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.

The furniture in the 1st one is typically seen in renders and that's what gives it away. Also the tree is not quite real. Other details like creases in the carpets/dhurries and the pattern of it.

Hi, There are a number of ways in which the area under a staircase can be utilized. In case of a cramped house or space restrictions, this space can be used for providing storage, services or even a powder room as elaborated below : In case there are no space constraints and all the other areas are taken care of, the space below the stairs can be used for add ons such as a library, study, cellar or a minibar. In case there are any dogs in the house, this area serves as a spacious and compact kennel too : Apart from this, if the space is to be treated solely considering aesthetics, it can be livened up using a bit of indoor landscaping, sculptures and water body : Hope these ideas help. Do let us know what you decided to choose. All the best! Regards, RnD Atelier Nagpur

Dear Mr. Surya, You could try an inside out concept with a house centered around a built forest/ structured landscaped areas. You could design the place in such a way that both the frontyard and the courtyard would be accesible/vislble from every room. For privacy, wood/metal jaalis would suffice. You could also place a waterbody in proximity to formal and informal living areas so that an outdoor deck doubles up when large volumes of guests need to be entertained. You could also incorporate an outdoor seating with fireplace and BBQ by the landscapes/ aquasccapes. In general, a green building which ensures cross ventilation, follows vaastu and sustainability principles could be packaged as one product and aesthetics seamlessly merges with functionality. Regards, Aurum Ideas and Spaces Bhubaneswar