BEAUTY or PERFECTION

The charm of natural beauty of radiant natural marble is poetic and incomparable, but with excellence of composite marble is seamless and inspirational. At the first look, it is a difficult choice to pick one over the other but longevity, versatility and price points have together given Composite marble an upper hand in most builds. Natural Marble is a natural resource which is extracted from rocks and quarried to cutting and polishing units and eventually to business giants for sale. Composite Marble on the other hand is man-made and composed of a polymers blend of marble dust, plastic, pigments and gel coating.

Which is more affordable?

Natural Marble is a natural resource and is expensive to extract and quarry. Marble is heavy and there is a huge transportation cost involved. Cutting and Polishing is also not something where cost can be overlooked. Composite Marble, on the other hand isn’t as expensive as Natural Marble. It is a unique mix of superior strength polymeric substances, marble dust and such pigments. A mold provides the composite stone a structure that is realistic looking, easy to replicate and low in cost.

Which is easier to maintain?

Natural Marble is expensive, difficult to source and needs constant care rituals. Marble is a porous stone and easily absorbs stains and impurities. It looks radiant, no doubt, but Natural Marble is prone to chipping, cracking or discolouration. You also have to be careful as to not apply chemical cleaning agents on marble as that may seriously damage it. Composite Marble is engineered to be non-porous and is given a protective covering of gel. The engineering process makes composite stone non-staining, anti-chipping and resistant to cracking. Plus, most commercially available cleaning agents work just fine.

Which has more choice options?

Visiting a Natural Marble Yard is an exciting adventure. There are huge slabs that look like they belong in mansions. There are blinding 6-10 ft arrays of natural stone that come in many textures and gradients. Natural Marble has different consistencies of grain and difference in shades that cannot be guaranteed. Composite Marble can be custom-made and guaranteed to have certain properties. The moulds can also be tailored to suit individual needs. This makes composite marble a creative decision more than an architectural one.

What about installation?

Natural marble is brittle and hard. It has high density and therefore is heavy to transport and carry. Even during installation, natural marble requires heavy duty machinery and great muscle power. Improper or clumsy installation will never be a good value-for-money proposition. Imperfect installation may also result in curling, crumbling or discolouration of marble. Seepage of water may also induce swelling. However, composite marble is easier to install and can be adjusted on site. Moreover, composite marble can be engineered seamlessly into one piece.

ARE YOUR KITCHEN TILES ALWAYS DIRTY?

If you are the proud owner of a typical Indian Kitchen, you know there possibly isn’t a way to keep your Kitchen tiles sparkly clean as they looked like in the catalogue of the tile company that sold it to you. Your kitchen is practically the most difficult place to keep clean and maintain. Traditionally, the kitchen was always situated in an open space for fire cooking, but in big towns with cloistered living spaces, the kitchen is no longer a secluded unit. With concept kitchens and high end service kitchens, cleanliness is fundamental. With cooking Indian food come lots of spices, fragrance and fumes which accumulate on tiles, slabs and walls and need cleaning from time to time. Here are some tips to keep kitchen tiles clean.

1.       Use Vinegar – Water

A solution of White kitchen vinegar diluted with water should be able to do the trick. Spread this solution on your kitchen tiles slab or wall tiles and let it stand for a couple of minutes. This trick may involve a little scrub cleaning so keep your cleaning gloves handy.

2.       Cleaning Grout

The real problem with cleaning wall tiles or floor tiles is the accumulation of grout. Grout is a layer or dirt which accumulates on the tile surface and is almost impossible to be seen with the naked eye. However, this layer of grout keeps attracting more and more dirt, making cleaning a tedious process with no end. Use a commercially sold ‘buff’ to get rid of grout for a long time.

3.       Rinse detergent thoroughly

Most of us use detergent to clean Kitchen Tile surface. It is very important to rinse the tile surface thoroughly after scrubbing. If detergent is left on the wall tiles or floor tiles, it may lead to soap scum which doesn’t solve the problems associated with tile cleaning.

4.       The dreaded Haldi stains

No matter how great a spice haldi maybe, there is absolutely no excuse to tolerate the stains. Turmeric stains are the most difficult to get rid of. Plus, the use of Haldi is widespread and almost every other recipe uses Haldi which makes it very difficult to abandon it altogether. So here’s a simple habit that would help keep your kitchen tile clean – Clean spills immediately. If you let dirt stand for long, the deeper it would stain. Even something as simple as orange juice or sugar syrup should be cleaned immediately to prevent stickiness.

5.       Avoid using soap to clean tiles

This on one hand may seem like a handicap because soap is the most popular cleaning agent we have known for the longest time – but remember that soap always leaves scum behind and it may be good idea to not use soap at all when cleaning wall tiles or floor tiles. Tiles have the tendency to accumulate things that they come in contact with. If you really need something stronger like soap to clean tiles, use a dilute mixture of ammonia water. Whatever you may be cleaning, whether wall tiles or floor tiles, remember to put on a pair of protective gloves.

Home Décor Tricks Which Never Go Out of Fashion

Are you redecorating your home? Or looking for something classic and elegant to revamp the appearance of your home? Fret not for we have curated a list of certain tips and tricks that would help you do your home décor which would stay in vogue for the longest time to come. Have a look:

1.       Make sure you analyze the space: It is the first thing that you need to consider while doing the home décor. This helps you organize the said space in a better form. Once that is sorted, we suggest you to go on the lines of mosaic tiles. It is a bold and the possibilities that mosaic tiles offer are endless. These tiles can be installed easily and create a lot of drama where installed. It is therefore advisable to not restrain from experimenting. You could also play with colours and patterns. Find a good tile manufacturer and work out the details.

2.       Floor tiles: There are a number of options for floor tiles right from porcelain to ceramic tiles. Sturdiness, resilience and your life style should be taken into account for finalizing the tile type. This would vary from home to home. At the same time, while striving for something unique do not forget to create drama by colours and make sure to have different floor tiles for different rooms. This adds a unique dimension to the home overall. For example, black and white or brown and white tiles make for perfect floor tiles for entertainment or living room. You could even go for a stone floor tile with unique patterns for the living room.  Choose something more personal for the bedroom. We would suggest going for digital tiles if your budget allows you to. You can literally have any pattern digitized to adorn your floor tiles.

3.       Wall tiles: No décor is complete without revamping the walls. Walls are a very important part of the home. We would say do not strive to create anything short of a masterpiece when it comes to wall tiles. It is that space wherein you could give wings to your imagination and let creativity overflow. At the same time, make sure to not go overboard because excess of everything is bad. We would say to keep a fine balance between accessorizing the walls right along with creative play of tiles.

4.       Bathroom tiles: Firstly, colour is a crucial component as the bathroom should not appear dull. Go for bright shades like orange and purple. While picking up bathroom tiles, give special emphasis to the quality as bathroom is prone to moisture. Ceramic tiles could be a good option.

5.       Tile size: Home décor can be complete and articulate only when you make the correct choices in terms of tile size. Big is not always the best and therefore make sure to have tiles of right sizes incorporated in the house. Also, do not compromise on the quality of floor tiles or other tiles. Instead, see it as an investment and make sure you maintain the tiles thereafter. Most importantly, don’t be scared or shy away from taking professional help if needed.

Even in a segment which changes almost every other day, there are some ideas, tips and tricks which are evergreen in nature. Stick to these points and you’re golden!

Which Tile Does Your Home Deserve?

A house becomes a home when you blend it in the mixture of your personality. If you are planning to redecorate your house or even if you are a first timer who wants to walk on a floor that accentuates the look of your house then you came to the right place my friend. I have done a lot of research and I have gathered a lot of information on tiles. Tiles are one of the most inexpensive and fastest solutions to design your home. If you are a miser like me then you should buy the clearance tiles that stores sell at a sell-out price to make way for new stock. Although the price could vary depending on the design or the type of tile you are planning to buy.

 Tiles for Home

Ceramic tiles are the most commonly used tiles for home which are also known as porcelain tiles. Experts suggest that vitrified tiles which are a type of ceramic tile are your best bet to decorate your home with.

The difference between vitrified tile and its counterpart ceramic tile is that vitrified tiles have very low porosity and doesn’t absorb moisture easily which increases its longevity. Vitrified tile is also not glazed like ceramic tile as the dye is put into the mixture before putting it in the kiln so even if the tile is scratched it will still have a uniform colour. Vitrified tile also has a very soft shine and if these are unpolished they will give out a matte like finish and either way it looks stunning on the eye. These tiles also are cheaper than agglomerated marble or quartz stone and installing them is less time consuming that installing these. So, I suggest you to go for the evergreen vitrified tiles and it’s not just me, Architectures and Interior Designers will also agree with it.

Design & Pattern

The pattern choices of tile will be dictated by how deep your pocket is. The running bond and brick pattern is the most popular for places like kitchen and bathroom. Top tiles companies in India have seen a rising demand for basket weave or a pinwheel pattern in bathroom tiles and that is usually used for small bathrooms. Tiles are like tattoos on the wall so before setting it up in the stone just make sure you have played enough with the shapes and styles to get the desired look because once it’s on the wall then it is not coming down for a long-long time.

Home Decor 101 – The Versatile Nature Of Tiles

Ever witness a house without tiles? Would be hard to find isn’t it? There’s a reason why this happens. ‘Tiles for home’ is like a buzzword since day and age. Because of the factors that tiles are essentially durable in nature and aesthetically pleasing to the eyes, they are considered as the best fit for our households.

Whether you put vitrified tiles under the microscope or ceramic tiles for that matter, homemakers often feel spoilt for choice. That being said, these aren’t the only variety of tiles that are available in the market. Add to this, practical bathroom and kitchen tiles which touches the entire ‘tiles for home’ envelope. Tiles for Home

Tiles are used for various reasons. They are easy to maintain, they are long lasting, the large variety ensures that your area stands out uniquely. But why limit the tiles to only make it easier to clean the kitchen backsplash or keep the walls of your bathroom from rotting.

 Tiles are versatile and you can use them as you like. Here’s how:

1.       Tiles as Inlaid rugs:

 No need to move for cleaning and vacuuming; not to mention they look stunning. The name says it all doesn’t it? The popularity of tiles as inlaid rugs is gaining popularity slowly but surely.

2.       Tiles as Headboards: 

Use interesting tiles to design the headboard. Your bed and your bedroom will have a totally fresh, new look! Tiles for home like never before!

3.       DIY Art on Tiles:

Create beautiful Warli art on the tile and see it transform into your own lovely piece of art. Adorn the walls of your house with it. You can use digital tiles and wall tiles as well. Floor tiles are usually avoided here as you wouldn’t want your guests to step on to the magnificent art that you’ve created.

4.       Tile Apron:

 It makes the modern bathroom a little more exciting. No need to move for cleaning and vacuuming; not to mention they look stunning as well.

5.       Tiles as Nameplates:

 Tile nameplates are in vogue - make a welcoming entry using them. Funny what tiles are capable of these days; all it takes is a little ounce of creativity.

Whichever way you use them - #TilesAreAwesome :-)

Now that we’ve established why tiles are the first picks whenever a house gets renovated or whenever someone’s building a new house, we sincerely hope that your home decor and interior design decision making will become a whole lot easier.

Set Your Mood Straight With Vibrant Wall Colours This Monsoon Season

Colours are ruminative of a person’s mood. In fact, colours break the monotony of the frantic work-driven human lives. Colours make life beautiful and evade any sense of dullness that creeps in because of certain things happening every now and then. Monsoon is a season that is known for its vibrancy, beautiful rains, sumptuous delicacies and happier people. Why not transport this happiness to your homes? After all home is a place that stands for comfort and calm and therefore it should be laden with home decor items and wall tiles that are vibrant and chic.

Set your mood straight with vibrant wall colours this monsoon season by following these simple and fun tips:

1.       Change the wall colours: Well, this just makes good common sense to be appearing at the top of the podium. Indulge in brighter colours. Period! A pop of colour would add a new dimension altogether. It is less effort and more result. How about having a dash of orange on the beige wall tiles?

Also, make sure you maintain a good distance from the greys and blacks this season. It adds dullness and heaviness which is best avoided.

2.       Lighting: Home lighting assumes great importance in the monsoons.  Ensure that you manage it well. Try experimenting with yellow lamp shades for a brighter and warmer look. Also, pick some pretty and quirky lamps. There are so many to choose from in the market today. Imagine a creative personalized lamp donning your composite marble floor. It will add that personalized touch that you’ve always dreamt of.

3.       Curtains and drapes: Use lighter and free flowing materials and bright colours and you are set to experience the monsoon breeze in all its glory sitting in your living room.

4.       Window Fixtures: Monsoon breeze is perhaps the standout thing about the season, and therefore one should revamp the windows to make ample room for cross ventilation.

5.       Bed Linens: Playing with colours should not just be restricted to the walls but should be reflected in the choice of bed linen also. You could opt for traditional Rajasthani or Kutch embroidered cushion covers along with quirky crockery for an added appeal.

6.       Add a sleek and colourful piece of furniture or accessory to add that X-Factor to your home sweet home. Match it with the newly done wall colours. It would result in a stammeringly beautiful visual delight.

7.       Make sure to hang a beautiful wind chime. Monsoons are tailor made for these accessories. In a nutshell, a wind chime is a treat to the eyes and the ears.

8.       The floor mats and doormats donning your floor tiles should be rain resistant but should also compliment the wall colours. Choose the colours and material wisely. Utility and aesthetics go hand in hand here.

Wall colours should be the starting point of preparing your home for the ‘monsoon welcome’. Then you should co-ordinate and make sure the other accessories follow closely. It is all about coordination and mixing and matching. So what are you waiting for? Get going and add that dash of colour now! You can thank us later!