TECHNIQUES FROM AROUND THE WORLD
Blame Instagram. It has given home craft enthusiasts a platform to display their skills so easily, the rest of us can just scroll through video after video dumbfounded. Did you see the clip about the townhouse that got a beachy feel with 5 simple tricks? How about those 10-minute hacks with a paint-roller? Have you bought a glue-gun yet?
One popular trend emerging in homes today is tie-dye, but a more modern cousin of our own traditional handicraft. It’s easy to do; it gives your home a personalised feel. The best part, there’s no limit on how bright you want to go.
PICK YOUR PALETTE
Traditional Japanese tie-dye, which they call shibori, typically involves binding, stitching or compressing a fabric and then dipping it into the dye that results in the creation of vivid patterns. The Japanese would traditionally use indigo.
Today saturated hues like maroon and purple are popular as well.
The best way to incorporate this décor trend is on the walls and furnishings as well as wallpapers.
Being handmade its charm lies in the fact that you have a unique pattern each time.
Varied shibori patterns can take centre stage or simply compliment your space, depending on how you want to showcase it.
Shibani Jain, founder and managing partner at Baaya Design says the style is versatile enough to complement most home décor themes.
Namrata Datt, curator and interior stylist at Maison 15 also recommends trying a blackwhite-and-grey palette, or ones with neutrals like camel hues, which look more dramatic. “There is fluidity, softness and stillness in the patterns,” she says.
Vineeta Dassani, co-founder of Etasaa Home & Lifestyle suggests you start with a simple, neutral base. White provides the perfect canvas layering on colour.
“Shibori printed sofas look stunning when paired against a white wall,” says Priyanka Mehra, principal architect at PS Design.
“A room with a lot of white Batik from Indonesia. Tritik from Africa. Bandhani and Leheriya from India.
Mudmee tie-dye from Thailand. can come alive with shibori curtains and a few tie-dye cushions. Use a shibori table runner to infuse a splash of colour in the dining room. If you want to have some fun, team shibori linen with a contrasting colour; my favourite is a fuchsia pink or sunny yellow to revive a dull room.”
Sheela Lunkad, strategic business unit head for Fabindia’s Home & Lifestyle section says Indian artisans are also working on making tie-dye more contemporary.
“They are using turmeric for yellow hues and beetroot for pink tones.”
GET THE LOOK
While there are no specific rules in home décor, you need to find what suits your persona.
“A tie-dye print on a dinner plate can be matched with a simple placemat. Or you can get a tie-dye design on the placemat with a plain dinner plate,” says Nihal Kalra, co-founder of The Decor Kart.
“The idea is to create contrast to bring out the best qualities of each accent or element.”
In the dining room, revamp your seating with shibori prints and use a single-hued coordinating table cloth or revered the combination for a different effect. “They can be added to items like pillows and bed covers, curtains and even wall prints,” says Niharika Choudhary, founder and creative director of Peeli Dori. CHANDIGARH: For checking the real estate investment potential of a property, the maxim, ‘location, location and location’ holds true irrespective of the market.
But, in case of Ambala, only 45km away from state capital Chandigarh, which is on the junction of four national highways (NH 1, NH 22, NH 65 and NH 72) and a major railway junction, the strategic location isn’t bringing investment optimism.
Even though, for the investment purposes the plotted segment remains unattractive, for the end-user the prospects of getting a good bargain are high in this tier-iii realty city. High investment return-yielding potential of plots has ebbed in last six-seven years.
Between 2007 and 2012, plot segment delivered handsome returns to investors. Most of the plot price appreciation was taking place on account of speculation and high trading volumes. Most of the transactions were taking place only on the basis of booking amount.
The situation changed after 2012, and since demonetisation the market fortune of investors has nosedived.
In the period after 2012, prices fell by at least 20% to 60% depending on location. During the boom years, plot prices had even doubled in some areas within a span a few of years.
“Currently, some stability has returned to plot prices but still there is hope for a price recovery or attractive investment returns in the near future,” said Ashok Goel, 53, a local real estate broker.
Prices for residential plots vary from ₹5,000 per sq yard to ₹60,000 per sq yard depending on the location of the property. Plots in most locations are available between ₹10,000 per sq yard to ₹30,000 per sq yard.
In the periphery, prices are lowest while in the Haryana
National builders are conspicuous by their absence. Even during boom years, no major national developers sought to bring new products. Most of their investment went to the nearby Mohali. ASHOK GOEL, real estate broker
Shehri Vikas Pradhikaran (HSVP) developed sectors, located plots fetch relatively higher prices.
“It is a question of reliability and quality of infrastructure that determines the plot value in these sectors. Most of the transactions currently taking place are for the plots in the HSVP sectors,” said Ramesh Narang, 45, a local real estate consultant.
While prices remain stagnant and the end-user is in a good position to negotiate with the seller, yet, there are limited options available to him in terms of supply.
“Either there are HSVP sectors or older developed colonies where there is limited supply. Most of the supply is in new areas but therein the quality of infrastructure is questionable. National builders are conspicuous by their absence. Even during the boom years, no major national developers sought create supply or bring new products to the local market. Most of their investment went to the nearby Mohali. As a result, only unregulated colonies grew in wake of the property boom years. Now, for the end-user, finding a good property is hard and as a consequence, the buyer stands on the sidelines,” said Goel.
Entering the plot segment can also be beneficial for the investor if he can hold on to the property in long-term. For an end-user, this is the best time buy a plot, say local real estate experts.