Material for floor

The humble mosaic floors are no longer the first pick. The choices are quite staggering - one can choose from marble, granite, terractotta, tiles, parquet or vinyl. And within these categories there are more shades and designs that can make one go giddy with the thought of making a final selection.

Tiles can be made from two basic materials. CEramic tiles are strong, hard wearing, long lasting and easy to clean. They can be either glazed or unglazed. Glazed tiles are treated with a liquid glass and heated at a high temperature to make the glazing hard, thus leaving the tile stain, scratch, fade and fire resistant. They can be easily cleaned. Ceramic tiles are probably so popular because of their resilience and ease of maintenance.

Experiment with shapes and colours for your floors. "For a Rs.20 lakh budget, I would recommend ceramic tiles for the entire flooring of the house; you can get them from Rs.45 onwards.

Sanitary for bathrooms

Bathrooms are no longer viewed as a functional space to where one rushes in and out. They are no a place of beauty where one can unwind and relax after a hard day's work. Sanitary ware has become a style statement. Matching tiles, basins and WCs are no longer considered a luxury but a necessity.

And there are plenty of accessories to go with them from shower curtains to toothbrush holders and soap trays. For those who want to indulge, there are jacuzzis, gold-plated faucets, designer bathtubs etc.

HOME

HOME IS A PLACE NOT ONLY OF STRONG AFFECTIONS, BUT OF ENTIRE UNRESERVE; IT IS LIFE'S UNDRESS REHEARSAL, ITS BACKROOM, ITS DRESSING ROOM, FROM WHICH WE GO FORTH TO MORE CAREFUL AND GUARDED INTERCOURSE, LEAVING BEHIND US MUCH DEBRIS OF CAST-OFF AND EVERYDAY CLOTHING. - Harriet Beecher Stowe, American Writer.