Properties, Homes & more

Kotak Mahindra Bank joins rate war, offers 8.49% fixed rate for home loans. After banking biggies - SBI, ICICI and HDFC - it is now the turn of Kotak to announce its special home-loan scheme, offering an 8.49% fixed interest for first 30-months.

The special offer can be availed for all new loans irrespective of the loan amount, but will be limited till January 31, 2010, the bank said in a press release. The private sector lender will charge floating rates (prevailing at that time) on these loans after the 30-month period, which will be decided based on the retail prime lending rate, the bank said. While the fixed duration loan rate will remain the same irrespective of the loan amount, the floating rate will vary with the loan amount, the bank said.

The Plants World nursery and garden centre provides a new and an exquisite collection of planters for landscape architects and avid gardeners alike. Geared to match all kinds of house décor, whether sleek and modern, where a contemporary planter should be your logical choice, while weight may become an issue for the window box.

There are metal, fibre, ceramic - there are all kinds available to match the décor both inside and out. These are also available in a range of finishes - antique, stone, slate, terra cotta to name a few. While choosing your planter put thought into its final location, size and the plants that you would be planting inside it.

The humble hard-baked red clay, which was primarily used to make earthen pots - until now considered as a low-income society item - has finally managed to enter the so-called high-income society. It is now used as a fashion jewellery, in artefacts or home decor. I am pleased to bring to you Terracotta - the latest up-market fancy fad, made up of earth. Moulded into various shapes, sizes and forms, it adds an exotic touch to homes and imparts a warm, earthy tone to the surroundings.

Terracotta is also making its mark in the fashion industry. Eventhough jewellery made from terracotta doesn’t have a smooth finish, its uneven texture adds to the charm. Modern pieces inspired from traditional designs give an ethnic touch to any outfit. They are also available in bright colours. In fact, many young hot girls are crazy about anything that is rustic.

When it comes to home décor, the most popular items are Feng Shui wind chimes, Laughing Buddha statues and Chinese lanterns. Terracotta wind chimes produce a vibrating sound that is believed to bring good fortune and luck. Apart from that, figurines of Lord Ganesha, Radha-Krishna, the Sun God; animals and decorative pots are also much in demand.

Another advantage of terracotta is that it is friendly on the pocket too. They are reasonably priced and fit well within any budget. They are also trendy and attractive. Terracotta pots are environment friendly and help retain water, thereby making it an effective option to grow plants. It is not only cost-effective, but can spruce up even the most basic of interiors. It also adds an ethnic touch to your ensemble in the form of rustic jewellery.