Tuesday 19 February 2019

When old is gold: Add a vintage touch to your home decor


February, 2019
When it comes to home decor, a vintage look is always in style. We look at some simple ways, in which home owners can recreate an old-world charm in modern homes

A ‘vintage décor’ can be defined as an interior design theme that incorporates elements of the past and in particular, the best elements of a particular time. Prachi Chavarkar, co-founder of ArchiLab Designs, explains that a vintage design can be associated with a region (for example, Rajasthan, Maharashtra or Kerala) or even architecture belonging to a particular era, like Indo-Saracenic (or Indo-Gothic or Mughal-Gothic). “In terms of a global look, it can also be British, French or colonial design. Some may also call a local historical look as ethnic but it is a part of vintage décor,” adds Chavarkar.

Budget Flats In Thane Ambernath
Credit : Freepik.com

Elements of vintage decor


Home owners can remodel their homes based on a vintage theme, by either recreating the style or bringing in old decor elements, such as distressed furniture, a grandfather clock, ceramic tableware or even a sword hanging on the wall, into the design.

“Wall plaster treatment that mimics Greek architecture or red oxide flooring, for example, could instantly give the space an old-world charm. An old metal trunk, placed right at the center of the living area, can add an element of nostalgia and serve as a functional coffee table. Old bamboo rocking chairs, incandescent or industrial lighting, wooden fans, bohemian carpets, are all simple examples of this,” states Sameer AM, founder and CEO, Bonito Designs. Floral soft furnishings or wallpaper, add a vibrant colour to any room. “For fabrics, opt for jute, cotton and recycled fibres with muted floral patterns, to add a soothing feel. These are ideal for a vintage look,” adds Sameer.

Antiques and souvenirs as décor accessories


People often collect old antiques or souvenirs, from the various places they travel to. A home owner may also have inherited many artifacts and antiques. “It is a nice concept to showcase antiques in your space. However, these items should be displayed with a lot of thought and care. When you display numerous pieces from different locations, historical periods, types and materials, one has to be mindful about the order of display. Depending upon the size, scale, material and type, they should be properly framed or placed. Ideally, these should have a showcase or a background/surrounding that complements the items displayed,” Chavarkar suggests.

Colour scheme for a vintage home décor


Vintage-looking furniture, made from old reclaimed wood or wood that looks colour-washed and weathered, are in vogue. Winged chairs or a royal armchair, can be used as accent pieces. The flooring, from designer cement tiles, wooden floor, carpets and area rugs, should have colour schemes that enhance the vintage décor. While designing the home, decide the colour scheme or materials for the vintage theme, based on the size and volume of space and the amount of natural light that is available.

Sonali Puri, a home maker from Delhi, who designed her house on a vintage theme, shares that “I have silver and brass artifacts, which are family heirlooms. I have also been collecting antique curious like jharokha frames, textiles and lithographs for a long time. In my living room, I have framed and put up an old textile tapestry with rich embroidery, as a backdrop. A silver-plated divan that belongs to my grandmother and silver frames, with family photos in black and white, add to the vintage look. I have tried to maintain a balance between the modern and antique. For example, the dining table, which I picked up from Chor Bazaar in Mumbai, has a pedestal of the teakwood and a glass top.”

Dos and don’ts for remodeling a house to add a vintage look



  • Ideally, the colours in a vintage-themed home, should be shades of blue, pink and peach.


  • Wallpapers with floral patterns, are ideal for this theme.


  • For furniture, opt for old designs, like a carved four-poster bed, an ornate dresser or a maharajah chair.


  • One can have a mix of themes but it should be handled carefully. Mix old pieces with modern design elements, to create a perfect amalgamation.

  • Source - housing.com

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    Monday 4 February 2019

    Home automation: The next wave of change in the real estate industry


    February, 2019
    The real estate industry has been through several transformations, over the past few decades. We look at how home automation could well usher in the next transformation and how it will impact home buyers and developers

    A few decades ago, a home seeker would have been content with any home that was available within his/her budget. It is also likely that this home seeker would have worked for years, to accumulate the funds for the house. Home buying then, was a luxury that very few could afford. The availability of home loans and defined EMIs, in the 1980s, augmented the growth of real estate in the country, especially in the metropolitan and tier-1 cities, as it brought home ownership within the reach of most tax-payers.

    With increasing consumer demand and growth in the real estate sector, developers began experimenting, by offering value-added lifestyle amenities like swimming pools, club houses, gymnasiums, imported fittings, Italian marble floorings, video door phones and concierge services, to create stronger demand for their products. With time, such amenities soon became a standard part of their offerings and consumers expected these, as a part of their lifestyle quotient.

    Real Estate Projects in Thane
    Credit : Freepik.com

    Adoption of home automation in Indian real estate

    Meanwhile, home automation, a four-decade-old segment, never became a standard part of developers’ offerings to home buyers. One can attribute the slow growth of this segment to various factors like the necessity of wiring for the installation of appliances, unaffordable products, servicing issues and limited functionality. However, the growth of technology has changed all this.

    The evolution of smartphones, has completely redefined our lives. It has changed the way we work, shop, bank and connect with people. It has also redefined the home automation segment. Modern developers have started designing products that provide enhanced functionality and are offering services that can easily integrate with existing home automation products. Most of the new age home automation solutions comprise of Wi-Fi enabled wireless products that are based on the ‘plug and play’ model and offer consumers the option to manage the same through their smartphones.

    Most of these home automation products provide:

    • Ease of management and the ability to control the devices from remote locations.
    • 24×7 surveillance facility through motion sensor devices and live feeds.
    • Energy savings leading to monetary savings, through planned use of connected appliances.
    • Nearly 25 per cent savings in electrical usage over time.

    Home automation: What do buyers seek and what are developers offering?

    Young home buyers and millennial buyers, nowadays look at investing in projects that are designed to accommodate home automation services. The concept of smart homes, is now far more lucrative, especially among the young home buyers, who want complete control of their homes.

    New age home automation products can be configured to provide nearly all conveniences – from controlling the garage door, home entry, playing of music and switching on devices like air-conditioners and water heaters, to ordering food, all chores can be pre-configured or commanded to the liking of the user’s. These automation features can play a very important role, especially in senior citizens’ homes. For example, the system can be voice configured, to call for medical assistance in case of emergencies. Moreover, most of the home automation products can be easily configured with voice-enabled devices like Google Home and Amazon Alexa.

    With value offerings that go beyond basic functionalities, many real estate developers are already working towards adding home automation products to their list of standard offerings across projects. With growing technology, soon, one’s home may be able to take care of itself, as well as our daily needs and likings.

    Source - housing.com

    You may also contact us at - +91-22-25452903, 66543333 or Email us at - sales@squarefeetgroup.in