Zero Waste Home - Tips Series 2

This week we present tips on how to reduce waste in laundry and cleaning where a hell lot of chemicals are used. Hope this will help you to reduce chemical waste and stick on to natural cleaning solutions that does less harm to our body and homes. 

Less we use chemicals, more we earn a better life. The homes in Chennai demands use of more natural cleaning agents since the climate is humid most of the months and the migrant population is increasing rapidly. The luxury homes in Chennai are now trying to adapt eco-friendly. 

LAUNDRY AND CLEANING

1. Welcome natural cleaning alternatives: A mix of lemon and vinegar on floors and sinks, homemade all purpose cleaner, baking soda for scrubbing jobs, and vinegar for mildew.
2. Welcome alternative house cleaning tools: a metal scourer on stainless, a wooden brush for light scrubbing, an old toothbrush for hard to reach places and microfiber cloths for everything else (counters, floor, fridge, etc… for mirrors and windows, just add water… no window cleaner needed).
3. Sweep your floors with a boar bristle or silk broom, wash with a wet microfiber mop and a few drops of lemon juice.
4. Use worn-out clothing items made into rags on your non-washable messes (wax/auto grease/glue/caulk).
5. Buy dishwasher detergent in bulk and use white vinegar as a rinsing aid.
6. Let houseplants absorb toxins and clean your air. Open a window instead of plugging in an air freshener.
7. Laundry washing once a week saves time and dryer energy costs, use a laundry detergent sold in bulk, full loads, and cold water cycles as much as possible. Dishwasher detergent, chalk, lemon or vinegar work great on stains.
8. Dry on a line when possible.
9. Iron fewer things and use a homemade starch in a stainless spray bottle.

Zero Waste Home: Tips Series 1

In an era where waste management is critical and seeks attention from all corners, here are few tips to make your home a free waste zone.
Before you start:

• Ensure yourself with a reusable water bottle, a couple grocery totes, a few cloth bags and reusable jars and bottles.
• Get your 5Rs right: 

1. Refuse what you do not need
2. Reduce what you do need
3. Reuse what you consume
4. Recycle what you cannot Refuse, Reduce or Reuse
5. Rot (Compost) the rest. 

Most of the waste at home is mainly comes from kitchen. To begin with the zero-waste home tips, here are few tips for a clean kitchen.

KITCHEN

1. Welcome alternatives to disposables.
2. Swap paper towels for reusable rags, swap sandwich baggies for kitchen towels or stainless containers, drop garbage liners all together.
3. Buy in bulk or at the counter, bring reusable bags, jars (wet items such as meat, deli, fish, cheese, oil, butter) and bottles (liquids: oil, soy sauce, shampoo, conditioner).
4. Shop the farmer's market: they'll take the egg carton and the berries baskets back for reuse. Your veggies will also most likely be free of plastic and stickers.
5. Use bulk liquid Castile soap as a dish/hand cleaner, baking soda as a scrubber with a compostable cleaning brush. Purchase dishwasher detergent in bulk.
6. Reinvent your leftovers before they go bad. Go thru your recipe binder/box and only keep the recipes that can be achieved with zero waste in mind.
7. Reuse single-side printed paper for grocery shopping and errands list, use your lettuce cleaning water to water plants. 

Tips courtesy: http://zerowastehome.blogspot.in/p/tips.html

Space Saving Tips

Nothing makes you feel more cramped in your homes than clutter and confusion. Follow these tips to help you minimize the mess and tidy up your space.

1. Add shelves above doorways.

2. Banish room-darkening shadows with additional light fixtures.

3. Put glass shelves across deep-set windows.

4. Use a chest or an ottoman with storage inside as a coffee table.

5. Put low bookcases along a sofa back: they'll double as a sofa table.

6. Keep the flooring throughout a small space the same for visual continuity.

7. Line a room with a shelf high up on the wall.

8. Keep window treatments simple.

9. Run a low bookcase underneath windows.

10. Stretch your space to the outdoors by making a patio or deck comfortable and welcoming.

11. Place a large bucket for magazines next to your favourite chair.

12. Line a hallway with bookshelves.

13. Use a wicker hamper as both an end table and storage space for blankets.

14. Buy a coffee table with a drawer for remotes.

15. Carve out shallow display space between wall studs.

16. Use fewer, larger pieces of furniture and accessories to reduce visual clutter.

17. Choose sofas and chairs with plain or textured upholstery rather than vibrant prints.

18. Install shelves around a window.

19. Add window seats with lids.

20. Run shelves up to the ceiling.

21. Buy a magazine rack or stack magazines in flat-bottom baskets underneath a console or coffee table.

22. Take advantage of wasted space with corner bookcases.

23. Think monochromatic.

24. Eliminate obstructions: the further you can see into and through a space, the larger it'll seem.

25. Arrange furnishings to avoid blocking views of windows and doors.

Boulevard: Luxury homes at Melakottaiyur

Vijay Shanthi Builders, one of the finest names in the real estate segment in Chennai presents, Vijay Shanthi Boulevard, a new range of premium apartments at Kandigai, on the Vandalur- Kelambakkam Road. Vijay Shanthi Boulevard is located at a well-connected location that easily connects to GST, Tambaram Camp Road, the OMR and the outer ring road that connects Oragadam. Vijay Shanthi Boulevard promises to be a close knit community living destination that’s in close proximity to the IT hub of Chennai. Boulevard offers a cluster of 321 truly amazing 3BHK homes spread across 9 grounds with a covered car park for every apartment. The luxury homes at Vijay Shanthi Boulevard feature apartments measuring from 1170-1262 sq. ft. and row houses measuring from 2315-2380 sq. ft.

The premium homes at Boulevard are well ventilated and feature top notch amenities and premium fittings. The homes at Boulevard feature vast copious amounts of lung space amidst green spaces that make it a true delight. Our efforts are to develop a community living between like-minded and like-status people. Boulevard is also located close to a range of advanced infrastructure facilities such as train services and hospitals.

In addition, Boulevard is superbly connected to the IT corridor and the outer ring road of Chennai. The creative expression ‘Happy Homes’ give our customers value for money, whilst providing the perfect living experience. Equipped with modern facilities to satisfy all the varied needs of owners, these are the best choices for the perfect home”, says Ms. Jayanthi, the Head of Marketing, Vijay Shanthi Builders.

Vijay Shanthi Boulevard is situated close to numerous educational Institutions like VIT Deemed University, Tagore Engineering College, Crescent Engineering College, Madras Christian College, SRM University, Delhi Public School and hospitals such as Chettinad and Hindu Mission. Boulevard is also close to multinational companies like Butterfly, Mahindra City, Ford, and Reynolds. Vijay Shanthi Boulevard is expected to be completed by December 2013.

Malles Arcadiaa: the new landmark of Velachery

For 32 years, Malles has created over a 110 truly spectacular projects that dot the skyline of Chennai. A rich heritage reflected in their statement of ‘Building Chennai Since 1980’. The immense prosperity and success of these magnificent homes have transformed the lives of over 2500 families.

In 2013, Malles is all set to deliver their latest world-class homes at Malles Arcadiaa in Velachery. Immense expertise coupled with industry experience of has enabled Malles to deliver affordable homes across Chennai.  Velachery is an important suburban hub that connects the rapidly growing IT corridor on OMR, GST road and the Central Business Districts of Chennai. Velachery is the perfect balance between old and the new Chennai and is a phenomenon in terms of development.  The maker of many other masterpieces, Malles launched Arcadiaa in January 2011 in the dynamic suburb of Velachery.

Malles Arcadiaa offers a cluster of 136 elegantly-designed luxury 2 and 3 BHK homes spread between 800 and 1600 sq. ft. The homes at Malles Arcadiaa enjoy optimum ventilation and immaculate detailing which is reflected in their stringent quality policies. Amongst the city's most trusted builders, Malles provides top-of-the-line amenities without escalating EMI's. Each home at Malles Arcadiaa is equipped with an array of special amenities that are designed to delight in every way possible.

Mr. Harish, one of the Directors of the Malles Group says, “We are glad to announce that all 136 homesin Malles Arcadiaa are sold out since the launch of the project in January 2011. The homes at Malles Arcadiaa are equipped with classy and trendy amenities blending luxury and necessity in equal proportions.  The amenities at Arcadiaa include an acupuncture walkway, a fully equipped air-conditioned gymnasium, a children’s play area, a skating rink, a basketball post, a swimming pool, a multipurpose hall to celebrate the life’s finest moments, a recreation center and an indoor games area”. The homes will be delivered by the end of April 2013.

Fabulous interiors for your dream home.

Was that coffee table in your friend's house in Chennai, awesome enough to catch your attention? Or was it his simple and stylish couch in the living, you loved to own? The contemporary art touch in his home made you feel jealous? Want to make your apartment in Chennai look elegant, yet with a contemporary touch? From Chennai's own builder, Malles Constructions, here are some interesting interior styles for the art lover in you.

Over centuries styles have evolved with the taste of generations. Every style has benefits to the people who will enjoy the home for many years to come. Each of the following designs showcases character and taste specific to an era.

   

Shabby Chic

               The all-white interior walls, floors, and ceilings highlighted with antiques furniture, this gives your home a British look. Soft pastels bring focus and offer a more feminine feel to the design.

The British look with Shabby Chic style

Swedish style
          An eclectic finish is created through a trendy approach called maximalism, which means to make the most of a small space. What may appear to be a medley of color is actually a collection of interesting objects arranged for maximum visual appeal. Vibrant colors are used to create focal points throughout the room that plead the visitor to examine each piece more closely.

Get the Swedish Style with a maximal approach

 Contemporary 
                    Featuring solid colors with contrasting properties against a blank slate of walls and floor, this is the sleek one for your metropolitan home in Chennai. Furniture has sleek, straight lines with sharp corners. Few accent pieces are used, which leaves a clean and open look for visual appeal.

The sharp, clean, contemporary look

Classic contemporary

                                Contrasting the softer colors and highlighting the art on the walls as the visual emphasis, this style is considered the elegant among the contemporary styles.  The rounded furniture lines offer an appealing and warm setting that draws the attention of the guest in your home. Colors are complementary instead of contrasting to draw the entire room into focus without an abrupt focus on one element.

The simple and elegant style

Funky

              Over-sized, comfortable chairs set against the blunt lines of tables with metal legs. Invite your friends to enjoy the style and sit for a spell. Every element is clean and visibly interesting. Colors are in the chairs while the rest of the room creates a palette to be accented for visual interest.

The clean and trendy Funky style

 New York

    Wide open rooms are accented with neutral paint colors accented by contrasting furniture. Edges of the room are lined with furniture that allows for easy traffic flow through the main corridors. Eye-catching accents are used as light fixtures, and storage is hidden in beautiful pieces of furniture made of intriguing materials.

The eye-catching New York style.

Traditional

 A formal home setting is the most appropriate choice for this style. Choices between many time periods create a sense of timeless tradition in a home that is decorated in the traditional sense. Colors include the jewel tones in coordinating hues. Silks, brocades and satin are the prevalent fabrics used in this style of decorating.

The traditional style

Ecletic

           As the term conveys, the Eclectic decorating style is varied and can develop into a room that resembles any number of the other decorating styles. Colors are strictly up to the taste of the person who will live with the interior decor. Most people who choose this style do so because they enjoy certain aspects of all the other styles.

 

The Ecletic

Garden                             Most homes decorated in the Garden style will have a sun room full of plants built onto an exterior wall. The use of live plants inside the house is accompanied by landscape pictures. Large windows allow for sweeping views of the exterior landscape. Interior and outdoor furniture are used inside the home and patio doors are in more than one room. Colors are vibrant and natural to bring the outdoors into each living space.

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The Interior Garden style

Tuscan

                 Originating in Italy, the Tuscan style was developed by the tradesmen and farmers that lived throughout Italy’s countryside. As Italians came to this country, their decorating style took hold. Colors include natural hues accented with rich reds and ochers found in the landscape. Muted tones blend the walls, floors, and furniture into a soothing setting that welcomes everyone.

The Italian interior with Tuscan style

Asian

                Use of space is central to decorating in the Asian style. Leaving the middle of the room open is essential to convey the openness of heart valued in the Asian cultures of the world. Colors are close to nature and bright Colors are used in focal points around each room.

 

The typical Asian style

Image courtesy: http://www.designer-daily.com/11-beautiful-home-interior-design-styles-13157