Smarter Living In Hawaii

Smarter living is a move to harness your potential through designing a simple and less stressful lifestyle.  Capitalizing on the idea that quality is better than quantity, there is a way that editing your living arrangement can really make you happier.  Though it may be difficult to imagine downsizing from 4-bedrooms to 2, it all comes down to understanding what’s important.  Here are a few steps to realize smarter living.

Live happy.  Ask yourself, “what really makes you happy”?  There could be a lot of things which you possess that you enjoy from time to time.  But will these things really bring you happiness on a regular basis?  If you find items hanging in your closet which you could live without, perhaps you can consider giving it away or tossing it.  Each week have one bag available to toss/recycle items and another bag to give away items.  Go through the obvious hang outs for excess stuff and fill those bags as necessary.

2) Live efficiently.  If you were only given 700 square feet to live in, how would you use it?  Imagine using a murphy bed which you can convert from a sleeper to a couch.  This gives you not only a bedroom at night but a den in the day.  How’s about your dining table?  Do you really need an eight seater all the time or would it make sense to keep it as a four seater or find a table that folds and hides away.  Is your desk something that is necessary to keep in a separate part of the room or would a pop-up desk work just as well as it tucks into the shelf?  With advancements in design it is possible to utilize multi-purpose rooms and convertible furniture.

3) Live beyond your walls.  Though everyone would like to escape once in awhile, it is not the case that we need to barricade ourselves in our own residence.  Perhaps you would like to enjoy the solace of a reading room or perhaps a cafe.  If you’re interested in getting out maybe walking down to the park or your favorite store will get your blood pumping.  Exercise could be a part of your routine at the gym or the jogging path close by.  These things are all possible if you take the time to consider how you want to live and what amenities exist around your residence.  Location, convenience and walkability are essential facets of living beyond your walls.

Developers are beginning to realize the potential of smarter living.  An upcoming residence called A’alii is a new residential tower being developed by Howard Hughes as a part of their Ward Village master planned community.  In A’alii they are incorporating these elements of smarter living to improve your quality of life.  For more information on the smarter living movement or A’alii, please contact us.

About the Author

Brandon Lau grew up in Kailua and currently resides in Honolulu with his wife Andee and children Caylah, Elijah, and David. His eighteen years in real estate led him to become a Partner at ChaneyBrooks Choice Advisors. Over the past 10 years he has developed the team and systems that has created a high level of service and value for his clients.

What differentiates Brandon and his team is his consultative approach to real estate. He advises clients with relevant data and expert insight to help them make the best choices in real estate. Good choices in planning for long term dispositions, negotiating for the best price or knowing when not to pursue an investment are ways his consultative services will give you an advantage in the marketplace. His bottom line is providing service with the utmost integrity and expertise.