Friday, 5 April 2019

A guide to choosing great colours for your home

 
www.squarefeetgroup.in
 
 
April, 2019
 
 
Here’s how home owners can choose the right wall colours for their homes, based on their personalities and the ambience they want to create

According to therapists, colours tend to have a psychological and physical impact on us. For example, certain colours can raise blood pressure, increase metabolism or even cause eye strain, while other colours have a healing effect and can balance energy levels.


2 BHK Flat in Kasawadavali

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Red

Red symbolises love, passion and courage. It is a colour that exudes warmth and draws attention. It has a great emotional impact, making it ideal for the living room.

Orange

Nehal Motta, a resident of Mumbai, recently painted the accent wall of her living room in orange, as she felt that it was a cheerful colour. “Orange is the colour of knowledge, loyalty and generosity. It reflects a healthy social environment and revitalises the mind and body,” she justifies.

Yellow

The rest of the walls, in Motta’s living room are painted in yellow. “My living room lacks a strong source of natural light. So, we have used yellow, to give the room a bright look,” she adds. Yellow is one of the most widely-used colours in the world and is ideal for small-sized homes in cities. It exudes warmth, inspiration and joy. Besides sunlight and spirituality, yellow is also associated with wealth, as it is the colour of gold.

Green

“Green represents freshness and abundance. Its soothing quality characterises the power of nature,” says Motta, whose bedroom has a bottle green accent wall. The colour is proven to have a therapeutic effect and is suitable for rooms that focus on wellbeing and rest.

Blue

According to interior designer Sheena Chhabria, blue represents tranquillity, comfort and serenity. “It is the colour of the sky and sea and has a cooling and soothing effect in rooms. It is ideal for bathrooms, because it is associated with water. When used in bedrooms, it induces sleep by calming the mind,” she explains. A shade of Mediterranean blue, helps to blur the room’s boundaries thereby, making it look bigger than its actual size.

Purple

Purple represents sensuality, passion, royalty, luxury and depth of feeling.

Pink

Pink is an emotional colour and connotes sensitivity and a caring nature. Hence, it is ideal for bedrooms, as it gives a peaceful touch and makes it look lively.

Black and white

“White is associated with purity and elegance, while black is associated with negativity and power. If you are not happy with a plain white wall, then, you can opt for different shades of white. You can choose a white shade with a pink tone, blue tone or green tone. This makes the room appear bigger and vibrant. Black can be used to add contrast, to a room that has light-coloured walls,” says Chhabria.

While painting a room, do not use more than three colours for any space, including neutrals. All that is required is a little planning, to find a colour that best suits your room. After all, you want the right mood in a room, as it impacts not just your own feelings, but also that of everyone who enters it.

Tips on painting a large room

1. Bright colours add a positive vibe and make the surrounding more energetic. Younger children, in particular, tend to favour bright colours like yellow, orange and red.

2. Warm colours can make a large room seem cosier, while small bedrooms can be made to appear larger, with cooler shades.

3. Metallic finishes, such as gold, bronze, glitter or pearl red, silver and blue, add a bold look. Non-metallic finishes, which are minimalistic, along with geometric or trendy patterns, exude elegance and give a subtle, artistic feel to a space.

4. Living rooms painted in a triadic scheme (for example, using three distinctly different colours like blue, yellow and red), tend to be very vibrant and energetic and depict youthfulness and freshness.

Painting a small room? Remember this

1. Yellow, pink and lavender, are ideal for small-sized bedrooms.

2. Light yellows, with green and peach or pink accents, and blue and sea green shades, are light yet, bright colours. These colours are a great way to beat the summer heat, while maintaining a cosy feel.

3. You can also paint one wall in a small bedroom with a darker shade, to differentiate it from the other walls in the room. The darker wall will seem to recede, creating an illusion of space.

4. You can also paint the walls using stripes of alternating but similar colours. These stripes can be vertical or horizontal and three to five inches wide.




Source - housing.com

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Thursday, 4 April 2019

Simple solutions to create storage space at home

www.squarefeetgroup.in


April, 2019
 
 
Every home needs ample storage space to ensure that the décor looks clean. We look at ways in which home owners can create sufficient storage spaces that are stylish and also gives a spacious feel to the interiors

A home should not only have visual appeal but should also have sufficient space, to keep things. For this, it is important to plan storage spaces well and use the existing space wisely, when designing your home décor. In any home, large or small, one can tackle storage issues, with a little creativity.


1 BHK Flats in Ghodbunder Road

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Use vertical surfaces for storage


If one lives in a small space, one has to think about how to use every part of the home. “If there is lack of floor space, use the walls, as this space is usually wasted. Many of the items that are not needed on a daily basis, can be stocked here,” says Mikita Laad Gupta, senior designer, Bonito Designs. Opt for vertical furniture, like floor-to-ceiling shelves. Instead of bookshelves on the floor, optimise the space by using shelves on the wall. These can even be visually attractive, with shelves shaped like tree branches.

Tall shelves make the space appear less cramped. “In the kitchen, vertical space can be put to good use, especially to store smaller items. Similarly, baskets can be lined up behind doors, to store things in the kitchen. Vertical cubby holes in the bathrooms wall or niches in the living rooms, can also be used to create storage space at home,” adds Astha Khetan, founder, The House of Things.com.

Make optimum use of space


Every house has spaces that are less noticed, which can be used in a better way. “The space behind the door is an unused space in most homes. In children’s rooms, laundry bags can be hung up on hooks. Similarly, books or toys can be placed in bags and hung on hooks. The space under staircases, can be used for storing shoes, with pull-out shoe racks,” suggests Gupta.

A corridor/passage in the house, depending on where it is, can be used for a wall-mounted bookshelf or shoe rack. In the bedroom, opt for a bed with concealed storage in the headboard and use boxes under the bed to store items. Use a dining table or centre table with sliding drawers, for storing napkins and cutlery.

“Choose furniture pieces that meet your storage requirement and also add to the style quotient of your home. Lofts and alcoves in the room, foyer or even bathroom are ideal spaces to build storage units. In the kitchen, opt for smart solutions within the cabinet, for example, drawer dividers for cutlery, trays and pull-outs for spices. Pegboards can be used on a kitchen wall, to store essential stuff. You can even hang a family photo or your children’s drawings on the board, to add to the visual interest,” states Khetan.

Create space for small items


Some items are difficult to store, even if space is not an issue. “Whenever one plans storage, a lot of small items like jewellery, hair accessories and other knick-knacks, tend to be ignored. Storing them in regular drawers, can lead to a mess and wastage of space. To avoid this, use the walls to store such items in a small space. You can make your own jewellery holder, with a painted cork sheet or a hanger near the dresser, or even use ice cube trays in drawers, to store rubber bands, clips, cufflinks, earrings, etc.,” adds Gupta.

Plastic storage drawers or folding shelf organisers that can be easily moved, can be useful additions to a closet. In a linen closet, use them to stack small clothes like socks, handkerchiefs, lingerie and towels. Use bright and bold-coloured fancy trunks, to store away things in the bedroom, while also a unique décor element.

Creative storage ideas


  1. 1. Use glass for making shelves and partitions, as it makes the house appear spacious. Shelves fixed at an eye-level, are good for keeping knick-knacks.
  2. 2. Use multi-purpose furniture – for example, a chest which doubles as a center table, a sofa with storage space for books in the armrest, or a dining table bench with storage for cutlery.
  3. 3. An openable full-length mirror in the bedroom or bathroom can have concealed storage behind it.
  4. 4. The bathroom basin can have storage units under the counter. Use colourful baskets on the bathroom wall, to keep toiletries.
  5. 5. Use the space above wardrobes to create a loft, where you can store suitcases. You can stuff extra bed covers or blankets in the empty suitcases.
  6. 6. Space underneath the window seating can be used for storage.
  7. 7. Homes are often filled with needless items that one has collected over the years. Hence, de-clutter and clean the house regularly.



Source - housing.com

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

Wednesday, 20 March 2019

Top Reasons Why Should Plan a Home Purchase Early in Life

 
www.squarefeetgroup.in
 
March, 2019
 
 
A home is a not only a place where you nurture your family but also an asset that adds to your portfolio and wealth. However, most first home aspirants are torn by the thought of when to start planning for the purchase. The answer is to start as early as possible.

This is because early planning leads to early execution, which offers a host of benefits. Additionally, at this stage of your life you are likely to have fewer responsibilities to shoulder and can divert your savings to purchase an asset that offers lifetime security and has an appreciating value.

A number of housing projects are added to the real estate market every year, so, for instance if you are looking for property for sale in Thane, you can consider top projects like Ace Square in Ghodbunder Road having 1 and 2 BHK Flats in Thane.

So whether you want to self-occupy the property or rent it out, this makes for a good deal!


1 BHK and 2 BHK Flats in Kasarwadavali Ghodbunder Road Thane
Credit : squarefeetgroup.in

But before you start judging your options, take a look at why you should plan home purchase early in life.


Early planning means sound planning


When you start gathering insights and information regarding a home purchase early on in life, it certainly allows you enough time to plan your finances too. Moreover, this way you can avoid committing financial mistakes and can make meaningful choices regarding the house you wish to buy.

It instils financial discipline


This process brings about financial discipline and helps you curb unnecessary expenses at an early age to work towards your goal. Once you pick up the habit of careful utilisation of your financial resources, saving for a home will not be a far-fetched reality.

Moreover, this will help you prioritise your other goals clearly so that you can fulfill them as well without any stress.

It helps in achieving your goal of buying a home early


An early start means you can buy a home early too, and capitalise on property appreciation for more number of years. Also, with home buying out of the way, you will have more bandwidth to cater to other goals.

With the right planning, you can then set out to complete the home buying process. Now, that you know how planning for a home early in life can prove extremely beneficial for you, here are the benefits that a home offers.

You can earn high investment returns


A real estate property is an asset that adds value to your portfolio. So, whether you buy a budget property or invest in a luxurious villa as your first home, you will always benefit from capital appreciation.

Consider a property with higher resale value by taking into consideration the locality’s potential and the builder’s credentials so that you can earn handsome gains over time.

You can earn passive income if you let it out


Even if you happen to shift to a new city in the future, your property can still earn you returns. If you don’t wish to sell it, you can rent it out and earn rental income instead. This acts as passive income that you can put towards other financial goals.

You can enjoy tax benefits on home loan repayment


You can effectively save taxes by way of home loan repayment, by claiming a tax deduction on both, the interest and principal repayment of your home loan.

Section 80C of the Income Tax Act allows you to claim a deduction for principal repayment of up to Rs. 1.5 lakh and Section 24B allows you to claim a deduction of Rs. 2 lakh for interest payment you make on your home loan during one financial year. In addition, as a first time home buyer you can get an extra deduction of Rs. 50,000 under Section 80EE.
So, put off any delays and start planning your home purchase now. If you have already started and have accumulated the amount for a down payment, initiate your property search right away!


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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

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


    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


    Tuesday, 29 January 2019

    3 Reasons To Keep Track Of Your Credit Score



    January, 2019
    Your credit score helps any banking or non-banking financial company judge your creditworthiness before they lend money to you. The score is like your report card that shows how good you are at handling the money you earn and the debt you take. The score ranges from 300 to 900 points. 

    These scores are generated by credit information companies, that are also known as credit bureaus. Four such licensed credit information companies that are licensed by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to produce credit scores are TransUnion CIBIL, Equifax, Experian and CRIF Highmark.

    Your credit score is based on several factors like age, years of employment, your earnings and your spending habits among others. It is good practice to know and assess your credit score as regularly as you can. In an era where everything is possible with a click, credit scoring companies allow you to check your credit score at any time and here are 3 reasons why you should be doing it more often.

    Real Estate Projects in Ambarnath Thane
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    1. Prevention is better than cure

    Most of us are unaware of our credit scores and fail to understand why a certain loan application was rejected. When you check your credit report regularly, you are aware of the reasons that may be damaging your score in any way. 

    Banks or other lenders are required to report your EMI statuses to these agencies to keep the report updated. Even other negative or positive activities like a cheque bounce will be reflected in your score accordingly. When you check your credit report regularly, you will point out if the credit agency has recorded an activity incorrectly and fix it. These credit bureaus also provide services where they recommend action plans to improve your score.

    2. Avoid loan rejections

    A lender is bound to check your credit score before giving you a loan. When the lender contacts the credit bureau for your score, it is known as a 'hard inquiry.' Each of these is accounted for and reflected in your score. Too many inquiries could make you look "credit hungry" and puts you in a bad light.

    However, when you check the score yourself, it is known as 'soft inquiry.' Soft inquiries do not reflect in your credit report. It is, therefore, better to check your score before you apply for a loan to avoid rejection by working towards improving it.

    3. Get better deals

    With a good credit score, banks would be glad to lend money to you and in an attempt to attract you to their bank, they will provide you with attractive interest rates. Apart from getting cheaper loans, a good credit score could also fetch you pre-approved loans.

    Financial companies allow users to check your credit scores for free and provide you with pre-approved loans in a tie-up with various lenders. In such a case, when you have access to your latest credit score, you can check for offers from different lenders and pick the best one to suit your needs.

    Some banks provide cheap loans to those with scores over 750. You can inquire for yourself if your bank has such an offer and regulate your score accordingly.

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

    Monday, 7 January 2019

    Stamp Duty And Tax On Gift Deed Of Property


    January, 2019
    While a gift of house property does not involve monetary consideration, it needs to be registered and taxes should be paid in certain cases

    Gifting is an act, through which a person voluntarily transfers certain rights in an asset to another person, without any consideration. Gifting of a house property, has certain income tax and stamp duty implications.

    Budget Flats In Thane Ambernath
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    Legal requirements for gift of property


    As per the Transfer of Property Act, the transfer of a house property under a gift, has to be effected by a registered instrument/document, signed by or on behalf of the person gifting the property and should also be attested by at least two witnesses. The registrar shall ensure that proper stamp duty has been affixed on the gift deed/document when it is presented for registration. The amount of stamp duty and registration charges payable, with respect to a gift deed, are generally the same as in the case of a regular sale. However, if the gift deed is executed between some specified close relatives, some states provide concessions in stamp duty. For example, Maharashtra has a cap on stamp duty payable on gift of a residential or agricultural property to one’s spouse, children, grandchildren or wife of a son who has died, at Rs 200, irrespective of the value of the property.

    Income tax implications on gift of property


    According to income tax laws, the value of all the gifts received by a person during a year is fully exempt, as long as the total of such gifts does not exceed Rs 50,000 in a year. If the value of all the gifts taken together exceeds Rs 50,000, then, the aggregate of the gifts received become taxable without any threshold exemption. However, income tax laws also give a favourable treatment, to gifts between two close relatives. Consequently, the gift of any asset (whether movable or immovable) made to certain specified relatives, is fully exempt from tax in the hand of the recipient, without any upper limit. The list of close relatives includes parents, spouse, siblings, siblings of the spouse, lineal ascendants and descendants of the person and his/her spouse. The list also includes spouse of the abovementioned persons.

    If the house property is received as a gift from a relative, the first incidence of tax will arise, when you sell the property. The cost for the purpose of income tax, shall be the taken as the cost that was paid for the property by any of the previous owners. The profits shall be treated as short-term or long-term, depending on whether the aggregate of your holding period as well as that of the previous owner who had actually paid for it, is more than 36 months or not.

    If the holding period as computed above is less than 36 months, the profit accrued on the sale of such property, shall be treated as short-term and will be added to your regular income and taxed at the applicable slab rate. However, if the holding period is more than 36 months, you will get the benefit of indexation on the cost of the property, as well as the option to claim exemption from payment of 20% long-term capital gains tax, by investing in a residential house or in capital gains bonds of Rural Electrification Corporation (REC) or National Highway Authority of India (NHAI).


    Source - www.housing.com

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