi.

Franchisees can apply for hotels of up to nine suites, with each hotel carried out to Longcroft’s specifications.

“You can only give a great service with small numbers, particularly when what we are offering is a far cry from just a feeding and cleaning exercise,” said Abi.

from whtimes.co.uk

Las Ventanas properties

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Luxury Properties

Welcome to Las Ventanas, an exquisite Mediterranean Estate, uniquely placed on a quiet, private ridge, with breathtaking, panoramic Pacific Ocean, islands, coastline, harbor  mountain views. Two sets of hand hewn stone columns and wrought iron gates welcome you at the end of private lanes off both East Valley Road and Hidden Valley Lane, and a winding, landscaped drive ensures privacy, and leads you to a magical compound in an awe-inspiring setting.

Settle your soul with luxurious retreat living, a place where complete rest & relaxation occur together with informal and formal entertaining, in perfect harmony with the easy Santa Barbara lifestyle. This beautiful home, with 4 bedroom suites, 6 bathrooms, & 1 bedroom guest house, sits on 9+ acres of beautiful landscaping. Experience year-round indoor/outdoor living & entertaining, and enjoy the sunrise, sunset & moonrise, the infinity pool, spa, & spacious and elegant rooms framing magnificent views.

Features include a large family room that opens to both front and rear patios a library/office; formal dining room opening to the front patio; a gourmet center-island kitchen with top-of-the-line appliances; a temperature controlled wine room; a downstairs office/gym; private patio areas off every bedroom; 6 fireplaces; vaulted ceilings in most rooms; jaw-dropping views from nearly every room; a master suite with spa tub, steam shower, exotic stone countertops, and a bedroom-sized, walk-in closet; BBQ Station and outdoor fireplace; a 3 car garage in the main house (1 car garage in guest house); and over 40 fruit trees in the orchard.

Las Ventanas is located just minutes from Montecito, Downtown Santa Barbara, and Butterfly, Miramar, Santa Claus, Summerland and East Beaches, and a short drive to Santa Barbara Airport. The picturesque Santa Ynez Valley, with its world-class wineries, is 45 minutes away, and vibrant Los Angeles, just 90 miles south. This is the perfect getaway or primary estate for those who want something truly special. Get ready to be WOWED!

from hauteliving.com

 

The Kitchen review : soft light and wrought iron chandeliers

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Atmosphere adds spice to The Kitchen
One of the wood-grilled specials at The Kitchen includes golden tilefish from Charleston, S.C., served with local greens.

By Liz Biro

That The Kitchen feels like a lodge while billing itself “farm-raised, fire-roasted fare” doesn’t necessarily seem inapt.

Candles and wrought iron chandeliers sprinkle soft light. A smoky roast aroma perfumes the dark-wood dining room.

Heavy chairs scratch rustic tunes against wood and vintagey, black-and-white tile floors. Conversations harmonize into a low, happy hum.

On chilly nights, the scene begs turtlenecks and heavy sweaters, with cozy garb fitting abundant plates and dark stout or spicy red wine while being as suited to a lodge as they are to a farmhouse.

A full bar, furnished with hulking stools and extra padding, supplies spirits. Another granite, earth-tone bar provides the show. It overlooks a wide-open kitchen where cooks soft-shoe their stations.

The grill guy flames Flintstonian, three-bone pork ribs, tender and brushed with cumin-edged barbecue sauce. Salad bunches baby arugula, mild watercress, blue cheese and black-eyed peas under thick-cut, fried green tomatoes in underwhelming vinaigrette.

Rotisserie chicken is among house specialties, but brisket outshines the bird. A quarter-chicken’s white and dark meat are both dry chews one evening. A different night, pulled chicken is overcooked atop flatbread pizza with fresh mozzarella and tangy barbecue sauce.

Brisket, however, yields to light pressure from a fork. Sharp blue cheese slaw tames its smoky flavor and shouldn’t-eat-this-but-can’t-stop fattiness.

Just-right sharpness spices fluffy spoonfuls of root vegetable soup. Perfectly seared scallops rest in a shallow, silky, sweet corn chowder pool marred by doughy little browned dumplings.

from starnewsonline.com


The perfect wrought iron bed

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What to Look for in Your Perfect Bed: Top Interior Designers Offer Advice

Individuals shopping for a bed and mattress know it can be a daunting task, as they must consider comfort, style and budget. Top interior designers understand that it is one of the most personal selections they help their clients make and offer some advice in finding that perfect match.

When it comes to mattress selection, designers certainly agree that personal comfort is key. However, an important consideration that many neglect is the depth of a mattress. “Some mattresses are enormously deep. They can be very heavy and therefore make setting a bed cumbersome. Keep in mind that mattress thicknesses affect the bed height. I like to keep mattress heights around 24-27″ above the floor.”

“The bigger and higher the bed the smaller the room feels
It’s recommended a “low profile” bed so clients “don’t need a ladder to crawl into bed.”

For those considering a lower profile mattress solution, offers their range of platform mattresses. The four styles range in firmness but each features quality craftsmanship and is covered by the comfort exchange policy with a 20 year limited warranty so customers can relax and take comfort in their investment.

Choosing the right style bed can be exhausting as there are so many choices. Designer suggests that shoppers think about classic design. “Design trends come and go, but when purchasing a bed, you’ll want something that you can live with for years. Select a style that makes a statement without overpowering the room made with quality materials.

For example, a four poster bed or an upholstered headboard with simple detailing creates a timeless focal point while the accessories can be changed to refresh the space for years.” The simple lines and classic wrought iron speak to this advice and provide a dynamic frame for any room.

“Give me drama when selecting a bed, something that anchors the room and gives it a sense of style”. I love upholstered headboards especially with nailhead trim or four poster beds; they really make a statement.” The ultra-luxe Wing bed from Charles P. Rogers features this powerful aesthetic with its sumptuous leather headboard and hand applied nail head detailing.

“I prefer headboards and bed frames that are clean-lined and not fussy,” continues Robinson. “I prefer beds that show off their legs rather than beds with skirts. A wood frame around a fabric headboard tends to dress it up a bit.” The Newhouse platform bed features a contemporary look with its supple yet refined leather headboard and Mahogany rails.

from marketwatch.com

Le Méridien Budapest’s

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Le Méridien Budapest

Located smack-bang in the centre of the stylish streets of Pest, the sights and delights of Hungary’s capital are on Le Méridien Budapest’s doorstep.

As a Budapest first-timer, the proximity to the attractions of the city that Le Méridien Budapest offered was invaluable. Armed with my Budapest transport card and map (which takes a while to master – in Budapest a lot of the streets sound the same!), exploring the city was easy. Within minutes I was amid the bustling Vörösmarty Square, perusing the shops on Váci Utca (the city’s equivalent of London’s Oxford Street) and strolling alongside the mighty River Danube, which separates Buda and Pest.

With so much history and culture surrounding the hotel, it was fitting that the hotel itself had its own story to tell. Formerly known as Adria Palace, an apartment and office building designed in 1913, the building has been declared a historic monument. As a building designed in the Secession era (a branch of Art Nouveau, inspired by natural forms) wrought iron balconies, ornate chandeliers and arched windows gives the hotel an aura of elegance. The most eye-catching feature is the giant, stained-glass dome that overlooks the atrium, with its grand chandelier hanging from its centre.

I stayed in an executive suite, which included a lounge area with sofas, big double bed and a generously-sized bathroom with a large bath and walk-in power shower. The room boasted all the mod-cons: TV (this room had two!), HiFi and a range of teas and coffees. With neutral décor, the overall look was clean, corporate and comfortable.

As we were in Hungary we were naturally curious about the traditional cuisine. We had tried a hearty paprika chicken and vegetable concoction at the Christmas market but sampling Hungary’s gastronomic delights in the high-end restaurant – Le Bourbon – was another matter. The restaurant serves French cuisine but does have a section on the menu of Hungarian classics, which is what we opted for.

We began with a starter of home-made foie gras terrine and cold smoked goose breast, freshly fried Makó onion and grilled seed toast whilst we sipped the Hungarian classic wine Tokaj (almost port-like in taste). On the whole the dish was a touch too sweet for my tastes, but nonetheless tasty.

The main course, however, really hit the mark. I devoured the grilled beef tenderloin topped with grilled goose liver and served with fresh Hungarian lecsó (a ratatouille-like mixture of peppers, paprika and tomatoes) and roasted sliced potato. A positively giant dessert followed – somlói galuska – a decadent, trifle-like dessert of sponge cakes, cream and chocolate sauce. As much as I wanted to gobble every last spoonful, by this stage I was ready to go lie down! The whole meal was a brilliant insight into Hungarian cuisine.

One of the other plus points of my stay at Le Méridien Budapest was the hotel’s spa and health centre, complete with a small gym, pool, Jacuzzi, sauna, steam room and treatment rooms. As I visited in December, I especially enjoyed warming up in the sauna and steam room and it was a great way to relax after sightseeing in the crisp, winter weather.

Le Méridien Budapest proved to be ideal for a city break – its enviable location and amenities made for a great stay but the one thing that really made it memorable was the delightful staff. From the moment I arrived to the moment I left, I was treated to five-star service, complete with a smile.

By Sarah Gibbons

from travelbite.co.uk