Studio Apartment – Make it Maximize

Studio apartments have a lot to offer, even though the available space can be skimpy. They’re cozy. Don’t underestimate the ability of a small space to create intimacy. The trick is to add the other necessary elements, like furniture, color and storage, carefully. It’s easy to make a small space look too crowded if you aren’t paying attention to detail. You might have way too many things for the space, but then again, they might just be organized incorrectly for the flow of traffic.

1. When you don’t have the luxury of lots of space, the first thing you have to do is strategize how you’ll make everything work well together. One foolproof way to start is by using a monochromatic palette. It will make the space look larger and will work with, rather than against, the other elements in your design. Choose the same or similar shades for the walls, carpets and drapes. This doesn’t have to be a compromise move, even if you love vivid color. Just indulge yourself in your choice of accessories, wall art and textiles.

If this sounds bland, there are hidden benefits you may not have considered. If your studio apartment has odd angles or other irregularities that you want to camouflage, they’ll tend to blend into the background when you keep it neutral. A neutral palette will also make it easier to perform seasonal wizardry, like switching out a cherry red area rug for a pastel green option in spring.

2. Scale is important in rooms that are either too small or too large. Instead of a standard sofa, use a loveseat or two. Take advantage of the ability of glass to blend with its surroundings by using it liberally in your choice of shelving and tables. When you shop for furniture, opt for pieces with onboard storage, like headboard/bookshelf combos, storage ottomans and side tables with built-in drawers. Evaluate the footprint of all the pieces you buy. Once the furniture is in place, you’ll still need space to walk around it. Shallow dressers, drop-leaf tables and modular computer desks are easier to incorporate into a small space than their conventional counterparts. Be choosy about what you buy, and look for scaled-down options.

3. Your studio apartment design should conform to the flow of traffic in, out, around and through the space. Determine how you and your guests will use the space, and then establish dynamic living areas based on that. The location of the entrance, bath, kitchen, windows and other stationary fixtures will get you started. Defining specific areas with dividers, specialty lighting or carpeting will help anchor the space and create natural breaks and focal points.

4. Studio apartments usually have meager storage, so make the most of modular storage options and clever solutions like space bags and open shelving. Wall-mounted and freestanding shelves can do triple duty as dividers, wall storage and decoration. If they’re partly made of glass or glass block, they can also help open up the space and maximize the available light.

Small spaces can make a big impact when you incorporate scale, neutrals and a practical layout into your design. It’s a winning combination that’s always in style.

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Affordable Housing – Resolution of New Decade

Affordable housing will continue to be in focus in the second decade of the millennium, withthe NCR playing a critical role in throwing up new destinations.
As the economy is likely to maintain a growth of around 8%in the coming decade, it will witness a sustained growth in the real estatesector with affordable housing continuing to be in focus. The National CapitalRegion (NCR) of Delhi, in particular, will see a number of new destinationscoming up. But, unlike the last decade when Delhi region did not contributemuch to the housing development, the new decade will witness a large number ofhousing projects being developed here.
At the same time, a number of townships will come in the NCRregion to meet thedemand for housing and commercial space. The last decade witnessed anunprecedented rise in the activities in the sector. Not only did constructionactivity increase substantially, the prices also went up manifold. The growthmomentum was so strong that it could withstand the global financial crisissuccessfully, albeit with the help of the government’s stimulus package. RBI’sdecision to reduce interest rates also helped in this regard. But, the maindriving agent in the revival in the second half of 2009 was the developers’strategy in building affordable houses. In this, builders built two- andthree-bedroom apartments with lower specification at up to 40% lower pricesthan what they used to sell only a few months ago.
CMD of CB Richard Ellis, South Asia, Anshuman Magazine,says, “In 2010, we can expect to see some sustainability in the residentialmarket as activity levels have improved. On the office market front, demand isexpected to improve, although rentals are expected to remain flat in the mediumterm due totheforecasted surplus supply of office space.” Samir Jasuja, CMD ofPropEquity, a realty research firm, says that Delhi will emerge as the centreof planned development in the coming decade with the new Master Plan cominginto effect soon. The huge land bank in Najafgarh in Southwest Delhi, Brijwasanand Chhattarpur in South Delhi, will be released under the new Master Plan ofDelhi. Similarly, a large tract of land will also come up in the marketplace inNorth Delhi. He says that thousands of acres of land are likely to be releasedunder the new Master Plan.
Jasuja said that the most heartening thing is that unlike inthe past, the new decade will see development in these areas by privatedevelopers. This will bring in development of modern condominiums withamenities like swimming pools , gyms, security systems and car parking lots.
As 2000-2009 saw the development of areas like Indira Puram, Vaishali, Vasundhara andCrossings Republik, in the East of Delhi in Ghaziabad, Sector 44 and 93A& B in Noida and MG Road, Sushant Lok, Golf Course, and DLF Phase II, IIIand V in Gurgaon and Nahar Paar area in Faridabad. Many of these areas wereunheard of, before 2000. Similarly, 2010-19 will see a hectic development ofnew areas like Noida-Greater Noida Exressway, Crossings Republik, Raj NagarExtension on National Highway 58 in Ghaziabad, and Noida Sectors 34, 50, 45,128 and 134 will emerge as the new development centres in the new decade. InGurgaon, the new areas that are likely to come up are Sohna Road, Golf CourseRoad Extension and Pataudi Road. Sonepat is also likely to emerge as a newdestination for residential market.
Samir Jasuja says that under the new Gurgaon-Manesar MasterPlan, around 1,50,000 residential units will be developed in the area. Out ofthis, around 10,000 are at the implementation stage by various developers. Therest will be developed in the coming years. Besides this, the introduction ofthe concept of ‘township’ will expedite the constructionof residential units. The development of townships will allow privatedevelopers to share the onus of development of infrastructure. So far, only thegovernment agencies used to develop infrastructure, which results in a slowpace of development. With this, the supply of housing units will get expedited.
The good news is that such a huge supply of housing unitswill stabilize prices. Global realty consultancy firm, Knight Frank, in itsreport on India’s residential market says that given a general stability of marketsaround Delhi and the supply expected in this part of the NCR until 2011, it isreasonable to expect residential prices in Delhi to remain relatively stable oreven increase, if demand in the region significantly increases due to betterinternal connectivity.
The report further says that several infrastructureinitiatives around the NCR are expected to boost residential options throughaugmenting connectivity and decongesting traffic within certain locations. Ifconsumers are attracted to small markets around the NCR due to betterinfrastructure, the subsequent decongestion of demand in the region couldalleviate the upward pressure on prices in locations like Gurgaon and Noida,which are becoming increasingly attractive residential options.
The 2010 Commonwealth Games had also played an important role in improving connectivity to different parts of the city through the MetroRail. As far-flung areas like Greater Noida, Faridabad, Kundli and Gurgaon arelikely to be connected by the Metro, the travel time to these places will comedown drastically.

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