Wednesday 26 September 2012

How To Create a Luxurious Bathroom In Your Home

To make that luxury bathroom a reality, you have to have a plan. Make a decision as to what amenities you want to have in the bathroom. Most luxury bathrooms have the bathtub the shower and the toilet in one room. If all these amenities can fit and leave enough space for you to stay in, then this should be it, if you cannot have all together, you may have to deal with one or two of the amenities or expand the space. 
The main amenities are very important, but so are the accessories of a luxury bathroom. Make sure you have enough space to fit the sink and the medicine cabinet. Do not forget the shower curtain, the towel rail and probably a towel cupboard, you may need extra space in the bathroom to store your hair dryer and shavers and the like. Arranging all the amenities so that they fit can be hard in a small space but with an experienced contractor you will get the space you need for all the things you want. 

Space:

A utilitarian room, most bathrooms are small to allow for more room in other areas of the home. So instantly, a larger bathroom is a luxury. Create the appearance of more space by removing visual clutter, choosing a monochromatic color palette, and using a few additional luxurious qualities. 

Light:

Like space, light is a commodity that can be in short supply, and its abundance in the bathroom is a luxury. If you’re lucky enough to have large windows and no close neighbors, consider going bare. If not, stick to sheers or window coverings that let in the most light possible. For those with air shaft views or no windows, consider lighting that mimics natural sunlight. 

Materials:

Luxurious bathrooms use beautiful, natural materials on floors and walls. Granite, marble, river rock, teak – all luxury, all from nature. Invest in quality natural materials. Not only are they luxurious, quality lasts forever and never goes out of style. 

Texture:

Texture wants us to touch. Whether feeling your feet go from the sleek stone floor to the plush sheepskin rug or enveloping yourself in a warm bath surrounded by velvet curtains, textures create intimacy. 

Though easier to implement than the proceeding qualities, it’s the hardest for upkeep. Bathrooms are warm, wet and steamy, not the best conditions for sheepskin rugs and velvet curtains. Consider varying texture in other ways: plush towels and bathrobes, a teak or rock mat to contrast with stone floors. 

Detail:

Fireplaces, sofas, tufted gold bathtubs, bronze statues- all are details that personalize the space. But detail doesn’t have to be large and over the top. Something as simple as a tray with a candle, a book and some tea, a chandelier or pretty decorative storage can elevate a space. Whatever your definition of luxury, you can recreate it in the details. 

Layout:

Rearrange your bathroom. By placing your bath or shower in the center of the room, you can make this act as your core and plan the rest of your bathroom around this. Adding a unique and different feature to any bathroom, this is a great option and assuming the plumbing isn’t too tricky to reconfigure, it shouldn’t cost you too much to do. 

Dramatic Accents:

By adding spotlights in the ceiling, this will give you a mellow and subtle light that will emphasize the features in your room. Pepper your bath with a set of Egyptian cotton towels and add them to the corner of your bath. Although for decorative purposes, this adds a showroom look to your bathroom and when accompanied with a simple trio of candles on the windowsill, you can truly recreate the spa sensation within your luxury bathroom without spending lakhs of rupees on slate floors and marble work surfaces. 

Opting to choose a black or white stone tile or even varnished wood floor will give you the same effect but at a fraction of the price. To finish, paint the walls with a light and neutral colour as this will keep the bathroom light and not draw any attention away from your bathroom features.

Tuesday 24 July 2012

Is Buying or Renting a Home Better in India?

With the increased amount of fluctuations in the real estate prices, most of the property buyers are having a tough time deciding on whether to buy a home or rent a home in India. Property buying becomes even more complicated when the rental rates and the capital of the country increases making the buyers shell out a large sum of money. Most of the home buyers are either lucky while renting or buying or just end up in an error. A home buyer can decide through various measures while investing or renting a property.

Important aspects which a home buyer should consider while renting or buying a home:
Do a complete research on cities which are beneficial in buying or renting a property. If the property price in various cities is less, it is always advisable that they buy the property and if the rent is cheap with a higher property price, it is advised that they rent the property.
A property buyer should decide on investing in a property based on his financial situation.

Buying vs. renting according to cities:
 
Mumbai:
Talking about the real estate sector in Mumbai, the property prices in the city are climbing in an upward position and hence the properties on rent are quite cheaper when compared to buying a property. Most of the sub-cities in Mumbai are of a rental zone from the past years as there is an increase in the demand for rental properties due to high rise in property prices. This in turn makes it difficult for the property buyer. Also the rental rates in the city are stable which makes it easier for people to rent. Most of the areas in Mumbai like the Andheri-Dahisar, Thane, Mumbai harbour, South-west Mumbai and others have adopted the renting method leading to an increased renting process almost all over the city.

Pune:
The realty market of Pune has remained stable in the past few months. This is a neutral city for property investment. This stability of property prices is the effect of high prices for both renting and buying properties in the city. Henceforth, a property investor from Pune can decide whether to buy or rent based on his/her financial situation.

Ahmedabad:
The real estate market of Ahmedabad is witnessing quite a fluctuation. The property prices are quite high and it is advisable to rent a property. Most of the sub-cities in Ahmedabad have come under the rental zone from last year. The property prices in the city have greatly increased in the past few years, which make it difficult for the property owners to invest in the property. Also like other cities, Ahmedabad has stable rental rates which make it easier to rent.

Delhi NCR:
Talking about all the major states, Delhi is one among them where the realty prices have been touching the sky. This eventually makes the city suitable for renting. This will also result in property prices and areas like East Delhi, North Delhi, South Delhi, West Delhi and Dwarka have become the rental zone. Other sub cities of Faridabad, Ghaziabad and Gurgaon are neutral and people can either rent or buy property based on their financial situations.

Bangalore:
Compared to other cities, the real estate market in Bangalore is faring well, as the property prices are quite less. This in turn makes it easier for the property investor. Apparently the rental rates are higher when compared to the property prices and thus this city is a property buying destination. The Bangalore Central area is in a neutral range, wherein one can decide to buy or rent based on their financial situation. Many areas like Bangalore East, Bangalore North, Bangalore South and Bangalore West are advisable for property investment as they are far more economical to buy than to rent.

Hyderabad:
The property rates in this city are higher in few areas and more in other areas. This makes it convenient for the property buyers to invest in it. Thus this city continues to be a buying destination. Areas like Secunderabad and others have cheap properties.

Chennai:
The city has changed to a neutral range from a buying range. Like other cities the property prices here are quite high and one can rent a home easily. Apparently the property investors in Chennai are requested to invest as per their financial situation.