this is a page for

Daily Archives: December 9, 2023

5 Fabulous Ways to Make a Short-Term Rental Feel Like Home

For one reason or another, you are required to move into a rental property for just a short amount of time. Whether you’re staying away for work, or moving out of your home whilst you have building upgrades done, there are so many ways to make your short-term place feel just like home. You can still enjoy a luxurious home without actually owning it, so here are five fabulous methods to put your own personal stamp on your short-term rental.

  1. Small Furniture Items

Even when you’re moving into a short-term property, it doesn’t mean that you can’t add your own small furniture items to make it your own. When it comes to short-term rentals they are often furnished to a high standard but they may not always have everything you are looking for. You can add a small coffee table to your living space, or add a small shelving unit in the hallway if it feels right for your needs.

  1. Your Own Belongings

As soon as you bring your own personal items into your new home, you will instantly feel as though the place was meant for you. Putting your favorite book onto a shelf and adding your own plates to the kitchen cupboards will transform the space from a blank canvas into a cozy place to live and enjoy, even if it is just for a few months.

  1. Soft Furnishings

You can have so much freedom when it comes to adding soft furnishing to your new rental property. If you really want to bring a touch of home to your new place you can fill your sofa with welcoming cushions, add a vibrant rug, or even treat yourself to new bed sheets so that your short-term stay feels extra luxurious!

  1. Photo Frames

You may not be staying in your new place for long enough to put up permanent wall art, but you can bring a tonne of photo frames and fill them with your favorite snaps. Whether you’re looking to bring images of your family members into your place, or you want memories of vacations you’ve enjoyed recently, photo frames are a brilliant way to personalize a property for the short term.

  1. Candles and Scents

Adding a touch of personalization to your short-term home is easy when you use the power of sumptuous scents. Using fragrance to bring a sense of personalization into your short-term rental can instantly help it feel like home. Choosing a scent is also a really fun part of the process as it can help you discover more about your tastes in terms of aromas. From fresh lavender to stunning vanilla, there are so many different scents you can try for your new home.

As you can see, there are a whole host of different ways to add a touch of comfort, class, and style to your property, even if you’re not planning on staying there for a long time. It’s always nice to feel cozy and at home wherever you’re staying, and with these ideas you can feel confident that your space feels like your own.

Image from Pexels – CC0 Licence

Exciting New Events Create Market Magic at the Downtown White Plains 2023 Holiday Market

With Thanksgiving turkey roasters barely shelved, many outdoor Holiday Markets have begun rising around New York City and its environs, including throughout Westchester County. But this year, the Downtown White Plains Holiday Market seeks to up its holiday market game to draw more visitors downtown by going beyond the now-standard glass vendor sheds to also present a line-up of unique seasonal surprises appealing to all ages… most of them free!

Now in its third year, the award-winning Downtown White Plains Holiday Market will continue to feature just shy of 50 vendors selling a combination of artisanal, handmade, and unique goods ranging from 4mydogs’ boutique pet wares to Manor Sangria’s fresh small batch sangria perfectly packaged for gift-giving, to English-tearoom-inspired teas and treats fit for royalty courtesy of Florrie Kaye’s Tearoom. “Our vendors are all so unique and are excited to return to Downtown White Plains to offer one-of-a-kind gifts for White Plains and Westchester shoppers,” stated Melissa Tomlin, founder of 914Pop-Ups, a tour de force in Westchester’s holiday and pop-up market scene, who helped cultivate the vendor list from a wide applicant pool over the past few months. “You’ll find nothing but quality at this market.”

Screenshot 2023 12 09 at 3.57.14 PM

But that’s not all. Noticing that many communities were replicating the holiday market theme in their downtowns, this year, the lead coordinator of the event, the White Plains Business Improvement District, a nonprofit 501c3 dedicated to supporting downtown White Plains, was determined to create a fresh batch of unique seasonal experiences to make a trip to the downtown extra special during the “most wonderful time of year” and to complement its traditional market environment with some upgraded White Plains magic. 

Holiday Market Schedule 01
Holiday Market Schedule 01

These new additions include:

·      Visits with Santa and friends (Polly Penguin, Mr. Snowman, The Grinch) and daily free children’s craft kits, sponsored by Westchester County

·      Outdoor firepits, accompanied by occasional acoustic live music, perfect for chatting with friends and warming up, courtesy of Hudson Grille and Lilly’s

·      Dazzling Ice Sculpting Demonstrations with Certified Master Carver and Guinness World Record Holder Richard Daly, made possible by SRG2 Properties, LLC

·      Live entertainment, ranging from stilt walkers to carolers and even a roving ukulele crooner, thanks to Reckson.

·      A New Year’s Eve wishing wall permitting individuals to pin their wish for 2024 to a community wall alongside neighbors, then see those wishes transformed into confetti to be released at the City’s Downtown White Plains ball drop on the 31st! (An activity made possible by Lanline Communications).

·      8 igloos, offering a warm and cozy spot to connect with friends and family over a board game, a take-out meal from local restaurants or via one of the organization’s unique (fee-based) add-on classes/experiences including charcuterie board assembly or candle making. Igloos are sponsored by The Cappelli Company, White Plains Hospital, K5 Properties, & Heineken®.

·      Also new this year: S’mores kits available for private rental during market hours!

The new events have already piqued the interest of local residents who have started reserving igloos and calling about the new event. And that of nearby municipalities. “We’ve noticed some our newest features already being quickly added to the schedules of nearby village holiday gatherings practically as soon as we published them,” said Executive Director Jennifer Furioli. “That’s tells us we’re charting the right course.”

In addition to the Entertainment and Igloo Level sponsors listed above, Rose Associates, The Premier Collection, Manor Sangria and Greca Mediterranean Kitchen and Bar are supporting the event as Gold Sponsors. Minuteman Press of Downtown White Plains, Nicholas Wolff of Howard Hanna Real Estate Services and The Cambria White Plains are Small Business Holiday Market Hero Sponsors.

The Downtown White Plains Holiday Market is just one of many seasonal activities feting the season in the central vibrant business district. The City of White Plains will present its Holiday Tree Lighting Sunday, December 10th at 5 pm at Renaissance Plaza Park, and on December 8th, nine bars/restaurants located on Mamaroneck Avenue including Archie Grand, Brazen Fox, Hudson Grille, Lazy Boy, Lilly’s Ron Blacks, Sundance Kitchen, Cantina and Free Bird just announced that they will host their first inaugural ugly sweater crawl, a joint promotion between the neighboring hospitality businesses.

Key Information:

Market Dates: December 6 – 17th

Market opens 11:00 a.m. daily

Location: Court Street between Martine and Main Street

Visit: wpbid.com/holidaymarket & follow Whiteplains.bid (Instagram) and @WhitePlainsBID (Facebook) for more info and the most current schedule of events.