Three Reasons Why You Need To Knit Blankets

When you are comfortable using a pair of knitting needles, you can try to make your own blankets, afghans and throws. If you need convincing, here are three wonderful reasons why you should get started on this ambitious knitting project right away.

Get your essential blanket materials from the website Yarnspirations, which has an incredible supply of knitting tools, accessories and yarn. You can choose yarn from a wide selection of brands, fibers, types and colors to get the right look and style that you want. You can browse through the patterns available on the website or visit the Yarnspirations Blog for instructions, ideas and inspiration for all of your knitted blanket projects.

1. Knit Your Blankets For Comfort

This may seem like an obvious answer, but it is still the most important reason to make yourself a knitted blanket. A well-made blanket is the best way to get cozy when you’re lying on the couch or curling up in bed. If you want to use your blanket to warm up on a cold day, use yarns made with wool, mohair or acrylic fibers. If you want it to be luxurious and soft to the touch, choose yarns made with nylon, silk, alpaca, cotton or acrylic fibers.

2. Use Your Blankets For Home Décor

Knit blankets can be the final piece that pulls the look of a room together — it can harmonize the space’s colors, match the furniture style and amplify the mood. You can use your knit blanket for the interior design of any room in the house, including the living room, foyer and office — this subtle but important detail will make any area feel more comfortable and inviting to guests. Many interior design professionals suggest that you drape a beautiful blanket along a bedspread, across a couch or on top of an armchair to emphasize warmth.

3. Donate Your Blankets To Charity

If your linen closet is already stacked full of blankets, afghans and throws, you might feel like a new one isn’t necessary. Instead of knitting a blanket for your own home, give away your handcrafted piece to an organization that promotes a good cause — there are a number of non-profit organizations and charities that take knit products like blankets, hats and scarves. Look to your nearest homeless shelters, women’s refuges, hospitals, and animal sheltersand ask them if they accept donations. If you can’t think of any local organizations or groups, use the internet to find charities looking for knitted donations — this way you can send blankets in honour of more than one cause, whether it be for homelessness, illness or suffering.

The last reason that you should make a blanket is that it is a long, relaxing and ultimately gratifying project to knit. While crafting socks or hats will be satisfying to finish a short span of time, a large piece like a blanket will feel much more rewarding when you complete the final row.

Sandy Petrocelli: Call a Professional Electrician for These Electrical Issues

Sandy Petrocelli: Call a Professional Electrician for These Electrical Issues

Your home’s electrical system is like the body’s circulatory system. It has a controller that sits at the heart of the system all an electrical panel, it has wires instead of veins and arteries running through the entire length of your home, and although it does not have blood, it has electricity that runs through those wires feeding every part of your home.

Although electricity is not as vital to you as blood, in terms of keeping your house running, electricity is probably the most important thing. Nearly every Appliance in every home in the United States depends on electricity therefore having a fully functioning electrical system in your home is very important.

The do-it-yourself craze has taken over the country and gotten homeowners to take on many jobs around their home that were previously done by professionals. Everything from small redecorating and remodeling jobs, to building a backyard deck, and even installing a new sink and vanity are now more likely to be done by the homeowner then a licensed professional. This DIY approach as also filtered into electrical areas of the home. Homeowners are now putting in new light fixtures, and even adding electrical boxes in rooms throughout their homes.

DIY Projects

The goal is simple, do it yourself and save money. It is definitely true that doing your own minor electrical fixes and upgrades can save you lots of money. A license electrician will charge anywhere from $75 to $150 an hour for even the smallest job. But homeowners must be cautious about what they take on and what they actually call The Professional to handle.

This is because electricity is dangerous and there is always a chance that the homeowner being a novice, might get injured. With this being said there are some jobs the homeowner can definitely do. But electrical contractors like Sandy Petrocelli on New York, NY ward that there are some jobs that the homeowner should never undertake and instead should call a professional electrician immediately.

Here’s a list of some of the electrical issues that may occur in the home where homeowners should immediately call a licensed electrician

Electric Surges or Power Loss

The electricity flowing through your home should be continuous and steady. You should never have surges when you notice lights and other appliances are fed more and then less electricity.  If this happens it could be a number of issues that are causing it. If it’s occurring throughout your home it could be a major problem in the wiring or with your electric panel.  Either problem can turn into a fire without notice. So don’t delay, get an electrician out to your home and have him check both to determine where the problem is coming from.

Circuit Breakers Will Not Stay Engaged

Which part of your home has a circuit breaker install that will trip and immediately cut electricity, if there’s a problem somewhere along that circuit. The circuit breaker will trip for many reasons some of which are benign while others are dangerous.  Benign reasons include if there is an electrical surge, or you plug-in add electrical and appliance that has a short.

If this is the case, by unplugging electrical Appliance and giving the system a minute, the circuit will no longer trip. It can also be tripped if there’s a wiring problem in the system. This is a dangerous problem because it can lead to a fire. A quick examination of that circuit and testing it a few times will tell you if it is a benign issue or dangerous one. If it is dangerous you should call a licensed electrician immediately.

5 Eye-Catching Centerpieces You Need for Your Living Room

5 Eye-Catching Centerpieces You Need for Your Living Room

Spicing up your living room can be quite a conundrum to figure out, especially if you’re not someone well-versed in the complicated art of interior design. However, anyone can improve the appearance and feel of their living room with a few simple touches, one of which is by installing a strong and striking centerpiece into the room. By doing so, not only will your living room have a strong and visual focal point – one that ties its many disparate elements together – but you also get a great conversation starter with your visitors and guests.

With that said, here are some ideas for centerpieces that are guaranteed to catch the eye of the company you’re having over.

  1. An indoor water fountain. One of the latest trends in interior design is adding an indoor water fountain into your living room. It sounds excessive, but it really isn’t, as there are now many miniature and downsized models that can be installed no matter how tight your space constraints or budget is. There are also models that can be integrated into a living room wall (i.e. a wall fountain) to save even more space. Having a water fountain as your centerpiece gives your living room not just a calming effect, but it also freshens up the air inside due to the flowing water’s air purifying and humidifying qualities.
  2. A fireplace. If you’ve got a fireplace in your living room or you’re planning to have one installed very soon, then it can definitely serve as a very captivating centerpiece. Fire not only gives you a great way to naturally illuminate your living room, but it also helps keep things feel more cozy especially in cold winter nights due to its ability to give off heat. Just make sure that it’s properly cleaned and maintained, as you don’t want a filthy fireplace to be the thing your guests can focus on when they’re over.
  3. A sofa. Sofas are one of the modern living room’s staples, and chances are you already have one installed. Why not make it the centerpiece? If you’re willing to replace what you have now, then opt for a bigger and more brightly-colored couch. You can also pair it with a glass center table with some heavy but tasteful ornaments such as a vase or a stone statue bust. If you’re not willing to part with your original sofa, then simply draping a richly-colored blanket over it can suffice.
  4. Something personal. Another great idea for a living room centerpiece is to feature something that’s a part of your personality or family. It’s your own living room, after all, so you want to make sure it has your own personal touch. If you’re a collector, you can feature one of your prized collectibles as a centerpiece, like perhaps a model or a poster or even a painting. If you’d rather make it a bit more family-oriented, have properly-framed family pictures be the centerpiece. Whatever you choose, it’ll make your living room feel a bit more lived-in and personable, which is always a good thing.
  5. Who doesn’t like flowers? They add a splash of color in any room as well as give off a light and appealing scent, so having a bunch of artfully arranged flowers would make for a great centerpiece. Just be sure to replace them regularly, as wilting or dead flowers will definitely be an eyesore. If you’re not up for that kind of expense, however, then imitation flowers or even flower sculptures will suffice.

An eye-catching centerpiece can really tie a living room together, and you don’t even have to spend all that much to get that very same effect. Just be sure to pick something that not only fits your budget and space constraints, but also something that you yourself can show off and display with pride.

Ways to Tweak Your Home to Help You to Get Mobile Again

Ways to Tweak Your Home to Help You to Get Mobile Again

If you are facing mobility issues either through age, an illness or an injury, you will no doubt be struggling to move around your home like you used to. This can be quite a shock to the system for anyone who is used to whizzing about the house, and it can be very painful in many cases too.

In this situation it is vitally important that you make changes to your home, which will allow you to move around more freely.  Struggling around the home is not just frustrating, it could lead to more damage being done, and so it is crucial that you do make some changes. There are all kinds of gadgets which you can add and tweaks which you can make to the home, and here are just a few ideas for you.

Stairlift

The stairs can pose a real issue if you have mobility problems and can cause you to put a great deal of pressure on yourself as you try to get up and down them. If this is the case for you, then a stairlift solution could help to change your life and make it easy for you to get up and down the stairs like you used to. Stairlifts are simply installed, and very easy to use, just sit down, press a button and up – or down – you go.

In-House Railing

If you have carpets in your home then getting around on a zimmer is practically impossible, with the wheels getting stuck in the carpet. If you don’t use a zimmer, then regardless of whether or not you have a carpet, getting around can be troublesome. A quick fix for this is to have some rails installed around the home, which you can use to keep your steadiness as you move throughout the house.

Bathroom Tweaks

Mobility problems affect even the most simple things in life, activities such as bathing for example can be very problematic. There are however, many changes which you can make in the bathroom to ensure an easier experience. You could look to create a wetroom with a seat fitted, so that you can simply walk in and out of the shower without having to clamber over anything, it will also give you plenty of space.

Another addition which you can make would be a bathtub which has a door to access it, rather than climbing in and out. Finally you should look into getting a raised toilet seat, which means that you won’t have to sit down as far when you need the bathroom, alleviating pressure on your joints.

Grabber

One gadget which I would most definitely recommend that you invest in is a grabber which is similar to the devices which are used for litter picking. With this handy device you can pick things up from the floor, open and close curtains or grab things that are out of reach. The key is to put as little pressure on your body as possible, and this grabber ensures that you can avoid any undue stretching or straining.

7 Remodels You Always See on HGTV (and Why)

7 Remodels You Always See on HGTV (and Why)

Source

The home improvement revolution is here, and so it the desire to do things yourself, flip houses, and more. Entire television networks are dedicated to home improvement and beautification, and we watch religiously both to share in the success of others and to get ideas of our own.

To gather those ideas, here are seven of the most common remodels you see on HGTV and why.

Minor Bathroom Remodel

One of the primary reasons you often see a bathroom remodel on HGTV is the return you see on your investment. On average you recoup 103% of the cost of a bathroom remodel at the time of sale, and even if you are not selling, you see an great increase in livability.

How do you get even more return on your investment? Do the work yourself, reglaze or refinish your old tub, and use spray on texture to cover old wall damage before you paint.

A minor bathroom remodel is quite common and can quite simply transform your home.

Landscaping

Curb appeal is everything when it comes to selling your home, and even just making it look great from the outside. At the time of sale, most owners recoup 100% or more of their investment in landscaping, and are more likely to get full-price offers and sell quickly if they have great landscaping.

This can be as simple as hiring a lawn service and adding flowers, plants, and a few trees or trimming the bushes and trees you have now, weeding the flower beds and putting down fresh mulch, and fertilizing and aerating your lawn. Either way, landscaping is a common remodel that truly pays off.

Minor Kitchen Remodel

Fairly often, the only thing your kitchen really needs is a simple cosmetic refresh, not a drastic change to the floor plan. This type of remodel makes it easy to recoup the cost. What is involved in this type of remodel?

  • Counter Tops: Old counters can easily be replaced with more modern ones that are also more sanitary and better for your health.
  • Door and drawer fronts: These are also easily replaced, and refreshing the knobs and hardware often changes the look of your kitchen entirely.
  • Appliances and fixtures: replace that fridge from 1995, or that range with a much better gas one, and you will easily recoup the cost if you are selling, and have a much more comfortable home if you are staying.

This type of remodel can be done at a fairly low cost, and will totally change the way you look at your cooking space.

Exterior Improvements

There are a ton of improvements you can do to the exterior of your home to update the look. On many home improvement shows, they kick in the old door, and take it out. A new door is the first step to a more inviting entry. The second is to dress up the porch with plants or add a pergola.

Painting, new siding, and new shutters and trim also add a value you can easily get back out of the home if you sell it. Removing old awnings and other outdated items works well also. The more you upgrade siding or paint, the more likely you will get the best return for the home improvements you make.

Deck, Patio, or Porch Additions

If your back yard is not an appealing space, you may have more trouble selling your home, and it may just be a less comfortable place to live. Adding on a porch, deck or patio can transform that space from a useless one to a place you can use all the time.

This may mean adding a grill, a bar, and exploring creative seating options. This is one of the most common remodels you see on HGTV.

Replacement Windows

While there might be some debate about how much energy replacement windows will really save you, there is no doubt they add value to your home. The average homeowner gets all of the money they invested in the windows back at sale.

This project can be as simple as replacing the old windows with new ones of the same style or replacing a small window and wall with a patio sliding door or even a bay window. This is also a common remodel project on HGTV because it pays off and it is one of the easiest ways to transform your home with natural light.

Living Room Décor Updates

While it is easy to say you should not live in the past, there is a certain nostalgia associated with certain furniture, rugs, or décor.

Almost every time you see a show on HGTV, they work on changing the décor of the home. It is most often outdated or does not fit with the new look the homeowner is going for. This not only pays off when you are selling your home (a part of staging) but it can make your home feel fresh and new.

You see a ton of different remodels on HGTV, but these are seven of the most common, simply because they pay off and are affordable compared to major home restructures.

Tips to Ensure a Successful DIY Remodel

Tips to Ensure a Successful DIY Remodel

(Image Credit: Wikimedia Commons)

When a homeowner decides to tackle a remodeling project, it’s understandable that he or she wants to start right away. However, failing to plan for the entire project often means disappointing results and spending much more than anticipated. Proper planning requires homeowners to create the following types of documentation:

  • Budget
  • Drawings
  • Materials list
  • Price quotes from several contractors
  • Proposed schedule

The next step is to ensure the availability of all items he or she wishes to use. It’s important to order them as soon as possible to prevent delays later if the items are no longer available. Homeowners should also plan to inspect all materials when they arrive.

Consider Getting a Professional Opinion

Even homeowners who intend to complete the project themselves can benefit from the expertise of a professional designer or home inspector. A design consultant can point out potential issues with the homeowner’s plan while a home inspector can uncover safety issues that he or she might have overlooked.

Estimate Time to Complete the Home Improvement Project

While it can be challenging to know exactly how long each part of the project will take, creating a rough estimate is essential. Most homeowners, especially those with little or no experience with home improvement projects, tend to underestimate project length. A good rule is to add 20 percent to his or her best estimate. It’s also a good idea to add 20 percent to the budget. The danger of a project taking much longer than expected is that the homeowner may give up on it halfway through.

Don’t Forget About Safety

Some homeowners get so excited about tackling the project that they forget to invest in safety gear. This should include steel-toed boots, a hard hat, goggles, and work gloves at a minimum. Additionally, it’s important to avoid wearing baggy clothes that could become stuck in moving parts or tools and to make sure the work area remains free of clutter.

Avoid Fines for Building Violations

Homeowners sometimes feel tempted to skip applying for permits to save money and because they figure no one will know about their home improvement project. While it might seem like unnecessary bureaucracy and expense, safety is the real reason behind the permit requirements. A city building inspector will make sure the project meets compliance and that the homeowner and his or her family remain safe. Here are three common violations that anyone considering a do-it-yourself project should avoid:

  • Incorrect venting in the bathroom: Building codes require bathroom fans to vent humid air outside through a vent pipe four inches in diameter. Failing to follow this code results in rotting wood and mold in the attic.
  • Handrails at the wrong degree: When installing a wall-side handrail, it must create a 90-degree turn and a dead-end leading to a wall. This helps to prevent purses and clothing from snagging on the handrail and causing a fall.
  • Out-of-code junction boxes: All junction boxes for electrical outlets must be accessible and visible with a minimum wire length of six inches inside of the box. The wires entering a box must be clamped to prevent it from moving.

Additionally, taking care of construction debris removal on a regular basis will help prevent unwanted attention from neighbors. An unsightly pile of old drywall and/or appliances in the front yard is a sure-fire way to generate calls to the local building department.

As long as homeowners take the time to plan their project and learn local building codes, everything should go just fine.

Picking Out Your Christmas Cards

Picking Out Your Christmas Cards

When it comes to Christmas, one of the best ways to connect with people is through Christmas cards. However, finding the type that you want and ensuring that they bring joy into the lives of those you send them to can be more than a little complicated. Here are a few tips to pick out the best possible Christmas cards and to ensure that everyone who receives one feels loved and cared for.

1. Consider Photo Cards

Photo cards can be a great way to show people that you care and to keep them updated on your life as well. If you are sending out a large number, you can opt to get them specially printed. However, if you are only sending out a few, you might think about cards where you can put in your own photos. These also allow you to decorate and embellish the photos, personalising them for each person that you send them to. This is a great gift for your best friends or for your children to give to their friends.

2. Think About Classic Christmas Cheer

Things such as the lyrics to carols, Christmas villages, images of Santa, and so many other options evoke the idea of Christmas. If you want to go with a more classic and refined option, these are some of the best choices. If you are getting multiple packs of different cards, you might consider getting some of these for the people you work with or for older people you interact with on a regular basis.

3. Think About Sending Messages of Peace

While the season is often associated with cheer, it is also a time for peace and reflection. Consider sending cards with messages relating to peace, health, and other positive attributes. This can be a great way to show friends that you care about them and their lives.

4. Think about Cute Animals

Some of the best cards have cute animals on them. This can be anything from cute dogs to chubby birds on trees to sheep out in a field all wearing silly hats. There really is no limit to how silly these cards can be and they are sure to put a smile on the face of anyone who receives one. If you have a pet or know that your friends do, you can even match the card to the pet in question.

5. Think About Supporting A Charity

A number of different charities put out card sets during this time of the year. These cards help support the charities throughout the coming years and are usually cheaper than you would think. Give two gifts at once when you purchase charity cards.

6. Think about Making Your Own

There are a number of kits available to make your own cards and give them to friends. This is a great craft to do with your children once they are out of school.

There are so many different ways that you can personalise the Christmas cards that you send. Choosing great cards can bring a smile to your friends’faces and show people you know that you are thinking of them during the holiday season.

JAC Interiors: Modern Eclectic Interior Design

JAC Interiors: Modern Eclectic Interior Design

Are you looking for a new style for your home? Are you tired of the traditional design methods that everyone else is using? If so, you may appreciate modern eclectic style for your next redecoration. Not only will it make your interior much more vibrant and noticeable, but it will make your house feel more like a home. Enlisting los angeles interior designers can also help bring your new, modern look to life.

What is Modern Eclectic?

One of the defining characteristics of this interior design style is the inclusion of a variety of different pieces. Rather than creating a single, homogenous appearance for your home, modern eclectic utilizes various colors, textures, and motifs to create something more unique.

Core Components of the Style

To better understand how this all comes together, it’s important to know what the core concepts are for modern eclectic. At first glance, it may seem like you’re just throwing a bunch of stuff together, but it’s so much more than that.

Curation

To really get into this type of design, you have to be able to bring elements that compliment each other instead of clashing. Also, everything should be part of the homeowner’s persona, so it’s a bit like combining different parts of a person’s personality. Curation is the key to making it work, which means that you can’t just go with anything.

Focus

One thing that can happen easily with modern eclectic is that the interior can feel cluttered or overwhelming. As such, it’s very important to create focal points in each room and have the additional pieces flow outward from it. This will ensure that the result is more refined and appealing.

Ergonomics

While decoration can enhance the feeling of a room, you don’t want to have an abundance of items for show purposes only. Instead, try to incorporate pieces that are both functional and aesthetic so that you get the best of both worlds.

Balance

Finally, the tricky thing about modern eclectic is that you need to have an overarching premise for everything. Randomness is not a design element, so it’s critical that you have a balance of eclectic and classical motifs.

If you’re interested in having the modern eclectic design for your home or business, contact interior design firms in Beverly Hills. We specialize in making this style blend seamlessly into your space.

Getting the Most Out of Your Central Heating

Getting the Most Out of Your Central Heating

We all like to be comfortable in our homes; unfortunately, constantly running heat and air conditioning can put a significant dent in our wallets. Many people think heating or cooling a house is an all-or-nothing game, but there are actually plenty of ways to make sure your house stays at a comfortable temperature without spending hundreds on your monthly heating bill.

Part of the process requires consistent maintenance of your heating system, but the other part is far easier—it involves simple choices you can make to save on your heating bill.

Routine Maintenance

Whether you’re talking about a car, a computer, or an HVAC system, nearly everything works better with consistent maintenance. There are plenty of steps you can take to maintain your central heating system, and many of them can save you money on your heating bill.

The first thing you should do is make sure you have a good air filter. The higher the MERV rating on your air filter, the more contaminants it’s trapping. This is essential to maintaining indoor air quality and a comfortable temperature.

Speaking of air filters, you should make sure you replace yours every 90 days. As more and more air passes through an air filter, contaminants get trapped and impede airflow. Keeping your filter clean not only allows for more air to pass through, it also keeps the air you breathe free of harmful irritants.

You should also make sure your outdoor units have space to breathe. Keep leaves, pollen and grass away from your outdoor units, and make sure they have a few feet of space around them for airflow. As the winter months approach and it’s time to shut off the A/C, you should replace the furnace humidifier filter and turn the water (which you should have turned off in the summer) back on.

Inspecting the condensate drain and clearing it every now and then will help prolong the life of your heating and cooling unit. Lastly, you should occasionally make sure your HVAC unit is on level ground to promote proper drainage. Although these tasks relate more to the A/C, they’re an important part of prolonging the life of your system in general. If you aren’t comfortable performing this maintenance yourself, get help from a trusted HVAC company.

Be Vigilant

One of the easiest ways to save big on your heating bill is to become more vigilant about when and how you heat your home. This includes letting the temperature drop a bit when you’re away from home and promoting proper airflow when the heater is on.

When you’re not at home, you don’t need to keep your house at a cozy 70 degrees F. Each morning before you leave for work, turn your thermostat down a few degrees for the duration of the day. When you get home, you can turn it back up to your desired temperature and relax. A smart thermostat that connects to your smartphone allows you to change the temperature when you’re not at home, which means you can set it to your desired temperature and let it heat up as you drive home. If you don’t mind bundling up, choosing a sweater over those extra few degrees of heat can provide significant savings, too.

Fans are one of the most overlooked money-saving tools when it comes to heating your home. Fans simply promote airflow—nothing more, nothing less. By turning a ceiling fan on (set to the winter setting), you can spread heat throughout your home and save on your heating bill. Heating a home is always going to cost you, but it doesn’t have to be a fortune. Follow these simple tips and you can significantly lower your heating bill.

Some of the Best Neighborhoods Found in Miami

Some of the Best Neighborhoods Found in Miami

Miami is an amazing city and it is no surprise, therefore, that property and neighborhood development company Terra Group is so focused on it. It is known as the “Magic City”, and it attracts people from all over the world. Because of that, however, space is running out and this has given rise to condos that are built vertically. For many, living in Miami is about living at the beach, but there are other neighborhoods as well. What the Terra Group wants to do, meanwhile, is build sustainable communities all across South Florida. Hence, they have developed a list of the best neighborhoods in Miami, in which they may be able to achieve that.

Miami’s Best Neighborhoods

Brickell is perhaps the best part of Miami. It is home to beautiful and luxurious towers, with chic condos like the Plaza, Icon Brickell, and the Santa Maria. Brickell is not found right on the beach, but it is just a few minutes’ drive away. What makes Brickell so interesting, however, is that it is an elegant and cosmopolitan area that is now seen by many as “Manhattan with better weather”. It is a trendy place, with equally trendy nightlife.

Then, there is downtown Miami. Only recently has this been redeveloped to include true high quality architecture. The Quantum on the Bay is one of the newest high rise buildings there, as is Ten Museum Park, One Miami condos, and 900 Biscayne Bay. Here, people can enjoy upscale living but in the heart of the city itself.

South Beach is also home to various luxury condos. The Murano, the Icon South Beach, and the Continuum are just some examples of this. The truly upmarket condos are close to the ocean and within walking distance of the restaurants and the famous nightlife. They all look over downtown Miami and/or the Biscayne Bay. People from all over the world try to get a second home here, not in the least because it is so pedestrianized as well.

Miami Beach is to the north. This is perhaps the best place for those who like to be on the oceanfront. The Bath Club and Mei Miami Beach are just two examples of fantastic opportunities that are available there. Close to the see, at Bay Harbour Island or Biscayne Points and other parts of North Miami Beach, you will find some of the most elegant homes.

Finally, there is Sunny Isles Beach, an upmarket oceanfront neighborhood. The luxury high rise buildings here, such as the Jade Beach and Jade Ocean, are famous the world over. It is incredibly luxurious, offering true five star living. It is home to Trump Royale, for instance. Beachfront properties here are within walking distance of shopping facilities such as the exclusive Bal Harbour Shops and the Aventura Mall. In fact, many consider it the best place to live in South Florida, and it is just a 20 minute community to downtown Miami and South Beach as well.