Home Is Where The Heart Is

In this big bad world, home is the only beautiful place!

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Let's Make a Room for Clean Air

“I felt my lungs inflate with the onrush of scenery—air, mountains, trees, people. I thought, “This is what it is to be happy.” 

― Sylvia Plath

Yes! That is precisely why we rush into the lap of Mother Nature! The change of air is a common panacea for tired and depressed souls. The salubrious air of the hills is no less than a divine feeling. The industrial and other pollution has damaged the air quality in plains like never before and even the indoor air which was perceived as ‘safe’ and ‘cleaner’ has become toxic; in fact it is five times dirtier than the air outside. We cannot always rush to green mountains for a change. Rather, we must change the air at the place we reside and breathe day in and out. It has become imperative to tackle this issue urgently.

It was a humid Wednesday morning when I spotted my neighbor taking her husband, who was visibly weak and tired, somewhere. As it was a working day, it piqued my interest a bit and I asked the lady. With a drooping face she replied that he had been coughing constantly for last two days and had to take a leave that day. She told me that all that was because of the lack of fresh air and the industrial pollution. They both are in their sixties and in this age, these effects manifest very quickly. I will get back to it later; firstly let us ponder more over this thing- why a simple thing like air has become a precious commodity? I was a kid when the fashion of mineral water arrived in India. It was a clear sign of the forthcoming paucity of clean water which we now can notice clearly. Similarly, these rising pollutants in air and sale of air masks is a sign that breathing air is going to be far dirtier in times to come. In Mexico, people purchase pure air; this fact throws much light on the degrading quality of atmosphere. These days, every car is air-conditioned and literally, people travel in small AC pockets that emit heat outside, making temperatures soar each year. The ‘environment’ is going haywire.

What exactly do we mean when utter this word? The dictionary defines the word ‘environment’ as

‘The surroundings or conditions in which a person, animal, or plant lives or operates.’

We need to understand the basic thing clearly- that we cannot leave, cannot just go away, there is no ‘other’ place. The aim is to keep ourselves healthy as air pollution is just one of the many health hazards that now bother us. ‘Air pollution’ is a very wide term and many factors are responsible for it, most of which are beyond a common man’s approach. However, on an individual layman level, we can do our bit by ensuring that the air we breathe in is clean, that is, we can focus on indoor air. Now, it is a huge myth that indoor air is clean and it is far safer. Indoor air can be 5 times more unclean than the air outside. How is it possible? This looks like a laughable thing! If this is true, then where are we supposed to go and take refuge from all the pollution outside? Where is that place that can give us a breath of relief?

“Thank God men cannot fly, and lay waste the sky as well as the earth.” 

― Henry David Thoreau

The answer lies in our own homes; just a bit of thought and attention is required. There are many factors that contribute to a dirty indoor air like

· Insects (dead or alive)- According to a study conducted by the Delhi University's ‘Vallabhbhai Patel Chest Institute’, mosquitoes are the second most common cause of allergy in patients suffering from asthma and rhinitis. Yes, sadly, that dead mosquito too, pollutes indoor air.

  Weeds and pollen- The allergy to pollen is one of the most common allergies.

· Roaches- Who does not abhor the sight of creepy brown roaches? The fine hair on their limbs can trigger many allergies and cause asthma.

· Dust- Dusting the furniture may be good but have you ever wondered where does all this dust go? It eventually settles inside the house over the floor. So, when we are dusting the house, we are displacing the dust, not eliminating it.

· Bathroom Odors- In cities when living spaces are compact and bathrooms are inside the rooms, the dirty air needs a good exhaust but sometimes, it can mix with indoor air and make it dirtier.

·Other Things- for example unused stuff like old books, medicines, clothes, shoes, incense sticks, fuel, perfumes, deodorants, roach killing sprays, liquid mosquito repellents, fine pet hair and even stale vegetables can greatly increase the indoor pollution.

The natural question that arises now is, what is to be done to tackle all this as neither it is possible not to use these things and nor to throw all these out of the house. Luckily, there are various steps that we can take to ensure a cleaner air in our homes. A cleaner air not only means a good health but also, sturdier long term immunity and less of chronic health problems. If you have elderly and children living with you, these measures are no longer a matter of choice but are urgent and necessary.

A dirty indoor air can bring dizziness, fatigue and even severe throat soreness. My neighbor too, has taken many measures to clean indoor air for her husband’s constant coughing. According to EPA (United States Environmental Protection Agency) the long term effects of a foul indoor air can be horrifying. Issues such as severe respiratory diseases, heart diseases and cancer can be fatal, and all these stem from a low IAQ (Indoor Air Quality). There are various steps we can take but before that it is important to know how dirty the indoor air is and as there is no rating scale. We can check for the signs like-

• Any palpable smell in the air.
• Poor ventilation- fewer windows or doors & windows, usually latched.
• No or damaged chimneys- Modular kitchen chimneys that are easily affordable are good.
• Too much humidity- It provides a good breeding ground for bacteria and mold.
• Hairy pets- can cause asthma. Yes, that cuddly pet can give you health troubles as well.
• Too much burning- If you are using too much incense or dhoop batti or candles, as is usual in Indian homes, the indoor air may become laden with pollutants.
• No plants- Plants clean air naturally and some potted plants can help a lot.
• Smoking- If anyone in your home smokes, it will surely give two times more damage.

 Now, we know where the problem lies and once the enemy is obvious, making fool proof strategy is easier. There are many steps we can take to clean indoor air

1.   Good paint- High quality paint like Royale Atmos which reduces formaldehyde levels by 80-85% in 24 hours under standard test conditions can greatly help in constantly purifying indoor air.

2.  Good Ventilation- Using modular chimneys in kitchens and exhaust fans in toilets and bathrooms can help a lot. More outdoor air should be made to enter indoors through doors and windows.

3.  Pets- If you have pets with fine hair, you should use a good vacuum cleaner as these fine fibers can cause respiratory troubles.

4. Hobbies- If your hobbies include activities like woodwork, welding, oil painting or such, a separate studio or space must be arranged with an exhaust fan.

5.   Indoor plants- Certain houseplants can be used to improve IAQ greatly.  

We spend more time indoors, especially when we sleep at night. It is the time when the body repairs and heals itself, thus it makes the air quality an important part of the healing process. I am a plant lover and there are certain plants that clean air like magic. Some of them are-

  1.  Garden Mum (Crysanthemum Morifolium)- As per NASA, these cleanse indoor air of dissolved ammonia, benzene, formaldehyde, and xylene.

  2.   Weeping Fig (Ficus Banjamina)- It can grow up to ten feet tall and is common in India. It removes benzene, formaldehyde, and trichloroethylene. 

   3.   Snake Plant (Sansevieria Trifasciata) - Funnily, this plant is also known as ‘Mother-in-law’s Tongue’! This can be grown in very hot conditions and does not require regular watering hence it is useful for busy and working people.

4.    Aloe vera- The most beloved plant these days! All the skin and hair care companies going nuts over this plant! It is called ‘Ghritkumari’ in Sanskrit as it has been said that its benefits are as valuable as those offered by ‘Ghee’. Your friendly Aloe can help clean the air too!

     These little wonder plants are available very easily and do not require much care. By the way, my neighbor’s husband is fine now and is taking medicines for his chronic cough. This is just one case out of many where the degrading air quality has started showing ill effects on health. 

 “The generation that destroys the environment is not the             generation that pays the price. That is the problem.” 

― Wangari Maathai

Life is important; all talks of art, culture, passions and change are useless if we suffer from chronic diseases and spend years in curing ourselves. Life is not about wasting days in hospital or in a chemist’s queue. It is about vitality, health and activity- all of which create our happiness. It is not always possible to bring huge change in old patterns and routines as there are many factors that make up an environment. Air pollution is a macro thing; many factors go into damaging the quality of air. However, by taking precautionary measures and by following simple steps like keeping potted plants or using good wall paint, we can keep IAQ high.

     It always pays to be proactive; even if symptoms are not palpable. Measures taken at the right time can eliminate the chances of these potential health disasters. With rising health care costs, and medical negligence as well, as is the condition in India, prevention is better than cure.

Asian Paints bring ‘Royale Atmos’, a fantastic wall paint that helps clean the indoor air without compromising on style and beauty! So, no fear of wall discoloration and peeling off at all!

The Activated Carbon Technology in ‘Atmos’ helps cleanse the indoor air. It also absorbs some foul household smells. Moreover, it also releases fragrance giving you rid of those pungent chemical odors the paints typically have.

 

Check out this wonderful product on https://www.asianpaints.com/atmos

To know more via mobile phone, sms AIR to 56161

Images and Ref-

mygardenlife.com

myhouseplants.com

amazon.co.uk

123rf.com

youtube.com

indiblogger.in

thenewlywedpilgrimage.com

archiexpo.com

My dream 24K home with Porcelanosa

“The ache for home lives in all of us. The safe place where we can go as we are and not be questioned.” ― Maya Angelou

There is no place like home and a beautiful home is reflection of a refined mind. Indeed! There are no second thoughts about that. In this age of technology, virtual communications and home-deliveries, most people spend a considerable part of their time at homes that are fast turning into highly individualized cocoons esp in the urban and upwardly mobile areas of India. People whose homes are haywire with cupboards and drawers overflowing or stuffed with useless and old stuff and carpets and tiles grimed in the layers of dust, are themselves confused in person too. A nicely kept and tastefully decorated home not only shows your will towards life but also that you have got that panache!

There are many ways to beautify your home and the most common is to stuff it with useless artifacts and showpieces but there is a better option: that of using fewer things but with such a class that they change the entire look and appeal of the place. One such brand that falls into the latter category is a Spanish company Porcelanosa that is now operating in more than 100 countries around the globe. They provide amazing products from tiles to bath tubs and from wardrobes to modular kitchens. So, let me browse through it supposing I have to shop for my dream flat, a space of my own, the things that I wish to buy for myself from 24kliving

Let’s start from the basic thing- Floor Tiles: Porcelanosa has presented anti-slipping ceramic tiles that use ‘Nanoker Technology’ and have been developed in the collaboration with ‘Instituto de Tecnología Cerámica’ (Institute of Ceramic Technology), and require almost no maintenance.  So, I would choose wooden-designed anti-slip tiles for floor.                   

Then, the walls are the most important things that add to the grace of a house. I will choose mosaics that are compositions made with small pieces by combining different shades and tomes, and hence can never look dull and boring! In this range, I’ll go for ‘Green Mosaic’ range that is made using recycled materials and are therefore environment friendly!

Lovely kitchen furniture that is as versatile too, can be easily picked from the website and I’ll go with this these that match the wooden flooring. 

Another space where we all love to spend time and even sing is...right! The bathroom and there are various things that impart class and use to bathrooms are available with Porcelanosa. From basics like sanitary-ware to funky rain showers, all look really beautiful! I’ll go for ‘Touch’ rain-shower. 

Coming to living rooms, I’ll want a nice dressing room too and being a girl, that literally becomes a necessity! I am in love with this very chic and functional design – ‘NaturaRoble Blanco Cal / Lino Habana Textil / Roble Nature’. 

Thus, I can design my space as I want it to be. Porcelanosa fills the gap between dream and design. Check them out if you wish to add that dash of style to the space you love the most- you home!

Porcelanosa ventures into Asia for the first time with Kolte-Patil Developers Ltd. for their luxury brand #24KLiving. Website- http://www.24kliving.com/

 Images from: 

http://www.porcelanosa.com/gb/wall-tiles/par-ker.php

http://www.porcelanosa.com/gb/krion-bathroom.php

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Ethnic Ecstasy!

This post is a part of Makemyhome activity at BlogAdda.com

It may be that the satisfaction I need depends on my going away, so that when I've gone and come back, I'll find it at home. 

 –Rumi

Home is heaven and home is what makes us realize the beautiful bounties fate showers upon us in the form of love and warmth of our near and dear ones! For me, the most beautiful and comforting place on earth is my home! It is also one place which is my own kingdom. Every person is the king or queen of his/her own house and if one delves deeper into the subject of housekeeping, one will be surprised to know that it is virtually limitless! I love to arrange things and beautify my place. Also, my home has to look classy and reflect my individuality as well. I have seen people who are shabby and unkempt and in 99% of the cases, I have found out that their homes too, suffer the same tardiness. So, going in reverse gear, you can easily find the personality of a person just by observing his house and housekeeping habits. I am a lover of things that are a bit ethnic in design. That imparts a unique ‘Indianness’ to my place!  So I would choose three things from the link to beautify what I love the most- my home.

He is happiest, be he king or peasant, who finds peace in his home

-Johann Wolfgang von Goethe 

The first thing is this ‘Traditional Silver Night Lamp’ by ‘925 Silver’. Firstly, it looks really regal and as if straight out of a royal palace! The net that is covering it will create beautiful patterns on the wall, thus eliminating the need of a wall paper or paintings. The design and the looks of this lamp will definitely make the room look imperial! 

Not just walls, floor needs some decoration too and often we just ignore the poor floor while lading our walls with all the decorative stuff! So, I would choose this lovely Aapno Rajasthan Wood Clay Keri Floor Art. Rangoli is an important as well as an auspicious part of the Indian culture. So, I will choose this and place it at the entrance. 

Whenever we think of ‘ethnic’, what crosses our minds first? I’ll give you my honest answer- green fields, Indian patterns, embroidery and pots. Remember those lovely earthen matkee that heroines in b/w movies would take along when they would go singing all the way to the village pool or well? So, check this out- Aapno Rajasthan Wallmount Set Of Miniature Pots- a perfect ethnic wall décor with those charming pots in various ‘Madhubani’ and Worli’ designs. It will bring the art of Bihar and Maharashtra to my home!

So, for an ethnic look for my home, I will go for these three products discussed above! For more such wonderful things, please visit- www.makemyhome.com