When Small is Big
Do you feel like the walls of your house are closing in on you? Are you having a tough time with effective utilization of whatever little space you have for yourself? Rekha Shanmugham comes to your rescue with eight basic ideas that are sure to help you widen the horizons of your abode.
Read On

Sunshine State of Mind
If home is where the heart is, shouldn’t it be a place of positive vibes and happiness? Rejuvenate your living space with some fresh looks to get your home stylishly summer-ready. By Swati Sadhwani

Aah, summer! That time of the year when life revolves around sun, sand, mangoes and ice cold lemonade. That time of the year when your wardrobe gets a complete revamp; you pack away your heavy, dreary warm clothes to bring out light and breezy tees and cute shorts and summer dresses to the front.
Read On

13 Must Have Accessories for 2013
A brand new year calls for some brand new accessories for your home. Preethi Shanker reveals 2013’s hot home accessories

As in fashion, home accessories can either make or break the look of a room. They may seem mundane and you may already have all of them, but with our accessory checklist, this 2013 you will stay on top of décor trends and have an enviable abode
Read On

Brilliant Baths
With three distinct looks and tons of tips, Preethi Shanker shows you how to make your bathroom truly beautiful

Browsing though bathroom design brochures can be a daunting task. They are more often than not filled with impossibly pristine rooms that look like you have acres of space for your bathrooms, not to mention the vast picture windows. This of course is a far cry from the average home. This does not, however, mean that you cannot have the bathroom of your dreams.
Read On

Crucial Corners
While decorating your home, it is natural to have each room mapped out in your head with the obvious elements: couch, chairs, tables, cushions. You know exactly where each one goes and the spaces are easy to fill. But without paying adequate attention to the sleepy, neglected corners, it is tough for a room to look complete and fetching. So what can one really do with the crucial corners, other than jamming it up with bulky, boring furniture? Here are a few pointers that might ignite inspiration.
Read On

Africa Calling
Add the essence of Africa to your home décor and watch your favourite spaces come to life. Waka waka… this time it’s Africa. By Preethi Shanker

Mysterious clans, exotic plants, lithe animals: Africa has always been known to excite and enliven your most primal senses. The colours, the sights, the sounds, the smells are all so vibrant and alive. Spruce up your abode with the textures and the symbolism of the continent.
Read On

Laying the Foundation

Poet and novelist Laurie Lee once famously said, "But our waking life and our growing years were for the most part spent in the kitchen, and until we married, or ran away, it was the common room we shared." The kitchen is, for the most part, the heart of a home. How many meals do families share? How many guests are delighted by your food? – The kitchen is part and parcel of your best memories of home. So it is important to decorate it the right way. Choosing kitchen tiles is not a shop-online kind of task. There are several factors to consider before taking the plunge. Here are a few of them
Read On

8 Tricks to a Bigger Home

The proof that summer is here is often written on our tanned and sweaty faces. The diehard optimists probably say they enjoy the increase in Vitamin D during summer, but the downside of the heat waves and the frequent power cuts is the struggle to stay in the confines of our homes during the hot summer days. Well, you can now imbibe the restful and cooling properties of any summer resort by making your home ready to handle the heat.
Read On

Haute Interiors

The proof that summer is here is often written on our tanned and sweaty faces. The diehard optimists probably say they enjoy the increase in Vitamin D during summer, but the downside of the heat waves and the frequent power cuts is the struggle to stay in the confines of our homes during the hot summer days. Well, you can now imbibe the restful and cooling properties of any summer resort by making your home ready to handle the heat.
Read On

Wonder Blooms

Brightening a dull room with a few vibrant cushions, a little shimmer or a bright spread here and there are tricks that have been done and suggested several times over. If you are willing to take it up a notch and risk an experiment, then go all out and play with floral patterns in multiple hues. It is striking, homely and definitely worth a shot, says Oishee Mukhopadhyay Talwar
Read On

SOHO Sweet: Concept of Work from Home

The freedom and flexibility necessitated by today’s lifestyle has spawned the concept of working out of home. In the absence of fixed working hours, it is possible to schedule one’s work for the times one feels most productive and mentally available. And if you are one of those people, then SOHO is for you.
Read On

Boudoir Magic

Valentine’s Day! It’s not about just that one day; it’s about keeping that feeling alive every single day, all year along, and where else can you rekindle the sparks than in the bedroom? By Bhargavii ManiTaking time out for romance to keep the love alive, refreshed and renewed within a marriage, is the most talked about subject these days! With the rate of divorces and infidelity on the rise, it makes a lot of sense especially considering the otherwise stressful high pressure lifestyle that is prevalent in today’s society.
Read On

Home sweet smelling home

Do you come home to a dry, dull and vague odour in your house everyday? Here are 5 ways you can keep your house smelling fresh as a daisy!

(i) Spray select locations in your house with essential oil sprays available at all leading outlets. Lemongrass, mandarin and strawberry are top summery scents guaranteed to keep your house always smelling sweet, effervescent and clean. These oil sprays are organic and help keep the mosquitoes away too. Talk about double benefits!
Read On

Happiness in Homes

“Happiness is the meaning and the purpose of life, the whole aim and end of human existence,” said Aristotle. Happiness is every human being’s birthright. We could even say that it is a state of mind, a choice and a way of life. Undeniably, our need to be happy is what drives us to make our various choices in life. Finding that inner peace is the final destination and one of the paths we need to take seeking happiness is creating a harmonious and healthy living space.
Read On

10 Easy-on-the-Wallet Xmas Decorating Ideas

The smell of Christmas tree, the taste of freshly baked puddings, the wait for Santa Claus, the sound of carols and the joy of giving and receiving gifts. Christmas is a holiday which quintessentially kindles our emotions. It brings back childhood holiday memories and makes us want to recreate them for our friends and family and one way of doing that is to be surrounded by elements that remind us of this season.
Read On

Pretty In Plum
PLUM PLUM PLUM... a romantic colour... a royal colour. Preethi Shanker lets you in on how to use the luxurious shade to enhance your home’s interiors.

Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star
As parents, you try to protect your child’s innocence without having to impinge on his or her exposure to the world. It’s good to create a territory for them, which they can call their own. A child’s room needn’t necessarily be about sunshine, rainbows and cotton candy; learn where their interests lie and work the room accordingly. By Vijetha Rangabashyam
Read On

Art Deco
A beautiful work of art says a lot about you and imbues your home with a sense of uniqueness. Preethi Shanker takes you on an exhilarating journey of finding your art quotient
Read On

Heading east
An Oriental touch gives your home a classical look since it mirrors the journey of one of the oldest civilizations in the world. Oriental designs have variations in terms of being rich and simple, subtle and stunning. They offer a wide range of colour combination, thus it is considered highly versatile. By Janani Sampath
Read On

Backyard basics
In today’s world of diminishing spaces, a great way to extend your living space is to effectively use the limited outdoor space at your disposal. Whether it’s a small balcony, a terrace, a patio, a courtyard or a garden, adding some functional and decorative elements can transform it into a favourite spot for your family. And, not to mention, you will be doing your bit for a green planet.
Read On

Clutter free
Does the regular cleaning only seem to create more room for more junk? Then, it’s time you gave some serious thought to cutting out the clutter. And, the best way to begin is by identifying the key problem areas that suffer from the Chronic Clutter Disease. This month, we issue a few warning signs that not only help you get rid of the mess, but ensure that it stays out of your home, for good.
Read On

Haute accessories
The New Year is here and its time to shake up things at home and experiment. We looked at what vibrant designers had in mind and picked out a collage of different ideas that can give your living space a whole new look without making expensive renovations.

A good film or a good piece of art has that surprise element which keeps people intrigued.
Read On

Classy kitchens
Kitchens today have been transformed into cheery places where one can cook in comfort or even enjoy a cozy dinner. Modern kitchens are aimed at making the best use of space, blending together aesthetics and functionality in the best way possible.

Universally, the take-off point for kitchen design starts from the work triangle which consists of the Refrigerator
Read On

Dramatic décor
A dash of shocking pink, a blur of abstract forms and a haze of fluid patterns – runways across the country are a haze of volatile revelry and colourful sophistication as couture takes a creative turn. While the ramps are ablaze with a burst of multiple hues and weird shapes, it’s high time that your home, like your wardrobe, reflects not just your personality but also a fragment of the season’s raging fashion formulas.
Read On