In any hotel setting towels are the items that guests use the most and most intimately. After they enter the room, the towel is often the first thing they touch and then the last before they leave. This article will briefly look at what defines quality in towels and what can be useful to know in buying them for hotel use.

Origins and Quality

Pure Egyptian cotton usually provides the best feeling of quality as it is softer than most other cotton. Cotton fibres originating in the ‘Nile Delta’ are longer and produce threads that are finer and able to be woven tightly together in 2-ply yarns that make for soft, strong and resilient towels. Whilst more expensive, in a trade environment these qualities can save money in the long term.

Turkish cotton towels are also produced using long fibres and are understood to be very absorbent and can provide more practicality. Pima Cotton has its origins in Peru, but now refers to a premium cotton largely from the Americas. The fibres here are usually not as long as with Egyptian cotton but Pima cotton is also known to be very absorbent, strong and long lasting.

Whilst not common practice, perhaps Egyptian cotton is better suited to the use by hand and face; whereas Turkish and Pima cotton are perhaps more useful for bath and beach towels.

Cotton blends with polyester fibres are cheaper and sometimes more durable, they are particularly useful in having less wrinkles after laundering. But they are rarely as soft or as absorbent as pure cotton and will inevitably give the impression of economy to the guest as they ‘feel’ the room for the first and maybe last time.

GSM and Combing

GSM stands for grams per square metre and indicates the weight of a towel. A high GSM number means a heavier towel which will absorb more moisture. 800 GSM is often cited as ‘hotel quality’ – where a luxurious feel is implied – but GSM of around 500 is commonly used in trade environments.

‘Combing’ is a production technique which removes the shorter fibres so that the towel will maintain its shape and structure – helpful in towels that will be used only briefly then laundered.

Sizes:

The three most common formats for towels are (approximately):

Hand Towels – 50 x 90cm;

Bath Towels -70 x 140 cm;

Bath Sheets – 100 x 150.

There are also leisure or ‘beach’ towels which can be useful to provide for guests if there are swimming facilities and should be of the hardest wearing quality, sized either to that of a bath towel or a bath sheet. Similarly, there are spa towels. Provided where there are gym/spa facilities on site.

Header Bars

Laundering towels is an essential part of housekeeping. Towel header bars are the strips across the tops of the towel where the weave is different from the rest of the fabric. Along with the general look and feel of the towel, these bars also provide an important means of quickly identifying towels. The number of bars can be used to rapidly identify what size towel is being taken from the wash. This speeds up laundering time, storage and placement in the hotel room. One bar for hand towels, two bars for bath towels and three bars for larger towels. The specific weave of the towel header bar can also be used to give the specific hotel towels an in-built label. So if out-sourced laundering mistakes occur, the towels belonging to a specific hotel can be identified.

Source by Nate Rodnay

Want to renew your outdoors by changing your furniture? Many businesses in the hospitality industry like hotels, restaurants and resorts spend a lot of effort when furnishing their gardens and patios. And they are not wrong. Getting new outdoor furniture should be well thought of as they represent the business in many ways. Therefore, when you decide to remodel your outdoors, the first decision to make is whether to go for custom garden furniture or stick with ready-made.

Here are 4 interesting reasons that will make you customize your outdoor furniture:

Having unique and exclusive designs

Usually, hotels, restaurants and resorts constantly work on beating the competition by providing new and unique services. When you buy ready-made furniture from your outdoor furniture supplier, most probably, other businesses have also seen and purchased the same collections. But when customizing your own sets, you will be deviating from what is available in the market and creating patio furniture that can only be found in your hospitality business. For example, with customization you will have the opportunity to create a pattern by engraving your business logo on every piece produced and by choosing your brand’s colors.

Setting furniture that perfectly fits in the outdoor space

Whether you have enough space or not, your outdoor living area will probably be limited.

Sometimes, this surface is automatically set due to other factors like swimming pool, greenery, decorations or others. So finding ready-made collections that fit in your dedicated space and that match your need can be a hassle. So, customizing your outdoor furniture will be less painful as you will have the liberty to choose the sizes of the pieces, their orientation, and even combinations.

Adding your personal touch:

The greatest things in life are our own personal achievements. Customizing your outdoor furniture feels almost the same, as you will be the “creator”. The most important advantage is the fact that the collections will completely be a mirror of your taste and needs. You will have to choose the structure’s materials, the covering, size, colors… well every little detail.

However, if you have limited knowledge, make sure to take your supplier’s advice regarding the technicalities to maintain your outdoor furniture during different weather.

Controlling the quality & setting the standards:

When ordering custom garden furniture, you will have control over every aspect. Usually, you will want high quality furniture, and will never settle for less. Therefore, when designing and creating the furniture, you will be able to monitor the production and set the standards you want your furniture to meet. And the manufacturer will have to follow your requests and recommendations

In conclusion, customizing your outdoor furniture can be a fun process, as you will be working closely with designers, and giving your own input in every detail.

Source by Manuel S

Paris is the capital of France situated on the River Seine at the heart of Ile-de-France region. It is one of the most popular cities in the world with about 45 million tourists visiting every year. Paris has nearly 1,500 hotels and 75,000 hotel rooms.

Hotels around Paris offer massive discounts with quality accommodations. People could choose from a wide selection of discounted rates where taxes are included in the price. The hotels also offer direct sales with great customer services.

Below are the hotels that offer discounted room rates in Paris.

2-Star Hotel: Astor Surenes Hotel

Astor Hotel is an internationally acclaimed 2 star hotel that offers quality accommodations for a cheap price. The very calm, warm and friendly atmosphere of the hotel makes it an ideal place for most tourists who are looking for cheaper rates. It is located at the center town opposite the town hall. Astor is just 5 minutes away by rail to the business center and close to the fortress of Mont Valerien.

It has 50 furnished and well equipped rooms with scenic views of the hotel’s surrounding landscape. All rooms feature a private telephone, cable TV and hair dryer.

This attractive hotel includes luggage storage, an elevator, parking areas and a 24-hour front desk. Services offered include Internet services with Wi-Fi LAN, meeting facilities with fax and photocopier as well as room services and laundry/dry cleaning facilities. Guests can bring their pets along. Nearby attractions are Parc des Landes, forest of Boulogne and the town center. The discounted price rate is 37 euros.

3-star Hotel: Hotel Murat

Hotel Murat is located at Porte de Saint-Cloud in the 16th district of Paris. It was built in 1850 with Parisian Haussman style architecture. The hotel is close to the Eiffel Tower, Trocadero and Champ Elysees. Nearby areas of interest are the Parc des Princes stadiums, Pierre de Coubertin and Porte de Versailles exhibition halls.

The whole hotel is designed with wood paneled walls, huge epic battle frescons and carved furniture. Guests can stay at the lobby’s lounge area and seating areas. There are 28 soundproof rooms with simple and twin rooms to choose from. All rooms have a private bathroom with bathtub. Rooms also have direct dial telephones, televisions with satellite channels, alarm clocks and a mini bar.

The hotel also has a friendly staff that accommodates any booking requests and other services. Checking-in and out are handled quickly at the reception desk. The hotel has a private bar that serves a variety of beverages and a buffet breakfast. The lounge is used for business purposes along with a fax and photocopying machine.

There are direct buses from the hotel to Faubourg St Honore, Eiffel Tower, Champs Elysees, Grands Boulevards and the Opera House. The hotel offers a weekend rate at 45 euros.

Four-star hotel: The Pergolese Hotel

The Pergolese is a boutique hotel designed with a warm and contemporary atmosphere. It is located near the Louvre Museum, Les Galeries Lafayette Department Store and Le Printemp. The hotel is just a 7 minute walk from Champ Elysees.

This hotel has 40 air conditioned and soundproof rooms. The classic, superior and Pergolese rooms are equipped with satellite TV, a minibar, Wi-Fi access and 24 hour room service. Guests can also enjoy watching in-house movies.

Other amenities include a business corner at the reception area, a breakfast room, lounge and bar. The Mahogany Bar is designed with decorated rugs and paintings. Pet lovers can enjoy being with their pets at the hotel premises.

The Pergolese hotel offers a modern feel of their accommodations with a reasonable price range, fitting everyone’s budget. It offers a free night accommodation at a discounted range of 71 Euros.

Source by David Urmann

If you have ever holidayed in rural France you may have admired some of the wonderful old wooden furniture in many of the hotels, gites and holiday apartments there. Magnificent wardrobes, beds, dressers – many of these pieces are solid oak and have beautifully ornate carving. The type of thing that is often seen spruced up and, sadly, often painted in chic, expensive French-style interiors shops in the UK.

Much of this wonderful, solid, heavily carved wooden furniture can be purchased at “trocantes”, such as those that abound in Normandy and Brittany. Trocantes,for those not familiar with this wondrous French invention,are a great concept where sellers display their surplus or unwanted furniture, or other household goods, for sale in huge warehouses. The trocante owner then takes a commission on the profit when an item is sold. The concept is so successful because buyers can view a massive range of good quality wooden furniture of a type unavailable in the UK except at expensive specialist shops. And the seller is more likely to sell because visitors will come from many miles around, even from different countries to view and buy.

And it isn’t just authentic French wooden furniture that you can find; typically, there will be a melange of furniture, paintings, china, crystal and bric-a-brac in such a refreshing change to the all too familiar furniture chains in the UK. You might even come across such gems as a marble fireplace, brass bed frame, antique bathtub or Art Deco armoire. Everything in trocantes is interesting, nothing is too expensive and their stock changes frequently. Because stock changes so regularly, you can never predict exactly what you might find in any given trocante, but it is sure to be unusual and you just might find a hidden treasure.

Trocantes exist throughout France but are particularly common in Normandy and Brittany. The name trocante, comes from the words “troc” to exchange or barter and “brocante” which is like something in between a flea market and an antiques market. They are also sometimes referred to as “Depots Vente”. Although there are now trocante “chains” such as “La Trocante” don’t let this put you off visiting as each one is independent and, by their very nature, stock a unique range of items for sale.

Different trocantes specialise in different items but you will find furniture, antiques and bric-a-brac in all of them. One of the reasons that such good quality furniture is available so relatively inexpensively is that it is often very large and can appear old-fashioned to many French people. However, this type of authentic French furniture in an English house immediately takes on the appearance of something chic and unique.

If you have the space for such items, they really are individual and very unusual in the UK. But don’t expect to get anything worth having in the back of your car or on the roof rack. These pieces are often very large. So if you are serious about adding a French-style theme to your home with unique pieces of oversized statement furniture then consider hiring a van before you go. Although trocantes will ship pieces back to the UK, the costs are often prohibitively expensive.

It is far easier and cheaper to hire a van locally in the UK and take it on Eurotunnel or one of the many cheap ferry crossings to France. You can then shop to your hearts content without the worry or expense of transporting the items back home. In fact there are so many interesting and unusual items to bring back from France you might find yourself becoming a well known face at your local van hire company.

Source by Michelle Symonds

Going by the fact that most human beings spend more time in bed, it is importance to ensure that our sleep is comfortable and stressed free. Other than bed choice, the type and quality of the mattress are also a contributing factor. A mattress is not like a piece of cloth that you buy and use for a short while before discarding, it is therefore important to buy material that is durable and of good quality. To ensure that the mattress you purchase is of high quality, it is important to consider the following 6 tips on picking the perfect mattress for your use;

Your height

A good mattress should be at least six inches longer than the person sleeping on it. The choice of the mattress should give an allowance to your feet.

Do some homework before you start shopping

Do ground work on the choice of the mattress you want to buy. Do enough research about the type, the quality and the size of the mattress you really want to purchase? For example, you can try to remember of that day you slept in lodge or rather a hotel or a friend’s house and had good sleep. That can serve as beginning of making good choice of a mattress. You must have a starting point.

Choose the right type of store that deals with the mattress product

Choose the best sleep specialty store that sells mattresses. In this particular store, it is highly possible to get the best-quality mattress. Go for a dealer or a retailer who provides you with the right information about the mattress as well showing concern over the mattress that meets your needs and desire. You can as well ask from a friend of any dealer he/she knows in case you do not know of any. Stores that specialize in mattresses usually have the whole training on matters to do with good sleep and sell a variety of mattresses.

Make use of retail sales person or associates

Always work with a knowledgeable sales people who can help and guide you through bedding choices. Ask him or her questions that you need answered. Ask the dealer if he does offer the comfort guarantee of the mattress before you buy. Ensure that you understand the details that are contained in it, for example, know whether you can return the mattress within a certain time frame if it doesn’t satisfy your needs.

Test drive your mattress

After you have made your choice of the mattress, try the S.L.E.E.P. test. This involves lying on the mattress on different position to find out whether the mattress meets your needs. Spend some extra time to the position you normally sleep. This will make you feel the true support of the mattress. That is, are you feeling the comfort you want the mattress to provide?

Other tips to look at include

number of coils or turns in a mattress, your sleeping lifestyles, a note on the lifespan of the mattress and warranty, time to use the mattress, among other things to consider.

Make your sleep as comfortable as possible by simply buying the right mattress. Make a wise choice from the various stores that deal with the sales mattress. You don’t need to have backache and sleepless night because of the mattress choice.

Source by Karin Sharp

Those who own hotels big or small ones would have to go shopping for furniture to have them placed either on hotel rooms or the hotel lobby. Because of the wide variety of options when it comes to choosing a supplier, one could find it challenging to find the right one, but with enough research, you will surely be able to get the right furniture that suits your expectations.

There are a lot of things to consider when it comes to shopping for the right kind of furniture. Aside from the usual issue with affordability you may also want to keep in mind the quality of the hotel furniture that you will be getting as well as its affordability. When it comes to affordability, it does not mean that you should go for what is cheaper. Instead you should keep in mind that you are getting good quality furniture even if it is cheap. You do not want your hotel guests complaining that their seats are not comfortable enough or the furniture does not suit them that much.

As you search for a supplier the first thing that you should look into is the reputation of the supplier. If the supplier is capable of guaranteeing that the furniture you would be getting from them is made from high quality materials that is durable enough in the long run, the supplier would definitely be a good choice. Durability is important because you do not renovate hotels every time. This means that you will have the same furniture to be used by your guest from time to time, so to make sure that you do not have to spend money purchasing new ones frequently, you should look for hotel furniture providers that is capable of providing you furniture made from high quality materials.

Your options for such furniture would depend on the theme of your hotel, wither if you want it to look simple or elegant looking for your guests. If you want to get more details regarding your options, you may opt to search for furniture suppliers online. They have a wide gallery of furniture that they offer as well as the prices that come with them. From here you will be able to decide which furniture would be best for your hotel, order them in bulk for shipping, and have them placed accordingly in your establishment.

Source by Amy M. Miller

The bar stool is a token feature of any bar from the busiest to the quietest, from the traditional to the trendy. The option for someone to sit at a bar and have a quick drink or a chat with a friend as they watch the sport on a TV screen is why the bar stool is an accepted practical colleague to those environments. Yet, the bar stool doesn’t have to be exclusive to just the bar. It can be reimagined and used as a functioning part of furniture at home or at work.

Breakfast Bar Stool

The obvious use of a breakfast bar stools at home is at a breakfast bar or a kitchen island. Functioning in the same manner as they were first designed for a western saloon, they allow for a place to sit for a family or an individual to grab some food or read the newspaper. They take up little room, which makes them very popular for small studio apartments, and can be tucked away under an island unit to disappear completely allowing for more space.

General Kitchen Stool

If you don’t have a breakfast bar, you can still use a bar stool as a helpful accessory around the kitchen. Use a sturdy kitchen bar stool with additional steps can help you to reach items you have placed in unnecessarily high cupboards. A short kitchen stool can even act as a leg-up for a small child to reach the counter as they help you bake and learn to cook for themselves.

Games Room

A stool is a great option to any game room because of its comfortable nature and effortlessness to move. Use a bar stool as a seat for playing computer games alone or with a friend. They allow for full movement of the top half of your body whilst remaining sturdy and grounded, so you can really get involved with the game without risk of pulling a muscle. As well as that, a bar stool can be used for additional seating for poker nights, or dungeons and dragons gatherings. At the end of the night they can be put away to restore space and general use to the room.

Workplace

In any job where you are sitting for a long time whether it is in an office or a reception desk or as a tennis umpire, a bar stool can give extra height where a chair would be limited allowing for better comfort. Along with that, more and more decent companies who care for their employees are installing various stool styles to help with employee working conditions. Stools are being used for improved posture and lead to the ability to sit for longer, improved concentration and moral.

Bedroom

A stool can be used as a seat for any vanity mirror. Many small, fashionable stools match any bedroom design, and can be adapted to hold extra storage in the seat. Male or female, young or old, a stool can make getting ready for work, school or a night out fun as you fix and apply make-up. Perfect as well for the teenager to sit for hours cutting out images of Justin Bieber from magazines to stick to their bedroom wall.

Additional Seating

The practicality and functionality of a bar stool means they make a great choice for additional seating options if needed. Their light sturdy uniform design means they can be stored away for months in an attic or spare room until the time they are needed for when the extended family come over for holiday celebrations, or for a Super Bowl party, ensuring no guest has to sit on the floor or lean up in the doorway.

Craft or Hobby Room

If you have a place in your home which is dedicated to a hobby or maybe you have a studio or a workshop in the garage, a bar stool offers a utilitarian option. If you have a workshop or a room with a model train set, you can use a height adjustable stool to access areas without over-stretching and risking safety when operating a bandsaw or getting a picturesque view of your favourite locomotive coming through the tunnel you just installed.

Source by Changiz Oskouiefar

Arcadia is a city in the valley of Southern Trempealeau County. Because of Arcadia’s blissful scenery, it has been referred to as “God’s Country.” It is not surprising, then, that this wonderful city would be home to one of a company that is known to provide one of the country’s top quality furniture.

25 years after Carlyle Weinberger founded Ashley Furniture Industries in Chicago, IL, the company moved to Arcadia in 1970. Since then, Ashley has become a world-class furniture manufacturer. For more than half a century, Ashley never stopped in establishing their mission to be the best furniture company in the world. So it is not surprising that Ashley is the number one selling home furniture brand in North America.

Why do people buy Ashley furniture products? The answer is not really complicated. Ashley makes top quality products and sells them at low rates. As a top bar stool maker, Ashley produces stylish bar stools made from different materials, such as wood, metal, wood/metal, and etc.

Ashley Wood Bar Stools

For those who are looking to make their home bars more elegant and sophisticated, an ideal addition would be some Ashley wood stools. One great example of an Ashley stool is the series called “Conrad.” This contemporary stool is made dark solid hardwood and has an ergonomically friendly contoured backless seat.

For people who want more comfort, the “Avery” Ashley 24-inch wooden stool would be the perfect choice. This fashionable bar stool has a sleek back rest and is finished with a comfortable PVC upholstery for maximum convenience.

When eating or drinking in the home bar, people do a lot of chatting. There comes a time when it would be quite difficult to cope up with simultaneous conversations. But it would not be polite to reply to someone if you are not facing him. But with an Ashley 24 inch Dorie swivel stool for your bar, talking with your friends and family while in your home bar would be more convenient and enjoyable. This swivel stool has a fashionable backrest to add more comfort for you.

Ashley Metal Bar Stools

When it comes to metal bar seating, Ashley’s is stools are definitely some of the best. Ashley metal stools are available in many designs. There are simple metal bar stools that come with colored fabric seats for convenience. Also, Ashley makes chrome plated stools that would be perfect for retro-themed or futuristic home bars. Chrome-plated bar stools are not only stylish-they are also convenient since they are adjustable and are equipped with a swiveling mechanism.

When you buy bar stools made by Ashley, you are not only making your home bar more elegant and beautiful, you are also helping the cause for the environment. Ashley Furniture Industries, Inc. is one of those rare companies who are committed to protect the well-being of the environment.

Source by Greg Parsons

Backless bar stools for residential purposes serve a particular niche market. I believe that bar stools, in general, add interest to a room or living space. Whether it is a pool side bistro table or a raised counter breakfast bar, the height of these stools adds some unique flavor to the room or living space. That said different types of stools must be used carefully and somewhat sparingly as they do not suit every location. The use of backless bar stools requires even more care.

There are many reasons to choose a bar stool without a back and a few major reasons not to use these stools. Think carefully about what you really want before choosing a particular stool. The following is a non-exhaustive list of pros and cons of backless bar stools:

Pros

1. These stools are smaller. The stool itself takes up less airspace and lends itself to a light and airy visual appearance. This type of stool can be used in tight spaces without looking overbearing.

2. Adjustable seat height. Some stools have adjustable seat heights. This is good for musicians and artists. This feature also works well for people you need to work at a drafting table.

3. Cost per stool. These stools use fewer materials in construction and are therefore relatively cheaper. There are some backless bar stools that are extremely reasonably priced. Check places like Canadian Tire and Ikea for cheap stools. Both of those stores will provide a complete inventory of furniture online.

4. Durability. The weakest part of a typical stool are the spindles that form the back of the chair. By eliminating a back you eliminate the weakest part of the chair. Over time a bar stool without a back should last longer and accordingly save you money and frustration.

5. Light weight and easy to move. This point speaks for itself. Although depending on the material used some stools with backs are also fairly light weight and can be moved around easily.

Cons

6. Comfort. Bar stools with backs tend to be more comfortable by a large measure. Back support cannot be over rated when it comes to chairs. Bar stools range from very comfortable to quite uncomfortable and backless versions would be closer to the uncomfortable end of the spectrum. The importance of comfort depends how the purpose of the stool and the length of time you wish to sit on it. An additional point is that upholstered or cushioned options rarely come without backs. If upholstery is necessary your choice will be limited to certain models.

7. Stools with backs tend to provide a person with a more stable and secure sitting experience. If these chairs are intended for children or adults with mobility issues you might be best suited with choosing a model with a back.

8. Seat size. The seat size on a backless model can be very small. Do not buy a model with a small seat without trying it out in the store first. This type is good for sitting short periods of time

The above mentioned list is just a brief example of some of the pros and cons of these stools. You need to determine what is best for you and what type will suit your needs. However, in a nut shell the two most determinative factors would be the size of the space you wish to use the bar stool and the level of comfort you require. If you have a small space it might be necessary to choose a such a stool. If you demand comfort, you might want to avoid backless bar stools.

Source by J. Moore

The popularly used term “modern furniture” is hard to define. For many, it is furniture that evolved in the latter half of the 20th century, especially after World War II. The post World War period saw the industrialization of the furniture industry among others, which brought cheaper and more innovative versions to every home. Modern furniture let go of conventional designs, patterns and materials to experiment with more innovative styles.

Although several different synthetic materials are used today, leather still remains a favorite among manufacturers and consumers alike. For decades, leather furniture has been associated with luxury. This is because genuine leather furnishing is very expensive. Apart from the luxury aspect, leather furniture is very easy to maintain and clean unlike fabric that stains easily.

Modern leather furniture comes in various forms. From plush sofas and bar stools to couches, desk chairs and recliners, the options are limitless. One of the most popular leather furniture options is the settee. The modern leather settees can be easily remodeled into different shapes to give the user the most comfortable experience possible.

The main aspect a person considers when buying modern furniture is the design. There are innumerable options available in the market today, each more unique and offbeat than the other. The quality of leather should also be verified before making the purchase. There is also the option of corrected and uncorrected leather. The former is treated to remove the blemishes and be more resistant while the latter gives a more natural, unique look. For the budget conscious, synthetic leather is a good option.

Because of its stretchable nature, leather can be molded into any shape, making it ideal for any type of furniture. The price of this furniture varies greatly, depending on the design, size and quality of leather. Although it might be a little expensive, it is sure to add a touch of class to any home or office.

Source by Kristy Annely