Why To Choose An Interior Designer For Your Dream Home?

Your dream home means a lot to you, it’s a mere reflection of your aspirations. When you are making an effort to turn your dreams to reality, then you may come across several doubts in your mind. It can be anything ranging from the colour of your walls to the way you arrange your furniture. You will have a tough time defining your style; at this point of time an interior designer can act like a great saviour for you. A designer cultivates and develops your personal lifestyle.

An interior designer knows what works and what won’t; he or she can club together the desires of your heart. You can sort out what you like and what works with what with the help of a designer. This doesn’t mean you leave the task to the interior designer and sit back.You need to clearly discuss what you want and what you don’t. This is because it’s your dream home which should reflect your desires. It will be good if you can involve all the family members in the discussion. By doing so, each and every family member can give a suggestion and the interior designer can carry out all the suggestions. It will help to avoid further conflicts in future. For instance, if your wife insists on a particular colour for a room or if she can’t compromise on the antique nightstand, the interior designer can carefully design the home based on these suggestions. You can show references of designs which you have collected from magazines to the designer. Make sure to keep a realistic budget. 

An interior design done by Carion Bilta

An interior designer with his creative mind-set takes note of all the minute details and transforms your space into a dream haven.The best part is that he makes your living spaces beautiful and functional at the same time. Even if you don’t have a lot of space, he can utilize what’s available  wisely. He can give you ideas for colour schemes, window treatments and several other useful facts that fit your budget. Apart from that when you buy home decor items, quality is an important aspect to consider and it will vary from place to place. Don’t end up buying low quality stuff at a higher price. The interior designers have a clear idea about the market and they know where to get top quality items at a reasonable price, so you don’t have to worry much about it. 

Always keep in mind that your interior designer has the ability to visualize the completed project; so it will be good if you can give him full freedom to get the most desirable outcome. There are many pioneers in the interior designing  industry whom you can always rely on. A good example is Carion Bilta, a reputed company in Kerala that offers premium interior designing services. When you leave your designing needs to such an expertized player in the industry, your dreams are in safe hands and it will fly out in triumphant colours.

Greening your landscapes in 2014

Whether you are concerned about protecting the environment or if you simply want to give your lawn or backyard an eco-friendly makeover, it's good to consider the idea of green landscaping. For most of us, it might not be a concern when we talk about the alarming depletion of green cover, but often than not it's a fact that we all love some aesthetics and greenery around.

It has become more than a fad for most people in Kerala, who are already greenovating their abodes. Tapping the resources one can easily find in your surroundings, green landscaping is a great choice to escape the expense of the modern day building articles.

By giving an aesthetic view outside your windows, green landscapes nuture your soul with the comfort of a cool and spruced up yard.  Surrounding yourself with the natural beauty of lawns and trees in your garden, you can savour the look of a brilliant outdoor.

Here is some of what you can do to turn your yard into an artistic, eco-friendly green space.

• Lawn - keep it neat.

A well manicured lawn enhances the aesthetic appeal adding a comforting and reassuring feel to what's outside your house.

•    Add flowers and shrubbery.

If flowers excite you, there's nothing as good as having a colourful garden use up your space.

• Install a rain garden.

Make good use of the runoff from your home's roof. It not only guarantees the look of an attractive garden, but also supports as a natural habitat for birds and butterflies. Now, wake up to the song of the birds.

• Flavour your garden with interesting elements around.

The water feature and the greenery of your garden will only look better if you choose to spice it up with a pergola, walkway or may be a fence. 

• The sound of water.

What is more soothing than the sound of flowing water in your yard?  The water fountains are more than an enhancement to the greenery around. It outpours a lot of affection in you by taking you a step closer to nature.

You can try it out yourself or you can opt for the service of Carion Bilta, the leading architecture and landscape designing company in Kerala.

It's true that we fail to give as much attention to what surrounds our homes as to what is inside. Well, just to let you know, creating a beautiful stone paver pathway or a more colourful garden outside is as overwhelming as decluttering your wardrobe; or even more than that. Green roofs, green walls, permeable pavements are all hitting the trend this 2014. It's time to switch to colour, simplicity and sustainability.

Investing in Flats in Kerala

Over the last few years, Kerala has witnessed a significant boom in the real estate market. The rocketing land prices and the emerging I.T parks are attracting people to invest in residential properties.The growing tourism industry and flow of NRI money have also contributed to the demand for residential properties in Kerala.

Kochi, Trivandrum and Calicut are the three major cities in Kerala which have recorded a substantial appreciation recently. The Info-parks and shopping malls in these cities are attracting more investments.

For instance, ten years before a residential property in Marine Drive, Kochi was available at a cost of INR 10 lakhs, but now the whole situation has changed. The same project cost would exceed crores now. Another interesting fact is that people are investing in residential projects located in the sub-urban local areas of these cities. This is because, they prefer to stay in a peaceful environment; away from the hustle and bustle of the city.

Benaton Centerla Shopping mall, Calicut done by Carionbilta

Right now, investing in residential properties is a wise step as it brings good returns for you in the near future. Most of the people prefer apartments over independent houses as they offer better security and amenities. The choice is up to you- you can either stay there or give it for rent. There is also a rising trend among NRI's to own a flat in Kerala.

Before you decide to buy an apartment, find out the status of the completed projects of various builders. If you are worried about finance, don’t worry; almost every bank in Kerala  has tie-ups with the bigger developers. They offer attractive and affordable deals for prospective home buyers.

A residential project by Carionbilta

Always ensure that you have adequate financial cover before making a commitment. It’s better not to enter into an agreement before you get your loan approved. There are many cases in which people have lost money due to cancellation of loans. Therefore, it is advisable to wait till you receive your sanction letter from the bank. Find out your loan eligibility, repayment and its tenure. For instance, many salaried homebuyers prefer to pay in repayable EMIs that can be spread over a period of 10-20 years. At Carion Bilta, we encourage interested parties to contact us using the form on our website with queries regarding loans and payment schemes on offer.

Here’s a list of the different rates of interest and services offered by some of the leading banks in Kerala:

Bank Name	Floating Interest rate	Per lac EMI	Processing Fee
State Bank Of India	10.10% (for women) 10.15% (for men)	Rs. 972 (for women) Rs. 975 (for men)	Up to 25 lacs : 0.25% of loan amount minimum Rs.1000/- 25-75 lacs : Rs.3,250/- 75 & above : 5,000/-
ICICI Bank	10.25%	Rs.982	0.50% of loan amount upto 1 crore
HDFC Ltd	10.25%	Rs.982	0.5% or maximum   10,000+service tax (12.36
HSBC Bank	10.75% - 11%	Rs.1015 - Rs.1032	1% of the loan amount applied for, subject to a minimum of Rs 10000 plus service tax. This fee is payable on application and is not refundable
LIC Housing	Scheme I: 10.25% (Fixed for 2 yrs)(for female applicants) or 10.35% (Fixed for 2 yrs)(for male applicants)  Scheme II: 11.25% (Fixed for 10 yrs) Scheme III: 12.25% onwards	Scheme I: Rs.981 (Fixed for 2 yrs) (for female applicants) or Rs.988 (Fixed for 2 yrs) (for male applicants)  Scheme II: Rs.1049 (Fixed for 10 yrs) Scheme III: Rs.1118 onwards	Up to 50 lacs : 10,000 +(Service tax) 50 lacs & above : 15,000 +(service tax)
AXIS Bank	10.25% (Upto 25 Lacs), then    10.50%	Rs.982 (Upto 25 Lacs), then Rs.998	0.5% of the loan amount (Max. 10000/- + service tax for Salaried)
IDBI	10.25%	Rs.982	Up to 50%of loan amount  (Rs 2500 to be collected at login and balance at the time of sanction )

Source: deal4loans

Investing in residential projects is considered less risky than other forms of market-related investments. If you invest in a quality builder, you will have no regrets looking back on your purchase. So invest in a residential project in Kerala and save some smiles for your future!

Using Black In Interior Designing

When it comes to black-based interior design, there are two sets of people with two different mindsets. The first group stay away from black, fearing the dark effect that it brings along with it. They also have a feeling that black is an inauspicious colour for the home. However the latter group considers this a misconception and go bravely for black.

Black has been a misunderstood colour for decades, but gradually people’s outlook towards it is changing. When used in the right harmony with other colours, black can really bring about a pleasing appeal for your interiors. It is a bold color which conveys a sense of drama and makes the small details stand out. For instance, if you keep a painting or some artefacts on a black wall, then it will look striking from all angles. Black complements almost all colours and gives your home a sophisticated edge. Black colour holds a prominent place in the personal favourites of many interior designers these days.

 Black is a versatile colour that can be used in any room in any style. Give an instant lift for the rooms with black furniture; it will also do wonders for rooms with bright colored walls. Why don’t you experiment with black color for your ceilings or concrete floors? Rather than painting the entire room black, use small spaces for selective impact. By doing so, you can draw attention to the focal area of the space allowing the rest of the decor to stand out.  If you use black flooring in an all white bedroom, it creates a stunning contrast.

Consider painting your walls in black stripes. You can do it cheaply and the best part is that it will look just like a wallpaper. While choosing accessories for home, you can incorporate black into it by getting hold of some pretty vases, clocks and picture frames. Drapes and accessories in black elevate your space. Accentuate the kitchen countertops with black; add a punch of vibrant colors on the side and make your kitchen look outstanding.

 Last but not the least, beautify your exterior home elements with black. For instance, use a high gloss black paint at your front door and accentuate it with brass or nickel hardware.





There are certain rules for decorating with black. When you use black and white, make sure to use the right mix of patterns with solid black and solid white for a good visual appeal. Add a touch of excitement for your rooms by mixing it with colours like bold pink, orange, baby blue, green, gold and silver.

Decorate Your Home On A Budget This Christmas!

There are just a few more days till Christmas, and no doubt the right way to kickstart the festive spirit is by decorating your home. It’s not always necessary to empty your pockets to decorate your home, especially with the many DIY options that you can try out. It not only helps you to save money but also adds a personal  touch and well-tailored look for your interiors.

Lining Up Christmas Cards

You can collect all your old Christmas cards and line them up like a streamer on the walls or even above the door steps. You can even use them on your Christmas tree but make sure that it doesn’t look overcrowded.

Salt Dough Decorations

If you have some moulds at your home, you can make some dough decorations out of them. All you need to do is to mix some dough and salt and roll it flat. Cut out your preferred shapes and don’t forget to make a small hole on top of every shape. You can bake these shapes in a microwave oven for a few minutes and when they are hardened, you can decorate your Christmas tree with them.

Handmade Stickers

If you have a printer at home, you can take printouts of Christmas trees, reindeer or Santa Claus. By using a two-sided sticking tape, you can convert the cutouts into a sticker.

Decorating With Pinecones

Collect some pinecones from your neighborhood and make a mixture of glue, gum and glitter, and paint the cones with it. You can use the small pine cones for decorating the Christmas tree. The big ones can be kept inside a glass bowl. It is a wonderful DIY idea not only for Christmas but it’s a good home decor idea as well.

Handmade Wreaths

Instead of spending money on a Christmas wreath, you can make it yourself. Take a ringed object, like the rings you use in a game of ring toss, and stick some colorful decorative items on it. Apart from that, you can even make a Christmas wreath by sticking some green tinsels to the ring. Use your creativity to make it unique.

It’s good not to get stuck with traditional colors like red, green, white. Instead of that, you can experiment with more funky colors. Make sure to involve your kids also in decorating your home, and give them an opportunity to exhibit their skills. There is also a joy of togetherness when the whole family works together.


Christmas Tip: Use the money which you save on decorations for a worthy cause. Do something meaningful this year for Christmas; take your kids to an old age home or an orphanage and give them your savings. Let them realize that the real joy of Christmas is the joy of giving.

Lighting in Interior Design

Perhaps one of the most overlooked area in interior design by amatures is lighting. The reasons for this is unknown however, considering the magnitude of the effect it brings to the room, it is definitely something that could make or break the design's success. The implications of this factor is vast in the areaof interior design, let's take a moment to analyse the effect and features this element adds to a room.

1. Space (Illusion of course)

So you're stuck with a room you think is not big enough, and you cramming stuff into it doesn't help the cause. Well don't worry, a well lit room can take care of the problem. A space can appear bigger...much bigger if you follow a bright lighting pattern. Try throwing in a mirror as well into the mix, which would help to reflect the light. Stay clear of dark colours in a small room, it only helps to confine the space further.

2. To see stuff (Obviously)

Depending on functionality try to analyse the purpose of a room, is it designed to do something serious, for relaxation, or just for show. The quality and quantity of light used for each of these purposes are different. You definitely need decent bright lighting in your study or wherever it is that you do your reading, or work. For places like bedrooms and halls you would want to have both bright and dim lights, consider using a dimmer in these cases, just to set the mood. To show off your show pieces us e dim lighting techniques, a bit cliched but it works.

3. To set a focal point.

 Lighting can be very important to set a focal point in a room, just consider the purpose of a spotlight. A focal point is a single point of focus which would stand out in a room. Correct lighting condition can help to emphasize the focal point in a room. Bright light would not be reccomended for such a purpose since it would tend to drown all the beautiful shades and highlights that a less intense light would provide.

4. To beautify.

 Without the play of light a 3-d object would appear bland and uninteresting. This is especially applicable to photography and interior design. The perfect lighting in a room would serve whatever purpose its supposed to serve and also imparts beauty to a room. Lighting can be used to emphasize, de-emphasize, brighten, darken, highlight and shade particular areas or objects in a room. This can be done by using three types of lights

. Ambient - The general light or the ambient light in a room.
. Task     - Task or work light is used to illuminate small areas where      intense lighting is neede.
. Accent  - Accent light is used to illuminate objects or areas you wish                                                            to highlight.

 

5. Decoration.

  Light by itself is a decoration in many sense, since it beautifies a room and adds and element of interest, but when you add a decorative element to the light it becomes even more attractive. The chandeliers and those neat lamp shades could so a long way in creating a beautiful design and ensure a flow in the theme of the design. 

Decorate Your Bedroom

A bedroom is a very important place where people relax after the long day activities. This is where people spend most of their time and therefore it is very important to have a good bedroom design that will make you feel comfortable and relaxed. Today, we will talk about the decor tips to design your desired bedroom.

Pile on the Pillows

Pile on the pillows, and don’t shy away from mixing patterns. Mixing patterns is easy, but making it look good can be a challenge. Combine large prints with small ones, florals with geometrics. Your bedroom will look as beautiful as you desired.

DIY Artwork

Hanging a graphic thick bed covering made of patches is an easy solution to the “big blank wall” issue. Complementary bed linens pull the decor together. This should help you make them look even more beautiful than just putting plain bedsheets.

Put Pattern to Work

A printed bedspread, This botanical design, does a lot of the heavy lifting when it comes to decor. These bed linens can be even hand designed or can be bought ready made. The design is very much calm and soothing which helps your bedroom even more beautiful.

Reveal a Personal Side

Your bedroom should express your personality (not just design principles), so feel free to go a little off-center, as with the art here. Design is something that speak for you and if it doesn't then its not the right thing for your room. Reveal yourself with your room so as to imprint your personality on your room.

Decorate With Consistency

Note that the color and fanciful curves of the headboard are repeated by the wall decoration. Everything in your room is about colors and curves, when things put in the right path will deliver the desired results. So be careful that the headboard goes with the wall decoration.

Make Your Bedroom Comfy

Top your bed with covers made for snuggling, like a down comforter. For total indulgence, choose ultra-soft eiderdown. At last your bed is where you will spend most of your time in your room, so that has to be more comfotable than anything else. So put more stress on overall comfort level.

So these were a few bedroom decor tips from Carion Bilta. We focus on delivering great value to our readers as well as our clients. We are committed to present Clients with responsible and accurate services, which keeps their interests at all phases of a Design and project. A copy of the Project Management Manual can be made available on specific request.