How to create your own terrace vegetable garden

Have you wanted a terrace veggie garden of your own? Its in fact a great idea to grow ones own spices and herbs, so that you have fresh, organic produce at hand. But if you are amongst the huge number who doesn’t know how to go about setting up this garden, read on...

Select the right space
have a good look at your terrace. Determine how the Sun plays in the entire day, and then select a space that is shady but still gets sunlight at least five to 6 hours in a day. Just keep in mind that in case you are planting herbs the sunlight falling them is not harsh enough to destroy them as they are quite delicate.

Prepare the soil

Get some soil and natural manure from any nursery, and mix it well. You can keep it organic by adding cow dung or goat dung manure to the mix. Leave this mix aside for a few days. Meanwhile, when you peel veggies, etc, do not throw away the skin. Instead, create your own compost with these vegetable skins and waste veggies in another pot in the terrace, and add them to this mix. After about a week, this mix is ready for plantation. Get the seeds of whatever you want to grow (tomatoes, chilies, coriander, basil and herbs are good choices). Sprinkle a few seeds over the mix, slightly dab them in with your hand, and leave it be for a couple of days. Watch them grow.

Pick the right veggies

In the begging you can opt for just one or two vegetables, and then go in for more veggies as you gain more experience. Tomatoes, chilies and spinach are easy to grow, so start with them. Sometimes you might need to net out the seeds and the saplings as they grow, to keep pesky sparrows and other birds from feasting on them.

Watering is the key factor

Water the plants regularly, as and when needed. Excess water often causes damage and decay to plant roots, and it also washes away the nutrients of the soil. Also, post every heavy rainfall, remember to add manure to the soil.

The weathered shabby chic look for your home

The 'weathered look' is in this season. Check out any new restaurant or a club and you'll see the grungy, garage look or the so called ‘warehouse’ look that has suddenly become stylish.

The places are generally loaded with loaded with metal and wood furniture, stone flooring and brick walls. There will be the unfinished look in terms of half done paint job, pipes overhanging and a general rusty feeling of a closed factory that's become the new cool hangout for youngsters. The interior design experts of the world are calling this rise of the shabby chic.

Following in the footsteps of the commercial are homeowners who are bringing this grunge look into their homes. The idea is to reduce and re-use, and make the living space look 'cool'. Imagine factory lighting, old ship's lanterns, station clocks... steel chairs gone a bit rusty and worn out. The idea is not to hide the building materials but to show them in all their glory. So, you have exposed pipes, bare ceiling with visible iron rods, wooden tables and metal chairs, brick finishing, tin roofs, metal furniture, steel glasses etc...

Industrial design is generally in neutral tones and showcases utilitarian objects. If turning your entire home seems a bit too much, then try to turn around a corner of your house with this vintage look. The most surprising part of this décor is that while you may think that ‘warehouse look’ will be cold and utilitarian, but it's actually quite the opposite - warm and vivacious.

So how do you go about getting this look at home ...

Try old metal pots inside rooms, these instantly spell the warehouse vibe to a corner or room at your home.

Get a vintage ceramic or metal pitcher for your bar. Add a metal jug or a decorative vase and put some flowers.

A few rustic metal stools, with a weathered look can appear quite stylish. Also old worn out trunks or dressers work really well, you can even use you basic wooden centre table and sandpaper it to get the weathered look

Feng Shui for Bathroom

Traditionally in Feng Shui bathrooms are considered negative places. Part of the reason is that bathrooms generally tended to be out houses not like the beautiful spa like bathrooms common today. Other reason is that energy gets drained from pipes and drains, since Feng Shui is basically study of flow of energy, this is a negative thing. However, nowadays bathrooms are as much a style statement as a living room, and everyone tries to keep them beautiful and functional.

So here we bring you some tips for the bathroom.

Plug the Drains and Keep the Toilet Lid Closed

Plug all the drains of the shower and keep the toilet lid closed to stop the energy from draining away. You can try plastic drain covers. We understand that when you have children it is easier said than done, but everyone can be trained!

Add the Earth Element

Bathrooms have an excessive of the water element, one of the five elements of Feng Shui. To counter balance this you need to bring in the earth element, this can be done by painting the walls in shades of gold, yellows and taupe.

Hang a Crystal from the Ceiling

Crystals are considered the Feng Shui aspirin and are used whenever there is something that could potentially be out of balance in the home. Hanging a Feng Shui crystal about 9′ from the center of the ceiling will keep the chi flowing upwards rather than sucking it down into the drains.

Clear Clutter and Organize

This is perpetual theme in Feng Shui, whichever room it maybe, clear it out clutter and get it organized to promote better movement of energy. Once it is organized you can add attractive and functional things like pretty soap dispensers, tooth brush holders etc.

Freshen It Up!

Buy good quality plush towel sets and matching rugs to create an aesthetic and balanced looks for this important space.

Ultimate hacks to sort your kitchen

Kitchens are one of the most important places in a home, all conversations at home generally tend to happen around dinner, and kitchen is pivotal to that. For a kitchen to be a place of warmth and comfort, it needs to be clutter free, open and spacious. However in our overcrowded urban cities this seems to be difficult. So, here we bring you some useful hacks to make your kitchen more sorted.

Put those shower caps to a creative use

Cover leftovers (in the dish) with a fresh shower cap to protect your food from bugs and other unwanted particles. Also, these caps are reusable and easier to use than aluminum foils or cling sheets.

Label your containers

While this might seems tedious and irrelevant, but, believe me, it is far easier to get things done if everything is properly labeled. Also, you will not be bugged by your family in case one of them is cooking in your absence. You can even make a décor statement, by creating funky chalkboard labels etc.

Prevent clogs in kitchen sink

To prevent clogs from forming in your kitchen sink, make sure to periodically pour boiling water down the drain. This will ensure that the oils in food products run down the drain.

Make your kitchen odor free

A foul-smelling kitchen can make you lose your appetite. Vanilla extract can help you keep the foul odor in your kitchen at bay. Put two caps of vanilla extract into an oven proof dish and then place it in your oven for an hour at 300 degrees. The smell will spread and fade away the foul odors.

Create Partitions in your kitchen drawers

Sort out your big kitchen drawers by partitioning them. Just measure out cardboard strips horizontally or lengthwise to fit snugly along the wall of the drawers, creating partitions to sort your dishes. You don’t need to buy cardboard, you can just use old cartons or books covers etc.

WTC Noida- an opportunity to associate with a global brand

Headquartered in New York, World Trade Center is a global network of office complexes that that has linked around 330 cities in 100 countries across the world. Managed and regulated by renowned World Trade Center Association or WTCA, the organization was established with the aim of establishing a communication network between regional and international organizations. The foundation has now entered Greater Noida. Greater Noida has been on the radar for realty developers because of its pleasant surroundings, connectivity and well developed infrastructure. A lot of big IT firms as well automobile and others have established their offices in Greater Noida.

Greater Noida has become a hub for commercial and residentialdevelopment. There are a number of reasons for this, first and foremost being excellent infrastructure, with a number of well planned, wide roads, hospitals, educational institutions, and commercial sectors. Secondly, it provides great connectivity to Noida, South Delhi etc. Thirdly, it is a great investment opportunity, with increasing demand for both rental and commercial spaces here; the return of investments is bound to grow by leaps and bounds.

WTC is designed as a contemporary business center that has many facilities on offer to help businesses grow and expand. Apart from outstanding design and strong structure, this new age business center Hi-tech communication features including WI-FI internet service, intercom, video conferencing and audio-visual aid making it a world class business center. Additionally, the complex offers a wide range of high-end facilities, like wide parking area, 24X7 water supply, complete power backup, recreational center, quality maintenance, medical desk, conference room etc. all of which are necessary elements in the daily functioning and expansion of a business. Also, with WTC you are assured of higher rents, faster sales, longer leases and higher occupancy, making them not only the most preferred business hubs, but a lucrative investment destination as well.

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

Ivy Estate- Where Every Moment is Enjoyable

Ivy Estate, an integrated township project by Kolte Patil is one of the rare projects where community living is reality instead of a glossy magazine picture. Located at one of the hottest locations in Pune-Wagholi, Ivy Estate Pune brings to you the feeling of living in a cohesive unit. 

In earlier times, all of us remember visiting our neighbors regularly and spending time with them. Whether it was a big festival or a cricket match, the entire community enjoyed it as one big family, where the elders would meet and greet and bring scrumptious food and the younger ones would have a blast. As time has passed, most of us don’t even know the names of our neighbors, let alone meet or spend time with them. With increase in technology and urbanization we have forgotten what living in a community means.

However, at Ivy Estate, this is precisely what is going to impress and involve you. The overwhelming sense of living in a large family, with over 1600 families living here, you are sure to find people of your sort. With a bunch of community activities like skating, martial arts and learning football, dance, music designed specially to involve children, Ivy Estate has ensured that kids also understand what a healthy and active lifestyle is. And assured of their safety and security, the mothers are also enjoying their time meeting and talking.

The number of recreational facilities at the Ivy Estate in wagholi  will ensure that you get to spend a lot of time with your family. Whether it is enjoying some quality time at the pool, playing indoor & outdoor sports with your kids, and or spending time with your elders meditating and practicing yoga, this place has something for everyone. At Ivy Estate, every minute of free time will be transformed into moments of fun, creating memories just like a well-connected community does.

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

Ways to jazz up that apartment balcony

Balconies are all that seem to be left to us in the urban concrete jungles that are our cities; very few have the luxury of gardens and courtyards. These small hanging spaces seem to be our only refuge as a window to the world, from where we gaze out to catch views of the city, or see the rare star in the skies.

Considering how important balconies have become, we came up with few creative ideas to jazz up this tiny space. Read on to know more.

Wall Gardens or vertical gardens- We covered vertical gardens in one of our previous posts as a new emerging trend for nature lovers where is space is crunch. While vertical gardens are somewhat expensive they do add depth to your drab little space. You just need to figure out plants according to the sunlight that you receive and an irrigation system.

Smart furniture work- If you have a little bit of space, then invest in good quality furniture that is light, portable and weather resistant. If you are using the balcony for lazing around then it is great idea to get ottomans or bean bags. You can even get a hammock or cane swing to add an element of fun.

Investing on basics- If you are intent on using this space then it makes sense to invest in basics like getting glass railings instead of metal or marble ones, as they add a touch of elegance while being low maintenance. Colors mirroring natures like greens, yellows and oranges look great in balcony.

Trendy décor- To make any space sing you need a few key décor items that bring the space alive. These need not necessarily be expensive; you just need a bit of aesthetic sense. Major décor elements that make a difference are lighting and upholstery, get interesting lighting fixtures like fairy lights, lanterns and small led candles to add beauty and festivity. Get rugs and cushions in sturdy fabrics and bright colors which won’t get spoiled due to the weather. 

Premium homes at Lodha Palava Golflinks

Lodha Palava City GolfLinks is the brand new tower residential tower in the well known Palava City residential complex by the very well-known Lodha Group. The group established in 1980 has achieved the distinction of being one of the most renowned real estate developers in India. Due their constant emphasis on innovation, engineering and customer centricity the group has won the trust of its customers. The premium project is located at Dombivli, one of the most rapidly growing areas in the city. Spread across an area of 50 acres the project has 196 units of 2BHK, 3BHK and 4BHK apartments and villas in totality and is surrounded by beautiful settings that are sure to captivate and charm residents and give them an absolute sense of peace. Designed to offer its resident the most premium of living spaces, the homes at Palava Golflinks are very carefully planned.

Located at a very strategic area of Dombivli East Lodha Palava Golflinks enjoys the exclusivity of being the only residences on a golf course in MMR. The location of the project allows it to have brilliant connectivity to various parts of the city. The project is in close proximity to Thane as well as major corporate hubs like DAKC, Siemens, MIDC and Capgemini.

The biggest attraction of this project lies in the fact that resident enjoy the view of beautiful, undulating greens of a Gold course. As it is generally understood in real estate market a Golf course property is considered premium and is valued anywhere between 25 to 80% higher than other properties. This means that while residents enjoy the lives of luxury, they are also gaining a lot on their investment. As this is a permanent feature, the beauty and value will only increase with time.

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

Lodha Palava Exotica- Welcome to a happy, modern life

Lodha Group has come up with new towers in their residential project Palava City, named exotica the project is a residential tower comprising of 2BHK apartments. The project located at one of the upcoming locations of Mumbai- Dombivli, is expected to give residents the access to a efficient and contemporary lifestyle as Lodha Palava is touted to be the first real smart City in India fulfilling dreams of people by giving them a comfortable life.

Dombivili east is an emerging neighborhood in Mumbai and is gaining popularity in terms of the number of residential developments taking place here. Dombivli is a relatively affordable locality. In Mumbai this is a very important factor as people are realizing that buying property has become a distant dream due to the skyrocketing prices. Dombivli is close to the developing industrial belt, which in future is going to generate huge number of jobs and consequently going to drive the demand for quality housing.  Another important factor forDombivli’s popularity is that it has a well developed social infrastructure with a wide variety of schools, hospitals, and malls etc making things of necessity easily accessible to individuals.

Lodha Palava Exotica comprises of 2 BHK apartments that are spacious and well designed, all apartments are well ventilated allowing air flow and sunlight into the homes. The complex has wide variety of facilities like a Swimming pool, well-equipped gymnasium, multipurpose hall, library and landscaped garden with children’s play area, library, cafeteria and even a temple. All these features have been included in the project to give the residents a comfortable and happy lifestyle with lots of avenues for recreation.

Lodha Developers are a well know and reputed developers, recognized as a pioneering and technologically advanced company, over the last 3 decades they have been one of the leaders in the real estate industry in India. The company has maintained its focus on developing first-class residential, commercial, retail, integrated townships, gated communities and redevelopment projects chiefly in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR) & Pune, Hyderabad & Bangalore.

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

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.