International Home Design Tips

The usual route to acquiring houses is to buy one in a scheme announced by a builder or buy an old house and renovate it. Only a few can afford to design and build homes from ground up. If you happen to be one of the fortunate few, you are likely to consider international contemporary home design over Indian style architecture. Consider these aspects:

• Single storey or double storeyed? Having two floors in a house is advantageous and practical. In India it is usually very hot and by having a floor above, the ground floor can remain cool.
• Large windows and doors or small ones? Large windows and doors can let in a lot of fresh air. Conversely, during summer, they also let in a lot of heat and dust. It depends on whether you want your home to reflect a roomy spacious, well lighted ambience or to have a cozy and warm feel. How you will decorate the interior and place furniture may also influence your choice.
• Leave a large area for a landscaped garden or use the maximum permissible area for construction? A smaller house with two floors and a large surrounding landscaped area with a small water body and fountain takes on a charming air and also gives you plenty of greenery as well as privacy.
• Green buildings, energy conservation: The buzz words these days, it does help to have energy efficient buildings that stay cool in summer and are naturaly warmed during winter.
• Material of construction: Indian construction involves masonry and RCC. You could mix it with timber (for flooring or roofing), fiberglass or laminated insulated aluminum/metal corrugated sheets for a different look. While at it, you can even consider prefab housing that can be put up within a week, complete with wiring, water supply and drainage.
• Furniture, furnishings, kitchen, etc:  there is no end to creative use of colors in interiors to convey different moods. You can have a uniform smooth colored walls or textured walls or highlight an alcove or ceiling with a dark rich shade. However, it does look if furnishings, furniture and fittings, including electricals are harmonised to fit the style: modern, traditional or others.

Do you want your home to be a showpiece and the centre of activities or a cozy retreat for your family? Ask yourself these and other questions when you sit down to visualize your home. You can find some useful ideas on property sites India based.

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