Steps to make your city greener

In the throes of the monsoon, it is hard to remember the sweltering heat of the summers. However, this summer we touched record temperatures all over the country. So, probably it is time now that we start contributing in our own small way to make the earth a greener space.

House Plants Ho- Do not underestimate plants at your home, these plants can decrease the level of Co2 in your home to a considerable extent. Having small kitchen garden of herbs in balcony give you the benefit of fresh herbs, greenery and beauty.

Terrace Gardens- With more and more property development, lawns and gardens seem like a distant dream. However, there is nothing stopping you from having a terrace garden.

Ventilate away- Open your doors and windows for at least an hour every day, this will allow your home to get fresh air and get cross ventilated cooling it considerably.

Reduce usage of electrical appliances- Appliances like microwaves, induction cook tops, washing machines and dryers consume huge amounts of electricity. Limit your dependence on them. Instead, use alternate methods of cooking. Heat your food on the gas stove, instead of heating it in the microwave. Rely on sunshine to dry your clothes naturally, instead of opting for the dryer.

Reduce-Reuse-Recycle- The age old mantra for environment friendliness. Reduce your dependence on plastic. If you are forced to use it, then make sure you recycle and reuse it. Buy bigger bottles of shampoos, detergents and similar household products. Also, carry a jute canvas cloth bag with you when out shopping.

Feng Shui for the Dining Room

Dining Room is one of the most important places in a home, it is where families get together and share meals. Dining rooms are the source of warmth, nourishment and love. Hence it is vitally important that your dining room is both functional and welcoming.

Dining room colors

Warm, earthy tones are best for the dining room. Some colors which go well with this room are pink, peach, yellow, green, beige, sky blue, creams, off white etc, you can mix and match to create a inviting atmosphere.

Dining Room Décor and Accessories

Curtains and a thick rug or carpet can add to the beauty of the room and also add a soothing texture that helps to absorb sound and keeps the atmosphere of this room tranquil.

Paintings and Photographs

This is an ideal place for landscapes and framed artworks. However, this is not the place to display old or ancestral belongings.

Dining Room Lighting

The dining table should have adequate light that is centered over it so that you can see what you are eating. Overhead lighting and natural lighting through the windows is advised

Dining Room Mirrors

 Mirror reflects light and strengthens it. A mirror on the wall or sideboard reflecting the table enhances the healthy chi energy and can bring riches and health for the whole family.

How to grow your own vertical garden

Making room for gardens in today’s urban landscape is a really tough job; most of us live in apartments with tiny balconies where having even a couple of plants are problematic.

Hardcore gardening buffs have come up with a way around this problem - vertical gardens!

Plants in containers or geo felt bags mounted on the wall is quite a popular concept abroad and is fast catching up in Indian metros as well.

The primary area of concern for vertical gardening is watering, which has to be done using a certain method. The excess water should drain out through a proper channel. Seasonal flowers, philodendron and money plants are ideal for vertical home gardens. You can opt for indoor or outdoor plants. Having a vertical garden save you a lot of space and help in bringing freshness and purity in your home.

How to begin

Identify the area where you want the green wall. Any wall is good, but it's always better if you choose one that gets some natural light, even if indirect. Think about your budget and research to find good budget ideas.

Area required

All you need is a wall or a partition; you can go for a boundary wall or even a small balcony wall. The structure of the green wall should be a three-layer sandwich -frame, plastic sheet and fabric -so that even when you attach it to a wall, it stays unharmed. This also makes dismounting easy.

Choosing plants

For indoors use plants that thrive in shade, while for areas like balcony walls etc you can opt for sun loving varieties of plants.

How to water the plants

If your green wall has a drip irrigation system, you just need to turn on a tap and your plants get watered in no time. Otherwise, you can use a hose for outdoor walls and a spray gun for indoor plants.

How to maintain the garden

Maintenance is dependent on the type of plants and the unit. If you're using green walls from reputed companies that offer you soil-less units, then minimal maintenance is required. However, plants need good care, and if watered properly, they require less maintenance

Remember vertical gardens are somewhat expensive, and need good care. So consider carefully before you commit.

Give your home a makeover this monsoon.

You can love it, you can hate it but you definitely cannot ignore it. The monsoon season is upon on us finally, and while a lot many are thankful for the respite from scorching heat, others complain about jams, dirt and water logging. Whatever be your idea of monsoon, we bring you some tips to make you home better equipped and more comfy in this season.

For the Front Door- Place tall planters near the entrance of the house, where people entering your home can leave their wet umbrellas. Also, place a doormat right at the entrance, to keep any muck from entering the house. Materials like jute and bamboo work best for this purpose.

Brighten the Indoors- to create a warm, cheerful look, opt for colorful accent elements to brighten it. If you have neutral palette in your home, then place cushion and throws in bright inviting colors. You can also get thin curtains in colors like sunflower yellow, turquoise, mint green to instantly uplift your home.

Lighten Up- Remove heavy duty drapes and furnishing like velvet and jacquard curtains and wool rugs etc. These will not allow light to filter through and make the room appear gloomy, also heavy fabric retain moisture and create a dank atmosphere. It is better if you opt for bright washable rugs and curtains.

Scent of Rain- Bring the liveliness and distinctive fragrance of the monsoon into your home with candles and diffusers whose fragrance imitate the rain. Fresh flowers and lush, indoor plants are always a great idea.

Décor and More- placing mirrors around the house helps a lot as they’re not only decorative, but also reflect the light, and make the room look brighter. Additional floor and table lamps will also work to create a warm and inviting glow.

Technology to address the increasing demand of homes for the younger generation

India has established itself globally as an emerging market. Various sectors in the country are gearing up to adopt modern and cutting edge innovations keeping up with global standard. One sector that needs to bring in technological advancement is real estate, with rapid urbanization, growing young population and mass exodus to cities rapid changes are required in the sector. Additionally government initiative likes Smart Cities Mission and Housing for all in 2020 are sure to push demand even further making it essential that the sector incorporates modern technology.

Technology is a key enabler that helps in simplification of operations and reduces turnaround time. In real estate, use of technology can led to cost-effective projects while ensuring efficient utilization of labor. Even in case of mass housing developments, technology helps in improving the quality of construction, while cutting a project’s construction time extensively some ground-breaking technologies that have improved the construction space in real estate include precast, hollow pre-fab, block masonry, plasswall etc.

Another important factor is that technology enables sustainable development. Precast technology, for example, apart from reducing the duration of construction, cost and improving the quality of the final output is adaptable and resilient. Precast is produced only under strict quality measures in a factory by highly trained professionals with little wastage. Precast panels can be rapidly erected on the site with negligible interruptions and saves energy.  It also makes it possible for designers to cut down on heating and air conditioning costs associated with HVAC systems and at the same time, keep building occupants comfortable.

Technology also helps in enabling eco-friendly construction. Most people are increasingly aware of the changing environment and thus prefer buying projects that have a low carbon footprint. Developers nowadays are careful to follow the green standards, in design and architecture, water conservation, use of renewable energy, and sewage and garbage processing. Technology can be used in almost all the basic amenities of a home to create energy utilization. So you toilets that uses minimal water in flushing, plumbing that makes provisions for separate lines for drinking and flushing, used water treatment for gardening, efficient insulation in the walls, ceilings and floors enables better temperature control among others, lighting based on movement etc. 

Feng Shui for your Kid’s room

In continuation with our Feng Shui series, we now bring you Feng Shui for your children’s rooms.  As with every other room in the house your child’s room also needs attention so that they have a cozy space where they can sleep peacefully, be happy and cheerful. Feng shui can help you achieve this goal by these simple tips.

Placement of the bed- Don’t place the bed directly in front of the door, the ideal position or “commanding position” would be across the room, diagonal from the door. This would help with issues in sleep as it puts the child in command of their room.

Choose the right color- A youngster’s room needs to have a balance of energy, so it should be neither too bright nor too dark while keeping in mind the personality and taste in mind. Using pastel shades of their favorite colors will achieve both the purposes.

Use Feng shui to boost self confidence- Place a full length mirror at the child eye level in his/her room, this will help in boosting self confidence. Another good idea would be to display their artwork or craft or family pictures to create a sense of comfort and love.

Ensure that the room is not cluttered- While this applies to most rooms, it’s a bit difficult to achieve it with a child. However, try to inculcate a habit of putting away toys, books and clothes away at the end of the say. An easy solution would be to have a designated place for everything, use a lot of boxes and baskets where things can be swept into in one go.

Hanging artwork- involve your child in picking up the artwork for their room, as stated in the point above you can use their own creations and family pictures. Do not hang pictures that depict fast movement in case your child has a hard time sleeping, as this might induce restlessness. 

Oberoi Eternia & Enigma- High quality homes from a name you can trust

Oberoi Realty has made its foray into the central suburbs of Mumbai with the launch of its twin residential developments, Eternia and Enigma, at Mulund. The projects are located on the arterial LBS Road in one of Mumbai’s fastest growing suburb. The project is to be designed by the Singapore-based architects, HB Design.

Oberoi Enigma will comprise of two luxury high-rises spread over an area of 9 acres which will have expansive 3 bedroom and 4 bedroom apartments while Eternia will comprise of two premium high-rises on another similar sized plot of 9 acres in the same vicinity comprising of 3BHK configurations in two spacious sizes. While Eternia would be a bigger property with almost 1100 units Enigma will have approximately 600 plus units.

A vibrant and attractive project, the project is at walking distance from Mulund station, the location of the project is strategic in it that it allows residents to have easy access to other parts of the city through the Easter Expressway and the LBS Road.

Designed to match international standards, the projects are both sophisticated and flamboyant in terms of architecture and design bringing a world class lifestyle to the aspirational Indian home seeker.

Both of projects Oberoi Eternia & Enigma are effortlessly accessible to a host of educational institutions, hospitals, amusement hubs, restaurants, shopping malls, hotels and more. The complexes of both the projects are slated to have a wide variety of facilities to amuse and entertain residents. Amenities like well-designed club-houses and leisure zones like play areas for kids, long jogging tracks leading to verdant gardens and expansive walkways, landscaped podiums and gardens, swimming pools, squash courts, launderette, day care centre, salon, gymnasium, steam rooms, yoga / meditation room, Café and a multi - purpose hall all are meant to make life easier, convenient and enjoyable for the residents

For more details about the project, You can call us at 925-0005-154

Kalpataru Hills Pristine- Pure undisturbed bliss

Pristine means unspoiled, pure and faultless. Kalpataru Hills Pristine is an epitome of this; Surrounded by lush green Yeoor Hills, the project is a true haven in every sense of the word. Owning a beautiful home where you can spend time with your loved ones, relax and enjoy yourself is the true meaning of happy living However, it’s not easy, the struggle to find the home that affords you such peace or tranquility is long and hard. Kalpataru Hill Pristine is like an answer to this trouble.

Kalpataru Pristine comprises of 3 BHK apartments at the bustling hub of Thane west, it is designed to provide you roomy and well designed living spaces that are sure to enchant you.

Thane west is a bustling and growing locality, having access to major parts of Mumbai. The location offers convenience to residents through its excellent connectivity via road and rail networks.  The social infrastructure of Thane West is also quite well developed, there are many schools, hospitals, parks and malls around the area ensuring residents are able to enjoy an active and healthy social life. Another very important factor is that Thane west is comparatively affordable in relation to other nearby localities.

In a bid to offer residents a complete lifestyle the company has provided many facilities inside the complex like  a clubhouse, a well equipped gym, separate swimming pools for adults and kids, a Jacuzzi, , landscaped garden and even a yoga deck. However the biggest draw for this project would be its proximity to the beautiful Yeoor Hills, while most of long to vacation every month, we don’t really get a chance to do so. But, being able to view sunrises over lush green hills every day is definitely an amazing alternative

For more details about the project, You can call us at 925-0005-154

From Dreary to Cheery. Hacks to turn your home around

Has your home started looking more like a dumpster than a retreat? Do you longingly look at others homes and wonder what is wrong with yours. Well, worry not we list down some simple measures to revamp your home into an inviting, cozy place which you would never want to leave.

Pile on the Pillows- Pillows are an instant and cheap way to revamp the look of your boring old sofa. Get as many as you can in different sizes, shapes and colors. You can even use old leftover pieces of fabrics and even old jeans to make interesting covers.

Gallery Wall- One frame per wall is outdated; a host of different paintings whether in the same theme or contrast are the way to go. Opt for mix a shapes and sizes and colors with monochromes to create a statement.

Antique/Vintage Look- Adding a vintage or rustic piece to your furniture gives it a bit of drama and becomes a conversation piece. You don’t have to buy something expensive to get the vintage look,  a lot of old stuff like chests and cupboards in your home or old doors are all excellent choices.

Say goodbye to your plain white curtains- Curtains can do a lot more than just keeping the elements away, you can play with a host of fabrics, patterns and textures to instantly uplift you room. If you don’t want to spend on new curtains get mirror wreaths or beads to hang along with your old curtains.

Fairy Lights- Lights are known to change the look of your dramatically, they can light up hidden corners and give the room a new look, fairy lights are an instant whimsical and inexpensive way to do up your room and they are very versatile too, you use them in a variety of way like draping around your collection of photos or a plant. 

Feng Shui For Your Bedroom

You bedroom should be your retreat from the stresses of your daily life. An ideal bedroom is a place where you can rest peacefully and emerge revitalized and renewed.

If however, you are unable to sleep through the night, or feel restless, then maybe Feng Shuican help regain the tranquility in your room.

Feng Shui literally means wind and water. The art of feng shui dictates the flow and balance of energies in any space to ensure good fortune and wealth for the people living in it. The whole concept of Feng Shui is based on five elements and they are - fire, metal, earth, water and wood.

Below are the principles of Feng Shui you can use in your bedroom.

Use Welcoming and Calming Colors- Earthy and warm color like coral, peach, cocoa, copper and tan are great form creating a cozy and comfy environment, whereas light blues, greens and lavenders add a sense of tranquility and calmness. Colors like reds, oranges and pinks are considered too stimulating and are thus best used as accents to enhance the energy.

Position Your Bed with Care- Your bed is the core of your bedroom, the ideally position for it would be as far away from the door as possible,  but in a spot which still allows you to keep an eye on the room's entrance. This gives you a sense of safety and protection while you rest.

Opt for Curves, Not Corners- Try to use furniture that has soft lines and non linear form. Furniture with sharp edges and lines is considered to create negative energy. If you cannot replace your furniture, the opt to cover it draping a piece of flowing fabric over the top or placing a healthy plant on top, leaves cascading over the corners.

Clear the Clutter- It seems kind of obvious that a clutter free room automatically seems calmer, however it is doubly important in Feng Shui, because clutter denotes unfinished business and impedes progress. An important aspect is not store clutter, especially work related under your bed as this is sure to disturb your sleep.