Tips and Advices - A day with a Kitchen Consultant (Part 2)

Milo’s day out with the kitchen consulant continues....

Okay, I can see you are back to know more about my day. Initial planning questions done, the in-depth aspects became more and more interesting. Are you ready to go?

The Work Flow Chart

You do remember I told you about the sequence and flow of work in a kitchen, right?

I know what you’re thinking... It’s all about basic activities in every kitchen --preparation, washing, cooking and storing! What other flow could be there! I had the same question too! So did our client. “The design has to make for the smooth integration of these basic activities,” explained JSK. “A good kitchen design ensures that one does not have to retrace the steps too often while performing normal cooking activities!”

That answers your doubt.

Okay, so there were a few points to be kept in mind:

1. Smooth functioning of activities without much to and fro.
2. No doors en-route to interrupt the flow.
3. Make the sequence of kitchen work, logical and economical.
4. Ensure minimum distance between work areas (platforms, sink, cook tops) and storage areas.
5. Oragnise clutter.

Once you understand these points, it’s rather easy to make a rough sketch of a design of sorts in your mind.

The Layout

Did you know that there are six basic types of kitchen layouts? With distinct features of its own, each design can function efficiently within the given space and size.

You kitchen consultant will be the best person to tell you which one you should pick. However, you must know what these layouts are.

The U shape:

1. Ideal for a large space.
2. As the name suggests, platforms run on three sides, forming a U.
3. Gives a lot of work and storage space.

The L shaped:

1. The platform runs along two perpendicular walls.
2. Very common in many parts of India, and cities like New York.

The Straight Line:

1. All the work area is set against a single wall.
2. Most suited for narrow spaces.
3. Looks sleek.

The Galley:

1. Work platforms on either side.
2. It is an ideal layout in terms of efficiency, for many.

The island:

1. Requires a lot of space.
2. The island can also be used as an informal dining area.
3. Works well in a commercial kitchen.

The peninsular:

1. Good for a large space.
2. It has a unit free on three sides.
3. One side is perpendicular to the wall or to the other kitchen units, which can be used as a breakfast counter.

That brings us to more important aspects like lighting, ventilation, storage and others. See you soon with more on these aspects in our part 3.

I’d love to hear from you...

Give me your comments, feedback, feedback and doubts, and I’ll get back to you...

                                                                                                                                                                            Milo

Tips and Advices - A day with a Kitchen Consultant

Kitchen designing is no child’s play. It involves meticulous planning, understanding needs and identifying wants, discovers MILO.**

I spent an entire day with a kitchen consultant. Just to understand what his job exactly entails. At the end of the day I was wiser, enriched and already had a plan in mind for my own kitchen.

I walked in just as JSK (The kitchen consultant - he does not want his name revealed!) was getting ready for his new assigment. He was visiting his client who wanted a designer kitchen. I joined him.

What followed was a complete run down of wants, needs, habits and lifetysles before a design could be conceived.

Here is the first part of the series...

MILO

PLANNING

A good design of kitchen must consider the family’s lifestyle, their eating habits and entertainment patterns. JSK first asked his client these questions:

1. What is your budget?

You have to keep a budget in mind. It’s important to then decide on the amount and kind of structural work, materials to be purchased, as also the appliances that need to be installed.

According to JSK, the ideal budget while making your your kitchen should be anywhere between 5 to 7 per cent of the value of your property.

2. What is your family structure?

Type: Nuclear, single person, a couple, or a joint family. This determines the storage requirements.

Age: Requirement change according to the different ages.

3. What is your storage pattern?

Some people buy and store for a full year, while others do their monthly purchases. Depending on your style, the shelves, cupboards and storage units have to be designed.

4. How often do you have guests over?

Don’t brush tis off as being a weird question. It has an important bearing on the design. This will determine the kind of appliances in your kitchen, the size of the refrigerator, kind of storage, counter area, and so on.

Once these basic questions were answered JSK had a fairly clear idea of what his clients wanted. The next few important aspects of information concerned the sequence and flow of work and the layout.

Watch out for these two aspects, soon...

(To be continued)

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** Milo is HAW’s mascot writer, who makes it his business to find his ways into people’s homes, heads and hearts to quench his thirst of knowing everything there is to know about  homes, real estate, properties, laws, designing, interiors.... Well... everything to do with homes!

Look out for his views, interviews, opinions and stories!

The Frozen Sea and Land Around

Black sea often gets frozen due to the sub zero temprtatures in that region. The scene is a spectacular one as the gushing sea stands still as if following the commandment of a higher order!

Here are some stunning pictures, and they really make an impact on you, you might want to invest in property near by. Just for info, the Black Sea borders six countries -- Turkey, Bulgaria, Romania, The Ukraine, Russia and Georgia.

These pictures below are the coast off Odessa, the third largest city in Ukraine.

Very close to black sea, in Odessa, are fabulous apartments for sale as well as rent. Odessa boasts of providing several options to invest on residential real estate.

First, the fab pictures...

Black Sea frozen on the coast of Odessa

Odessa and Real Estate In Ukraine

Odessa and Real Estate In Ukraine

The city of Odessa, is said to be very different from most cities we know. With a nightlife that claims vibrancy, beautiful beaches and museums, one can safely say that this city is meant to be enjoyed completely. 

Reports say that real estate prices are now faling in Ukraine, making it the right time to invest in apartments. There are hoards of just completed residential houses, and also several under construction ones!

Ukraine has seen a real estate boom ever since the Orange Reveloution, way back in 1994. It has seen a lot of foreign investments in real estate in recent times, too. Ukrainian property can also be bought through some real estate agencies without the buyer's physical presence, through online services. Nevertheless, buyers, especially of expensive property, prefer to make the deal in person.

However, as is the case with real estate purchases in any part of the world, the buyer must excersice caution before finalising any deal. Thofough research is required to be done. Not just that, it’s important that foreign investors keep all necessary documents in order and take extra care and precaution before buying property/ renting property or even giving out own property on lease.

Property Buying Tips

Buying property? There is more to it than getting the finance and picking a reputed builder. Here is a quick run through of common sense tips. You already know it all, but the best of us, forget the best of things at times.

1. The Real Reason: Why do you want to buy the property? To have your ‘own’ home, for investment purpose only, a holiday home, a place to retire to, or to relocate? Once you know the reason, you will be more clear on what type of property to zero in on. This is especially important if you are buying a home outside of your city or even country.
2.  Research: This is very important. Before you set out, read up, browse through several websites, talk to people, use your network to know more.  And, yes... prepare a checklist of what you want.
3. Visit: Of course, you must pay a visit and check out the property or properties, as the case maybe. Go along with someone -- a relative, a friend, or better still, someone from the town/ country! This is because, that person may bring in a fresher perspective and probably see what you don’t! Ask questions. Click photographs and go through your checklist!
4. Repeat Visits: Try visiting the property several times before you pay up, and visit the place at different times of the day.
5. Facilities & Amenities: Look for what the builder-developer is offering you vis-a-vis the price you are paying. Also, its important to know how far the nearest medical care unit, school, railway station, airport, shopping mall, etc., are located.    
6. Language: In case you are relocating to another city or country, you must be prepared to learn the local language as also about the culture of that place.
7. Time: Be prepared to invest time into the project. You cannot expect to find your dream home the first time around!
8.  Insurance: Go through the due diligence bit and get home insurance done. It’s really a must!
9.  Solicitors: Pick someone you know. Avoid solicitors who have been recommended by agents. Find an independent one of repute.
10. Survey: Get a property survey done by a professional -- someone who is familiar with local construction processes and materials.

All this apart, enjoy the process. The journey is always more important than the destination.

Trinidad & Tobago -- The Indian Link!

Trinidad & Tobago -- The Indian Link!

With the First Lady of Trinidad & Tobago visiting India, the media is full of news about Kamla Persad-Bissessar’s Indian roots and her attachment to our nation. Do the similarities between T&T and India end there?
Let’s dig deeper...





CUSTOMS & CULTURE
Apparently, people in T&T love to dance to Bollywood music. There’s more! Just like in India, there is always something to celebrate in Trinidad. Different ethnic groups have settled in these Caribbean twin islands, over generations, creating a rich mix of dance, music, art, cuisine and festivals. Diwali is celebrated with great pomp and vigour, just as Eid-Ul-Fitr is.

May 30, celebrated as Arrival Day, commemorates the arrival of the first Indian indentured labourers to Trinidad from India in 1845. The Indians brought a wide range of festivals, spices and food into the country, To this day, the influence of these early immigrants can be seen in the language, music, dance and customs of Trinidad and Tobago.
During the month of March, the colourful fest of Holi is celebrated to the tunes of folk songs and the sounds of the Dholak!



LANGUAGE
Interestingly, Trinidad, a multilingual region, has its inhabitants, speaking in Urdu and Bhojpuri, apart from English and Spanish! Language used in Tobago, is mainly English!

FOOD
Food is one way to trace the roots of any culture. A typical Trinidadian meal always has a generous portion of rice, curry, potatoes and Chick peas, as well as rotis (Indian Flatbread).

FUTURE CONNECT
The T&T PM seems to be thoroughly taken in by what she saw at the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas, held at Jaipur. Like India, Trinidad and Tobago too have a rich and divers cultural heritage. This may form the basis of connect between the two countries for investment opportunities, as well as knowledge sharing.

We now need to wait and watch to see the growth in both countries through mutual benefit and exchange.

GIFT -- Will this be the best gift to India’s growth?

GIFT - The Hi-Tech city project in Gandhinagar, Gujarat is all set to catapult India onto the global realty map. Experts analyse that this may shape the future of Urban India.

GIFT -- Gujarat International Finance Tech-City is slated to be India’s test-bed for future cities. It is said to be the city for the next generation

Apparently, the new concepts tried out in GIFT, maybe widely used in smart cities of the future. Let’s find out more!

Salient Features of GIFT

* It is an international financial centre, which is developing near Gandhinagar, Gujarat.

* Area: 3.85 Sq Km

* Investments: Rs 78, 000- crore planned on infrastructure and buildings.

* Will use state of art technologies in IT, energy, waste management and other areas.

* Command and control centre: to monitor all buildigns and optimise use of energy as well as to respond automatically to emergencies and faults.

* District Cooling: Use of chilled water for cooling, This can be used easily with renewable energy and also requires less maintenance than cooling. This is already being tried in a few places like Toronto and Abu Dhabi. Its proponents say that this technology consumes 90% less energy compared with traditional air-conditioning.

* Automated Waste Collection: In this system, garbage is sorted out and then sucked away at high speed through underground tubes to a central location. It is currently being used in London, Montreal, Stockholm and Barcelona. No Indian city has these technologies yet. Automated waste collection can be combined with biomass energy generation systems, so GIFT will burn waste to generate energy.

Points to ponder

Work on the project has already begun and the project is expected to complete phase one in three and a half years’ time.

The stock exchanges of London, Tokyo and Singapore, as well as several Indian banks, have shown interest in setting up offices in GIFT.

State-of-the-art connectivity, infrastructure and transportation access have been integrated into the design of the city.

Homesacrosstheworld: Property Search | Property Site | Property in India

Homesacrosstheworld: Property Search | Property Site | Property in India