It
is every one's dream to have a house of his liking. But it needs proper
planning from the initial stage itselfThe residential accommodation can be of
various types viz. Independent buildings, Row housing. Multistoried apartments
(Medium rise or high rise), Villas etc.
The
correct approach is to bestow attention to details at the planning and design
stage. These should take into account proper orientation to have full benefit
of natural daylight, adequate natural ventilation, soil analysis and treatment
for termites, adequate plinth height and slope to allow for satisfactory sewage
and waste water flow from the premises to the municipal mains, provision for
installation of solar water heaters and solar cookers as part of energy
conservation, use of energy efficient construction materials, easy
maintainability, economy, aesthetics, facility for extension/modification,
facility for old people and physically handicapped persons, environmental
improvement and economy. The buildings should confirm to the statutory
regulations with regard to setbacks, clearances, FAR/FSI etc.
In
recent times emphasis is laid on Vastu aspect also. The interior furnishing
should be done with ergonomic aspects in view, proper selection of colours for
wall paint and drapery effective carpeting. The exterior should include the
right type of plants, trees and lawns.
Some
of the factors mentioned below are with reference to multistoried buildings,apartments and clusters of interconnected buildings. The buildings and
associated services should keep safety as one of the fundamental
considerations. This includes, among other things, proper approach, slope,
correct width, tread and rise of staircase steps, elevators of proper rating,
emergency staircase, proper illumination for stairways and corridors, marking
of exit routes in case of fire/other hazards, non-skid flooring for kitchen and
bath areas, use of BIS marked materials and fittings and fixtures, use of
fire-resistant and eco-friendly materials, provision of standby power supply
for elevators and water pumpsets,
staircase and corridor lighting, fire detection and alarm system, proper
storage of garbage, parapet walls/barricades in terrace area and emergency
first aid facility.
Properand timely maintenance is the key to long life, good appearance, comfortable living and safety. This also assures good market value for the property. The
maintenance of buildings includes periodic window cleaning, repainting of
internal and external surfaces, painting/polishing of doors, windows and
ventilators, lubrication of rolling shutters and other metal doors, floor
polishing, cleaning of pipes and storm water drains, cleaning of tanks,
fumigation/extermination/pest control, checking of electrical installation
including and recalibration of safe trip mechanism and burglar alarm system,
checking plumbing system for leaks in walls/roof and taking corrective
measures.
The
maintenance should cover not only the internal areas but also the external
surroundings. In the case of multistorey apartments and clusters of buildings,
attention should be paid to the common areas and common utilities like
elevators, water storage tanks (underground and overhead) and pumps, standby
power supply plant, lawns, garbage disposal area, playground, etc. This is
normally taken care of by a committee set up by the association of apartment
owners.
Following
are some suggestions to help to have a safe, comfortable and trouble-free
dwelling place:
•
Have the building plan approved by the statutory authority and adhere to the
Regulations.
•
Entrust the design work to a competent designer.
•
Get the work executed by a suitable person with proper licence.
•Draw
out contract specifications clearly to avoid disputes at a later date.
•
Inspect the materials and workmanship periodically during execution to ensure
adherence to specifications.
•
Insist on proper safety precautions to be taken by the persons engaged in the
construction and maintenance and repair jobs.
•
Do not allow engagement of child labour in the works.
•
Use only three-pin sockets and plugs of correct rating for use of all appliances.
•
Never allow use of bare wires without pins for taking electrical connections.
•
Use only approved brand fittings for electrical, plumbing and sanitary works.
•
Get weather proofing done only by reputed specialist agency and get written
warranty.
•
Use rubber mats for work with electrical appliances.
•
Proper heights should be considered for mounting of electrical outlets and
bolts and fasteners to avoid access by children.
•
Use energy efficient light fittings and supplement it with job lighting
wherever required.
•
Make sure of proper earthing for the entire electrical installation.
A
thing of beauty is a joy for ever. Art pieces when judiciously selected and
placed in apt places and in proper way in home interiors, brings out the best
of not only the ambience but also the mental thinking of the people owning the
place.
Wise
selection of artwork and their aesthetic placement go a long way in enhancing
the mood and atmosphere of the rooms and hall where they are placed.
An
interesting way of decorating your home is to hang up artwork first and work
your décor around it. It creates an aura for your space giving it greater depth
and a definite ambience, and also makes it a great place for good conversation.
However,
placing art in the right places and ensuring that it is visible is possible
only if you stick to certain design parameters. These include the frames,
placement and spacing, height from where it hangs, the colour of the wall on
which it is hung, the furnishings, fabrics and accessories used in that
particular room.
Individual
pieces should be placed in such a way that the centre of the piece is at eye
level. When hanging a group of photos, prints, or paintings, try to figure out
the layout to get it ideal before you start hanging them the wall. In a room
where you generally sit down (a dining room, family room, or office), hang
pictures a bit lower, so they can be enjoyed at a lower viewing angle.
You
need to relate artwork to the furniture below it. A large framed piece over a
sofa or side-board relates more easily when it is hung so that the bottom of
the frame is positioned 6 to 12 inches above the top of the sofa back or
tabletop.
While
working with a group of pictures or objects to be hung on a wall, think of the
grouping as one large picture and relate the bottom of the entire group to the
furniture underneath it.
Take
a look at your collection – does it consist works by favorite artists, a
collection of mementoes in shadowboxes from personal experience or family
history, a portrait gallery of family members, or a mix of all these styles?
While
displaying artwork in a particular room, stick to one of these so that the room
does not resemble a confused clutter of mismatched art pieces. The paint colour
should complement the artwork. Before choosing room décor, such as wood wall
décor, ensure that you have selected the best wall colour that will complement
the art.
If
your art is themed around the vintage look and has a feel of nostalgia to it,
then include things which can help enhance the feeling of nostalgic style.
Include vintage signs, vintage linens and furniture.
While
selecting your decorative piece, however if you want to be certain they are in
keeping with the interior design theme and also have some aspects, then
co-ordinate them with each other.
To
add softness in addition to enhancing your décor, decorative pillows can be a
refreshing choice. Further, the perfect knickknacks to balance your interior
decorating scheme can be fun and also help pull the room together.
Having
art decor art nouveau clock, lamps and vases on shelves, mantles, and table and
geometrically shaped knic-Knacks on shelves can help to create this look.
Galleries
and museums maintain a controlled environment so that light and humidity do not
damage their artworks. Each piece in your home gallery is just as important.
Art
is the best appreciated when hung at average eye level, but again it depends on
the piece. It is best to keep the gallery free and airy, with maybe low settees
in the middle. The art should be the
focus.
As
for light fixtures, do not have overtly bright ones like fluorescent lighting
which can be dangerous for the print. You must be able to discern how
light-sensitive and having natural light stream-in into 'safe' areas will add
to the general ambience.Avoid spots where your artwork will be exposed todirect sunlight.
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