On a gritty block of West 19th Street sits a portal to another world. Well, at least another lifestyle. The disco ball hanging above the doorman gives it all away: This is the Jade, a converted residential building hiding 57 condos marketed to those who want to be Jade Jagger — or to live like her.

The who’s who of this building reads like a long list of movie credits, but it’s ultimately quite simple: This building is all about Ms. Jagger, who, in addition to being rock royalty, is now a brand. The central marketing idea is that this residence allows people to live her brand. Or as the promotional brochure urges in languid, curvaceous script: “Live Jade Jagger Style.” Read more…

8 quick tips
Even if you don’t go through Maxell Gillingham-Ryan’s entire eight-week process, which includes deep-cleaning your home, adding lighting, decluttering, painting, adding décor and finally throwing a party, he offers these suggestions to make your house or apartment feel more inviting:
1. Light it up: Get more lamps; don’t rely on the overhead light in the center of the ceiling. Have three points of light at eye level when you’re sitting down in each room and tie them into points in a triangle. This will create the warmth you’re seeking.
2. Create a landing strip: So much of what clutters a house comes through the front door. Create a place near the front door to toss or sort through mail, slot things and manage correspondence such as junk mail, magazines, letters and bills. Also, leave sunglasses, wallet, keys and other items that create clutter elsewhere in this spot.
3. Don’t let your television control the room: Avoid furnishing your living room like a movie theater. Instead of placing the sofa across from the TV, create a more social space with at least three points of seating facing one another. Consider hiding the TV in an armoire. Read more…

M ost of us have had the experience of visiting a home that exudes so much warmth and coziness that we curl up on the sofa and find ourselves falling asleep.

But what is it that makes guests feel comfortable and want to linger? Is it the inviting colors, the clutter-free surfaces or the lively conversations around the kitchen table?

And how can you get that feeling in your home? You’ve painted the walls, purchased some decent furniture and hung some art on the walls and bought accents from Ikea and Pier 1 Imports, but you silently wonder, “Why doesn’t my place feel like that?”

Maxwell Gillingham-Ryan, author of “Apartment Therapy: The Eight-Step Home Cure” (Bantam Dell, $14), says making your apartment or house feel more homey doesn’t have to cost a lot of money. The solution could be as simple as re-arranging your furniture for better air flow, deep cleaning, cooking more often and adding small touches such as displaying fresh-cut flowers and burning candles. Read more…

Gov. Haley Barbour said Tuesday that the Appalachian Regional Commission and Mississippi Development Authority should be praised for their job creation efforts, but warned that further work must be done to replace the shrinking furniture manufacturing industry in North Mississippi.

“There is a lot of good news of economic development in the Golden Triangle,” Barbour said during his visit to the Golden Triangle Regional Airport. “However, we are not blind to the fact that the furniture manufacturing industry won’t employ as many people in the future.”

Barbour was in Columbus Tuesday in preparation for today’s Appalachian Regional Commission policy session at Mississippi University for Women. The governor also attended a reception for ARC officials at antebellum White Arches in Columbus Tuesday evening. Read more…

Done well, more dense development can lessen the environmental impact of development and enrich people’s lives, says Terry Shook, who spoke on urban design issues here Wednesday night.

He is an architect and a principal at Shook Kelley, a Charlotte-based urban design and marketing firm. He speaks frequently on urban design issues, and several new urbanist developments the firm has designed have won national and regional awards.

City government sponsored Shook’s public lecture at Diana Wortham Theatre. Read more…

Avery Design Systems and ASIC Architect today announced a cooperative effort to deliver a comprehensive Serial ATA (SATA) design and verification IP solution.

“Avery is excited to team with ASIC Architect to promote a cohesive design IP and core-to-chip-level verification solution for our customers,” said Chilai Huang, president of Avery Design. “Working with IP vendors is a cornerstone in Avery’s ability to continue to offer leading edge, comprehensive verification solutions. Our customers will benefit by ASIC Architect and Avery having shared goals and objectives on meeting their needs. Also from a solid core foundation, Avery has been able to build the innovative Serial ATA chip and system level verification features that our customers have come to rely on.” Read more…

The Honolulu koa-furniture company Martin & MacArthur, knowing that “stagers” arrange furniture in homes to stage them for sale, has hired one for its own annual furniture sale.

Charene Davis of Aloha Staged Homes will stage the Martin & MacArthur workshop and showroom on Kahai Street. The sale begins Friday.

It is a new experience for Davis, who typically will consult a homeowner on improvements and repairs and “neutralize” a home so house hunters can envision themselves and their things in the rooms. This entails bringing in only enough furniture as necessary and leaving a lot of airy space. Read more…

The Wednesday opening of the new 40,000 square foot Ashley Furniture, at 4400 Kell West Blvd., coupled with the future opening of Furniture Row, on Call Field Road, might create a furniture future of fruitful proportions.

“The competition, as I see it, is only good for local consumers,” said Dan Dropka, store manager at Lack’s Home Furniture.

By basically adding only one more furniture store, Furniture Row, to the area competition, Dropka said he doesn’t expect much of a decline in anybody’s business. Read more…

AllAroundTheHome.com has become a convenient and trusted source for local Washington DC, Northern Virginia and Baltimore residents searching for service professionals, because of the site’s unique approach to connecting the homeowner and the contractor. All Around The Home (AATH) allows the homeowner to select a contractor based on the location and description they most prefer. Companies like G&E Contractors (http://www.gandecontractors.com), a remodeling and addition company in Baltimore, receives customer contacts almost daily from the site. Read more…

f home improvement is on your list of things to do this summer, you may want to check out the Zagat Shopping Survey, which offers suggestions on quality supply stores in the city, as NY1’s coverage of Queens Week continues.

Nemo Tile Company
177-02 Jamaica Avenue, Queens
(718) 291-5969
www.nemotile.com

Since 1921, Zagat says this “contractors’ source” has offered a “good selection of tiles” for “budget-conscious bathroom renovation.” Surveyors add Nemo Tiles also offers plumbing and accessories like mirrors, medicine cabinets and shower doors. Read more…