Properties, Homes & more

In this new series, I would focus on the latest trends in real estate, properties, home improvement sphere. I will try to fetch trends from across major markets across the world, but my focus will be on India, and specifically on Mumbai because that is MY city.

OK. When I think about trends in real estate/ properties, the first thing that comes to my mind is that of the BROKERS - the real estate brokers. These are those kind of species who make money for doing little, or practically negligible. I have always wondered how they make so much money! They charge at least 1% of the total cost of the apartment/ home/ flat/ shop/ any property they help in selling (or even giving on rent). I agree that they have references and leads and can roam around for days together (along with prospective clients of course). But I simply fail to understand what additional work they do…

Most of these species are rude and arrogant. They believe that they are THE kingpins of the real estate, without which no one can buy/ sell any property. They treat rich people differently and they simply do not pay much heed to middle-class people (buyer/ seller). There have been reports that many of these brokers have underworld connections and are involved in extortion. They will simply roam around the city showing prospective clients one flat or the other. They will hide important details - like previous owners, if any, of the property; how the rights of ownership have been transferred, etc. They do little work and most of the trouble is taken by the prospective clients. They why should we pay these brokers? My main point here is: Why do we need these brokers?

So the newest trend which I am seeing nowadays is Broker-free deals. There are many customers who do not want to approach a broker, just because the service provided and the price charged are not matched (price is often exorbitant as compared to the service provided). And the best part is, even the builders (or sellers) are encouraging this move. They often provide more discounts for direct sales.

Mark my words - there will be a broker-free real estate dealing culture - may be within a couple of years from now.

This is final part of the series of articles on how one can utilize the inexpensive Styrofoam Ceiling Tiles as an innovative home decor. In Part 1, I explained what Styrofoam tiles are, their properties, and what make them so eligible for creative home decor. In Part 2, I gave a brief step-by-step approach on installing Styrofoam tiles.

In this article, let’s see how one can transform a plain looking ceiling into a fantastically beautiful one with the user of Styrofoam tiles! Here are some of the examples:

Please click on respective images to view larger image.

If you would notice, with the help of Styrofoam Ceiling Tiles, you can transform the dull, plain, (mostly) white ceiling into something totally hep… something which completely reflects the personality of the owner… something which not only makes the dull ceiling beautiful but also make it look trendy and stylish… something which is truly yourself… something which will attract zillions of jealous looks towards your “inexpensive yet classy” home decor!

Real Estate Leasing business of the Construction Division of Godrej has recently announced its grand foray into IT PARKS with the “Godrej IT Park - P2” As a part of its continuous effort to demonstrate care and respect for environmental preservation, the Godrej IT Park will be a LEED certified Green Commercial Building Project at Godrej and Boyce complex at Vikhroli. Godrej IT Park shall have more than 1.4 million sq. ft. of constructed space with approximately 1 Million sq. ft. of space on Leave & License. It consists of 2 Stilt Levels and 2 podium levels for Car Parking, Building Services and Utilities and 6 levels of Office Space.

“Godrej IT Park - P2″ is a warm shell, multi-tenanted building with exterior walls, landscaping and constructed parking lots. The building is fully enclosed with Electrical Systems and Power, HVAC, Plumbing and Fire fighting, Building Management System, Sewage Treatment plants and backup DG.

Salient Features

1. Godrej IT Park – P2 is located within the large lush green campus of Godrej and Boyce complex
   Provides flexibility and scalability across floors and blocks
2. Option of occupying multiple floors in a single wing or on the same floor
3. Neighbouring with existing large IT / ITES companies within the G&B complex
4. LEED pre-certified Gold rated Green Building with 41 points
5. Ample Car parking space
6. Landscaped Terrace garden

In my earlier article, I discussed about how easy and inexpensive Styrofoam Ceiling Tiles are. You can buy these tiles from a local reputed hardware store. However, I am not sure if you would get authentic Styrofoam tiles from local store, or even at a mega mall. To buy most authentic Styrofoam Ceiling Tiles, I would suggest you should logon to DecorativeCeilingTiles website and buy directly from them. This way you would be completely sure that you are buying from a trusted and reliable merchant.

Let’s discuss how you can install Styrofoam tiles all by yourself. Before you begin installation, you will need:

• A wallpaper knife - (or a box-cutter knife) to cut the ceiling tiles
• Mastic - to glue the tiles to the ceiling
• Caulk - (of matching color or clear) to fill the existing gaps between the ceiling tiles
• A couple of gloves - to keep your hands clean, while working with the caulk
• A caulking gun - to apply the caulk
• A sponge or a wet rag - to wipe off the excess caulk(always make sure to rinse it)
• A straight edge- as a guide to cut the ceiling tiles(metal ruler)

Please note that all the above materials are usually available at the local hardware shop. Also you should exercise utlost caution while handling these tools and while cutting or trimming tiles.

Here are the steps you need to follow:

1. Finding the middle of the ceiling - your starting point: To lay tiles evenly, you should start your work exactly in the middle of the ceiling (Hint: very often your ceiling lights or fans are located exactly in the center of the ceiling).

2. Putting mastic on a tile: On the back of a tile, put a half-inch to one-inch thick layer of mastic. The thickness of the mastic on the back of the tile depends on the surface on which you are putting the tiles. If the surface is too porous, for example popcorn ceiling, you might need to add some extra mastic. On the other hand, if the surface is flat, you may need to reduce the quantity of the mastic.

3. Laying the first tile.

4. Proper gluing.

5. Parallel rows.

6. Applying caulk: After all the tiles are finally glued to the ceiling, you will need to fill existing gaps between the tiles with caulk. Even if the seams are almost invisible, it is still recommended to use caulk, for it helps to make your ceiling look seamless and solid. Do not allow the wet caulk to remain on the surface of the tile before smoothing it, as it dries quickly and will be difficult to remove.

You can find much more detailed instructions here.

In my final article on Styrofoam Ceiling Tiles, I will show you how a plain looking ceiling can be transformed into a beautiful one with the help of Styrofoam tiles!

I am starting this series where I will list down all the latest trends, innovative approaches, creative ideas in the field of Home Decor. If you have any suggestions, please feel free to send them me. You are also most welcome to write your Guest Entry on this blog - please contact me for more details.

The WALLPAPERS have literally stormed the world of home decor in the last decade. There has been lot of research and development in the field of Wallpapers since then. Now we have wallpapers that are so creative and innovative that you simply can’t take your eyes off them. At the same time, these are quite expensive also.

Move on from Wallpapers to STYROFOAM CEILING TILES. Yes, the age-old tiles are back in all-new shape and form. If you are remodeling your home and need more insulation, you should opt for Styrofoam ceiling tile. If you have high power (i.e. electricity) bills and you believe that the cool or warm air is escaping from your home, you must use Styrofoam tiles. With their usage, you will be able to immediately spot a clear difference in the “retention capacity” of your home.

The Styrofoam ceiling tiles are very inexpensive. If you are on a tight budget, this may be the answer for you, if you are needing a lot of tiles for your ceiling. Not only that, these tiles now come in so many different shapes and forms, you will simply fall in love with them. You will get that great tiled look that you want, as well as a ceiling that is brand new and still have money in your pocket. Installing these tiles is not at all hard. Once the tile is installed, unless you already know that it is Styrofoam, no one else will be able to tell the difference! So you can easily pass it off as an expensive home decor!!

In my next article, I will discuss where one can buy Styrofoam ceiling tiles, how to install them (D-I-Y type instructions) and a few samples. Let your suggestions flow…