Makeover — a term that has been used and abused in recent times with the spate of reality shows on television. But hold on. Makeovers are not just for people but for homes as well. So if you have built your home a while back and are looking to add that modern zing to it, read on. Says Radhika Kapur, creative head, Area: The Lifestyle Store, “Firstly, we need to be sure what kind of look we are aiming at. A minimalist/contemporary or a traditional and luxurious look, for smaller spaces the minimal look is recommended. Also, it is good for people with restricted budgets, as one can achieve a lot within a small budget as opposed to traditional luxury where more is still less!”
    Agrees Prof K Jaisim, Jaisim Fountainhead Projects Pvt Ltd, “As an architect, rather than a specialist interior designer who is more a decorator, when a client approaches us with an already built space, we listen to the aspirations and then attempt to translate this in our language within the limitations of the already built space.
     I have very often taken these alterations to the physical limits of the existing structure and format and successfully created spaces that the client really is herself or himself with.” Says Peter Riddoch, CEO – DAMAC Properties, “Before you do a home makeover, sit and analyse what are the personal preferences and tastes of the people who are going to stay in the house. Each part of the house should reflect your personality so that you are at ease and feel part of the home.”

Redoing a home
So let us begin with the basics. According to Manish V Parekh, director, @Home, “Identify the needs and plan from layout plan to final touches, considering the past mistakes.” “Placing household items at proper place, keeping home clean is the fundamental issue. Things should be placed properly and should not hamper movement of the people around the rooms. All passages should be very clear and should have enough space.
All unwanted items should be kept away from rooms frequented by people. Proper colouring of walls and lighting are must,” says Badrinath Jha, manager, Media Relations, Perfect Relations Ltd. The easiest part and the best impact can happen when you redo the floor. “My favourite is the laminated flooring which can be laid within a day and costs upwards of Rs 55/- per sq foot, including laying,” says Kapur. Most of the older houses have small windows and it is recommended to remove them and put large plate glass windows, as this will give a very airy, spacious feel. The next is the wall colours. The easiest and hassle free way is to call the industry professionals who send their appointed dealers, and they will come and paint the rooms as per the wide choice of colours. “My preference is either plain white walls applied with a textured roller or else white ceilings with neutral,” says Kapur.

For redoing bathrooms there are a plethora of options. Vitrified tiles, preferably large 2 feet x 2 feet, will give a spacious look but try not using too many colours. The best impact is if the wall and floor tiles are of the same colour and quality and wall tiles should be fixed up to  a height of 7 feet and the shower cubicle can be made by fixing 10 mm toughened glass. The washbasin comes primarily in 3 varieties; under the counter, over the counter and on top of the counter. For the top of the counter, use a granite slab under the basin because of the strength and the long-lasting sheen of the stone. In the faucets and fittings, opt for a single lever mixer. Rain shower is very popular nowadays and the prices for the same have come down but practically speaking, it consumes too much water hence is not environmentally friendly. So, you can go for a normal multi head shower with self cleansing nozzles.

Accessorise
Once the house is ready, it needs new lights, curtains, upholstery, cushions, carpets and decoration. “Use more side lamps and standing lamps to give a warm feeling to the rooms during the evenings, as ceiling or wall fixtures tend to make the room too bright and dull,” says Kapur. There is a good choice in readymade curtains so you do not really need to get them made. As far as upholstery is concerned, choose something that is light coloured and in neutral shades.

Preferably textures and no patterns for the main sofa/couch and for the side chairs, go for patterned fabrics or contrasting colours to give it a fashionable look. To add colour to the main sofa, put plenty of scatter cushions that ideally should match either the rug or the curtains or the side chairs.

“Nowadays it is fashionable to have accent rugs with textures rather the traditional oriental patterned rugs. These are easier to maintain and very durable and yet not so expensive… this can be in a nice bright colour like red (for light coloured floors) or a light colour like champagne (for darker floors),” adds Kapur. Pick up interesting objects for decorating your house, like a nice big painting, artifacts like a Buddha head that has a very calming effect on the environment; large clear glass vases with flower decoration, etc. Says Prasad Koneru, managing director, Rakindo Developers Pvt Ltd, “Rule one is to keep things simple, clutter-free spaces make your house appear larger. Add flavour to your wall through some contrast painting. Give a new look to your old furniture with simple slipcovers. Get some indoor plants — they add elegance and improve health. For windows, use wider and higher drapes as they will make the room feel larger and majestic."

Smart homes
Today’s homes are for the tech savvy. A smart home will need to provide a host of capabilities that require the use of different types of revolutionary equipment, combined with some fairly mainstream appliances. Centralised home entertainment is one of the most exciting new trends in home technology. All your display and music systems can be connected to a single server. Thus, it lets you play any movie/ music in different rooms simultaneously and in any combination. Likewise, a lighting control solution system can provide convenient, intelligent, and sophisticated control of your home’s interior and exterior lighting. With the press of a button, it is possible to recall any of these presets/moods, changing the lighting in the room or even the entire house. A security system can be installed to monitor your house even when you are away, with the help of cameras. IP cameras can be used to safeguard your house. You can easily view what is happening in your house by means of camera recordings on a web browser.

Says Koshy Varghese, managing director, Value Designbuild Pvt Ltd, “Home makeovers must give the benefit of better space utilisation, better material and better quality of finish. If the makeover doesn’t achieve at least two of the above — it is not a worthwhile exercise.”

“Nothing is impossible. The only limitations are one’s own. But it is a very exhausting and demanding task. It is worth doing this only if the client is worth it. This is no ROPE trick or a circus to await an applause. It is something one does to make the spirit of the space more individualistic and something worth living in,” opines Jaisim. Happy Makeover!