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Full fledged television channels, innumerable glossy magazines, exclusive furnishing stores and not to mention hours of good living shows - all thriving in the real estate space trying to make people 'house proud'...point to the increasing trend of people trying to make statements through their homes.
The desire to design the house in a way that it looks like an extension of its owner's personality is the latest trend in interior designing. In fact, ornate interiors a la star suites are what Hyderabadis are increasingly looking at.
Not so much of thought and attention ever went into the furnishing and detailing till few years back. With a major share of savings spent on the buying of a house, the ultimate dream of most, even the thought of spending on elaborate interiors was simply dismissed.
Well, that was the boring past and times have surely changed now!
"Even before one acquires a house, no matter how small or big, a part of budget is set aside to complement the theme and feel of it. Choicest of furniture, fittings and tapestry that suit one's palate and budget are sought to morph the house into a 'home'," avers Yeshwant Ram a m u r t hy, Chairman of Institute of Indian Interior Designers (IIID), Hyderabad Regional Chapter. The noted architect in fact goes on to say that we are consciously trying to move from 'interiors to ambience'.
The globe-trotting buyer
"I talked about my adoration for Mediterranean style houses to my architect and designer. Consequently, they gave the house stucco exteriors, a lot of open space and my favourite arched windows. I just love its resemblance
to a sea-side vacation house," elucidates Sabita Rao, a banker who can't stop going ga-ga over her new house on the outskirts of the city.
Sabita is just one of the many well-travelled Indians who are quite clear about their choices and the plethora of options available for home styling. There are many like her who want their homes to be distinctive in terms of design.
"Such changes in choice and preference have been because of changing lifestyles and attitudes in India. International exposure and large disposable incomes have a prominent role to play in influencing the way Indians now look at interiors. In a way, the sensibilities have grown and Hyderabadis have finally realised that it is not just about fancy Victorian furniture and an uber expensive chandelier," says Ramamurthy.
Buyers these days want the best that is available in the market, even if it means stretching the budget a little bit.
Well, in India we are now living in a time when even nationalised banks are giving home improvement loans.
Readymade
solutions
The concept of ready-tomove-in apartments is fast catching up in Hyderabad.
Interestingly, furniture, curtains, artifacts, kitchenware and other belongings are no longer looked upon as lifetime acquisitions. As a modern buyer moves into his new house, he is willing to snap off his emotional ties with old
belongings and
wants a brand
new look for his
house.
" G ive n that the buyer is generally profiled to be a busy professional, too short of time to furnish his apartment on his own, builders are happy making the life of their customer simpler. Acting as one stop shops for buyers, builders are extending incentive-based buying, offering people everything ranging from furniture, furnishings, modular kitchens, gardens and what not," elaborates Ramamurthy.
The generation which wants to move to a new house with probably just a bag of clothes, is getting it all on a platter!
Playing with
interiors
In Hyderabad, interior designing as a concept grew in popularity only in recent few years. This has fuelled a demand for interior designers who can work on all - functional, aesthetic and technical part of design.
Interior designers often work as facilitators when an owner or a buyer wants to translate his choice into design and décor. Services of designers are being increasingly sought for aesthetically utilising every inch of space and to know about the latest design and material trends. As Sabita feels, "Running behind electricians, carpenters and masons could have been a nightmarish experience for me. My designer and architect professionalised the whole process by putting the right mix of people to execute an entire gamut of tasks."
The functional part of design is easily accomplished, but since the definition of 'beauty' is different for different people, it is quite difficult to satisfy aesthetic requirements. Ramamurthy elaborates as he explains, "If my client demands a polka dotted wall, I try to integrate other décor elements to compliment the look, simply because that is how helooks at his dream house," says Ramamurthy.
Trend spotting
The des i g n market in
Hyderabad is
quite in sync
with trends across
the world. And this maturity in design sensibility is reflecting in the way we look at interiors now.
Commenting on local trends, Ramamurthy explains, "Italian and Scandinavian designs are quite in vogue, as cheap Chinese and Malaysian imitations are thronging the market at a fraction of price. Use of paler shades are keeping the moods soother and a lot more attention is being paid towards detailing."
Surveying the market, we find out that wooden flooring, modular kitchens, wallpapers and designer bathrooms are the most common aspirations of an average buyer. In a state rich in furnishing textiles, curtains are being made out of natural silk, designer cotton and polyester blends.
"For our clients, lighting is no more synonymous to tubelights. When it comes to illuminating houses, people have graduated to the next level and are demanding mood lighting, accent lighting, smart lighting and task lighting," adds Ramamurthy. Inspiring, isn't it?