Kitchen

The kitchen reveals yourmanagement skills?

If a living room reflects the personality of the home owner, the kitchen reveals how organized you are. The kitchen speaks volumes about your taste, organizing ability as a home maker. Whether it is used as a breakfast venue, coffee time with neighbors or only warming meals, the kitchen needs to be structured. It reveals your secret management strategies. And how?

The first clue-Storage areas

Walk into an aromatic pantry, towards the cabinets where herbs, oils and spices are placed. Neatly glass colored jars in order of seven (weekly consumption!) is stark. It looks beautiful to have a nice wooden cabinet with different shelve areas. The cabinets may be of other materials, but wood is the best for kitchens. The reason is obvious. It does not take long for a kitchen fire to spread just like the forest fire. Wood is a bad conductor of electricity. Since both water and electricity is needed for various appliances, blenders and mixers, it is advisable to have materials that do not catch fire easily. Cabinets of various sizes with bottles and jars filled reflect the need to keep the stock in check. A well equipped larder can cope up with emergencies. This is a sure sign of a very good organizer. Open the chests and draws and see the contents. Well kept knives, forks and spoons tell a tale too.

The soft board on the wall

The size and contents of the soft board can tell tales of all the members of the house. Whats cooking in the house apart from food! What is the family having for dinner? The urgent mails, faxes, emergency cell numbers, bills and reminders provide clues especially for the working wifes and husbands who are in a hurry always. You can also make use of your refrigerator as an acting notifier or a scheduler by sticking those valuables on it through magnets that are available in the market in plenty in different shapes and sizes.

Home Interior Design

Home

Even though the present economic conditions are rising like that of the  mercury  bubble in a thermometer, you can still afford to make your dream venture come true by avoiding all the unwanted expenses for painting , plastering, and applying putty to your beautified walls . It’s a commonly followed unwritten-law of architecture that all the walls of our home have to be plastered, to which I can’t agree.

Here is an ideal example that perfectly justifies my view-point. Please don’t misunderstand that I meant to convey to my readers to leave all our walls unplastered! I intend to just let u know that leaving a wall or a pillar in between without plastering or painting odd bricks in the wall/pillar with some colors of your choice or the ones which matches the ambiance of the whole room, will definitely add to your space an upbeat flick. A plastered wall without painting can also look like a textured wall if  it is in between some nice painted walls ,but try to give it an  artistic look by hanging some art work or whatever oeuvre of your interest.

Make your wall that is not plastered a focal point or point of attraction by displaying some ornamental works like a mirror or some framed pictures etc. These days, a lot of companies are marketing decorative tiles the cost of which might burn or make a big hole on your pockets! Why do you have to go for that when the normal brick pieces could fulfil the purpose of decorative tiles with all the perfection which we had wanted and that too without spending a single additional penny! If you can find some old pieces of wood that is not being used or leftover u can use it in some part of your ceiling or some other suitable area to boost up the oomph factor of your cosy abode.

Just scribble down in your mind that each and every single element that you use in the construction has got a beauty hidden within itself, we may just need to brush it up to give a perfect angle. In our busy life we usually don’t have time for that or we deliberately choose to ignore the same. Find some time to bring out the hidden creative avatar of yours from your “interiors” and let it reflect on all around your “exteriors”.

Mirror Magic

Mirrors On The Wall

Long ago plain mirrors were shifted from the bathrooms and dressing rooms to more attractive locations of good looking homes. A finely decorated mirror in the living room, a corridor, a crooked nook or another other imaginative place can attract attention. If narcissism has reached venerable heights it is because vanity mirrors have become the target of professional interior decorators for wealthy patrons. What an oil painting or a queer shaped flower vase cannot do, a mirror can definitely do. And it will always reflect the current status of the person peering into its gilded frames. And thus create a dramatic effect.

Mirrors decorate various rooms. They usually function as reflective points, enhance aesthetic value of the room, add light in dark areas, make the space appear larger, and emerge as a beautiful theme. Here are some ways that are already trendy in some living spaces. You can place a vase of fresh flowers on that table and with mirrors creating their magic

In the living/ drawing room

The mirror in this room reflects not only the sunlight, or other objects but also the aesthetic sense of the owner. An odd shape, oval shape framed in decorative wrought iron, fibre, glass, carved wood makes a style statement. Hung on the wall or placed on a corner table, it adds to the value of the room. You can place a vase of fresh flowers on the table facing the mirrorand you can view your face with the miror .What will mar its position and look is if some neighbors room is reflected. Sharp sunlight reflections also make one squint. There are various style and shapes in mirrors that can be used to enhance the worth of the room. The color swatch of the walls and furniture can be taken in mind before bringing a decorative mirror home. For example, a creative wooden framed square piece will work wonders for a traditional or ethnic theme. An urber cool fibre glass paneled mirror will add to the beauty of a modern living room.

Bedroom

The corner dressing table can have tri-mirror frames. With space constraints, the mirror here is more functional than decorative. A full length mirror on the wall is the best which is behind the door and away from the bed. Old wives tale say a mirror should not reflect the occupants of the bed at night! It should be positioned in a place where it can be cleaned easily. Ensure that it does not bang into doors or any sharp objects. Ensure that the mirror faces out (towards the window) and not into the neighbors home.

Corridors and study rooms

Why would anyone want to place mirrors in the corridors or the study room? In a large home a long mirror placed at a strategic corner has a dual purpose. When a person is walking towards or outside can be noticed easily. It serves also to avoid bumping if pets and children are constantly running around. As long as the mirror is placed where it cannot be damaged it is fine. In case a mirror cracks or becomes opaque and reflections are not clear, it is time to replace them. In a study room, a small oval mirror can be placed on a bare wall. It is a perfect distraction from a busy project being worked on. One can preen into it and treat the tiredness if necessary due to overwork.

Children rooms

The young girls need the mirror on the walls of their rooms. They are forever dressing up like their mothers. From the age of 9 years they spend a lot of time in front of the mirror rehearsing their lines, catwalk and personalities. And as they grow catch them whispering Mirror, mirror on the wall who is the prettiest.!

Carqueija House

Carqueija House Design

Architects:Bento - Azevedo Architects & Associates

Location: Camacari, Brazil

Interior design: Bento - Azevedo Architects & Associates

Structural engineers: Eng. Fernando Dourado

Project area: 260 sqm

Project year: 2007 - 2008

Photographs: Tarso Figueira

Editors Note for March, 2011

When it comes to the styles in interior designing, all of us do have some great and unique concepts. Forget being a professional interior designer or a customary layman, everybody will be having inimitable and distinctive ideas on home decor. This divergence is clearly reflected in how each of us visualises the various trends and perspectives in this area.

I’ll make it pretty more clear by a jotting a familiar scenario. All of us have heard and many of us have used the so called “classical” approach for styling the interiors. But how we depict this, it differs from person to person. So, when you go for styling your homes it would be useful if you look at the pictures and photographs of various designing approaches, for figuring out the difference between your chosen style, say “classical”, from the other contemporary ones. Also, it shows out what that particular style comprises in the eyes of specialist. After, getting a clear cut idea, you could easily go for a DIY or hiring a pro.

Even all of you have enormous thoughts when it comes to the choice of colors, fabrics and furniture, many of you may not have a clue regarding the style that matches up with the one in your mind. For sorting out this situation, the greatest aid will be flipping through the hard and soft pages of interior design magazines. Before making the hands wet, this would help in redefining your style “matras”. Once you have found out the style which you would want in your dream-home, then the biggest and the hardest hurdle is crossed. After this stage, the project could move forward with a great ease and almost no confusions and undesired time delays.

After choosing an interior decorating style, the aspect regarding space utility comes into play the next lead role. Before proceeding with your style of interest, you have to know if it fits your space and also, would it fit-in with the way you’ve planned to use that space? For instance, would your chosen style fits in with your bedroom or would it be better in a living room? If so, what styles are more traditionally suited to the bedroom? All these anxieties can be answered to an extent by browsing through the images of interiors. Those images and pictures lucidly project the creative views of skilled designers on implementing a choice of design styles. This would save a great deal of money and time. It’s not uncommon that many of you go ahead with the style you had in mind, finally ends up in realizing that it didn’t really add the desired looks to your home as well as wasted a huge amount in the home decor. Free online resources like pictures and articles serve the best in defining and identifying our style and that too at zero expense!

Once the defining-identifying stage is crossed, you could determine how you will proceed with the project. For instance, pictures will facilitate the exact visualisation of how a room will look, when decorating in a particular style. Every slight aspect regarding the style, including colors, textures, materials, lighting etc and how they all complement each other; all will be portrayed vividly in the photographs. Also, these pics will give you an insight into the type of furniture that is generally used in a given style.

Time to Install Aly Design Elecrical Light Switches in India

Aly Design light switches are all set to light up wealthy Indian homesvery soon

The UK-Greece based interior designer making innovative light switches is on its way to capture the aesthetic sensibilities of modern Indians.

Stylish interiors of exclusive landed estates of the well heeled community in India have always welcomed innovative designs, products and furnishings.

European styles continue to be introduced in the country.

Whether it is Ikea, Swedens largest furniture brand or Aly Design light switches the prospect is quite illuminating.

Can one use a printed light switch to warn the user, advertise a logo or brand or put a smile on the face with a funny message?

Perhaps the time has come to put the spotlight on the company that has also partnered with Crystallized Swarovski Elements to bring a new sparkling new range of light. switches.

The range is so popular ever since it was introduced in 2009 that it is a value addition to aristocratic homes in London, Dubai, Cannes, Florence and Santorini.

It has also reached corporate offices in Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and Abu Dhabi.

There are different kinds of electrical switches and it is obvious that the ones that eventually are not energy guzzlers will be preferable.

Printed & personalized with images with 10 years guarantee

Aly Design switches can be customized too. It is as easy as sending your picture to be placed on the coffee mug!

The process is different thought. With the German techniques, the CE rated light switches undergo a unique dye sublimation printing process.

These switches are so unique that they have a UV rating of 5/6 which means that they do not fade in sunlight.

Whats interesting is that when the home is being redecorated, the light switches can be readily adaptable to the new look as the interface is changeable.

The faceplate can be removed without disturbing either the body of the switch or the electrical connections and a new faceplate can be easily clipped into place.

It is scratch and wear resistant. If a customized solution is eluding the buyer then choose from the design studio of the company.

With broad identifiable marks like STAIRS LIGHT, HEATER, FAN, LOUNGE, it makes it easier to use.

The designs can be used as seen in the catalogue or the color schemes can be changed.

Like any good company, they have a simple return policy of the products that are complaint with EU directives.

The refund will be paid within 30 days. Products from the DESIGN YOUR OWN category are non-refundable.

A boon for interior designers

The professionals always need inspiration. And Aly Design plans to expand in the sub-continent soon.

Large installations and projects require different kinds of light switches and an in-house consultant can be approached for further assistance.

With many years of experience in electrical fittings in the European market, the company uses the ELSO Scala range of the Schneider-Electric Group. Fittings have slim faceplates, no fixing screws and comply with all appropriate European standards.

Welcome to India.

The Editor's Favourites..

Some sizzling Living Rooms, Stylish Kitchens...

Located off a walk street with views of the Pacific Ocean and Malibu coastline, this residence is an exercise in careful space planning. Working within the confines of a narrow 30 x 90-foot envelope, the design team pushed the house to the limits of height, width, and depth, which left little perimeter space to satisfy the client's desire for a garden.

The solution was to create an open green space in the center of the structure, at the ground floor level. On one side of this are the children's rooms, on the other are the master bedroom and bath, which open to what has become an interior Zen garden.

Project Size: 4,500 s.f.

Architectural Team: Christopher Kempel, AIA, Rocky Rockefeller, AIA,

Kate Dunworth