The Writer’s Flight

The pandemic is prompting everyone to make "seasonal changes" in home decor which is no longer for keeps Namrata Kohli   |   New Delhi Charpoi with velvet upholstery. Picture Courtesy: Inhabit Store So, you thought those carpets would last you a lifetime and even be passed on to the next generation. Covid-19 has pushed even timeless and the classic pieces into the lofts and bed boxes as people want to infuse a dose of freshness into their abodes. And winters have provided a legit excuse to renovate with a brand-new carpet, double-layered curtains, a new bedside runner, throw cushions, intimate lighting, outdoor furniture and the works. “If what you have to see is the four walls of the house 24x7, then you need to recreate some drama in there, lest you go nuts seeing the same thing over and over again,“ says Sanju Narang, a 45-year-old work-from-home professional, who stays with her kids and husband in South Delhi. Set-up for winters When its damp, cold and dark outside, w...

Investors expect a V-shape recovery in India's real estate market as the economy shows signs of revival and demand returns. Namrata Kohli brings some insights on how to play the real estate market Namrata Kohli Experts said real estate is ideal for investors who have a capital of at least Rs 2 crore to Rs 4 crore and can wait for five years. The Indian  real estate  market suffered in the coronavirus pandemic but the third quarter of 2020 marks a turning point. The time has come after many years to invest as both macro and micro economic indicators favour the market, said analysts. “Investors have remained bullish on the long-term prospects and voted with their deployments in the third quarter,” said Dr Samantak Das, chief economist and head of research and REIS (India), JLL. “The interest rate is at a historic low. We are expecting a huge currency depreciation along with price inflation of 5-7%. The economy is ready to bounce back with (a) promising GDP in near future; and th...

Lower interest rates, stamp duty rebates in some states, flexible payments and most importantly, more time to visualise and create a dream home spur consumer interest Namrata Kohli   |   New Delhi Master bedroom in an apartment in Phoenix Kessaku, Bengaluru. The luxury project has amenities such as a rooftop jogging track, infinity pool, multiple sports areas and three onsite clubs One positive outcome of the  coronavirus  spread is magnification of human imagination, especially when it comes to sprucing up the home. This is because one's house is no longer just a castle, but has morphed into an office-cum-gym-cinema hall-cum-many other things rolled into one. But in order to accommodate these luxuries, one needs more space. Which is why you will see many who were looking at a 3BHK earlier, willing to stretch a bit and pick up a 4BHK instead, while those fixated on 4BHK earlier moving up a notch to acquire a villa or penthouse. With more time to think and more n...

This small wearable device checks your blood pressure, heart rate and sleep quality, apart from monitoring your workouts Namrata Kohli   |   New Delhi Casio G-Shock’s G-Squad GBD-H1000 (Rs 39,995) has five sensors: optical heart rate, thermo, magnetic, blood pressure and acceleration, along with solar, USB charging, Bluetooth connectivity and GPS It might astound you to know that all it takes is just 30 seconds to download an ECG report that is acceptable in hospitals and clinics in India. That's the kind of experience 45-year-old Mumbaikar Aayush Vats had while checking his health parameters on an Apple  smartwatch  he recently bought. With the ongoing festive sale at e-commerce portals, he managed a handsome discount to acquire a Series 3 originally priced at Rs 20,900, for just Rs 16,900. Corona times have led to a spurt in health devices and  smartwatches  have found a new audience. Says Ali Rizvi, Director, Garmin India: “Earlier  smartwatche...

If you can read and write, you can do coding and open up to a whole new world of digital creativity at the job while also sharpening your analytical skills and improving problem-solving ability Namrata Kohli   |   New Delhi Coding teaches us how to speak the tech language of computers and is well aligned with 21st century careers and life If you are checking in code, you have to maintain your code, says Mark Zuckerberg, Facebook co-founder and CEO, who says that he still dabbles in it for fun every now and then. Until a few years ago,  coding  was considered to be a skill limited to Computer Science students. But in today’s digital age, it has become ubiquitous and considered basic literacy. At online and offline learning platforms, the bestselling courses that continue to have a strong audience are the ever-trending technology courses--the likes of Python, Java, ethical hacking, data science, machine learning, and IT. Says Bimaljeet Singh Bhasin, President, Ski...