Home Sweet Home

sonu_627 · Jan 24, 2006

Budget décor – tips

You have been allotted a certain budget and you are cracking your brains wondering how to go about it in a planned manner. What are we at Sitagita here for if we can't give you that little push which will start you off on your great adventure? Ready? Here goes!

* Begin by making a round of all the good furniture shops. Take note of the current tends and styles. Remember to take down short notes on what you see. Look around for the colours and fabric that appeal most to you. Take small swatches of these if they create a ‘warm' feeling in you.
* Join a library and get magazines on furniture and furnishings. Browse through these. Start a small collection of magazines that seem to inspire you with ideas. Create a scrapbook of clippings and keep referring to this when you begin to shop for your home.
* Visit second-hand stores and auction houses. After all, one person's trash could well be another person's treasure. Here you might be able to pick up stuff like candle holders, knickknacks, potpourri and many more items like these. Who is to know where you picked them up from? Go through the classifieds in the daily papers. You can always refurbish any item that might be worn out but which has some special appeal for you.
* Begin with a fresh coat of paint for your walls. Use bright appealing colours that will give you home a character of its own. This might be the most inexpensive way to begin your décor on a shoe-string. Always keep in mind that colours can create moods – so play with colours for a dramatic effect.
* The next step should be to create your own art wherever possible. If you are an artist yourself, consider your problem solved. If you are not, never mind! A collage, attractively put together of all your favourite photographs can also pass for original art. Or, better still, you could buy inexpensive posters of well-known artists and get them attractively framed. A good frame can make anything look classy. These days one can get affordable art in the form of limited edition autographed prints of top artists. Maybe you could start a collection of these. After all, you are on the threshold of a brand new life and you could always graduate to the ‘real' stuff when you are older and better able to judge for yourself.
* Most importantly, remember to exercise patience. If sales are round the corner, bide your time and don't rush into purchases that you might be able to pick up at half value a few days later. It will do well for you to take heed of the adage – ‘ Rome was not built in a day!'

We certainly hope we have managed to get you started on your first post-marital adventure of sorts – decorating your new home within a certain budget! Good luck and happy hunting!

sonu_627 · Jan 26, 2006

6 Simple steps to a gorgeous home

6 Simple steps to a gorgeous home



Step 1: Always ensure suitable and practical flooring. Flooring is like the foundation, the canvas for more things to come. If you get the flooring right, you will be guaranteed an attractive and functional abode.

Always keep in mind the function of the room while choosing your flooring. Kitchens and bathrooms are considered hard wear areas and should have tough flooring tiles. Bedrooms and living rooms suit softer flooring. Deciding whether you need hard or soft flooring will be essentially important, as function is as crucial as the aesthetic aspect of home décor.

Keep the theme you desire in mind. Start from the floor and build upwards. Before you desire to purchase new material for your floor, work with what you have. Getting creative can save you a lot of money.

Step 2: The flooring should be the deciding factor to what the walls should look like. If you have parquet flooring then your walls should have the light cream to accentuate the brown of parquet. No matter what colour your floor is, the walls should complement and not clash with them.

Step 3: Before you go shopping for furniture, first ask yourselves a few questions.

What is the theme you desire to have from the start?
Who will use the room?
What is the function of the room?
How often will the room be used?

The answers from the questions above will guide you to make the right purchases.

Step 4: We often underestimate the importance of curtains to beautify our home. The fact is, curtains can alter the way a room looks. From being dull and dreary, bright coloured curtains can revitalize the room in a very positive way. The choice of fabric is also equally important.

Step 5: Lighting is perhaps the step that will enhance greatly the mood or desired theme. Lighting should be flexible so that it can be adapted to the tone and function of that particular time.

Step 6: Décor and accessories. This aspect of home furnishing should reflect your taste and personality. Keep in mind an overall theme for your home and adhere to it as much as possible. For example, if you are a patron of the Arts, then of course a painting or two in most of the rooms would be a certainty.

sonu_627 · Jan 30, 2006

Space management in kitchens

Space management in kitchens

In small apartments where space is at a premium, a well-planned kitchen is an asset and will make cooking less of a chore.

In most apartments unlike independent houses there is no separate storeroom to store monthly provisions and ingredients which are not used on a daily basis. Without adequate storage, no kitchen can be efficient and finding suitable places for items is not always easy. However, with careful planning of storage spaces this problem can be overcome in apartment kitchens too.

Kitchen layouts in apartments are either a straight line, L-shaped, U-shaped or a galley style. Storage space available in any case is above and below the kitchen counter. Your cooking style affects the kind of storage, amount of work surface, equipment and appliances you need.

A cook who loves to entertain needs plenty of storage for food equipment, special china, glass and serving dishes and a greater than average preparation area. A convenience food buff can save space on gadgetry and equipment and allow more for storing frozen, tinned and packet food.

Storage space can be provided in the form of open shelves; base units (below the counter) and wall units. Some kitchens may allow tall units. Remember, the work triangle in the kitchen formed by the stove, the wash-basin and the storage for cooking items, determines the areas of storage. Close to the work surface which links the storage areas and sink, you need to keep the knives, peelers, tin and bottle openers, scissors, a colander, chopping board, grater and waste-bin. Adjacent to the sink, keep the detergent powders, brushes, a dish-rack and towels. Cooking utensils like woks, saucepans, frying pans and ladles should be kept near the stove.

Shelves: Open shelves mounted on the wall, are probably the simplest means of providing storage. Bulky items that are seldom used can be stored on the topmost shelf and kept out of the way. A narrow shelf above the work surface is ideal for storage of spices, tea and sugar. Shelf storage must be kept tidy. A muddle of jars and packets waste space, looks a mess and makes it hard to find the things you want. Try to keep similar things together: dry ingredients in labelled storage jars, fruits and vegetables in baskets. Lidded boxes are best for clutter like strings, pencils, candles and rubber bands. Some kitchen equipment need special storage.

Knives for instance, stay sharper and are less of a hazard if they are not put in a drawer together with all the ladles. Knife blocks available in the market are ideal for storing knives.Base Units: Storage under the work surface can be in the form of base units with either pullout drawers or shelves. There are excellent wire mesh storage racks available in the market which can be used instead of drawers and can be mounted on pullout trolleys, making it easier to clean the kitchen. It is usual to store the gas cylinder under the cooking stove, but remember to provide adequate ventilation if it is enclosed.

In U-type kitchens, the corners will pose a problem of access. A very good solution is to have carousel shelves or 'lazy-susans' to provide easy access at awkward corners. It is also a good idea to mount the garbage bins on the inside of the shutter under the washbasin.

Wall Units: To avoid clutter when using open shelves, wall units with shutters are a slightly more expensive option. Shutters can be with a laminate finish or with a glass front. These units can be used to store the monthly provisions, dinnerware, toiletries and just about anything used everyday. These units can be provided with locks for safety.

Tall Units: In larger kitchens, there may be space available to provide tall units or full length cupboards. These units like the base units can be a combination of pullout drawers and shelves.

A kitchen need no longer be a place to dread. It is very often the focal point of the apartment for the small family. For a quick meal in the kitchen, a folding table is a space saving option. Foldable chairs can also be hung on the wall to save space. A pullout table top is another option.

Look out for our next feature on Space Saving in Bedrooms.

sonu_627 · Feb 1, 2006

Give Your Home a Cozy Feel

Give Your Home a Cozy Feel

Once the first cold snap sends you to the cedar trunk to embrace the warm woolen blankets, you will know that the time has arrived to seasonally adjust your home. Here are six simple ways to bring that cozy feeling into your house.

1. Add warm layers to sofas and chairs by way of paisley or plaid throws, add attractive runners to visually warm tabletops and layer hooked or Oriental-style rugs on the wooden floors.

2. Slipcover your down comforter in a warming cotton flannel and add colorful panels of fabric to the windows over your sheers.

3. Remember to rearrange your furniture away from drafts and cold window areas, drawing the sofa or table up to the hearth.

4. Now is also the season in which to stack the books you've been meaning to read on the coffee or side table. If you like, cluster your easy chairs around the dining room table. Or pull a small side table near the hearth for cozy games of chess or cribbage, or perhaps a small supper in front of a gently warming blaze.

5. Cluster candles on a plant stand or stack in a fireplace to add visual warmth to a room. Place small votive candles in salvaged martini glasses all around your kitchen (add a bit of water to the bottom so the glass won't crack). This seems to help dissipate unwanted cooking odors.

6. Borrow from nature and gather bouquets of fall leaves and fill wooden bowls with pinecones, colorful gourds and Indian corn.

sonu_627 · Feb 4, 2006

Bedrooms in small apartments

Bedrooms in small apartments

A bedroom is a private oasis in one's home. It reflects the occupant's likes, interests and personality. The keywords for a bedroom design are comfort and privacy. In a small apartment, usually there is one master bedroom and a smaller one for the children, and, if the apartment is large enough, a guest bedroom. The master bedroom will be shared by two people with different requirements. The age of the children dictates the design of the children's room and the guest bedroom can double as a hobby room.

The main components in bedroom design are the cot, utility furniture, and wardrobe storage. Besides these basics, space for a work desk and a small seating area with an entertainment centre with stereo and TV is also essential.

The master bedroom: More often than not, you may want your bedroom to double as a private retreat where you can read, listen to music, or watch television. It is said that nearly one third of one's life is spent in the bedroom. A double bed should have a minimum size of 5' X 6'6". There should be at least one nightstand or bedside table with drawers within easy reach and with a surface for a night lamp, a telephone, and an alarm clock.

Beds can be freestanding, positioned with one end or side against a wall. A cot with a headboard usually takes up more space than a cot that is flush to the wall. A separate headboard can be fixed to the wall above the bed if required. If you are short on storage, use the space under the bed. You can have drawers fitted to the underside of the cot. There are even custom-built ones available in the market. Perfect for storing bed linen, out of season clothes or shoes.

Most apartments these days include a niche built into the wall for wardrobe storage purposes. The concept of steel almirahs for safety is slowly dying in urban areas where space is a constraint and aesthetics wins over the bulky steel almirah look. With careful planning a lot of ideas can be incorporated into the wardrobe design. A woman needs a lot of space in the wardrobe for clothes and accessories and the space never seems enough. Safety cash boxes or coffers are available which can be screwed onto the shelves in the wardrobe. In this coffer, jewelry and cash can be stored for safety and the rest of the wardrobe can be used for clothes and accessories.

It is perhaps a good idea to have a chest of drawers, to store lingerie, shirts, socks and personal knick-knacks. Along with a wall mirror, this can eliminate the need to have a separate dressing table. If the mirror and dressing table could be designed as a part of the built-in wardrobe unit, the top of the chest of drawers could be used for the TV and/or the stereo. A portable TV trolley is another option if one needs to move the TV to the living room for family viewing.

The children's bedroom: A very challenging place for any designer to plan; it involves allotting space for children pursuing various hobbies, interests and yet making the room cozy and comfortable. In small apartments, the size of the children's bedroom is usually smaller than the master bedroom and space becomes a severe constraint when there are two children. In addition to the mandatory two cots, one has to provide separate work areas and wardrobe space for the two children. One option is to use bunk beds (two-tiered), but there is an undue worry about safety. If properly designed with safety rails and a suitable height from the floor, the bunk bed does save a lot of floor space. Another option is to have foam mattresses on the floor, which can be stacked up during the day to form seats.

The workstation is the next important piece of furniture in a children's bedroom. This should have a reasonable worktop of at least 3'X2' and sufficient storage for school-books and personal items.

Here are a few design tips to get the best out of your bedrooms:

Pale coloured walls and a white ceiling maximize the sense of space.

Keep the bed low to the ground to reduce its mass.

Use furniture sparingly to avoid clutter.

Use bright lighting over the work-station and less luminous up-lighters on walls.

A heavy duvet (bed-cover) with decorative pillows add elegance

sonu_627 · Feb 8, 2006

Makeover children’s room in summer holidays

Makeover children’s room in summer holidays

Holidays.....!!!!! Chuck those nursery tomes, bundle up those old dictation notes, put up things bright and beautiful and do up your child’s room this vacation. Here are some little tips for the little one’s room. Tips that both the bratty Calvins and their parents can follow to do up their rooms until school begins.

* Kids clothing are so bright and funky that there is no point confining all of them in closets and robbing the room of its share of color and fun. So plan open closets for their room. By that we mean, racks without doors and space for hangers (to hang clothes vertically on display). This is also an easy way of teaching your children how to maintain their clothes. They will have fun putting clothes to hangars and hanging them on the clothesline.

* Instead of asking your kids to place all their toys, games and books in shelves…we all know how difficult that is…get cheap, colorful open plastic (without lids) containers, baskets, buckets in various cute shapes. This way, after play kids have to just dump their stuff in these colorful boxes. Not only is it easy to pick, it is easy to put them back. Effort expected from parents? Zero.

* Again, to make their room fun-filled and at the same time teach children some good things, hang a white or pale blanket from one end of the wall to the other (using strings to fasten them to nearest doors/windows). Ask your children to make something meaningful out of the torn pages of their Amar Chitra Kathas and Tinkles. Ask them to weave a story from the leftover pages using the white sheet as their canvas. Take it off and use the sheet for other purposes once the kids get back to school.

* Those with brats below 10 can even make a makeshift playground in the room. Like tie a net duppatta (which come with salwar kameez) as a tennis net. Or use a netted basket as a basketball net or use the chequered floor for hopscotch. This way parents can keep their kids indoors and spare from the sun. And they won’t complain, because they are having fun at home.

* If children have their own bathrooms, buy a cheap plastic tub (which comes for around Rs 100 in the local market) and allow them to bathe in it. Bright plastics (in form of buckets, soap boxes and mugs) add to the cool look of the room. Also, it’s fun, safe and the best bit is you won’t have to drag them to the bath.

sonu_627 · Feb 13, 2006

Repair a Leaky Faucet

Repair a Leaky Faucet

Step 1
Turn off the water supply at the shut-off valve under the sink. For double handled faucets, it's only necessary to turn off the water supply line to the one that's leaking.

Tip: If you're not sure if it's the hot or cold water that's leaking you can turn both off. Or first turn the water supply off to the cold water. If the dripping stops, then you'll know that's where the repair needs to be made. If not, turn off the hot and repair as follows:

Step 2
Remove the handle by loosening the screw on top of the handle. Sometimes there will be a "button" covering the screw (it may have "H" or "C" on it). Flip it off with your fingernail, a screwdriver or a putty knife. Just be careful not to scratch the handle's finish.

Tip: You can cover the screwdriver or putty knife with a piece of cloth to prevent scratching on the handle's finish.

Step 3
 Using an adjustable wrench, loosen the packing nut and remove the stem.

Tip: Remember, righty tighty, lefty loosey.

Step 4
 At the bottom of the stem there's a rubber washer held in place by a screw. Remove the screw. You'll take the washer to the hardware store with you to make sure you get the same kind to replace it.

Step 5
 But before you make the trip to the store, put your finger down inside the faucet to see if the "seat" of the faucet is rough. (The seat of the faucet is where the rubber washer "sits" when the faucet is in the off position. When the seat gets rough, it ruins the washer.) If the seat is rough, it should be replaced, if removable, or "dressed" if not removable.

Use a seat wrench to remove and replace the seat and take the old seat with you to the hardware store. (This will save time and aggravation.) Use a seat-dressing tool to smooth the surface if the seat is not removable.

Step 6
After the seat is taken care of, put the new washer in place and tighten the screw.

Step 7
Insert the stem in the faucet and tighten the packing nut.

Step 8
 Replace the handle, tighten the screw and replace the button (if there is one).

sonu_627 · Feb 17, 2006

Interior Decorating Tips

[font=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]INTERIOR DECORATING TIPS[/font]

[font=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif] For filling space use warm colours like reds, yellows and oranges. They tend to grab the eye and fill space. They are soothing and warm. [/font]

[font=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Cool colors are blues, greens and violets. They tend to give the illusion of open space. [/font]

[font=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Decide on a focal point and decorate around it. Your focal point could be a piece of furniture, a fireplace, etc. [/font]

[font=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Pale pinks are serene and comforting. The closer pink gets to red, the more energetic it becomes. [/font]

[font=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Light colored walls and ceilings will make the room appear larger. The opposite for dark colors. [/font]

[font=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]When selecting a solid carpet color, choose a shade of your upholstery or drapery fabric to add interest. Don't choose the exact color, it will be too rigid. [/font]

[font=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]When arranging flowers in a vase with a wide mouth, use tape to create a grid across the top of the vase. Flowers will remain upright and be evenly spaced. [/font]

[font=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]A border will add interest to a room. Use sponges, stencils or wallpaper borders. [/font]

[font=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Put an aspirin in a vase full of water and it will make your flower bouquets last days longer- also trim the stems every other day will preserve the life of a flower arrangement. [/font]

[font=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Use vertical stripes on walls for an illusion of height. [/font]

[font=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Natural shades of carpeting tend to hide soil and lint. [/font]

[font=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Painting the walls, ceiling, woodwork or all will add a fresh, new look.[/font]

[font=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Hang pictures at eye level, not too high. [/font]

[font=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]To add depth to a small room, add mirrors. [/font]

[font=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]If you are redecorating an entire room, choose your paint last. [/font]

[font=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Arrange furniture in conversational groups.[/font]

[font=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif] If your tablecloth is a little bit large for your table, pull the corners of the tablecloth up and using a beautiful wide ribbon, tie the ribbon around the corner of the tablecloth. This is also a quick way to dress-up your table very fast. [/font]

[font=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]When painting, use a plastic shower cap on your head to protect your hair from the paint. [/font]

[font=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Use unusual items to hold flowers in your kitchen, such as old coffee pots, egg cups, teapots, etc. [/font]

[font=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Buy an inexpensive, clear glass jar lamp and fill it with all kinds of collectibles. You can use marbles, spools of thread, gumballs, hair ribbons or anything you like. Use your imagination and work with the theme of the room. [/font]

[font=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]To remove wallpaper, use equal parts of vinegar and hot water. Roll or sponge the solution on the paper and wet thoroughly. The paper should peel off in sheets after two applications of the solution. [/font]

[font=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]When you begin decorating, start with one room and finish it. Remove all the furniture from the room, if possible. If you can't move all the furniture out, move it to the middle of the room and cover with cloths.[/font]

[font=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Place your everyday dishes in a wooden rack on the kitchen counter. [/font]

[font=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]For a kitchen without a window, paint a scene on a wall and hang curtains. Add a frame and you have the look of a window. [/font]

[font=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]When you have a room that you may need to have dark during the day, use shades instead of mini blinds. The shades will block more light than the blinds. [/font]

[font=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Light colors will give rooms a larger overall appearance. Whether you want to make a small room seem larger or make a large room feel even larger. [/font]

[font=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]A mirror gives the illusion of space and depth. Use a nice frame on the mirror and position it to reflect something pleasing. [/font]

[font=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]When choosing new carpet, consider the room that it will be used in. For example, a high traffic area will need a durable carpet. [/font]

[font=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]To make a room appear more spacious, add a tall green plant. Fill empty spaces with attractive floor plants. [/font]

[font=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]To update the look of a sofa or chair, you can use decorative pillows. [/font]

[font=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Do you want to change the look of your furniture in a hurry? Use slipcovers on sofas and chairs. Change the look whenever you feel like it.[/font]

sonu_627 · Feb 19, 2006

Space Utilization And Storage

[font=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]SPACE UTILIZATION AND STORAGE

One of the hallmarks of the contemporary look is a certain degree of spaciousness and freedom from unnecessary confusion. With the increasing shortage of space in the modern-day, it becomes very difficult to have more space in small apartments and ultimately either the apartment looks like a storehouse or we have to sacrifice upon the furnitures to have more space. However making space in small apartments without sacrificing anything is possible if a few important guidelines are followed.

Effective and ample storage is one of the key elements of contemporary style, and it doesn't have to be difficult or expensive to create. There are storage techniques to fit every budget. The type of storage appropriate for any given room depends on what will be stored and your own tastes, but the first step in developing any storage strategy is to sort through your possessions according to three principles: necessity, accessibility and frequency of use.

If you happen to have an gigantic empty attic or basement that's just waiting to be filled with stuff you don't use but want to keep, well then lucky you-but most people, lacking ample ready-made storage space, find that in order to keep their living space free from clutter they have to throw some things away. It's painful when you're doing it, but you'll be surprised at how little you miss the things you get rid of. After you've cleansed your life of things you don't require, then it's time to sort according to priority. Divide everything-clothes, hardware, even cooking utensils-into three groups: stuff you use all the time, things you use once in a while and things you almost never use but just can't bear to part with. These groups represent the three levels of storage: easy access, accessible-sometimes and "archive" storage. Things in the last category might go somewhere like the attic, a basement storage compartment, whiles the other two categories will remain in the actual living space.

The accessible-sometimes items might go on the top shelves of a closet, on a storage platform suspended from the ceiling (a great idea in a small apartment), in boxes under the bed, or in sofa cum beds or divans specially designed for storage purposes. The basic idea is to have them out of sight and out of the way, but in a place where you can get them pretty easily when you want them.

As for everything else, the things you use all the time, you can decide what you want to keep in view and what you want hidden. Those who like the truly stripped-down look might do well to hide an entire wall of shelving and/or drawers behind a screen, curtain or even a wall panel on a hinge. This is a favorite technique among cautious architects, and it goes a long way toward creating that nobody-lives-here feel that some people love, some people hate. For a less minimal but very neat look, modular storage units have become quite popular lately. [/font]

sonu_627 · Feb 22, 2006

Glass is class

Glass is class

What is the latest buzzword in world trends today? It is glass, of course! This delicate substance is holding sway over both homes and offices as the most popular material in interior design and décor. Glass! But, isn't it a fragile material, totally unsuited to a home, you may ask? No! Not with the deluge of innovative ideas and the use of technical genius that has converted this delicate material to the hottest trend in home décor.

Glass is popular not only because it brings a feeling of transparency and lightness to a home but it is also sophisticated beyond words. Some of the best and simple decors can be successfully achieved by the use of glass.

The use of glass is ancient in origin, especially stained glass. It was known for it's sophisticated look and expensive feel. But decorative glass is not in the least limited to just the stained variety. Today, interior decorators work wonders with glass. Stained glass windows, long French windows, glass-topped tables, stunning chandeliers, frosted glass doors, and etched glass cupboards. They are the new trends of today's generation, fascinated as they are by clean, simple and clear-cut lines.

Whether combined with metal such as wrought iron, wood, or a painted or laminated finish, the delicacy and transparency of glass stands out, enhancing the ambience of a home with a feeling of openness and class.

Although glass tables and screens are still a rage with designers all over the world, the latest trend in glass décor is to use this fragile and beautiful substance as false ceilings. The kind of glass used for this is acid-etched. Another hot new trend is to use toughened glass as part of the flooring. Designed to resemble a carpet, the glass floor can be of clear crystal with an aquarium underfoot or hold an attention-grabbing display of indoor flora and fauna. If you want to add class to your home, add glass steps to the interior of your home. They will add that fascinating touch to any home.

The 'coolest' thing in glass - Live in a high-rise apartment, overlooking the city and have glass panels fitted into your balcony doors. If you have the view of the sea or the mountains, you wouldn't want to leave your home for all the wealth in the world.

With a material this resourceful, it is little wonder that entertaining and recreation takes on a new dimension in the Indian home!!