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.

How To Keep Tiles Clean & Shiny This Festive Season

There is an age old ritual in Indian families which has been passing on from one generation to another. Ever seen your mother getting busier as the festivals come calling? Is it just a coincidence? Definitely not! We all want to look our best during festive seasons and our houses are no different. Especially towards the end of the every year, we get busy in beautifying our homes in the best way possible.

As they say, ‘Drive away the darkness and move into the light’. This is where tiles enter the fray. As tiles form a major part of our homes, cleaning them becomes the utmost priority. Pale, old and yellowish tiles can be noticed from far out and don’t go well with the festive-y feel.

Irrespective of the occasion, every home maker would want a spic and span feeling inside the house whether that means getting all the floor tiles scrubbed or hand cleaning the wall tiles or whitening the bathroom and kitchen tiles. 

Bathroom Tiles:

A 50/50 vinegar and water solution will clean tile, counters, cabinet fronts and soap scum in the shower.

A baking soda and water paste will clean stuck on gunk in the shower and tub (use vinegar instead of water for really tough stains).

For grout, sprinkle baking soda on the floor and spray with undiluted hydrogen peroxide and scrub with a gentle toothbrush.

For wall tile, painted door frames, spots on the doors, outside of toilet, etc, my homemade all purpose cleaner will clean and disinfect.

Floor Tiles:

Clean tile with mild detergent and clean water, using a rag or chamois-type mop rather than a sponge mop. Change water frequently while cleaning.

If your tiles look hazy, use acid like fresh lemon juice on ceramic tiles (but never on marble). Rinse thoroughly with clean water, and buff dry with a clean lint-free cloth.

For great looking grout, clean using a paste of baking soda and water. Rub it on the stain, let it sit overnight, then scrub the stain in the morning with a stiff nylon brush (a metal brush will damage the grout).

Kitchen Tiles Grease:

Wrap a dusting rag around the bristles of a broom. Fasten it in place with safety pins or binder clips, arranging them so they won't scrape the wall.

Dust the wall from top to bottom with the broom. Get into the upper corners where spider webs and dust tend to collect.

Fill one bucket with ¼ cup of liquid cleaning detergent and 1 gallon of warm water. Add up to 1 cup vinegar if the walls have a grease film. Fill the other bucket with clear warm water.

Dampen a sponge in the soapy water. Wash the walls beginning at the bottom and working your way up. Wipe down the wall in small sections, using a circular motion.

Moisten food stains with a small amount of water and allow it to soak and loosen the stain for five minutes before wiping it off with the sponge.

Scrub stubborn stains lightly with a mildly abrasive sponge, taking care not to damage the paint or tile. Wipe the wall a second time with the clear water. Dry it with a clean towel.

With the most difficult areas of your house clean, cleaning the rest of the house is just a piece of cake :-) Have a great #FestiveSeason and celebrate the #BeautifulLife!

After all that has been said and done, tiles need your utmost attention as they occupy a larger portion of your home decor and interior design segment inside your house. Simply follow these tips and you’re good to go! 

Preparing Your House For the Chilly Winter Season

The time is approaching when the days will get shorter and the nights longer. For some, it is the dullest part of the year but for others, the season is all about basking in the pleasures of staying at home all cozy and warm in your skin soft quilt. The transition from summers to winters is not all sunshine and rainbows. Your need to give your house a makeover in order to make it winter-proof.

So, here are some tips to prepare your home for the chilly winter season:

1.        Take care of your plants: Move all the potted plants inside to prevent them from catching cold. The tropical plants cannot thrive in low temperatures and besides, they add a new look to your living room. Moreover, all the other plants should be pruned and trimmed effectively.

2.        Add layers: Winters is the time to invest in some beautiful quilts and amazing bed covers. As we all know, come winters spending time in bed becomes a luxury. Add pops of colours to all your bedding sheets and throw some classy rugs and carpets beneath your feet.

3.        Chimney cleaning: This is again a very significant area to invest in. To make the most optimum use of your pretty fireplace, you need to get the chimney cleared by a professional. It increases the efficiency and also is a much needed safety measure for your family.

4.        Curtains, window panes & tiles: Firstly, invest in pretty thick curtains to add freshness to the look of your house. Winter curtains are very different from the summer ones in terms of prints and fabric. Choosing energy efficient glass panes for windows which will help keep the chills away. Incorporate aesthetically pleasing tiles in your current home decor by moving for digital tiles, wall tiles, floor tiles, or ceramic tiles for that matter.

5.        Gutters cannot be left clogged: Make ample time to clean your gutters either by yourself or by employing a professional. This is a must do ritual for winters.

6.       Boiler Alert: Winters are the time when you need a good heating system. Therefore, make sure to tune up all your boilers. It also ensures a good life span for your heating system.

7.        Candles and lamps: Winters are the perfect occasion to have candles light up the interiors. Buy some creatively beautiful candles and make sure your guests don’t forget to look twice. Moreover, get yourself some artistically pleasing lamps which add that warmth and take up the aesthetic appearance of your home a notch higher. Always remember, candle light dinners are still in fashion!

Follow these steps religiously and bask in the glory of the mesmerizing winter season. Wake up the interior designer or the home decor expert inside you and get to work. Happy Winters!!