How to Make a Perfect Living Room

Good living rooms have some things in common. They are harmonious, elegant and fit in with the taste and personality of the people who use it. And also the living room is a key space for many homes, simply because it’s a place where multiple people tend to gather and well, live.  And also people who are living in the home they use the living room may double as a party room, a study room, a music room, a reading room, a visiting room, an eat-in room, or it could be something else altogether.  For these reasons, it’s important that the living room is an engaging, inviting space that reflects your sense of style while still providing functionality in the areas your household needs it most.

Living Room Space

It really doesn’t take much to create a beautiful space and this living room proves it. It’s a small space with simple elements and no fuss.

The color and style of brickwork can make a big difference in the overall appeal of the living room, and in the case of most modern spaces, painting them white is a safe and smart option. This keeps the backdrop distinctly neutral while adding texture to the room.

Light and Airy

Bring out your inner Lite-Brite artiste by incorporating some cut-out lighting into your living room. The light itself provides fantastic design, and a bonus is the interesting shadows such lighting provides. You can pack a lot into your living room—even a dining set—if you keep furnishings from weighing the space down. Lucite dining chairs, an open-weave coffee table, and an unobstructed wall of windows keeps this room from feeling cramped.

Position Your Sofa

Arrange the furniture so that it allows freedom of movement as well as comfort. Your couch is often the largest piece of furniture in the living room, so having it in the right spot can make all the difference.

A good rule of thumb is to situate your couch so that it's facing the door, whether it's angled in a corner, floating or along a wall. If you're forced to place it with its back to the entrance, add a console table behind the sofa with lamps or art books so it looks more inviting.

If you need free-standing storage pieces, placing them at the end of the room keeps it from looking narrower. Notice that again you are seeing the seating pieces placed perpendicular to the length of the room.

Coffee Table

The crate coffee table is a very simple design made up of four wooden crates and a piece of plywood. Once put together, it creates a unique coffee table with plenty of storage. It will become a decorative piece in the living room. It leaves a little hole in the middle of the

table, which is great for a flower pot. A coffee table although a relatively minor piece, a coffee table can bring your entire room together. Its central location to the couches makes it a focal point, and it can be used for extra storage when chosen wisely. 

Create a Focal Point

Every living room needs an anchor or a place for your eye to rest, whether it's a fireplace, beautiful artwork, a cool light fixture or a nice view. This will help ground the room and define its function.

If you don’t already have a natural focal point, you can create one by showing off your favorite item in the room. Draw attention to the farthest wall with an oversize piece of art or a decorative mirror. If it's your family room, a flat-screen TV might take center stage. Or play up a statement sofa with bright pillows.

Get in Balance

Balance the living room from top to bottom as well so people's eyes don't stop at the sofa. Consider adding a mirror, ceiling pendant lighting, Chinese screens, wall art, tall plants and high-back chairs.

If there’s a large grouping of furniture at one end of the space, create a new seating area to stabilize it at the other end.

Apartments in Colombo

Now a days having a high demand for luxury properties such as luxury homes & apartments in the capital city of Sri Lanka.  Most of Government and private sector head offices are situated in Colombo. That is because Most of people who are live in other cities in the country they are coming to Colombo because of it offers better facilities for health, education, business activities and has the more chances of getting suitable job opportunities.

Amongst the apartments available in Sri Lanka, will find the various layouts suitable for different lifestyles. Some try to emulate more western layouts while other take a more tropical approach. For example, open western style pantries may look great and appear more spacious, but may not be suitable for Sri Lankan style spicy cooking but be more suitable for those who do a significant amount of eating out and/or prefer more western cooking. If you like to dabble in your curry concoctions, try and select designs which can seal the kitchen/pantry from the internal space and have openings to fresh air.

For comfortable Sri Lankan living, try and avoid layouts with enclosed rooms/bathrooms/pantries. Other than feeling stuffy and restrictive, you’ll also end up spending more energy on artificially lighting and ventilating the places. Intelligent, well thought out designs will try and avoid such spaces being created.

Depending your lifestyle a large complex will typically offer more common facilities such as restaurants, shops, larger pools and community areas. The down side will be having to be part of a very large group of disparate people and agreeing on management of the facilities amongst a myriad different opinions and budgets. As well smaller complex will offer a more intimate community feel and you may be able to spend more quality time in the common areas due to the lower numbers. The downside is that feasibility of more elaborate common facilities such as restaurants, shops will be limited.

 Examine the common elements such as the size/number of swimming pool(s) available, gym and entertainment facility size/quality and if they are able to accommodate the apartment community comfortably.

How To Make a Perfect Bedroom

1. Stick to a limited color palette. Bring your favorite colors in thoughtful way, the colors you love to wear, to have around you, reflect your personality and tastes. When choosing paint colors for your bedroom, the number of choices can seem overwhelming. There are no hard-and-fast rules, but it's good to keep some guidelines in mind.

Think about the bed room, how you spend time in and how it make you feel.

Do you prefer paint with some time of pattern in your wall likewise. Smaller patterns lend themselves to a more traditional look, while larger patterns and geometric shapes, bold stripes and sweeps are more compatible with a contemporary look.

2. Let the light in. Keep window treatments to a minimum in a small space to make the most of the natural lights.

3. Maximize your storage space. A floor-to-ceiling fitted unit makes the most of every inch in this bedroom. It cleverly incorporates room to display treasures, shelves for books, drawers for more personal items, surfaces that act as bedside tables and reading lights.

4. Don’t be afraid to use windows. There’s no rule that says you can’t push furniture up to a window. This bed is tucked neatly at the end of this small loft, rather than blocking the center of the room. Vertical blinds have been made to measure for privacy and to block daylight, and the window offers great reading light in the mornings.

5. Trick the eye with mirrors. Creating the illusion of space with mirrors is a classic trick that works every time. Perfect for smaller bedrooms, a mirrored wall will visually double the space. This one does the job in style, its high position keeping the effect subtle and the antiqued surface looking elegant.

6. Detract with a feature wall. In a narrow room, bring the far wall forward with fabulous wallpaper. This pretty design links the pale blue walls and bronze quilt for a room that feels cohesive and has bags of personality.

7. Make your headboard work hard. Using a headboard for storage is a clever way to make the most of your space. This custom solution manages to be a bedside table and bookcase as well as

8. Wow with white. All white is a fail-safe space enhancer, but there are so many ways to do it. Here soft neutrals add just the right amount of warmth, while the minimal wall decorations draw the eye to the window and the view beyond. The neat built-in wall unit keeps clutter tucked out of sight behind slick drawer fronts, creating a serene mood.

Check out the best apartments in Colombo 

Create a functional and beautiful Kitchen.

In Modern society they don’t use kitchen for only cooking, because are now the hub of social family. So modern people want to use the kitchen for the dinner parties and entertain. That is because how they can make the perfect kitchen – one that reflects the practical needs of a modern lifestyle.

1.  Go Large kitchen and consider the Space

When planning kitchen, it should be comfortable and easy to live. it is important to give careful consideration to how the Kitchen space will be used. If you wants making some changes in your kitchen you can take out a wall to create an open plan living space.

 2.  Clear the Bench

If item can be put away or stored out of sight, the kitchen will be a much better place to work. Go through all the things you have your cupboard and then workout where they would be best placed in the kitchen.

3.  Position the dining table centrally

Not only will positioning your dining table centrally create more room in your kitchen, it is also very convenient for hosting dinner parties, allowing the host to cook and entertain at the same time.

4.  Dress your table to impress

Candlelight can instantly transform an ordinary kitchen table into an elegant dining table. Opt for a simple cotton tablecloth and fresh flowers to finish off the sophisticated setting.

5.  Build around the Light

One simple trick to make your kitchen appear bigger is to make the most of the natural light available. Lighting is the essential part of the function kitchen. Also use candles and table lamps to brighten up corner space that’s often overlooked. Build your shelves and appliances around the windows and your kitchen will instantly be more inviting. If your window is an awkward space, combine wall cabinets in different height, widths and depths to create an interesting, dynamic storage solution in an otherwise restricted space.

6.  Be inventive with furnishings

If you’ve got the space, definitely bring in some more relaxed seating such as a low sofa or a window seat. These can be adorned with pretty cushions or a wool throw, instantly adding that warm, welcoming touch.

7.Choose your color carefully

Opt for soft colors for your walls to add a warm, welcoming feel. You can be more creative with the color of your tiles and furnishings to add that personal touch.

8. Keep your pantry organized

Clear glass storage jars or plastic containers are simple and cost-effective way to store ingredients. Make sure to keep your containers labelled and use drawer organizers for your herbs and spices. 

Check out the best apartments in Colombo 

Top 10 apartments in the world

Love living in skyscrapers with breathtaking view of memorable icons?. Here comes the list of world's most costliest and Luxurious apartments situated in impressive environments.

  1) Monaco's Tour Odeon (Odeon Tower) - France.

Rising majestically above the azure waters of the Mediterranean sea and the captivating Principality of Monaco, Tour Odéon takes luxurious living to dazzling new heights.With facilities like dance floor and In-home caterer, the double tower is completed in the second semester of 2014.

     

      2) One Hyde Park - London.

        

One Hyde Park is a major residential and retail complex located in Knightsbridge, London. The development includes three retail units (Rolex, McLaren Automotive and Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank) totaling 385,000 sq ft  and 86 residential properties marketed with prices starting at around £20 million.

      3) 432 Park Avenue - Manhattan US

432 Park Avenue is a residential skyscraper in Manhattan, New York City that overlooks Central Park. Originally proposed to be 1,300 feet  in 2011, the structure topped out at 1,396 ft. It was developed by CIM Group and features 104 condominium apartments. Construction began in 2012 and was completed on December 23, 2015.

432 Park Avenue is the third tallest building in the United States, and the tallest residential building in the world. It is the second-tallest building in New York City, behind One World Trade Center, and ahead of the Empire State Building.

    4)  Alumuna Apartments- Australia.

Located in a short distance to the Melbourne port, the Alumuna Apartments are a part of a new Port Melbourne project.
With an open plan layout, raw timber features and contemporary lighting, the apartments combine modern metropolitan living with a luxury waterfront home.
The starting price for an off-the-plan apartment in the complex is $1.2 million.

    5) Opus Hong Kong- China.

A 12-storey, 42.62 m residential high-rise completed in 2012 at 53 Stubbs Road on Victoria Peak in Hong Kong. The project was designed by Frank Gehry in collaboration with Ronald Lu and Partners, and developed by Swire Properties. It was Gehry's first Asian residential project.
 
The building consists of 12 residential units, including two duplexes with pools. Additional features include underground parking, swimming pools, gyms, rainwater recycling for irrigation, and electric car charge systems. A 580 m²  apartment, taking up the entire eighth floor, became the most expensive apartment in Hong Kong when it was sold for HK$470 million in August 2012.

    6) Clermont Residence - Singapore

Starting at 180 metres and soaring to 290 metres above sea level,
Clermont Residence offers the only homes that begin and reach such heights.
Beyond its physical stature, an unwavering commitment to craftsmanship and an unrelenting focus on genuine luxury further establish Clermont Residence’s prominence and prestige.

Singapore's tallest building, designed by architects who also conceived the Burj Khalifa and One World Trade Centre in New York. It is due for completion in 2016.

    7) 56 Leonard -New York US

Herzog & de Meuron have designed an iconic tower in the New York
skyline. 56 Leonard is a vertical glass expression of sculpted surfaces,
cantilevers and sparkling glass. 56 Leonard Street is an 821 feet tall, 57-storyskyscraper on Leonard Street in Tribeca,
New York City, United States. Herzog & de Meuron describes the building as "houses stacked in the sky."

    8)South Bank Tower- London, UK

The duplex apartment designed by Goddard Littlefair, won gold at the London Design Awards.
Inspired by the spectacular views, in particular the sunset over London’s west end, the apartment features a colour palette of rusts, ochres, grey, oyster and soft blues, the main feature includes a breath-taking hanging sculpture and geometrical bronze fretwork panelling in the double height living space.

   9)One Madison -  Manhattan US

One Madison is a luxury residential condominium tower located on 23rd Street between Broadway and Park Avenue South, at the foot of Madison Avenue, across from Madison Square Park in the Flatiron District of Manhattan, New York City. The building's address is 23 East 22nd Street, where the main lobby is located.

One Madison sits at the nexus of New York City’s most dynamic neighborhoods of Flatiron, Gramercy, NoMad and Chelsea – where Uptown meets Downtown in a brilliant display of innovative art,entertainment and culinary destinations. Rising from the beginning of Madison Avenue, One Madison also overlooks the lush green oasis of Madison Square Park, and offers spectacular river-to-river-to-sea views.

 

 10) One57 - New York, US

Formerly known as Carnegie 57 and nicknamed "The Billionaire Building",
is a 75-story supertall skyscraper at 157 West 57th Street between Sixth and Seventh Avenues in the Midtown neighborhood of Manhattan,New York City.
Upon completion in 2014, it stood at 1,005 feet tall, making it the tallest
residential building in the city.

The tower was designed by Pritzker Prize-winning French architect Christian de Portzamparc. The interiors are by New York-based designer Thomas Juul-Hansen.The use of dark and light glass on the building’s exterior creates vertical stripes, while also manipulating sunlight and maximizing views.

WHY APARTMENT LIVING IS BETTER THAN A HOUSE?

Are you also in the struggle between choosing Apartment or House?  Well here are some facts before you leap.

  

LESS MAINTENANCE

Maintenance expenses are generally lower due to responsibility generally falling on landlord/owner. If you have a problem in an apartment that you rent, you can usually call the property manager and have someone else deal with the issue.

LOW COST

The number one benefit of living in an apartment is the financial aspect of renting and bills.  Rent is generally cheaper than a mortgage. Further a smaller area will save money on your electric bills.

MORE AMENITIES

Apartment blocks often come with amenities that you wouldn’t normally get if you rent house.
Unlike houses, apartment complexes are generally built with specific amenities such as pools, gyms, convenience stores and laundry facilities are directly on the premises or at the least in very close proximity.

By living in an apartment that comes 
equipped with a gym, you can potentially
save money by not having a 
gym membership.

SAFETY

Although homeowners often invest in some form of home security system or another, apartment complexes also invest in the overall safety of its residents. If you live in a higher level apartment. There might be the main gate, main building door, access for the lift and then your apartment door. Especially for Apartments in Colombo, typical apartment complex safety measures prove that multi-unit dwellings are the safest locations for single women, children, families and the elderly.

SIZE

Apartment proportions are, simply put, convenient. Place to call home, a living room, bedroom, bathroom and a kitchen. This space does not have to be large and lavish, it just needs to feel safe.

If you rent an apartment, you don’t face the financial devastation that you would if you owned a home. People can rent apartment simply with a rent that suits their budget. If you live in Colombo this is a main factor when searching for Apartments in Colombo.

 AVAILABILITY

As many people (Travelers & Expats) attracts to Colombo, need a place to rest their head for few days, sometimes a month or more. For them renting a fully furnished apartment in Colombo is cheaper than staying in a start class hotel in Colombo.