Posts Tagged ‘home decor’

Contemporary Furniture – Latest Trends and Designs

Want to Redecorate your room, How about Contemporary Furniture?????

Contemporary furniture is the furniture that gives your room or interior the most fashionably up-to-date look. If you want to decorate your rooms in a contemporary style, you should have a thorough knowledge about the latest trends in interior designs. Moreover, if you have interest in the changing styles in the world of interior design, you will definitely be able to rearrange your rooms in a contemporary fashion without the help of a third person. You may well surprise yourself with your hidden talent. If, however, you would rather leave the details to someone else, it is better to hire an architect or a trained interior designer.

The opinion of people with regard to what constitutes contemporary style may differ from one to the other, depending on the taste of the persons concerned. Still all of them may agree with one thing – bold colors are something that is practically standard in contemporary furniture style. Most interior designers now prefer to use furniture that use bold colors such as red, white, black, pink, blue, green, etc. when they plan the interiors of a room. It has something to do with the times, perhaps, as the use of bold colors symbolizes the owner’s self confidence. Furniture with smooth, clean and geometric shapes are the most popular with architects looking to give a trendy and contemporary look to the interiors of a home.

To know what amounts to this contemporary style in furniture, one has to know what amounts to a traditional style in furniture first. It is quite easy to understand the difference between these two styles in furniture. The most easily identifiable part is the color scheme used by the designers. While the contemporary style of furniture uses bold contrasting colors, traditional style uses only the colors that compliment well with each other. There is also a vast difference in terms of traditional furniture being more bulky and intricate. Modern furniture is made sleek and light with simple straight lines.

Contemporary style in home decor uses a combination of metal, glass, and wood in a very stylish and sophisticated way. A room furnished in tune with the contemporary style of furnishing will look more spacious and airy than one designed using thetraditional style. An over furnished room can never be called as a room designed in accordance with the new trends in home decor, as larger open spaces are ‘in’. The sleek furniture you use should lend a sophisticated look to the room.

The furniture that you use should be capable of making the room warm and welcoming for the inhabitants as well as the guests. So go ahead and make a strongfashion statement with the latest contemporary furniture to adorn your home!

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.

Kitchen Cum Dining – Spend A Quality Time

The kitchen is the heart of the home so by creating an open plan area that combines the dynamics of cooking, eating and living, adds real value – not just in terms of monetary worth, but in terms of quality time too. Whether a small breakfast bar in a W1 pied à terre or a 12-seater table in a cavernous loft apartment, it’s a space that will be used from breakfast through suppertime and beyond and one which feels distinctly more contemporary and urban than a formal dining room.

In the zone:-

Think carefully about where to define your areas of activity. You don’t want guests in your way while you’re preparing food but you do still need to be able clink glasses with them. The kitchen island is a good way of naturally dividing the space and if you choose one with a tall backsplash (which can also support a breakfast bar) it’ll hide the preparation clutter and dirty dishes too.

Try to position the eating area as close to natural light as possible. If you live in a house the optimal view is over the garden. If budget allows you could open up your kitchen to the outside space by installing French windows or floor to ceiling glass – a dramatic contemporary statement. If you live in a flat position your table next to a window. If your kitchen/diner is big enough to allow for a separate ‘living area’ try to anchor this space with a focal point such as a fireplace or sofa and coffee table. If space is more limited you could introduce a nook or alcove to the plans. This is a great way of creating a little privacy in an otherwise busy room – ideal for homework, office work, reading or chatting on the phone.

However you arrange the room just make sure that people at the table can pull their chairs back freely and have room to move around without traversing obstacles.

The rules of light:-

In the kitchen/diner you can reinforce the notion of separate ‘zones’ with distinct lighting for each of the areas, for example in the cooking and preparation area of the kitchen you’ll need task lighting. You can also adjust track lights to illuminate a particular area and angle spot lights over say, a painting. In the dining area low-hanging pendants on dimmer switches will create atmosphere, particularly if combined with low-level lighting. If there’s an area that’s often used for reading or working, a funky anglepoise lamp will work perfectly. 


Style advice:-


This is the area of your home with the highest footfall and passing traffic so it needs to be easy to keep clean, particularly if you have children. Use paints which are wipeable and if your chairs are upholstered make sure the covers can be easily removed and washed. Steer clear of carpets – where lots of food is being served the inevitable spillages will happen. And try to harmonise the styling of the kitchen and eating areas. The rustic Tuscan themed dining area will jar unhappily with an industrial stainless steel kitchen, but add a glass table and white leather chairs to the mix and it’ll work perfectly.

The air we breathe:-

The smell of cooking is delicious in the kitchen but not so great in the bedroom so to prevent odours wafting from your open-plan into other areas of your home you’ll need effective ventilation ducted through the roof or exterior wall. A cooker hood with a strong extractor fan is an essential investment.

Declutterbug:-

If you’re knocking a wall down to create a new space you might have to sacrifice some high level cupboard space. If so choose an island or a peninsula which can offer up valuable cupboard and drawer storage. Do bear in mind that in the open-plan space all your clutter, preparation, utensils and foodstuffs are in full view of your guests so be ruthless with what what’s allowed worktop residency.


www.jaipurpropertyclub.com

Home Decor – False Ceiling is Must

  • When another ceiling is installed beneath the original, it is referred to as a drop ceiling, suspended ceiling or false ceiling. Its purpose is to hide such things as the heating and air-conditioning ductwork, wiring, pipes and anything else that needs to run from one area to the next. Other reasons for installing a false ceiling are thermal insulation, soundproofing or something to accommodate a change in lighting, such as recessed lights.

METAL STRIPS :-

  • You can buy long metal strips in a variety of colors to add a different dimension to your ceiling. These have a base piece that hangs from the original ceiling and the metal strips latch into the base. The final result is very streamlined and without gaps.

PRESSED METAL PANELS :-

  • Pressed metal includes tin, aluminum, copper and any other metal you can think of that has been made into a panel for the ceiling. Some manufacturers have started making an interlocking grid that the tiles slide into. When that isn’t available, use the traditional metal suspended ceiling grid, with some modifications to adjust for the size of the metal panels. Another option is to use strips of wood that the metal panels can be tacked onto.

FIBERBOARD PANELS :-

  • This is what most people think of when they think of ceiling panels and false ceilings. They are called fiberboard because they are made from a mix of fibers from wood or cane and chemical binders that are pressed into flat panels. These are typically installed by resting them on a metal grid installed across the entire ceiling. Special chemical treatments can also be added to these for fireproofing and moisture resistance.

www.jaipurpropertyclub.com

Pooja Room – Vastu Effects

Pooja room is a place where we worship God for peace and prosperity. Ishanya or north-east is governed by God and is an excellent location for pooja room. Locating ‘Pooja room’ in north-east brings prosperity, good health, wealth, happiness and peace of mind.North-east is auspicious for other reasons. In morning sunrays fall directly from north-east and give us positive energy.

Location of Pooja Room

North-east is an excellent location for Pooja room. Pooja room in north quadrant provides good results. You can opt east, north and north-east for pooja room. Avoid other directions if possible. Special pooja’s can be performed in Brahmasthana (center of house). In big plots, pooja room can be in Brahmasthan (central portion) of the house. Pooja room should not be inside bed room. It should not be made above, below or next to toilet or kitchen. It should be on ground floor, not on first floor or in basement. Avoid Pooja Room under the stairs.

Planning a Pooja Room

Doors and windows of pooja room should be in North and East. Doors of pooja room should have two shutters. The doors should not have any door closer. There should be a ventilator.Walls of pooja room should be painted in white, light yellow or light blue color. The floor of pooja room should be of white or off white marble. Cupboard for placing things should be in South or West of pooja room. It is beneficial to have a threshold in pooja room.

Interior of Pooja Room

Idols of God should be kept in north-east portion of pooja room. The idols should not face one another and the door of pooja room also. The two idols of same god should not be placed in pooja room. The idols should be 1 inch away from walls. ‘Kalash’ or water body is in North or East of the room. ‘Deepak’, lamp and ‘Agni’ kund are in south-east. We should face East while worshipping. Avoid keeping heavy idols in pooja room. Cluttered and broken idols should not be placed in pooja room. Avoid photos of dead people in pooja room. Keep pooja room clean and clutter free. There should be one pooja room in a house. The room should not be used for other purposes like storage or other room.

www.jaipurpropertyclub.com

Marble and Granite – Give Royal Touch to your Dream Home

Marble gives a royal and stylish look to your home or office and it is easy to install. Marble and granite floor tiles are becoming increasingly popular nowadays.

Granite is the most preferable option when it comes to tiling the floor. Granite tiles are very popular among people due to its elegant look and durability. There is an array of granite floor tiles that is used for tiling places like floors, wall, stairs, homes, and balcony. There are more than 2700 verities of granite, which are available in multitude of colors, textures, and patterns. There is various color options available in the market, which are brown, white, green, gray, blue, and yellow, burgundy, pink, and many more.

The granite tiles are finished in varied types of finishings that are polishing, honing, leathering, antiquing, brushed, or flamed. However, before using tiles keep the type of finishing in mind, as every type of tile has a different purpose. For instance, polished tile is meant for indoor flooring of less traffic zone, countertops, and vanities as polish makes the surface slippery. Like wise, Honed tiles are good for both indoor and outdoor flooring, as it is very less slippery.

One other hand marble tiles are equally popular among customers, owing to its elegant looks and low maintenance. Besides, it has numerous benefits like long lasting durability, easy installation, smooth surface, natural cooling and heating, light reflection, easy to clean, and cost effective. Still, there is a disadvantage of this tile, which is, it has tendency of developing stains. This is the reason marble flooring is not suitable for areas like kitchen and walls.

However, if the tiles are cleaned properly on regular basis it is not that tough to maintain it. Therefore, to make it sparkling, keep it free from dirt and dust. Regularly clean it with damp mop or cloth and use stain-removing liquid to keep it stain free. There is a wide array of marble floor tiles available in the market that can be provided in different colors, designs, and finishings.

Slate is another type of natural stone that is widely demanded by the clients for construction. The slate is most preferred in the form tiles. There is a huge variety of slate floor tiles, which is available in more than 24 different shades. These shades are black, pink, rust, grey, gold, red, purple, and many more.

The Slate Floor Tiles widely used in areas like offices, rooms, and lobbies due to its non-slippery nature, whether it is a high or low traffic area, the tiles remain in the same condition for years. Owing to its non-porosity, it is easy to clean and sweep, which helps a lot to maintain it for long time. Every tile is unique in itself, there are numerous of colors, textures, and designs are available to choose from.

www.jaipurpropertyclub.com

Vastu Shastra – Directions matters Big….

Today I have not much to write down.

Today’s topic is Vastu Shastra. In Vastu Shastra “Directions” matters big.Which part of your house is good for which thing and bad for which thing, this makes your house good or bad for you.

To make your home good, to fulfill it with health and wealth, this is better that when you constructed it, you followed the Vastu Shastra Rules for Directions.

Here I have two pictures which tells that which thing should be in which part of your home in which direction and which thing should not be there.

To view an enlarge view please click on the picture….


Hope this will be helpful for you my friends.

thanks

http://www.jaipurpropertyclub.com

Outdoor Furniture – A house is indeed known by its exteriors….

Internal and external beauties don’t contradict but complement each other.
If internal beauty has to be retained- the external one needs to be maintained!

A house is indeed known by its exteriors. Despite how magnificent it is from within, it is the outer look of the house which casts the first impression. Imagine a house which has spotlessly clean interiors but cluttered exteriors! What a contradiction that would be! However, this contradiction can be very well turned into correspondence. All that you need to do is add outdoor furniture to your house! Be it warm weather or cold, outdoor gatherings prove to be an immensely enjoyable experience. And these can be enjoyed very well with furniture which supplements each moment. Though outdoor furniture is available in a variety of forms, shapes and sizes, the most common articles include:-

Garden Benches – Usually made up of material like wood, concrete, aluminum or wicker; garden benches add a class and color to your exteriors.

Furniture covers – There is a common fear amongst people that purchasing outdoor furniture would not benefit them in the long term as it would be destroyed by the brunt of the weather. However, furniture covers and cushions plus care products make sure this doesn’t happen and your exteriors remain as glorious as ever.

Porch swings – A fine mixture of appeal and relaxation is what porch swings are all about. In fact, supplemented by hammocks and rocking chairs, porch swings prove to be a must for your yard.

Chairs & Tables – With furniture set outdoors, it is not necessary that chairs and tables should stand together. Chairs which stand alone have become a fashion today. Available in material ranging from wood (timber or teak) to metal (generally aluminum), chairs and tables only add up to your brilliance.

Umbrellas – Not only do they act as a protective element & shade but they also help dress up the furniture set outside. With umbrellas, you always have the option of choosing the color and design you require.

www.jaipurpropertyclub.com

Guest Room – It reflects your Personality

A well set up guest room is a very important part of hospitality, and plays a crucial role in making your guests feel comfortable and well-cared for. With a few good guest room decorating ideas, you can come up with a guest room that can rival any 5 star hotel, without breaking the bank. To start with, you need to come up with a certain theme/look you wish to follow throughout the room. Once you have some sort of a general outline of what you wish to achieve for the room, think about the details that you have come across and would like to incorporate. You may have seen some design ideas in a magazine, on TV, at the mall, in someone’s home or in a hotel room you stayed in, that you would like to include. Read more on bedroom decor.

Guest Room Essentials

Apart from the guest room decorating ideas you come up with, here are some other aspects to keep in mind:
You guest room must have a large, presentable double bed with a comfortable mattress. If you cannot afford a new bed and mattress, try to get a good used bed. If you already have a good bed, ensure that the mattress is comfortable, and not sagging or lumpy. You don’t want your guests to end up with back or body aches. A set of soft fluffy pillows are essential.
A set of good clean linens are a must. I suggest you set aside a set of bed and bath linens (including a featherbed mattress topper & a cozy down comforter), only for your guests. Ironed bedsheets and pillowcases are the little details that help achieve a great looking guest bedroom.
It would be considerate of you to include a table to set down a suitcase or any other kind of luggage. You don’t want your guests to constantly stoop over, every time they need something from their bags.
Create shelf, drawer and counter space for your guests. We had plenty of house guests over the years, and have found that even those who stay for just a day utilize the space provided. Do not fill up shelves with decorative items, but only leave the essentials, such as clock, and maybe a few good books.
Among the home office guest room decorating ideas, try to make at least a foot or two of pole space in the closet, and provide few hangers. If this is not possible, you can arrange for an over-the-door hook and one behind a closet door.

Guest Room Decorating Ideas

It is always best to stick to neutral tones on the wall and floor. Imagine if you decide to use bright color on one or all of the walls, and it turns out to be the one color your guest dislikes. You can go even more wrong with a print. Instead, keep your walls cream, and add dashes of color with the drapes and bedspreads.
If your flooring is a little shabby and you aren’t in a position to replace it, place a rug that covers up the objectionable spots. It is another way of adding a splash of color or print in the room. However, it is best to restrict print to one major item in the room, i.e. either a printed bedspread or a printed rug. Your options range from pile rugs or flat weave kilims.
A crystal vase filled with fresh flowers is the best way to decorate any room. Ideally, use flowers that are your guest’s favorite, though the point is just to make your guest feel welcome.
An inexpensive way to decorate the walls of the guest room are with beautiful vintage photographs. You can either use old family photographs, or buy and frame some.

www.jaipurpropertyclub.com

House Interior – Lighting for Your Dream Home

Home lighting is arguably the most important element in home interior decorating. It is instrumental in setting the mood of any room.

It can convey warmth and intimacy or create the right atmosphere for entertaining.

To ensure that you will achieve the desired effect for your rooms, it is important that you first understand the four basic types of home lighting.

Ambient or general lighting – illuminates the whole room. You probably notice it from recessed and track lighting. Certain wall sconces are yet another example. I recommend that you install a dimmer with your track and recessed lights so that you have the added flexibility in adjusting the brightness.

Task lighting – provides sufficient light to help you perform the task at hand, e.g., reading, cooking, shaving, etc. Task lighting should be glare free. And it should make things easy to see without tiring or straining your eyes.

Accent lighting – is focused lighting that is used to illuminate a sculpture, piece of art, or architectural element in a room. Accent lighting is about three times as bright as ambient lighting.

Natural lighting – comes through windows, doors, and skylights. Depending on the time of day, season, or weather, it can vary in brightness and intensity.
As with all of your decorating efforts, do a little planning before you rush out and purchase your home lighting fixtures. Think carefully about the activities that will occur in each area of the room.

Don’t be afraid to use multiple types of interior lighting in a room. In fact this is highly desirable and will create very dramatic effects.

Lighting can also be helpful in making a room look larger or smaller. For example, if a room seems too narrow, then wash one wall with light to visually expand it.

If a ceiling is high, but you want the room to have a more intimate and cozy feel, don’t allow much light to escape beyond the height of the light/lamp shade.

And if you want to make a small room look larger, try up-lighting the ceiling.

If you’re searching for home lighting ideas and fixtures, I recommend that you check out Bellacor. Their selection of home lighting fixtures is quite impressive. There are many items to satisfy all decorating tastes.

Room-By-Room Home Lighting Ideas
You’ll find that there are literally hundreds of home lighting options for your home. Think of lighting from two aspects….functional and aesthetic.

Functionally, home lighting needs to provide the correct type of light in sufficient quantity for the intended purpose. Aesthetically, it can be configured to create the desired mood through its intensity and color.
Below are some ideas for lighting the various rooms in your home. And if you’re interested in learning which light bulbs are best suited for your lighting fixtures, click here… Home Lighting Fixtures.

Living Rooms
Place a lamp behind every reader’s shoulder…about 42 inches above the floor. Click on this link for ideas on re-energizing outdated Table Lamps.
Highlight a framed piece of art with halogen track lighting or by attaching a picture light
Use accent lights to illuminate book or display shelves.
Install recessed lighting as your general lighting or to bring out beautiful wall textures (use a dimmer)
Slim strip lights come in just about any length and can stick to the edge of shelves or ledges to highlight displays or provide a soft wash to a wall

Kitchens
A grid of recessed ceiling cans will provide great general lighting
Install individual recessed down-lights as task lighting for the sink and range
Place halogen pendant lights over bars and counters
Under-cabinet lights make excellent task lighting

Dining Rooms
A chandelier over the dining room table creates a beautiful setting (use a dimmer)
Highlight a framed piece of art with halogen track lighting or by attaching a picture light
Install halogen strip lighting your china cabinet to highlight china or collectibles
If a chandelier is not your taste and you have a long table, try a trio of pendant lights

Bedrooms
Place table lamps on your bedside tables. (For children’s rooms, avoid halogen lamps which can get very hot.)
Wall sconces can provide good general lighting without being too bright
If there is not much space, consider recessed lights or pendant lights
Don’t forget candlelight if a romantic setting is what you have in mind

Bathrooms
Use shadow-free fluorescent or incandescent lights around mirrors for grooming
To avoid heavy shadows, place mirror lights on the side rather than directly overhead
Don’t forget to install a night light.
www.jaipurpropertyclub.com