100 Years

Its my first blog for some time i know, and its not because i haven't wanted to, nor that i have nothing to say (i always have something to say, ask the wife) but since the success of the AGM in August and all that was achieved during at that time and since, and believe me despite what you may or may not have been told or may or may not believe, your Owners Association all the owners involved and the committee have by Bulgarian and actually any standard, particularly given all the many complications that exist at the Village, have done remarkably well, and for this period we have chosen, “as felt it was right” to step back a little and let the wheels turn and the OA establish its mark and rightful position at the Hill and Park. During this time we to have been extremely busy preparing our strategy for the coming season plus planning and prepping the essential repair works program necessary to get the complex to the next stage, that has meant designing and establishing repair solutions and selecting appropriate materials required to properly expedite the works. Which as you can imagine is not a straight forward task given the extent of the issues, the poor original material selection and the even worst application of said materials this combined with the limited funds available has meant that following on from our LCR (location condition report) a carefully planned remedial works strategy has had to be put together between ours selves and the OA, that best improves the integrity of the buildings and serves the needs of the owners, and this month we are happy to advise that we have commenced the process of rolling out this program of remedial works activities. 

To be honest i am not the best self publicist, and as a rule preferring to DO rather than TALK.

Whilst i love the written word, as a dxlexic it frustratingly, does not come easy for me and for me to get things from my mind to the page, it has to in the first instance just feel right. This is why i choose now and why i choose to title this blog 100 years, as this week past saw Bulgaria and Bansko celebrate 100 years since the end of 500 years of Ottoman / Turkish rule / slavery, yes 500 years you read right and when you also remember that during this last 100 years 44 of them, from 1946 to 1989/90 where spent in communism that means as a nation, out of the last 600 years only 56 years where enjoyed as a free people! and only 23 years have passed since the end of communist oppression. Think about that! 

My Dad always told me (and he traveled a lot, he was a merchant sea man) when in Rome do as the Romans do, i also have been lucky enough to have traveled well and worked abroad extensively and have taken my Dad words and advise further and believe that to enjoy a country, any country best and to get the most from it you must understand and respect its people, not just turn up and expect a mini England, get immersed enjoy it for what it is, this doesn't mean forgive the waitress / waiter for being either rude or generally miserable nor trying to rip you off, or the developer that took you money and run, no amount of oppressive and dreadful history forgives this, but more understand and more knowledge about the place in which you have invested and like to visit cannot be a bad thing, to this end i have put a number of links below which you might like to read, like us English its a nations History that shapes us and makes us who we are.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bulgaria

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bulgarian–Ottoman_Wars

http://www.mongabay.com/reference/country_studies/bulgaria/HISTORY.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ottoman_period_in_the_history_of_Bulgaria

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/People's_Republic_of_Bulgaria

http://www.victimsofcommunism.bg

To celebrate this 100 year the Bansko municipality has erected a very appropriate and quiet elegant memorial, with a lovely sculpture that depicts a contemporary image of the mountain flower Edelweiss

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leontopodium_alpinum a wonderfully interesting flower that is quite prevalent and very well protected here. Chantal with her school attended the unavailing which was presided over buy the Bulgaria parliamentary speaker.

Complex General repair works activities moving forward:

With the massive swing in temperatures we have experienced in Bansko last season 2011/12 withtemperature down to -35deg and this year summer up to + 40deg then again as the autumn has drown in during the day temperature reaching over 20deg but at night in the minus the Buildings and there materials as the Park and Hill and right across the region have suffered massive movement in expansion and contraction stretching to the limit even the best and most well built developments to the limit with most suffering fabric break down in some shape or form. Here at the Village most of the problems have occurred with the tiling systems both internal and externally floor and cladding the roof also have suffered significantly. The problem is that its never practical nor cost effective to replace everything and start again thus we have been working with our partners and friends at Baumit (baumit.com) the number one german building material supply specialist to select the absolute best materials necessary to fix each issue we have before us, this means one solution for in side, one for external, one for floor one for wall one for roof etc, etc 

Our first target was the Hill Main Steps which have become a right mess and more than a little dangerous, this presented a great test for the products we have selected and if you see the images below we feel looking good, we even re-done the timber hand rails and re secured them. 

A vast improvement and a good place to start in ernest the
remedial works program.

We are now moving internally and from next week will be working through each block intern at both the Hill and Park, repairing all common area floor tiling. In our survey of the works we found movement in some instance in excess of 15mm huge in construction terms.

Reinstatement of the mains water pathway area. 

Further to our repair of the Hill 4 inch mains water pipe outside reception we are this week coming  starting the ground works and reinstatement project, again carful and considered planning was required as in the process of uncovering the damaged pipe serious flaws in the construction of the reception steps where uncovered and under pinning of these was considered necessary as part of the ground works, proper support of the main pipe will be engineered in and allowance for suitable expansion made, further the area of reinstatement we be future proofed as correct footing will be put in place such that this section will suffer no further subsidence. Also to be built in to the project will be  correct drain away provision and detailing in order to minims potential for further water ingress to basement areas.

Progress and update images during the project will be posted.

The next major project to get under way and will also start during next week will be the roof repair at the Park serious project here also, with the majority of the issues arising out off the typically poor initial, material selections and bad installation practices and detailing. 

By working in new BS type construction detailing and installation methods we will by the end of the project regain the necessary roof integrity currently missing from the complex.

Just love this time of year the sky and mountains provide assume sights.

One beautiful early morning sky from the balcony 

Along side all this and as most of our IPM clients are already aware our pre winter season checks and reports are going out making sure that not only is the complex in as good a shape as we can get it but also the apartments with in it.

Very pleased with the Hill sign, i surprise my self some times

You know when you have got something right when people use it, particular when its the locals 

Up dated Park sign

Our new and Exciting IPM packages will also be released very soon with full details of our Internet and Smart TV packages bring G4 streaming internet and TV direct and wireless to your apartments. Plus many, many more great initiatives exclusive to Crown IPM clients.

Crown Interiors has also been very busy and over the next few week we will be reviling some of the wonderful project we have completed and are currently working on.

Bansko what's going on: 

Having just finished what was the best summer season ever in Bansko certainly in my 7 years here (summer here being my favorite period, so much to do and see) Ulen excelled with their summer program and extra facilities plus making the gondola fully open all summer. And yes THE BUZZ is back in Bansko and the town is a wash with new investment and new investors, Both home grown and international with at least 10 project that that we know of that have sat dead for years springing into action and not insignificant project either at the start of the hill coming to the St John Village, a Bulgarian invest from Varna is completing this project and a good job there doing of  it, our friend in the Russian Villas opposite us have re-kick of there development planning to complete their spa and conferencing facility for march next year, and many many more in and around the town. 

A vast improvement, i feel we will be one of the first regions to complete construction in Bansko

New restaurants that are promising an additional diversity to the Bansko night life will be ready for this season (more details soon) a new improved super market at the beginning of the town, that is selling a vastly improved range of products. the golf course is just a different place now and alive the new hotel with is great restaurants and wonderful boutique spa, which my girls all 3 of them said was like chilling in Paul Getty’s personal spa, bless them. 

A very interesting new build restaurant, the interior also interesting done in the style of an old church

The narrow gauge railway has a new investor a swiss/uk group looking to make a proper tourist attraction out of this amazing and unique line, the second highest in Europe and one of very few operating narrow gauge lines in the world.

  

New improved Super market at the beginning of the Town and a good improvement at that

Additional shop units added

Why you ask and why now, well its like this Bansko is a beautiful place Mother Nature saw to that and that has, and will never change, but the word on the street and thats local street, is those with the money always know when to spend or can pay for the information necessary to know when to spend thats the same world wide and right now the word is something big will be announced very soon if not per season certainly in the new year and that something is very important to the future success of Bansko and the region, you must remember that some very important and very powerful people have invested heavily here and see this resort as there legacy, and what we do know is that a collective of these very powerful and influential people have placed a petition on the desk of the prime-minister pushing heavily to sign off on the new Gondola, now its never over until the fat lady sing as they say, but with one major investor sinking in the region of 600 million into the town over the last 18 months you have to think it might just happen!      

Who wouldn't  like it here

Thats it for now, thank you for choosing Crown and thank you for letting us serve you.

What's possible at the St John Village

You all know and hopefully love already Crown FM, and you might know a little about our Interiors division, over the next week or so your get a look at exactly what we have been up to at the Village with our Interiors and furnishing, you will have seen a couple of apartments (via face book) but your going to get a load more of where we see the future, and yes its the same vision as you all brought into when you first invested at the Village be it Hill or Park.

LUXURY & Life Style

Accept now you have a company that can deliver for you Crown.

Before:

Great potential uterly undelivered on

AFTER: Until now

Not a 100% finished yet, but we are loving it, however a 100% of what you see, is Designed, Manufactured and Installed in House @ Crown Interiors, YOU WANT ONE DONT YOU

Millionaire row, the first proper luxury resort and the most sort after place to be in Bansko / Bulgaria thats our Vision.

Good for us great for you

Watch this space 

No water at the Hill

As advised currently there is no water service at the Hill we have been pushing the water board for action, and we are advised Monday 23rd July they will be on site to dig up an area out side the complex biuldings around S block, to check / search for what is believed to be a broken pipe.

Obviously we are pushing as hard as possible but relationships with the water board have been seriously undermined buy the unnecessary shenanigans and unwarranted behaviour of ill meaning and selfishly driven parties that it appears would see the complex in ashes in the pursuit their own ends.

Crown however in-spite of no water service have had there cleaning team working from water bottels all weekend to ensure that as soon as normal service is resumeed we are a head of the game in getting things properly prepared and ready for owners and guests during August.

This is called Commitment not to be confused with being committed.

Everything and anything in order to get the job done

  

Balcony Refurbishments

For some time now there has been a lot of pressure to haphazardly repair weather beaten and ill maintained balconies at the Hill and Park, however unlike a number off other parties Crown have held back on a rush repair that might impair the long term good of the complex, potentially ending up with a patchwork quilt effect on the out side of the complex, no good for any one. In steed we have been working with branded suppliers and specialist to find a proper and considered solution thats right for the repairs we need now, making balcony safe and secure, protects them for the future summer and winter and when the time comes enables a complex wide coordinated finish worthy of both the original intent and the complex as a whole.

To this end we have started a program of works mostly with owners who at best have been hood winked by others and parted from good money to either receive nothing or a part of and an incorrect job.

We at Crown dont do this, we despite the balls up left by other have rescued a number of balcony and have both properly repaired them and set them in place for the future, this means removing from site proper factory repairing filling and replacement of area's not suitable for restoration, correctly primering and impregnated with both weather protection and UV protection, then securely re-enstating.

THE RIGHT JOB

See the difference 

A proper job, weather board looking great
and will not bow in the future

You can't see the join between old and new

As it should be

Correct filler selection is essential in order the
wood doesn't reject it, we have imported a
Finnish  product, custom made for extreme enviroments 

For all Crown FM / IPM customers/clients we have derived a liner meter rate for this services and its related works, individual prices per apartment available for everyone upon request.


WHAT NOT TO ACCEPT
How another party left a balcony refurbishment job.

Cowboy Job at best (being polite) and a right mess, courtesy of you know who! that now needs to be sorted out properly.

 

St John Village / Locus Amoenus

From the latin for a pleasant place it is a term which generally refers to an idealized place of safety or comfort. A locus Amoenus is usually a beautiful, shady lawn or open woodland, sometimes with connotations of Eden. A locus Amoenus will have three basic elements: trees, grass, and water. Often, the garden will be in a remote place and function as a landscape of the mind. It can also be used to highlight the differences between urban and rural life or be a place of refuge from the processes of time and mortality.


When i first started to visualised the garden project for the St John Village and when i considered my vision for where ultimately i wanted to take it and what i wished it to become, i drew on what i felt about the area and location in which the complex sat, asking my self what was it that drew me here and why does it have such a emotional hold on me; as with all things untangible and difficult to define, the latin language manages to define both perfectly and poetically, and thus we endeavour to create our own Locus Amoenus and a project was born.  

Good garden centres are few and far between here still, and i wanted
something different i wanted to plant indigenously and with a twist an
Asian twist, given that this is the cross roads between east to west, friend
told us of this place right of the beaten track and boy was it of the beaten
track but what a place run by a mad man but what plants, here's Chantal
posing as a gardener. I love Acer's and they had a species i never see
before a flamingo acer and i got 2  

It is said that to be happy for an hour get drunk, to be happy for a year get married, to be happy for a life time make a garden, boy am i one happy bunny i have a 19000sqm garden to make.










As you all know already Yana, Chantal and me now live on the complex and our apartment project will be subject to a separate blog, obviously part of our obligations as the FM prover is to tend to and care for the gardens however we wanted to develop it, and it will probably come as no surprise to those that know me that gardens and plants are one of my many passions, and to kick things of and start our vision for the future Yana and I decided to invest our own money and time in to kicking of this vision, why i here you ask when so much more needs to be dealt with, i tell you why, this place was dead in the water and looked like a collection of derelict building with no soul, no feeling no nothing, so our phylosiphy is that with some love and attention a little well conceived and planed planting and the beginnings of a proper management/maintenance process for the garden and thus the complex will come to life and so it is and now it feels alive and some where you would want to go/be, so much so that many locals and other development owners come bye and visited to have coffee and chat and say what a great job we are doing (yes i will blow our own trumpet) even the local police have reception down as a drop of and chat destination (and not just because of Yana's legs :)) even the developments around us have started to lift their game and have ask us for advise and praised us on how things have dramatically improve. The Bank Security have asked if they can work for us, workers at other complex ask if there are jobs available etc etc, St John Village is starting to be back on the map and because we are putting it there.

I love a hanging basket dont you

If we are to have any hope of attracting future investors people to let and holiday here it has to have kerb appeal and people have got to want to come here and something a simple as a great garden does this if only to start people realising that its not a white elegant any more or at least starts the ball rolling, yes probably there are great more pressing issues on paper but we are looking beyond this and using what resources and skill we have to start to make this place what it can be.
   
The design intent with the two parts of St John Village whilst connected are conceiver to reflect not only the feeling of the area but also the Architecture and in this they have as they do architecturally there own personality. With the Park it is essentially a blank piece of paper the Hill however is more about developing and enhancing its existing presence and personality.


Architecturally there is more drama inn the Park with its stunning roof line and so i was able to visualise a more diverse planting and integrate more unusual planting and a related scheme, here i will be as the project develops integrating a lot of my own personal items, brought over for my UK garden, which aside form my other 2 girls in England was one of the hardest thing to leave, i had had the opportunity to work with Dermot Gavin on it and it had been fettered in own of his books as well as a TV show, these have been housed at Yana's Nan's since we can to Bulgaria so its exiting for me to final have a place to put them.

The Hill has a more classic architectural stance and also an establish planting infastructure that like the Park (all be it not as bad) had just been totally neglected and dreadfully maintained. As with the Park (which it must be remembered has had the benefit of the end of last years summer and a 4 month head start on the Hill under our care) the Hill need a well considered and strategic plan to get it back under control and starting to look like the Locus Amoenus it could be. The dreadful weather we have had these past months the wettest in living memory (great for the new planting at the park) no good for starting a planed mantenance regime for the Hill, however at every given break in the weather we did our thing and it started to pay off this week.

Not looking bad ah

Still loads to do but getting there

The Hill brick patios have been a major issue as has been the path ways, weeds have been allowed to establish them selves, and the only way to deal with these is weed killer and dam good weed killer, obviously the rain has severely delayed the application of this and we need the weeds body in place to have max effect on the dam things, so we had our window a week or so ago what a difference.

Many more areas to cover but proper and planned management of the process always delivers results and results that last.  

For additional planting at the Hill we are taking a very organic approach and seeding with indigenous mountain foliage and wild plants in those areas not designate for leisure i.e: severely banked areas close to the Pirin Park border, such that we blur the border between urban and wild life. 

We all know the Park signage and i am really pleased with the plant we have put in place to complement it, which as it establish its self with further serve to blend the organic nature of the sign in with the nature, in from the sign we have transplanted from the forest wild foliage and herbs these can all be harvested to make Chi (Bulgarian for tea, very cool, and available at reception on request. 


The Hill signage has been a little more challenging for me, as i wanted a similar feel as the Park but the architecture of the Hill is less cohesive with such and i needed something a little more grounded, and during my walks in the mountains with Ronin (my Husky) i found it the perfect rock.

I know its difficult from the picture but the natural line of the rock almost mirrors that of the building roof line, we will add some timber uprights as with the park and the signage will link with the build, will look fab.

It must be said that in the moment at the Hill payments are very, very slow at best and this makes it difficult for us to do our job and also for us to invest as we would like to and as you can see we have, please all owners that have not payed PLEASE PAY its in everyones interest and to everyones benefit, and those that know owners that have not joined the OA and are not part of the FM initiative, get on their case, as not only are they harming their future there are harming yours and the complexes future. 

Friends with machines help; see in the images, a brief visual snap shot of the Hill stone's journey from the mountains to its proper place in life.


There is as you can imagine a long long way to go and as things unfold and the project develops at the Village (Hill and Park) we will post for everyone to see. But finally we really will have our own Locus Amoenus 

Acer's along side indigenous Plum trees and some strategic solid architectural elements 

In the Park we are able to give each entrance its own character  and as and when cash flow allows hang baskets will be place across the complex Hill and Park, just adds that little something and a welcome splash of colour.

my Flamingo Acer's happily taking hold after much care and attention, and actually the biggest problem we have had is the unusual amoute of wind which Acer dont like as burns their leaves, however we are through the first 4 weeks and all plants are liking there new home and all showing growth and new shots, i do talk to them a lot, as like the dog they listen, alway agree with me and never answer back.  

   

Blog Latest Update:

Spring is well and truly here and are we happy; got to say there is not a better place to be than St John and Bansko when it’s like this, the Swallows are nesting and all about in the air. 

We know their nests can be a nuisance but they are a protected 

species and you really must not touch their nests, on request Crown will happily clean any mess left around and associated with their nests, free of charge for all our FM/IPM clients, for non IPM clients, prices are available on request.

So here’s what we have been up to these days/weeks.

Fire Certification:

A lot of work as you can imagine, 17 blocks, 85 floors, each block needing its own registration, boy they love their paper work here, the Fire office has been great though, and we can now confirm that as of 1st May 2012 the St John Hill and Park complex’s are now fully fire certificated.

Park Extinguishers & Hose reel

All extinguishers are in place, missing hose reels at the Park installed and 

maintenance / ownership stickers have been put in place.

The Complex is now covered by a full fire certificate that is right up to date and in line with all new legislation enforced as of 1st May 2012 , as part of this, all operating apart-hotels, hotels and any buildings requiring a fire certification will be required to enter into a maintenance contract with the legalised and certificated fire office in order to ensure both ongoing compliance and proper condition of all extinguishers. Crown FM has entered into this agreement with them and has absorbed the additional cost within our present agreement with the OA, to be included at our next review in September. 

Hill Extinguishers

Official FO labelling + Sj John OA 

Under this maintenance agreement his team will attend site every month and report to ourselves insuring that at all times the complex and the health and safety of owners and users is a priority.

Additionally we have instructed the Fire officer during this month to train our staff in emergency evacuation procedures and will be placing emergency evacuation notices / maps at every floor through out the complex. Update training and regulation compliance testing is to be performed every 6 months.

Apartment Fire Safety

Following on from the complex compliance we are now focusing on the apartments and how to upgrade the cover to best match an expected European standard, not only is this the correct way forward in respect of the owners health and safety but also if we are to be serious about lettings we must start to set our selves above the rest and start to move the complex forward to where we would wish it to be. In this respect we are producing, for all our FM/IPM clients, a life safety and emergency escape procedure with the assistance of the fire office for certification, and to ensure all legalized lettings procedures are adhered to and met. This we are doing free for all Crown FM/IPM clients. FM only clients using alternative IPM 

providers can contact us on info@crown-fm.com for related details and costs to have their apartment compliant. 

We have also sourced a Bulgarian supplier for kitchen fire blankets, apartment fire extinguishers and battery operated smoke alarms.

Cost and full details on how to purchase to follow shortly: 

Condo Act progress;

As expected the heavy work here has been Initially the gathering of the documentation necessary to take us through and Yana and the team have been hard at it, as always the municipality records and manner of holding those records is, lets say different. However we have now got all Park documents together and complete and at the Hill we are promised all architectural drawings by mid-next week. Thank you to all owners for the prompt response in getting your completed Notary details to us.

Apartment labeling;

All FM and IPM clients particularly in the Park where apartment numbering has been missing have all now their own unique Crown apartment identification.

 

Block floor labeling;

Following on from above we are planning to label all floor levels across the complexes, in the next week or so.

External entry system labeling;

We are also going to properly label and assign the entry systems to each Park and Hill block.

Garden;

  

The weather has turned wonderful and I mean wonderful, long sunny days, clear blue sky’s, fresh  mountain air. Now is the time to sort out the gardens, and the gardening team are hard at work, so add the smell of freshly cut grass to the above and your in heaven.

We have finalised the project for the garden areas out side the Park all 2500sqm of it and it has turned out to be a bit more of a task than we first anticipated (no change there then), when we tested the soil it seems our friends Bulkanstroy thought it proper to dump all the construction waste material and all unused construction sand, thus we are having to completely turn over the grounds remove all weeds and bring in and mix good quality earth throughout order the hardy Canadian grass we have purchased will take properly and last.

We are then of to our garden supplier this weekend to finally select the planting, sulected to fit in with our landscape plan and will complete the planting before the real hot weather sets in.

Internet / TV;

We now have the complete fibre proposal in and having gone through both the technical and logistical aspects of it, it looks great and will for sure future proof the complex, but right now we have far greater priorities, this is where Crown Connect comes in, we have been testing and running a number of 4G Ethernet solutions (its what our reception area Wi-Fi hot spot operates on, and very well) and all thus far has been great, so for owners and guests we have invested in a number of these portable plug and play solutions that will offer super Internet coverage that allows TV channel access and unlimited downloads for movies and just about anything else you use the internet for. There will be two levels of service available for rent and depending on what band width and access you require is which model you choose.

Connect 1. Use Internet unlimited and also receive:

  6 GB email

  IPTV with over 50 TV and radio programs

  Speed up to 10Mbps

10 euro a week hire / 100 euro deposit 

Connect 2. Use Internet unlimited and also receive:

  6 GB email

  IPTV with over 50 TV and radio programs

  Speed unlimited

15 euro a week hire / 100 euro deposit 

Owners or visitors wanting a device please need to book one month inadvance of their stay to secure a unit, as a limited amount of units are available right now, however if demand increases we will invest further to meet client demand.

"Smart" for hire:

The Smart Passion car is here with all logos, huge fun to drive and perfect for around town, so for those quick trips to the supermarket or any where else you need the freedom to get to, she will be available to rent at 15 euro an hour and 25 km radius travel limit. Booking is on a first come first serve basis and is available in person at reception or via the email at the reception email address.

Hill & Park Heating / Hot water solutions,

With the outrageous electrical utility costs here in Bansko, combined with the integrity and operational issues related to both the heating and hot water systems at the Park and Hill, we have been on a mission to review each complexes problems in particular and see if we cannot source an engineered solution best suited to both, that resolves Hill problems such as water leaks, pipework prone to freezing, and combined Park and Hill problems, like poor heat distribution, Energy consumption and space management, And we think we have the solutions.

We have already covered at some length in past blogs, Hill issues and whilst inherently the electric boiler system is in principle an appropriate approach to the electrical heating of an apartment, water having a greater specific heat capacity than air 4.2 kj/kg as apposed to air at 1.212 kj/kg, and thus a more efficient medium for the transfer of electrical energy to heat. Its installation and application is wholly flawed. That said, the switch to a simple point of use convective electrical element heaters is also unsatisfactory due to the potential inadequacies of the electrical distribution system and the fact that these units by their nature will cost more to run, thus be warned a simple change could be a case of out of the fire and in to the frying pan. 

With the Park the issues are more simple, and are really focused on energy consumption. With basic water boilers generally heating water you don't need or use plus are slow to react and provide hot water when you do need it. Heating in the Park is in the main via very basic electric element panel heaters, and whilst 

there 100% efficient in converting electrical energy into heat energy the way they transfer this energy to the space and the persons occupying it is hugely inefficient, in simple terms if you have 10 KW worth of electric radiator panels in your apartment you burn 10 KWh of electrical energy 100% of the time they are on, resulting in big bills. 

Energy consumption and energy usage awareness is an issue irrespective of cost, but cost here and now is our primary concern, this is particular relevant when we are considering lettings of apartments as the single biggest issue that eats in to any potential income you may earn, are utility costs and largest by far of these is the electrical cost. 

This initiative of ours is particular relevant as in our experience when people are renting an apartment for their holiday they very rarely care to much for energy consumption or managing the operation of the water boiler, and in most cases particularly through the winter leave everything on, in order to keep 

every thing roasting hot for them.  

So to my mission, during my engineering days one of my specialties was energy management, and via these old contacts I have been discussing and researching in order to find not only an energy conscious solution but low maintenance, easy control and reasonable capital cost solution.

The Details and full costing proposals we will cover in depth in a dedicated blog to be published with in the next month or so, as we are currently testing said solutions in order to make sure the operational characteristics of the equipment. we are proposing, match with and operate within the capabilities/restraints of the existing apartment electrical installations.

Hill fire place chimneys;

Unlike the Park a large amount of Fire places installed in the Hill by the developer are not able to function correctly, from the units we have inspected we have assessed/identified the following common faults (the actual fire place units themselves are of a very good quality and by a very reputable company) mostly as a result of poor and incorrect installations, in the main the primary issue is stack sizes being incorrect resulting in a lack of buoyancy in the stacks, in others flue connections to stacks are not sealed properly leading to leakage. The good news is that with the help of the Fire office we have devised solutions to all the issues, please if you have a fire place you cannot use or are concerned about using, contact ourselves via info@crown-fm.com and we will advise the right solution for you and related costs.

IPM;

Huge thanks’ to all those FM clients that have chosen Crown to be their IPM provider, also we are grateful for your confidence and valued additional custom, as a result we are a long way forward towards being the sole IPM provider at the Village, a mission we make no secret of,  as we and others including most insurance providers believe this is the best way forward for the long term stability and operational continuity of the complex as a whole.We will be holding over our 50% discount offer to all FM clients and feel that at 130 euro (or £2 a week) this is a great value service, particular as over the next few weeks new improved services will be coming on line,Including but not limited toWeekly IPM reporting.

IPM news letter: (in conjunction with FM news letter for FM/IPM clients)

Client comment forms: for all clients to contribute/comment, constructively towards what we are doing and what they would like to see us doing and or improving on.

Energy watch service: management of occupiers use of utilities during lettings periods. 

Swallow’s nest management: (where applicable)

Reception Skype Address:

We have now set up a dedicated St John Village Skype address: stjohnvillage where you can connect direct during normal working hours with Veronica, to ask any questions, impart any information or Skype chat all for free, please in-order for Veronica to manage this service properly if you are requesting a Skype chat with her, my self or any one of the team please book in advance.

FM news letter:

We are currently working on a suitable format for a monthly complex news letter and during this process would gladly welcome any suggestions from owners as to content / format / visuals.

Crown Interiors projects:

Another huge and we mean huge thanks to all those clients that have allowed us into their apartments to create their interior designs and deliver on the subsequent furnishings, its been a huge privilege and a joy to work with you all. 

We will not pretend the winter did not give us more than its fair share of problems and that we have been on a serious catch up until now but the projects are looking great, please see images from a great Park, 2 bed penthouse maisonette, where we had some serious space planning issues to address, but in dealing with these we managed to converted the apartment to a comfortable sleeps 8 unit.

See all the images from this project and detail @ www.facebook.com/crown.interiors.and.furnishing 

More from our completed projects images coming soon when i can get round to doing my David Bailey thing. In the mean time please check out our Facebook page:


Crown Sofa's / Sofa Beds

I was in Sofia the other week for a site inspection, we have a super project there at the moment, and whist i was there I took the opportunity to visit the new Ikea super store on the ring road, now believe it or not I am a Ikea fan, not of everything they do but some of the stuff they do is design wise great, and generally what they do they do great, and really they are not our competition, we do interiors and design of a much more personal, bespoke nature and individual style. 

But anyhow I was quiet excited about seeing what they were up to these days and where the Bulgaria version measured up to, as the last time I walked round an Ikea was some 10 years ago, “wow really is it that long ago” well like so many (comments in media etc) I was, i must say more than a little disappointed, design wise and style wise they really had not moved on at all, (forgive me for being a purist, cant help it) it was like a time warp and I could have been standing in the Wembley store 10 years ago!! now it might be my age, and may be I just don’t get it any more, but surely a business as large as this cannot be fed by students furnishing their bed sits and first time buyers love shacks alone!!  

The other thing that really struck me was the prices, not the expected bargain basement costs at all, in fact quite the reverse in fact and I could not help but compare ourselves despite being at the opposite end of the design and quality scale. most notably the sofas, see below a pretty shabby looking 2+ sofa (not a sofa bed) at 2149 leva (1102 euro) and compare to our Manhattan Sofa, elegantly dignified instance and a sofa bed to-boot, complete with Ottoman,Crown price 950 euro delivered and installed to your apartment, with a wide range of colours and finishes available plus custom sizing available on request. 

A current Sofia project just about to complete with our Manhattan Sofa and ottoman

The Manhattan Sofa bed an elegant style designed by my self completely made in house 

the rather tied looking ill finished over priced ikea unit, 2140 leva & not even a sofa bed!

Sofa delivery Crown style, getting full sized custom sofas at great value prices straight into your apartment, no problems with corridors, stair cases or doors. 

There she goes straight through the window no problem, find another furniture company willing / able to do this and at no extra cost.

 So if you need to upgrade from that communist style, uncomfortable furniture pack sofa bed looking sorry for its self in your apartment (sorry cant find anything nice to say for them) please contact us at info@crown-interiors.com and we will happily advise on the range of colours and finishes available.

Last but by no means least, 


The Mace family and more, move into the St John Village Complex :) Yes putting our money and commitment where our mouth is and moving in to the Park, lets be honest we spend so much time up here and our little Chantal love-her spent so much time alone, when the opportunity arose we grasped it with both hands, and we are loving it, best move we have ever made so Hi to all our new neighbours. 

We have also negotiated a long term let deal with an owner in the Hill for two of our key staff from Plovdiv to live here also and believe it or not our bank manager aswell, so really we are breathing life in to the complex. 


We will also be actively looking for other long term let possibilities 


So now we can really say we are looking after your investments as if it was our own home, 

BECAUSE IT IS.