softyjain, If the windows need to be replaced I recommend looking at fixed steel to maintain the narrow profile of the windows and small window lites. Using fixed instead of operating will be a cost savings if you don't need to open them. Another option for hanging from the ceiling is a decorative light or chandelier. That way you still have light into your ceiling at night. We offer Renaissance solid bronze windows that don't require any finish or finish maintenance. Architects designers love the rose bronze color, which closely matches copper gutters. http://www.houzz.com/projects/152134/Renaissance-Solid-Bronze-Windows---Doors-by-Progressive-Solutions You may also be interested in this ideabook- http://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/18543834/thumbs/Bronze--Copper---Steel-Window-Ideas

I am so happy to see you here! I will have to go back and see if i can retrieve my posts... thought I would make them into a little book for my daughter, with photos. Quick run-down on the bathroom (not travels, no time) - The kitchen has a rather elegant sliding door with beveled glass panels. Painted white, since this was the original colour. GD's new bathroom has the doors I had picked earlier; i thought of polishing them but decided sprayed automobile paint (on a resin primer) would wear better. Especially since it is such a small bathroom, and she is so splashy. I have this finish in my kitchen and it has lasted 15 years now. A tad chipped here and there, but only needs a wipe down once a week. Same finish for the balcony doors, also split like the bathroom. We have a new wardrobe, a study table with built-in shelves, and a small chest of drawers for her odds and ends. I want to re-tile the tiny balcony, more as a little statement. Currently we are looking at Portuguese tiles, though I did think a mosaic with a funky cat might be nice. Let me see the costing. The room will be painted a neutral adobe, with bright white woodwork and an off-white ceiling. This means she can go wild with cushions and covers. Other changes in the flat; We have changed the glass in the master bedroom and living room from small cramped panes to a single pane for each section with a 1" bevel all round. Doubles the cost of the glass, but looks so elegant! The air-conditioning is being re-located. The compressors were all mounted in the bedroom and living room balconies, which looked terrible and meant the balconies (very narrow, only 30" deep) couldn't be used for anything. Not even plants. So they are being moved so that the compressors can be mounted at the rear of the building. two down, one to go. Now we can put in some nice plants, fishtail palms etc. The kitchen counter on one side came out intact and will be reused elsewhere. I am planning overhead storage, cupboards, and a draining cupboard for plates and glasses. Right now there is no dish washer, though a place is earmarked, but for now I will put in a cupboard with steel racks for cups, glasses and plates, all hidden behind pressed glass doors. This is all in the planning stage.... Pictures in a little while, they are mostly on my ipad and don't transfer well to the mac. They come without numbers... so I have to rename the or something. Somebody tell me how to do this!

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.

Hi Sahil, 2 lakhs for such a huge room is a bit tight, specially when we are talking about making the furniture. The sofas alone will be an expensive investment and so will the bed and the wardrobe. Since the window openings are pretty large, either floor length curtains or roman blinds would be required in substantial quantities. Here are a few tips that may help you in cutting down the cost quite a bit - 1] Buy furniture online from sites like Pepperfry, Urban Ladder etc. They have good quality stuff at a reasonable price. You can order the bed, side tables, sofas, pouffes, couches, chairs, study table etc. This way you will always know what you are paying for and also always have the budget in mind. 2] Invest in coloured walls instead of wallpapers. You can always add wallpaper subsequently say when you want to give your room an uplift. 3] Have the carpenter make your TV unit and wardrobes since these would have to be customized. Invest in good quality laminate (it saves the cost of polishing too). Go for solid colours or satin finish wooden textures. If you are not fond of laminates, you can go for recon veneers. These are pretty cheap i.e. around Rs. 60/ sqft. but require polishing. However, veneers look better than laminates any day. 4] Add a personal touch with photographs, paintings, posters and other items of your interest. Dedicate a wall to these to create interest. 5] Try using old loose furniture like tables and chairs which you can retouch to save money. 6] Keep adding new stuff as you go to complete the look. Never hurry, complete only those items that are a priority. Then when your budget permits you can keep adding to it. For eg. have the bed, curtains and cupboards in place first. You can then opt for the TV and the pouffes/couch. Sofas, study tables, side tables and chairs come later. This way you wont lose track of anything. All the best! Regards, RnD Atelier