Tsilanko, I would always recommend professional installation where needed. But what I am doing here is suggesting that WHEN you are planning to build or renovate, to consider how your plans will affect you in 20 or 30 years time. Split levels are very hep when you are young. A kitchen 3 steps down at 30 is rarely a problem, but might be a hazard at 60, or, as Marjie1059 suggested, if you break a leg. ... All my parents' homes were terrible for old people. They were forced to move to a bungalow in extreme old sge because the location and design of their home was more suitable for an active young couple with a large family than for an elderly couple with stroke disabilities. I would not want to move again, so my present home has features built in that make ageing in place simpler. Mostly small changes, like grab rails, and lever handles on doors and faucets. A major disability suddenly suffered requires major changes if permanent. I did look at this because it came up in the discussion, but if you look at the heading, Planning for Disability, it means just that. Plan ahead so you don't have to make expensive changes later on. But thank you for your advice, yes, major changes are not in the DIY domain.

Hello there, If the border of the diamond is green and inlaid marble is white that is fine; the vice-versa is great too. But to enhance the aesthetics, you need to do a diamond polish on them. Further, choose your furniture of a neutral or white accent instead of dark wood grains. Green borders are good too but try to keep them slim 3" for skirts. Any design could be bonded to any space, there's no rule for them. Just go with your imagination and choose color contrasts as you like. Whatever reference images you've selected, you should notice that the entire house is painted white as in a blank canvas. Decor and furniture go on top of that. Second, you should see the ceiling height, Since they are double height and high ceilings, it needs something to keep the space grounded and cozy. Hence the dark floors pull them down and give it an intimate arena. If you want to achieve the same feat, I would consider using mirrors and colored glasses as decor frequently and keep the interior paint scheme in white. It will do the reverse; expand the space by illusion of reflections. And you have already done that! Regards, Aurum Ideas and Spaces Bhubaneswar. +91-9078942136

Hi Anirudh, As budget is 40k, few options come to my mind without major changes to the entire setup you already have. Hope this would be of some help; The wooden linoleum flooring is not looking that great. you can think of removing it if that is an option. You can add a rug to the living room, synthetic rugs come is great variety and are inexpensive. You can go for a beige colored rug, plain or patterned. The first pic of your living room: Without replacing your Sofa changes you can make; 1. change the curtains. To create length and make room appear big and high up..Go for sheer curtains in white/off-white (something similar to the wall colour). Hang the curtain rod high up with width a little more than the window's (exact width of windows don't look so good). 2. Sofa Cushions: Replace the cushion covers with mix of - White(patterned-any small pattern would work) & Bright Blue color plain or patterned covers. Pic 2: Showcase: If you are not too emotional about that showcase, you should get rid of it. Instead hang Huge painting in neutral palette (nothing very bright) to cover it up. Any stretched Canvas paintings will cover up the showcase entirely. Those single picture frames should go away and so does the wall hangings. Pic 3: 1. BookCase: Buy/Diy a bookcase on top of the existing one...such that it touches the ceiling. You can completely get a new book case with wall to floor height if you please. Please don't crowd the bookcase, instead add a mix of books and some stopper or picture frame or decorative items. 2. TV Unit: The TV Unit is bulky and adds nothing to the room. Instead buy a simple one with drawers. 3. The wall clock is too small for the wall. Buy a bigger one so that it doesn't look too tiny with TV. You can go for a colored wall clock, like something in GREY or TEAL BLUE, provided your wall if lighter color. 3. Create a little interesting wall with paint or simple wallpaper. You can keep it white and give it some patterned finish with smokey grey (you see how marble wall looks something similar)..... And you can do without the curtain as well. Pic 4: 1. You can make this into a gallery wall and put photo frames along with paintings from high up to mid of the wall. mix and match and see what works here. When hanging colored photos keep some border while framing that looks better. 2. The single chair is occupying too much space. Instead you can replace it with a Blue/White Ottoman (cheaper option) or sleek wing chair (without arm rest) (a little expensive option). Actually you can buy two Ottoman and put the spare one on the wall end of TV unit and can alternatively use it as coffee table.

Hi Ruephs.. thanks for you comment. I totally agree that laying tiles on tiles is not advisable. However, below are our current challenges: can’t remove and replace the damaged ones only, as we don’t have any spare tiles handy. These were given by builder some 3 years ago and no stock is available chance/probability of damaging adjacent tiles while removing the damaged ones, which will end up laying more tiles cost and time of removing the existing tiles, cleaning and disposing the rubble is costing way to high than laying new ones identifying and trusting so called experts is really difficult We already have the wall mounts installed (TV panel) in the living room and cupboards in the guest bedroom.