How to Become an Early Riser

• Don’t make drastic changes. Start slowly, by waking just 15-30 minutes earlier than usual. Get used to this for a few days. Then cut back another 15 minutes. Do this gradually until you get to your goal time.
• Allow yourself to sleep earlier. You might be used to staying up late, perhaps watching TV or surfing the Internet. But if you continue this habit, while trying to get up earlier, sooner or later one is going to give. And if it is the early rising that gives, then you will crash and sleep late and have to start over. I suggest going to bed earlier, even if you don’t think you’ll sleep, and read while in bed. If you’re really tired, you just might fall asleep much sooner than you think.
• Put your alarm clock far from you bed. If it’s right next to your bed, you’ll shut it off or hit snooze. Never hit snooze. If it’s far from your bed, you have to get up out of bed to shut it off. By then, you’re up. Now you just have to stay up.

• Go out of the bedroom as soon as you shut off the alarm. Don’t allow yourself to rationalize going back to bed. Just force yourself to go out of the room. My habit is to stumble into the bathroom and go pee. By the time I’ve done that, and flushed the toilet and washed my hands and looked at my ugly mug in the mirror, I’m awake enough to face the day.
• Do not rationalize. If you allow your brain to talk you out of getting up early, you’ll never do it. Don’t make getting back in bed an option.
• Have a good reason. Set something to do early in the morning that’s important. This reason will motivate you to get up. I like to write in the morning, so that’s my reason. Also, when I’m done with that, I like to read all of your comments!
• Make waking up early a reward. Yes, it might seem at first that you’re forcing yourself to do something hard, but if you make it pleasurable, soon you will look forward to waking up early. A good reward is to make a hot cup of coffee or tea and read a book. Other rewards might be a tasty treat for breakfast (smoothies! yum!) or watching the sunrise, or meditating. Find something that’s pleasurable for you, and allow yourself to do it as part of your morning routine.
• Take advantage of all that extra time. Don’t wake up an hour or two early just to read your blogs, unless that’s a major goal of yours. Don’t wake up early and waste that extra time. Get a jump start on your day! I like to use that time to get a head start on preparing my kids’ lunches, on planning for the rest of the day (when I set my MITs), on exercising or meditating, and on reading. By the time 6:30 rolls around, I’ve done more than many people do the entire day.

8 Tips for Choosing the Perfect Lighting for your Home

Lighting in your home is one of those items that you don’t always notice when it has a good presence and feeling when you’re in the space. Although, when the lighting is poor and you are trying to perform a task, or you feel the opposite of how you would like to feel in the space, you notice it immediately. Lighting is for ambiance, aesthetics, tasks, and seeing better in your home.  Think about your home and if it has all the lighting qualities you would like.  If your answer is no, here are some tips on how to choose the perfect lighting for you and your family.

1. Determine what your lighting goals are: Direct or task lighting is focused in the space you are trying to work. Ambient or indirect lighting is used for ambiance and for overall lighting of a space. Once chosen you can begin to choose lighting options.  Each room in your home should have a mood you want to set, as well as a function you want your lighting to serve 
2.    Provide lighting for safety and security on the exterior of your home: Walkways, sidewalks, perimeter of your house, and the front entry should be lit with ambient lighting.  Too dim of lighting on the exterior is a welcome sign for intruders. While too bright of exterior lighting is costly and disturbing to neighbors. Consider installing flood lights at the exterior corners of your home that are motion activated to further deter intruders. Follow the aesthetics and security lighting of your neighborhood for further guidelines as to what to implement at your own home. 
3. Use exterior wall sconces for décor: Outdoor lighting doesn’t have to only be utilitarian.  Wall sconces can provide washes of light against the exterior walls of your home to create ambiance in the evening hours.  Directional sconces pointing upwards or downwards can focus on architectural elements on your home, and draw attention to exterior niches and plantings around your home. 
4.  Inside your home use multiple light sources for one space: For rooms like the kitchen, bedrooms, and living spaces, multiple light sources will help you achieve a variety of functions and activities in that space. In the kitchen, under counter lights can provide great task lighting. While in a living room, opt for a floor lamp next to a couch or favorite reading chair. In bathrooms the lighting at the mirror should be free from shadows and glaring light.

Sir Mokshagundam Visvesvaraya - Engineers Day is his Birth day

Bharat Ratna Sir Mokshagundam Visvesvaraya, 15 September 1860 – 14 April 1962) was a notable Indian engineer, scholar, statesman and the Diwan of Mysore during 1912 to 1919. He was a recipient of the Indian Republic's highest honour, the Bharat Ratna, in 1955. He was knighted as a Commander of the Indian Empire by King George V for his myriad contributions to the public good. Every year, 15 September is celebrated as Engineer's Day in India in his memory. He is held in high regard as the first and pre-eminent engineer of India. He was the chief designer of the flood protection system for the city of Hyderabad.

Early years

Visvesvaraya was born to Srinivasa Sastry and Venkatalakshamma, in Muddenahalli village, 40 miles from Bangalore, India. His family was a Smartha Brahmin family of the Vaidiki Mulukanadu sub-caste. In fact his ancestors actually belonged to Mokshagundam village, near Giddalur in the Prakasam district of present-day Andhra Pradesh, and had migrated to Mysore some three centuries ago. His father was a Sanskrit scholar and an authority on Hindu Dharmashastras (theology), besides being an Ayurvedic practitioner. Visvesvaraya lost his father at the age of 15. The family was in Kurnool when this happened, and moved back to Muddenahalli there after. Sir M.V. attended primary school in Chikballapur and high school in Bangalore. He earned his B.A. from Madras University in 1881 and later studied civil engineering at the Government Science College, Pune which is presently known as College of Engineering, Pune. 

6 Tips to Choose the Perfect Kitchen Tile

The kitchen is the one room in the house that can have several different types of tiles, in different applications, and they all will enhance your kitchen beautifully.  When choosing kitchen tile for your home consider where it is going to go first.  Glossy tile that goes on a wall will not be the same as flooring tile. Flooring tile has to be safe to walk on, and a glossy floor kitchen tile could be unsafe under foot.  Here are tips for choosing the right application and type of tile for your kitchen.

1.) Determine where the tile will be installed: Before you select a material you will need to decide what surface the tile will be applied.  Tile can be placed as a backsplash behind a stove, or on the wall to the underside of the upper cabinets. Tile is a popular countertop material, and can also be used on the kitchen floor.

2.) Decipher the difference between ‘tiles’: The word ‘tile’ refers to a resilient material that can be laid in rows over a surface.  For kitchens, this could include: quarry, stone, cork, vinyl, bamboo, ceramic, porcelain and glass.  Applications like vinyl, cork and bamboo tiles are most commonly used in flooring. While quarry, ceramic, and porcelain can be used for counters and floors. Glass tile is commonly reserved for walls and backsplashes.

3.) Determine your budget before getting sold on the look: Kitchen tile can be inexpensive, such as vinyl and linoleum tiles or they can be expensive, such as custom designed ceramic tiles.  Do your homework before getting married to an envisioned look in your head! Tile and home improvement stores can help you estimate the amount of product that will be required for your kitchen.

4.) Consider your household’s lifestyle: Although kitchen tile is resilient, it still requires up-keep and the longevity of each material differs.  For countertops, ceramic tile is durable and will hold up to heat from hot pans, and is easy to clean and maintain. Unfortunately a ceramic tile surface can be uneven and it can easily crack or chip.  Determine if your family’s lifestyle will match the tile finish you choose.

5.) Choose a floor tile that can withstand your family’s habits: When choosing floor tile it has to be durable enough to withstand heavy traffic, pets, spilled foods and cleaning supplies.  Ensure that you purchase floor tile that is called ‘floor tile’.  If you choose a wall tile for a floor the coefficient of friction (COF) will be too low, which in turn means it’s too slippery for walking. Instead choose floor tile that has a slight raised pattern, or texture to it to allow for a safer kitchen floor. For a more refined and elegant look consider using quarry tile. The clay and limestone based tile is fired to look like natural stone. Quarry tile is more expensive than the traditional ceramic tile, but is gorgeous in the right application.

6.) The sky is the limit for your tile backsplash: Well, to a certain point the sky is the limit. Since your backsplash doesn’t take direct heavy traffic, glossy, and painted tiles are a perfect fit for your backsplash.  Although they still have to withstand, hot oil splatters, grease and daily cleaning.  Choose from porcelain, ceramic, glass, metal or stone materials for a backsplash that can subtly or boldly bring a decorative flair to your kitchen.

Your kitchen floors, counters and backsplash have a variety of tile styles to fit your budget, and taste.  Consider these tips when choosing tile for your kitchen.  Research your tile options and then make your kitchen the one you’ve always dreamed of!

Freshome reader’s do you have tips for planning, purchasing or selecting kitchen tile? Let us know, we would love to add to the list.

Choosing the Right Curtains for Your Home

Choosing curtains is an important step in creating a unique but stylish look for your home. Though to some, curtains may seem like an inconsequential piece of the entire puzzle that is your house. There are so many other, more important things to look at, details that must be ironed out in order for a house to come together. While there are indeed many things that need to be done before curtains are eventually chosen, it is definitely the attention to detail that is important when the final touches are put into place on your home. There are several reasons to pay close attention to choosing your curtains. First, there are several types of curtains. Second, color has to be an issue. The third thing you must consider when purchasing curtains is price.

One of the first things to consider when choosing curtains for your house is the type of curtain you will put up. There are many types of curtains available. Different textures and materials offer uniquely different looks and can add a different texture to a room. There are also materials that offer shade and have heat reducing properties to make a room retain heat or coolness and can make a room darker. This can be something that is helpful when living in a particularly hot or humid area, or if the area you live in gets very cold. Having curtains that block light and heat in the summer, or keep the chill out in the winter can make a heater or air conditioner work much more efficiently.

Another important thing to consider when you are choosing decorative curtains to place in your house is color. Color scheme plays a very important role in picking out a decorating scheme for your house. You will want your curtains to blend, match, or complement the color scheme you have picked out for your home. Clashing colors, textures, or patterns do not make for an attractive design scheme. Neon green curtains with polka dots most certainly would not look good with neon orange striped carpet. Just be sure to keep your overall color scheme in mind when you choose your curtains.

One final thing you might want to consider when choosing curtains for your house is price. Just as there is a wide range of textures, colors, and types of curtains, that variety of curtains has a wide range of prices to go along with them. You should keep in mind the cost of other decorations and furniture in your house to give you a scale of how much you should spend on curtains. If you live in a house with lots of expensive brands and décor, you might not hesitate to put a pretty large amount of money into your curtains. However, if you are like most of the population of the United States who don’t have millions of dollars, curtains that cost more than your furniture is definitely not a realistic plan to move forward with. Price is a very important aspect of decorating that must be considered carefully.

No matter what curtains you choose, the three main things to consider when purchasing them are types, colors, and prices. These will help you to select the most appropriate style of curtain for your home, your budget, and you. Choosing curtains may not be the first thing you do when remodeling a home, but it is one of those finishing touches that makes a big difference in the overall look of the home.

How to Choose the Right Paint Color

When it comes to decorating, choosing paint color can really be a challenge. While you may feel that there are so many choices you're bound to find the right one, you may end up feeling that there are so many choices you don't know where to start!

The tips here will really help you if you feel stumped by this important choice. After all, the paint color will set the tone for the room.

It's great to collect paint chips when planning a room, but hold off making final choices until you've developed an overall room scheme. Paint is available in literally an infinite array of colors and is the most versatile element of your room decor, the easiest to change, and the least expensive. Get ideas but make the final decision after rugs, wallpaper, and fabrics are finalized.

Coordinate Decorating Samples

when you go shopping, you'll need to refer to your fabric, carpet, tile, wallpaper, and trim samples constantly. Be sure to take everything with you wherever you go. No tellng where you might see something wonderful.

Study the Colors

You'll find clues about the underlying tones of different shades of a color on a full sample strip of coordinated colors. Even if you're not even considering using a darker tone, look at all the colors carefully. Decide if the family of colors is the direction you're headed with your color selection.

Tried and True Formula for Colors

If you're working with a print fabric, you'll probably be happier if you select the coordinating wall paint color from the background of the print. Use the deeper or brighter tones for accents throughout the room or adjacent spaces.

Trim it Out

More often than not, you'll select a shade of white or off-white for the moldings, doors, and windows. If you're feeling brave, consider the palest shade of color to coordinate with the walls. For a really striking look, try lighter walls and dark tones or bright color for trim.

Choose the Paint Finish for the Job

Consider which paint might be best for your home  flat finishes hide wall imperfections, but glossier finishes will reflect more light.

Choosing the paint color for your room, at first seems like the best place to start. True it will make a big change in your room but you need to have other things already picked out for the room. Furniture, rugs, fabrics are all things that need to be decided upon before choosing your paint color. Never go the opposite way; paint color then all the other items.

Once you have all your basic items in your room you can get ready to start deciding on paint colors. You should make sure to carry your coordinating samples with you. These will be your fabric pieces, tile, trim, etc. You are seeking the paint color that compliments what you already have in the room. A quick tip for working with print fabric is try and choose the background color in the fabric for your wall color.

You don’t want to be too “matchy” with your pieces and your wall colorings, so a good contrast is good when you have a lot of one color. If you have solid fabrics whose colors are repeated in many items in the room, go for a contrasting paint color. For this it would be helpful to get a paint wheel and find the color opposite the colors you are working with. This will give a great contrast from having too much of the same color and have your room looking great and well put together.

If you are having a hard time finding the color on the color chips at the local store never forget about custom color matching. You can have the exact color you want that may be in a fabric matched to the correct color. Once you think you are set on the colors you are interested in for your room. Look at it in many different lights to get a good view of what you really want. A perfect way to be sure is to take all your coordinating samples and your paint chips you have picked out and place them in the room you will have them in. Look at them throughout the day and evening. This will now give you a clearer picture of the paint will look in the room and with the coordinating pieces.

Anytime you have to paint the ceiling, you need to remember that the ceiling color is best made lighter than the wall colors. This is very easy to achieve by using white paint to dilute the wall color. A ratio of 25% color to 75% white works best.

Always remember wet paint dries differently. So, don’t fret about the paint color as you are painting it on. Wait until it dries to get the real effect of your wonderful work of choosing your own paint color.

Though manjeera by default chooses good looking quality and branded colors as the choice, you have the option to customize your home color  according to you taste [of course not selecting and re selecting too many times which will eventually affect the work thus delaying the delivery times]. Hope this article made your reading delightful. Will come up with more useful articles in mere future happy reading…

Things You Should Know Before Buying an Apartment

Things You Should Know Before Buying an Apartment

If you are going to buy an apartment, this article will show you a checklist of things that you should verify before buying. We’ve made this list to make common man  aware of things that he/she need to know before buying, avoid unpleasant surprises and of course invest carefully on the Home/Apartment.

• Decide on the area you want to buy an apartment. This may involve spending some time in that area enquiring about the locality and facilities. Doing required research at home on net is also help full.
• Before you buy, research the market to make sure you are getting value for money. Talk to independent value estimator, consultant or real estate agents, and check recent sales in the area.
• Visit as many places as you can look for properties that fit your criteria, so you’ll have a good idea of what your money buys.

Worlds tallest buildings and their details

Previous Comparison images

Building & Location	Year	Stories	Height meters / feet		Chief  Architect
Burj Khalifa (Burj Dubai, or Dubai Tower), Dubai, UAE	2010	162	828	2,717	Skidmore, Owings & Merrill
Busan Lotte World II Busan S. Korea (proposed)	2015	110	510.55	1,674	Skidmore, Owings and Merrill
Taipei 101 Tower Taipei, Taiwan	2004	101	509	1,670	C.Y. Lee & Partner
Shanghai World Financial Center, China	2008	101	492	1,614	Kohn Pedersen Fox
International Commerce Centre (ICC), Hong Kong, China (under construction)	2010	118	484	1,587.9	Kohn Pedersen Fox
Xujiahui Tower, Shanghai, China (proposed)	2010	92	460	1,509	John Portman & Associates
Petronas Towers 1 & 2, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia	1998	88	452	1,483	Cesar Pelli
The Gateway III, Hong Kong, China (proposed)	NA	NA	450	1,476	Wong & Ouyang
Willis Tower (formerly Sears Tower), Chicago	1974	110	442	1,450	Bruce Graham (SOM)
Jin Mao Building, Shanghai	1999	88	421	1,381	Skidmore, Owings & Merrill

MANJEERA

OVER VIEW:

Manjeera realised very early on, that success can be very quickly redefined. Manjeera has prepared itself fully to dare the challenges of tomorrow’s marketplace. Technology skills, domain expertise, process focus and a commitment to long-term client relationships...they all combine, at Manjeera, to deliver performances that rank high on quality.

This corporate culture, of delivering value to the customer, is the outcome of the efforts and belief of Mr. Yoganand, Chairman & Managing Director, Manjeera Conglomerate. His philosophy of upholding the values of integrity, business ethics and respect even as the team goes all out to achieve industry leadership, has set Manjeera in a niche of its own...as a Conglomerate that puts customer delight before corporate gain. Its projects stand as hallmarks of quality construction, clear titles and value for money.

Vision

To be synonymous with life-enriching spaces & structures and to ascend to industry leader status

Mission

Manjeera is a construction, real estate, hospitality and infrastructure conglomerate, with a strong lineage focusing on quality, innovation, cost-effectiveness, eco-consciousness, customer delight and adding value to stakeholders’ interests.

Core Values

» Integrity » First time right » Proactive » Teamwork » Accountability » Learning » Innovative

Manjeera Diamond Towers Manjeera Diamond Towers is a residential space offering that begins and ends with the most profound attention to detail. Coming up on 11acres of prime land in Gopanpally, Gachibowli, MDT Phase I comprises of 7 towers of 10 levels each housing 2 BHK (780 sft. to 1230 sft.) & 3 BHK (1100 sft. to 1780 sft.) luxury apartments. MDT Phase II features 5 towers of 10 levels each, housing 2 and 3 BHK apartments. Phase I is in an advanced stage of completion and is all poised for occupation by March, 2010.

Smart Homes Villas Smart Homes - Villas is more of a medium for Manjeera to inspire and transform peoples' lives. A total of 45 deluxe quality duplex homes with built-up areas ranging from 1916 to 2671 sft. have come up at the zip code which is home to well-known establishments. Its proximity to the City, excellent connectivity through express highways, and green spaces are few other reasons why most of the villas have been sold out.

Smart Homes Apartments Smart Homes - Apartments is an affordable residential space perfected the Manjeera way. The project comprises of a total of seventy 2 & 3 bedroom apartments ranging from 1056 sft to 1308 sft. nestling in a 5-storeyed tower. Just 30 minutes' drive from the heart of the City, this Project offers the perfect opportunity to experience rich taste in all its manifestations.

Manjeera Majestic Homes This magnificent residential complex in Kukatpally consists of close to 250 two and three BHK apartments spread over 23 storeys replete with all the conveniences of modern day living. A fully appointed Gym & Health Club, Clinic, Creche and Snack Bar plus ample parking space, central laundry, drinking and sewage water treatment plants etc. make it an ideal place to come back to. Add to these, a terrace that sports a swimming pool and a helipad… and you know this is the place to spend your life in.

Manjeera Majestic Commercial Manjeera Group presents a magnificent investment opportunity on the JNTU-Hitech City road at Kukatpally, the commercial domain of Hyderabad. Manjeera Majestic - Commercial. Designed to be one of the finest corporate and retail destinations, Manjeera Majestic - Commercial is perfect for those who have the vision to invest for a better future. Whether you choose to have your office or invest, Manjeera Majestic - Commercial will be a strategic business decision you will be proud of. Manjeera invites all enterprising investors to reap the dividends of an amalgamation of new-age retailing spaces and state-of-art work spaces at a location that is brimming with opportunities.

Manjeera Trinity Corporate With 900000 sft. of sheer versatility, spread over 18 storeys, it's now easier to be productive, imaginative and happy at work. Sleek and contemporary, Manjeera's innovative office environments are built in conformance with vaastu, a lot of common sense and a willingness to do something really different.

Manjeera Trinity Malls The goal behind Retail @ Trinity is to skillfully combine comfort with dynamic design elements. The 4,25,000 sft. mall is all about urban effervescence and caters to connoisseurs of food and entertainment through state-of-the-art gaming zones, food courts, a multiplex and hi-end shopping.

Manjeera Trinity Home Premium homes take on an all together new meaning at Home @ Trinity. Beautifully designed homes will now hobnob with shopping and entertainment spaces to take convenience to new levels. Who better than Manjeera to create that perfect 'mixed use environment' that can seamlessly blend into the fabric of the City?

Manjeera Heights Giving a project that chic and contemporary feel is a skill that Manjeera is well-known for. Phase I at Manjeera Heights was a sell out and bookings are now open for Phase II. Manjeera is proud that Phase I appreciated tremendously in value and has brought smiles to the faces of the investors. The 10-storeyed Phase II, with its large, spacious and designer residential spaces is all about tasting the nuances of a great life. Ready for Occupation!

Manjeera Constructions

Manjeera Constructions