I’m starting the house hunt series with apartments in East Bangalore, primarily around the Whitefield, Hoodi, and Old Madras area. Let’s start with Casagrand Royce, a 277-apartment spread over 6 towers coming up off Hoodi. Name of the property: Casagrand Royce Builder: Casagrand Location: Off Hoodi Junction. Precisely, on Kodigehalli Main Road, KR Puram, Bangalore. Though the address comes under KR Puram, it is closer to Hoodi Junction. Total area: 4.05 acres Type of units: 1,2,3 and 4 BHK apartment in many variants. Each of these have an option with a private terrace. Total number of units: 277 Status: under construction Likely handover date: starting October 2018 Pricing (approx. all inclusive including GST + registration): You will have to inquire for the actual pricing for specific units. No. of floors: G+4 Parking: 2 level Basement parking Plan analysis of the model apartment: I visited the property yesterday. I liked the layout…
There are quite a few of you out there who have written to me recently asking for recommendations of ready-to-move in properties. As a buyer, this “find-a-new-home” project is one that sucks the time, energy and miles out of home chasers, testing their patience and perseverance, and proves as an acid test to see if the money they have been saving for their dream home will be sufficient. And, people who are in the house hunting process will agree with me when I say that even the most amicable couples end up having long drawn arguments over the kind of house and interiors they both like. Your e-mails have motivated me to revive the “House Hunt” series again in the pursuit of your dream home. And when someone says my analysis has helped them zero in on a property, it brings me immense pleasure. As it has always been, these posts…
This post is sponsored by Capricoast. We often associate wood as the material for interiors. After a radical introduction of stainless steel as the prime material in our previous kitchen tour, today I take you through its traditional alternative: a ply kitchen that is budget-friendly without compromising on accessories. This is also executed by CapriCoast. Just like the previous post, all frequently asked questions are addressed in this post: how much should a ply kitchen cost, will the vendor undertake civil work, what material to use in a kitchen, is waterproof ply necessary etc etc. This home is part of the Zed Homes community, an eco-friendly project that is close to our hearts. Key details about the project: Name of the project: BCIL, Zed Homes Location: Bangalore Size: 8 feet hob side (hob and sink on opposite walls) 11 feet sink side Material used in kitchen: Ply Shape of kitchen:…
In this post, I analyse and review if you should consider buying a row house in Renaissance Nature Walk. Continuing with the House Hunt series, today I present to you one of our ah! moments. One where space is the king. One where light rules, and flows in unhindered. One where you can spread a chataai on the terrace and gaze at the stars without the exhaust smoke choking your lungs. One where you can indulge in a hobby. One where you can take a walk every evening without watching your step for stepping over trash. One where there is a hint of greenery from the living, dining, and the guest bed room. One where the windows are not dots on the wall; they are the prominent features. One where the living room opening up to the green patch gets a character with the double ceiling; it makes you feel the…
Sometimes unplanned weekends are all the more fun. Just on a whim, when I go to know last Wednesday that Monday was a holiday for my son, we decided to go to Hyderabad. Booked tickets on the bus, made reservations at a hotel at a great location, packed lightly on Friday evening and off we went on a two day holiday. Recipe for a great weekend: one day of exploring the city and one day of catching up with friends you haven’t met in years.
It’s been over 25 years since I last went to Hyderabad and this was a first personal trip for my husband and son. The highlight of the trip was that it coincided with the end of Ramadan and festivities were on to celebrate Eid. I’ve never seen Bangalore celebrate Eid on such a large scale. After a while, it felt little awkward as if something was amiss if I didn’t see a “Irani Haleem” sign board every 50 meters. There were a few streets that completely took us by surprise – a street full of paint stores, one just for wedding invitations, another for hardware and electrical stores and yet another for just flowers – flowers of all kinds, sizes and colors, and fruits.
There was so much chaos and yet it looked so organized. As we meandered our way through the old city to the Museum, the contrasts of two cultures existing effortlessly side by side was hard not to miss. This is why India is secular: it was along drive from Golconda Fort to the Museum and I dozed for a few minutes. But, while driving through one of the narrow lanes, I woke up startled by the ringing of the temple bells. The temple was flanked by a mosque on one side and a famous haleem outlet on the other. Most of the old houses have not been renovated, at the max, just painted. So those small windows, painted wooden doors secured with a chain iron lock on the top, and STD-ISD-PCO (it’s hard to see these in Bangalore) signs, was a treat to the senses.
Sunday, we met up with old friends and had lunch at Nautanki Gali – which is what this post was supposed to be about. But, I digressed. There’s nothing much I can describe in words about the restaurant other than that it was everything Indian(rural), kitsch, adventure, happiness, colors of life, street food ( spicy chat and sinful chocolate fountain desserts), celebrating life, making memories and indulgence – all packaged into one. Over to pictures:
A view of the hallway leading up to the dining area designed as a thoroughfare with steel balti seating for waiting guests and bright street-like painting on the walls.
A closer look of the art work with some funny captions. Inspiration comes from the graffiti on the streets, back of trucks and auto rickshaws around the country.
