Many of the big-name beachfront hotels in Maui, like their Honolulu counterparts, are exactly that — big. Loud pools, crowded elevators, and hordes of tourists. This may sound like paradise to college-aged travelers on spring break, but for those of us looking for a more serene and reclusive Hawaiian experience, there’s a better option. Couples across the globe have discovered a tranquil alternative to the bustling beachfront: Hotel Wailea, Maui’s only luxury boutique hotel.

Travelers have lots to say about Hotel Wailea, which boasts a 4.5/5 score on TripAdvisor and ranks third among hotels in Wailea, Maui. We’ll cover a few of the highlights below and give you some tips on how to have the most enjoyable stay.

Hotel Grounds Overview

Unlike many of the beachfront hotels, Hotel Wailea is not one big building. Instead, it’s a secluded enclave of double-story villas, spread out across 15 acres of rolling hills. The property receives lots of praise for being well manicured and beautifully landscaped. In fact, guests often spend their first moments simply exploring the property, admiring the tranquil gardens, relaxing fountains, and koi ponds with fish. The architecture is inspired by Frank Lloyd Wright with a Zen Japanese twist.

The hills are great for snapping photos of the ocean, but be aware that you may be walking for a bit to get to your room. The walk is nothing unreasonable but will certainly require more effort than the nice flat layout you’ll get in a regular hotel building. TIP: Request a room near the lobby or parking lot if you’d rather not walk a lot.

The upside of the large layout is that you feel like you have the whole place to yourself. Many guests note that they see very few people around, except in the common areas. This place definitely lacks the touristy, chaos element you’ll find at the larger hotels along the beach.

Suites

The property has a total of 72, one-bedroom suites. The suites are located in detached two-story villas with two suites upstairs and two on the ground floor. Rarely are there any noise complaints, so the suites appear to be well insulated. TIP: upstairs suites have the best ocean views and have room numbers that end in 3 or 4. Suites are usually sold according to the type of view they have, and guests highly recommend the panoramic ocean view suite.

The first thing that travelers notice about the rooms is their spaciousness, which is evident even from pictures you’ll find online. Every suite features a kitchen area with cook top, refrigerator, and sink. TIP: be sure to request pots and pans ahead of time if you plan on cooking in your room. Very few pots and pans are left in the room by default. You can also request a microwave.

In terms of furniture, there is a full table that seats two for dining, a family room with a pull-out couch, coffee table, and LCD television. Every suite has a private, spacious lanai (patio) with lounge chairs facing the ocean.

In some of the older reviews, travelers used to complain that the rooms were outdated. In response, hotel management has made great strides in bringing the rooms up to date with brand new carpeting, furniture, luxury linen, and new beds.

Most rooms have a king sized bed, but a few have double beds. The master bathrooms have large soaking tubs and walk-in showers, these are right besides each other with no separation between–great for couples but it might be awkward for friends and family. Still, some bathrooms could use some updating but most guests do not find this to be a problem.

Some suites are near a koi pond, and these receive mixed reviews. Some travelers love being able to feed the fish from their patio every morning. However, sitting pond water may attract mosquitos, especially at dusk. So if you’re mosquito magnet, be sure to avoid pond-side suites.

Amenities

The hotel’s amenities cater more towards couples than families with children, and most guests seem to appreciate the relative lack of children on the property. One of the prime amenities is the on-site, japanese style spa (Spa Wailea), which guests have complimentary access to. Guests absolutely love the reclining baths where you can engage in the japanese art of ofuro or “spa bathing.” There’s also a hot tub and dry sauna.

The pool is small compared to what you’ll find at the bigger hotels, but guests say this makes the setting more intimate and relaxing. There are several full sized beds and beach chairs throughout the pool area, along with a pool bar that sells drinks at certain hours. Most people are pleased with the fitness center, which is located in a beautiful room that’s open to the sea, but hardcore gym goers may be disappointed. The equipment isn’t extensive–there’s a treadmill, elliptical, stationary bike, and a Bowlflex. As of May ’12, there isn’t a complete set of dumbbells.

When you want to head down to Wailea beach, the hotel has a free shuttle (a Cadillac Escalade) that guests say is very prompt. The hotel has a private beachfront section at the Grand Wailea with beach chairs, umbrellas, towels, and bottled water (covered by the resort fee). You can also charge your account while at the Grand Wailea, allowing you to have lunch or order cocktails there and not worry about having to bring any cash to the beach.

All of these amenities come at a cost — a mandatory $25/day resort fee. But don’t let this scare you off; guests insist that it is money well spent.

Location

Be aware that Hotel Wailea is not a beachfront property and is quite secluded in general. According to Google Maps, it’s a 1.4 mile (~26 min) walk to the beach and down a slope, so unless you’re an avid hiker, you’ll really want to use the free shuttle. The shuttle will take you to the beach and anywhere else in Wailea, including the Wailea Blue Golf Course.

Dining

There is one highly-acclaimed restaurant on-site called Capische which serves delicious italian food. The restaurant has earned several awards including the Zagat 5-Star Award for being the best italian restaurant in Hawaii. But the prices are very steep. The dinner menu is found on the hotel website.

There is a free continental breakfast each morning. Guests rave about the locally made banana and lilokoi bread and fresh guava juice. Your other dining options are in Wailea. There’s a General Store in the Shops at Wailea that sells freshly made meals, like Bento salmon.

Service

Travelers consistently rate the service as top-notch. Housekeeping does an excellent job because there aren’t hundreds of suites to clean. Maids try to clean while you’re out of the room so they wont disturb. Staff is very friendly and accommodating. One traveler was on a gluten-free diet and was told that had she notified staff before her arrival, they would have been able to provide a gluten-free breakfast. So when you book be sure to tell them about any allergies and dietary restrictions you might have. In general, staff seems far more cordial than at major chain hotels.

Summary

Hotel Wailea is perfect for couples looking for a tranquil Hawaiian vacation without the chaos of large beachfront hotels. The rooms are spacious but may need some updating. The property itself is spread out and well landscaped, offering breathtaking views of the Pacific from most suites. Rates run between $250-$399 per night during the summer, which is an excellent value considering how the major hotels in the area easily cost double or more. If you purchase at least 90 days in advance directly through hotel, the price dips to around $170 per night, which again, is an unbeatable value for this area.

Source by Jonathon Webster

Selecting the appropriate games, rides, outdoor activities or indoor fun is equally as important as selecting the right party food and music. The more fun your guests have, the more they will talk about their positive experience with others and the more likely they are to participate again in the future. When thinking about your event, a determination of number of attendees, age groups and family status (i.e. Will this be a child friendly event or adults only event. Will there be singles as well as married couples) will help to decide what types of entertainment activities are needed for your event. Knowing the number of people planning to attend is extremely important as you don’t want to be caught off guard by not including enough entertainment to please your crowd. If people have to endure extremely long lines on a hot day, their positive experience can quickly turn negative. A full service planner will have the knowledge in helping you to determine what is enough or not enough entertainment for your event. Crafts and keepsakes as well as inflatable fun carnival rides, fun food machines, midway games, costume characters, clowns and carnival games are appropriate for guests 18 and under. Because the styles and types of inflatables differ greatly from moonwalks, tot towns, mini slides and wind tunnels to giant slides, bungee runs, obstacle courses, slip and slides and climbing mountains, age assessment is important.

Many times adult aged guests enjoy video games, sports games, water fun, casino equipment and racing games as well as inflatables, magicians and famous impersonators. When considering event entertainment it may be a wise decision to conduct a survey and give participants the opportunity to help select the items featured at your special event. That way you are sure to provide a fun filled event for every person in attendance. A determination will need to be made about the tone of the activities as well. For instance, if your event is going to be held in a hotel, restaurant or country club, you may want to offer activities such as story telling, a magic show, balloon twisting, photo booths, green screen technology, caricaturists, handwriting analysis or other constructive activities rather than more energized options requiring running, loud voices or constant movement.

Alternately, if you are able to utilize wide open outdoor space, you may want to include a climbing mountain, giant slide, bumper cars, trackless train or other high energy activities. If your event entails a specific theme, the entertainment equipment you choose can enhance your theme. For instance, a Hawaiian themed event can include cooler racers, human beach balls, dunk tank, water slide, or surf rider. If you are interested in keeping the same color scheme throughout the event you will want to choose items, decorations or props that display your preferred colors. Ways to do this is by providing Mylar balloons, center pieces for tables or an inflatable arch. If your business caters to a certain sector of the population such as the airline industry, a great piece to include would be an airplane wind tunnel or fly guys. Perhaps you are aware that several of your guests are sports fans, this would be a good opportunity to include sports equipment, baseball toss, quarterback attack, soccer kick, grand slam batting, golf distance caddy or other sports related activities. Whatever the case may be, there are several hundred options for making your event unique to your guests needs and preferences. There is no need to have a “canned” experience at your event. No two picnics or parties should be alike because not all goals and objectives are the same.

If you are hosting an outdoor event, and your event venue does not provide tents, tables or chairs, or other forms of shelter, you will want to make sure that your rental company or event staff provides them. If a full picnic meal is being served, it is important to have enough tables and chairs, and table coverings for all of your participants. The only exception to this rule is if the food will be served over a long period of time in a casual buffet style. In that case, you can limit the amount of tables and chairs as your guests may be off enjoying other event activities. Tents are important for an outdoor event in case of in climate weather. There is nothing worse than having your guests caught in a rainstorm with not shelter to run too! A tent is also vital if you are to have a live band, specialty performer or Disc Jockey at the event. Even a small 10×10 tent will help to protect the disc jockeys equipment or the live bands instruments from sun exposure. If your event is indoors, you will want to know how many tables and chairs are available and plan accordingly. You may event want to consider providing additional event rental items such as a stage, portable toilets, event decorations/props, sound system, megaphone, raffle drum, freezer, carnival fronts, etc. Directing the flow of traffic at an event is also directly affected by the placement of tents, tables, chairs and rental items so be aware to the layout of the site you are utilizing as well as the items you are placing there. A quality rental company or event planning service will supply enough knowledgeable staff to make sure that all areas of set up, execution and take down are tended too.

Once all four of these areas of fun are prepared you are ready to host an exciting and fun filled event for your guests!

Source by Jon Cellauth

A commercial kitchen is the place in a restaurant where food is prepared constantly and on a daily basis. There are usually a number of people who work in this kitchen plus there is a lot of catering equipment that is used all the time. With all this activity happening in the commercial kitchen, how do you keep it clean?

First of all, teach your staff to maintain high standards of hygiene. Instruct them to wash their hands each time before they are going to work with food. If there are constantly working with food, then instruct them to wash their hands every hour. When working with raw meats, they should scrub their hands after handling the meat. They should be aware that dirty dishes should be placed in the sink and not be left anywhere on a countertop. It is essential that your staff is aware of the rules of hygiene in order for cleanliness to reign.

Make use of disposable wear such as latex or plastic gloves, sleeves and shoe covers. Disposable hair nets, chef hats and aprons are also a good option. The idea of disposable wear is that it is used for one day only and can be disposed of at the end of the day. This ensures that many germs are thrown out and not left behind in the kitchen. The next day a clean set of disposable wear is available for the staff.

At the end of each day, do a comprehensive clean up. Start with sweeping the floors. There will probably be food crumbs or shavings on the floor because of food preparation. Then, mop the floors. Use clean water with detergent to ensure that the floor is cleaned thoroughly. Wipe all the countertop and table surfaces. Then clean the surfaces with a damp cloth that was soaked in detergent or bleach to disinfect the surfaces. Alternatively, spray the surfaces with a disinfectant and wipe the surface with a clean cloth. Wash and wipe all the catering equipment that had been used throughout the day. Put all the dishes and cutlery in the dishwasher. This will save time in terms of washing dishes by hand and the dishwasher will do a very good job of washing all the dishes you may have at the end of day. It is a good idea to use the dishwasher earlier in the day too, when you notice that the dishes are piling up. Washing the dishes twice a day is a good plan.

At the end of the day no surfaces, catering equipment, or dishes must be left dirty.

Source by Stana Peete

It is the common assumption of many people that men are clueless when it comes to matters of interior decorating, and that most members of the male species need some assistance or advice from the women in their lives with regards to making such decisions.

Of course, this assumption does not necessarily hold true because we already know, especially nowadays, that there are a lot of men who can really hold their own when designing their own homes. However, if you are one of those men who are indeed quite at a loss when it is time to purchase furniture for your newly acquired bachelor pad, worry no more because there is one piece of furniture that can save you from your dilemma, and that is the papasan chair.

At first look, you may be wondering what’s so great about the papasan chair. Furthermore, you may be thinking what makes it so perfect for a bachelor pad. If you had been a child in the seventies or even the early eighties, it’s very likely that you have fond memories of the papasan chair that your parents had in their home at the time.

Most American homes had at least one of these chairs because it was at the height of fashion back then, and for many good reasons. Besides being completely different in design from all other chairs available in the stores, the papasan chair is also extremely comfortable to sit in. It was used primarily for watching television, which we all know is one of the most beloved pastimes of men even to this day.

With the ample space that the round seat provides, there is no better chair to recline in while watching a football game or an action-packed movie than the papasan chair. You can comfortably lean back in the chair while eating your bowl of popcorn until the game or the movie is finished without feeling any cricks in your back or any other kind of discomfort because the papasan chair is adequately padded. You can even shift your weight around quite easily without having to get up – that’s how comfortable and relaxing the chair is.

Some men worry that the papasan chair won’t be able to take the weight of their bodies, especially if they are quite on the heavy side. Although there is a limit to how much weight the papasan chair can take, this limit is much higher than most people assume.

The rattan material that the chairs are typically made of is deceptively fragile-looking but is actually quite sturdy and very durable. A good quality papasan chair can easily seat a 300-pounder without any problems. However, it can be a challenge for some heavyweights to get out of the chair especially after sitting in it for prolonged periods, since the seat is recessed and it does require some amount of effort to lift your body out of the chair.

The original papasan chair is indeed the perfect chair for any bachelor pad. It is ideal for watching television, reading a book, or even taking a nap. But if you are expecting to have some female company from time to time for a romantic evening perhaps, you can opt for the mamasan chair instead, which looks basically like a stretched-out papasan chair.

Instead of being completely round, the mamasan chair is oval and can accommodate two people, just like a loveseat. It also comes with a thick cushion, making it the perfect place to snuggle and enjoy some romance with your girlfriend.

What’s really great about these unique chairs is that they are very reasonably priced. For just a hundred bucks or so, you can turn your nondescript apartment into a chic bachelor’s pad that will surely be the envy of all your friends.

Source by L MacDonald

You want to make your child’s room as inviting and comfortable as possible for him. Consider his room to be his domain – the only real thing that he can control and consider his personal space where he can express himself. Well, when purchasing a piece of furniture for the bedroom, you want to make sure it suits his style, room color and his needs. A bean bag chair is a most beloved piece of furniture, and when chosen well, your son could keep this for a very long time. So here are a few suggestions for bean bag selection that I had to consider when making my purchase that you may find useful.

1. You want to select a fabric type that is very easy to clean, yet is comfortable. Would you prefer to have a vinyl bag that cleans easily by wiping with a wet cloth or would you prefer to be able to remove the entire cover and throw it in the washing machine? Many of the fabric covers are removable – make sure of this, and make sure that they have a liner that holds the filling so that the cover can be removed. Selections for fabric types include micro fiber, denim, cotton (plain and prints) and fun fur. The chairs that have logos or team logos are usually vinyl. Note that some people don’t like the feel of vinyl, sometimes feeling that it is too sticky or cold. Despite your selection, please make sure that your bag is equipped with child safety lock zippers.
2. You will want to select a size appropriate for your son – keep in mind that your son may have this for a long time and will grow into it. They come in a great range of sizes.
3. Decide the type based on the activities that your son likes to do. My son is a gamer and loves his video games. He spends a lot of time during the weekends playing video games online with his friends. He should be comfortable, since this is an activity that is sustained over a long period, and therefore should provide full body support for whatever position you are in. With the stuffing of bean bags, this allows ultimate comfort especially for the lower back.
4. Does your son read? Watch TV? These chairs will be a place where they would gravitate to do such activities also.
5. It is a friend magnet – friends will visit and stay longer when there is comfy furniture to chill in. I love having my son’s friends over because I enjoy knowing who his friends are and I know what they are doing and where they are doing it when they are at my house.

This may sound like a big list to consider when deciding on a bean bag chair or relax sack to purchase for your son. But the better ones aren’t necessarily the cheapest ones, so invest some time and thought into your purchase and you will have a piece of furniture that your son may carry with him not only to college but beyond.

Source by Yvette Bertolet

It’s become clear that humans weren’t designed to sit for hours on end while working an office job or lounging around the house. Research praises the idea that sitting less, or standing more often while incorporating movement into your daily life, is beneficial to both short-term and long-term health. Moving frequently during the day promotes blood flow and burns calories. Enhanced circulation increases energy and focus by distributing oxygen more efficiently and can help prevent chronic ailments. With regards to posture, standing is also a healthier position for our bodies than sitting.

Sitting tends to promote compression, leaning, and slouching. All of which can contribute to chronic back, neck and shoulder pain as well as longer-term ailments such as arthritis. Standing tends to open the body and easily facilitates movement so that we are rarely in the same position long enough for it to be significantly deleterious to our health.

An adjustable ergonomic stand up desk is the ideal product to promote standing, especially for those of us with office or desk jobs. Adjust ability is a key component of ergonomic standing desks because rarely do two people require materials to be elevated to the same height. There are two main versions of the adjustable ergonomic stand up desk. The first is a more expensive option that elevates the entire desk platform via either an electric motor or hand cranked motor. While costly, these standing desks are beneficial because they elevate the entire working platform so that standing is easier (and hence sitting is harder). The downside to these adjustable desks is that for true ergonomic position, you’ll still most likely need to elevate your computer monitor and find an attachment to support both your keyboard and CPU.

The second version of an adjustable ergonomic stand up desk can be considered a similar conversion kit, retrofitting existing desks so that the user can stand up easily and comfortably. These products sit on top of your existing desk, elevating monitors to a comfortable height for standing. While significantly more affordable than the aforementioned option, the downside to retrofitting a desk for standing is that the main work surface is lower than the ideal position.

The standing desk keyboard tray is another key component of an ergonomic standing desk because it can facilitate wrist, forearm, and shoulder health. People interact with computers almost exclusively through the use of a keyboard and mouse. Properly positioning these devices is important for improved health. A standing desk keyboard tray should allow you to position the keyboard independently from the mouse.

The optimal keyboard position is at a downward angle, which allows you to type with your wrists drooping down naturally (not cocked upwards, which is the unhealthiest wrist position for typing). A standing desk keyboard tray that slopes down should have an independent mouse pad adjustment. This will allow you to use your mouse on a level platform while the keyboard slopes down.

Combining a standing desk keyboard tray with an adjustable ergonomic stand up desk is a good way to incorporate standing and the health benefits associated with not sitting into your daily life.

Source by Mark P Watson

Just about every person in the entire world owns at least one chair. Even if it’s an upside-down milk crate, we have to sit somewhere, right? I happen to be a person who thinks a lot about chairs. I like the way they look, the amazing varieties in which they are made, the way designs cross cultures and time.

I’d like to take a moment to discuss an issue that’s been on my mind lately. It might seem a bit odd or off-center, but I think you’ll see the logic behind my concerns.

For good or ill, we live in a very litigious society. People sue each other all the time, whether they have good cause or not. Millions, possibly billions of dollars are spent every year paying legal fees and settlements for these lawsuits, especially in personal injury cases. I guess a lot of people see these cases as get-rich-quick schemes. Sadly, they’re right.

Right about now, you might be wondering what all of these concerns have to do with chairs. Well, I’ll tell you.

Along with the increasing number of lawsuits, another unfortunate trend on the rise is obesity. More and more Americans are crossing the line between being healthy and being overweight, and the trend is getting worse. Fatter people are heavier people. I know enough about chairs to say that not every chair is built to hold very large person. In fact, many common chairs are not safe for people over a certain weight.

By not acknowledging this, you are putting yourself at risk for being sued by a person who comes to your property and hurts himself when he sits in one of your chairs and it buckles underneath him.

Here are two examples of types of chairs that are most susceptible to this problem.

Anything suspended: Chairs that hang from the ceiling, hammocks, or porch-swing like chairs are particularly high risk. If you purchase one of these chairs, be sure to check the packaging for the weight limit. You might be surprised at how low it is! Take heed of the number, and stick to it. You might regret it if you don’t. If you have built your own hammock or swing, use good judgment and be sure your guests don’t overload it.

Folding chairs: That rickety folding lounge chair you’ve had since 1972 may be a loved favorite, but it can pose a risk. Many low-cost folding chairs [http://www.millbrookindustries.com/folding-chairs] (especially beach chairs, camping chairs and other outdoor chairs) are not very sturdy and can easily buckle under unexpectedly. If you have old beach chairs, you might want to invest in some new ones before you have your hefty in-laws over for a backyard barbeque. Also, many indoor-use folding chairs can break easily when their weight limits are exceeded. Again, older, cheaply manufactured chairs are most susceptible.

Most wood, metal or hybrid wood-and-metal chairs are sturdy and have high weight limits. If you primarily use these types of chairs then you probably have little to worry about. Even so, whenever you buy new chairs of any kind, be sure and know their weight limits. Adhere to them, and you and your guests will always sit in comfort and safety.

Source by Amy Nutt

As you get older, your furniture needs change. The sofa that you bought when you were younger because it was sleek and fashionable will not be comfortable when your back aches in the evening. The low chairs may be too difficult for you to get into and out of without hurting your knees or losing your balance. Fortunately, you can get age-friendly furniture for your living room that you can use as you get older.

Lift Chairs and Recliners

Lift chairs and recliners make it easy and comfortable for you to relax in your living room. They are nice and cushioned, which will allow you to sit back and enjoy your free time in comfort. Unlike some other chairs that are extremely rigid or too soft, lift chairs and recliners have the perfect amount of plump cushions. This keeps your body in a comfortable position so that you are less likely to experience hip or back pain after you get up.

Lift chairs and recliners are also perfect for those who feel as though they need a little extra stability when they are in the process of sitting down or standing up. Many people lose their balance as they get into or out of traditional chairs, which can cause them to fall and hurt themselves. Traditional chairs can also make it very painful for those with knee problems. Lift chairs, however, can rise up to meet you or to lift you up out of the chair. This will keep you steady as you sit or stand, and it will minimize the strain on your hips and knees.

Adequate Lighting

Your living room needs to be well lit so that you can see exactly where you are going. If the room is too dim, you may end up tripping or falling over something that was hidden from view. A bright light will also keep from straining your eyes as you read, solve puzzles or watch television.

There are different types of lighting that you can use in your living room. In addition to ceiling lights, floor lamps offer a cheap and easy way to add extra brightness. You can also install wall sconces or cabinet lights that will provide subtle lighting to make your pathways clear.

Since you go to your living room to relax, visit, read and watch television, you need to make sure that it is a place in which you can be comfortable. When you buy the right furniture, you can enjoy your living room for years to come.

Source by Monika Kay

They said that the advent of the modern automatic washing machine would spell the end of the old-style laundry. Then again, they also said that video would kill the movies. They were wrong on both counts.

Far from becoming a thing of the past, the laundry has come of age. It’s no longer the dull, deserted place that you might remember. It’s a thriving place that now offers more services than ever before. From kid’s play rooms to relaxing massage chairs, here’s just some of the surprising things that you can find in the modern laundromat.

Customer Lounge

There’s no more sitting and watching your smalls going around and around in the modern washeteria. They now have customer lounges that you can sit back and relax in. With comfortable chairs, trendy bistro tables, and TV, it almost makes doing the weekly wash a pleasure.

Vending Machines

If all that relaxing makes you feel hungry, you can grab a snack or get a drink while you wait for the wash cycle to finish. Drinks and snack vending machines are all part of the service at the best modern laundry.

Kid’s Play Area

Remember how the kids used to get bored and start playing up when you visited the local laundromat? That’s a thing of the past too. You’ll be relieved to learn that the modern laundry has a purpose-built kid’s playroom to keep the kids amused as well.

Massage Chairs

You might remember sitting on those hard benches while you watched the spin cycle. Well, that’s all gone. Now, you get to sit back and relax in a massage chair while you are washing your clothes.

Free Wi-Fi

If the kid’s get bored with the playroom, and you’ve had enough massaging for one day, you can log on to the free Wi-Fi. You can catch up with friends on Facebook and send a few emails, while the kids play their favorite games.

Pick Up and Delivery Service

If you don’t have the time to do your clothes washing yourself, why not have someone else do it for you. The modern washateria will now pick up your clothes from you, do the wash, and then deliver them back to you all clean and nicely folded. With the wash and fold delivery services that you now get, it hardly seems worth buying a washing machine at all.

It seems, then, that doing the clothes washing is not the chore that you thought it was. You can now do your washing in comfortable surroundings and make use of all the facilities. Or, if you prefer, you can use the wash and fold delivery services and have it all done for you.

The way that the modern laundry has evolved is a great example of businesses adapting. The introduction of the automatic washer hasn’t killed off washaterias, it’s made them up their game. The same thing happened with cinemas. Movie theatres adapted as well. They got smarter, cleaner and they now offer a much better service to their customers.

So, the next time you look at that huge pile of clothes that needs washing, don’t despair. Take a trip to your local laundromat. You might be surprised at what you find there.

Source by Neil Savin

The Adirondack chair has existed for more than 100 years. In 1903, Thomas Lee vacationed with his family in the Adirondack Mountains in the state of New York. Without an adequate chair for the outdoor terrain, Lee set about to devise one. His primary concern was producing a chair that would be both useful and comfortable. He began to experiment with pieces of wood and tested his resulting work on his family. His final product incorporated a slanted back and seat, as well as wide armrests.

Lee took his design to a carpenter in the town of Westport. This carpenter, Harry Bunnell, must have seen potential in Lee’s idea. In 1905, two years after Lee designed what is now called the Adirondack chair, Bunnell received a patent for the design. He named the chair after his town; he called it the Westport chair. From what we know, Bunnell applied for the patient without Lee’s knowledge. With the patent in hand, Bunnell began a successful campaign. He built the chairs for the next 20 years and sold them to vacationers in the region. His benches are still around today, although their value has multiplied hugely. During these years, Bunnell also experimented with variations of the original design.

Of course, the experimentation has continued. The basic design retains the same core elements. But furniture makers have adapted the structure of the Adirondack chair to many other pieces of furniture, including rocking chairs, gliders, benches, love seats, tables, footrests, and more. Whereas the original chairs were made from woods native to New York, Adirondack chairs come today in a variety of materials, including fabricated wood and synthetic resin. Likewise, the choice of colors is endless today. And the Westport chair, named for the town in New York, has become known as the Adirondack chair, named for the mountain range in which the town and surrounding country lies.

This style of furniture, although rooted in American history, appeals to people in other countries, too. In fact, Canadians may call this chair by the name “Muskoka chair.” The province of Ontario contains a region called Muskoka, which is known for lakes and other outdoor recreation. In other circles, you might hear people refer to this style as a “Cape Cod chair.”

Despite the name game, the basic elements remain the same. Like the prototype, today’s Adirondack chair continues to be made from planks or slats. Most of these chairs still have wide, flat armrests, which allow users room to rest drinks and snacks while they sit. Many chairs sit low to the ground, which is probably why they have become popular choices for beach chairs. Most still have the angled backrest and seat.

Experimentation with the Adirondack chair will likely continue. As it does, the design may evolve in other ways. But it seems that the basic Adirondack style won’t be disappearing soon. From the product of a vacationer’s search for comfort, we have turned out a whole style of furniture that continues to appeal to people, even after a century has passed.

Source by Rachelle Dawson