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Around the House
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The rainy season is upon us so what better time to do a spot of decorating? We checked out the new branch of Homepro, which has opened up in the new Lotus extension, on the Bypass Road, to see what they have to offer. |
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The 5, 000 square metre layout of Homepro will appear very familiar to anyone who has lived in Europe or the States. This is your do-it-yourself (DIY) megastore, with different sections for bedroom, bathroom, kitchen, garden and the general house. Everywhere, a friendly, smiling assistant, wearing the Homepro work apron, is eager to help you with your purchase. Shelves and innovative displays allow customers to browse and gather ideas. Hundreds of knick-knacks give you the opportunity to add those perfect finishing touches to your home. Started by the same people who created the Land and House project in Phuket, Homepro is a one-stop shop for home decor. Phuket is its 10th branch and the only branch in Southern Thailand, the other branches being mostly in the Bangkok area. There are plans for another branch to open soon in Chiang Mai. As you walk into the store, the first thing to strike the eye is the lighting section and this must be the highlight of the store. There is a stunning array of lamps, from beautiful Chinese wooden silhouette lamps to shiny chrome table lights. Here, you have a huge choice ranging from contemporary to classic and the prices are very reasonable. Keep your eye on this spot because new models are coming in all the time. The Store Manager, K. Uraiwan, says "We are very proud of our lighting collection and we are constantly looking for new styles from new companies. "
Another area of stunning choice is the tiles section. Laid out on the shelves are a host of colours and designs, not only from local brands, but also imported from Italy. Nearby is the paint section, where you can buy off-the-rack, or you can have your particular shade of TOA or Jotun colour mixed by computer. The carpet section is next to this, with a beautiful range of quality carpets, both local and imported. A large sign in the Customer Service section tells you Homepro stocks 60, 000 items and the choice really is huge. Unlike other decor stores, all items are on display, making it fun just to wander through the store and reap fresh inspiration on a final touch for your bedroom, a new look for your kitchen. 80% of the items that Homepro stock are of local origin, the other 20% being imported. Other Homepro services:
Each section - kitchen, bathroom, bedroom - has a stage set up as a model room. This has been created by the in-house designer, so you can judge his skills for yourself. Everything in the model rooms is available from Homepro and the designer can adapt it for your home. The opening on June 29 was very busy, says K. Uraiwan, with people queuing outside the door, waiting for the store to open. They had lots of opening day special offers, but are still offering 10 to 50% discounts throughout the store for the opening month (until July 25). Every month, there will be a special promotion that will last the month. Phuket branch has already generated a lot of interest from hotels and contractors and they are also aiming at the high end homeowners' market. "We think that people will be particularly interested in our power tools, because there are a lot of people in Phuket who like to do DIY. " "A gentleman's home is his castle"goes an old English saying, and there's something about having your own space that brings out the artistic instinct in all of us. Homepro's extensive palette of ideas and finishing touches will help you really stamp your personality on your home. |
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Tropical Living: August 2002, Volume 2 Issue 4 |
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