7 RCR: Hopes Reside Here

The world has witnessed the most sensational democratic and political battle of our times through the 2014 Loksabha elections, the outcome of which has created history. Narendra Modi and his political party came out with flying colors to make BJP the first non-Congress political party to bag clear majority. Narendra Modi, during the electoral campaign, was chosen as the brand ambassador of the much needed change and now, after his election and today's oath ceremony, the country expects a revolution that we all hope will lead us to become a 'developed country'. In addition to many other factors that made people believe in Narendra Modi as our leader is the fact that his journey to this level begun as a common man who once struggled to make ends meet. That's the precise reason he stands as an inspiration for today's youth and hence everyone today wants to know everything about him. Literally, everything! How has been his childhood, how were his early RSS days, who form his family, how he and hence his wife sacrificed their marital lives, how he manages to dress so well, how techno-savvy he is... Well, the list goes on. 

Talking of my curiosity, the Interior Designer's mind that I own is interested in knowing how Narendra Modi's residence as the Prime Minister of India will be. I googled for information and came across some interesting facts. India did not have an official Prime Minister's residence earlier. Prime Ministers lived in their own house or bungalow allotted to them for being a Member of Parliament. It is only when Prime Minister V P Singh shifted to Panchavati - 7 Race Course Road, where the earlier Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi lived during his tenure; that India got its official Prime Minister's residence.

Though named Panchavati, the Prime Minister's residence is popularly known as 7 RCR. It is a cluster of 5 bungalows identified by numbers. 12 acres land houses them. The complex was built 35 years ago in 1980 in Luteyn's Delhi. It is said that bungalow 1 has a helipad. The complex is called 7 RCR because Bungalow 7 is the prime minister's official workplace, apart from his office in South Block. Bungalow 9 RCR is where the Special Protection Group (SPG), the elite force responsible for the prime minister's security, is housed. This bungalow has a tennis court. Nature's touch is said to be in the form of avenue of trees like Putranjiva, Gulmohar and Arjuna; enormous, well manicured lawns and feathered friends - including peacocks.

The Prime Minister's residence is equipped with amenities such as a power substation, All India Institute of Medical Sciences' team, an ambulance, a motorcade, an army of support staff and... a portable digital projector for private screening of movies! National Gallery of Modern Art takes care of the aesthetic appeal of 7 RCR. 

I would have loved to read more about 7 RCR - the place that hosts the key policy-makers during their respective tenures, the place where India's hopes reside. However, due to security reasons, not much information or photographs are available online. Here are just a few of them which I came across while searching online.

Image source: The Indian Express

Image source: CNN-IBN

Image source: http://pmindia.gov.in/visualtour.php

Information sources: Business Standard

Jay Hind!

Say Cheese :)

The United Nations annually observes May 15 as the International Day of Families. It was way back in 1994 when the UN thought of such an activity to raise awareness about the importance of families. Ever since the first International Day of Families was observed 20 years ago, the UN has been promoting studies about socio-economic and demographic trends that affect the families. The UN also encourages efforts to respond to challenges faced by families.

Not all of us may be aware of any of these activities carried out by the United Nations. None of us may celebrate today's UN-declared occasion. What we know, however, is to offer love and care to our family members, to make them proud with our success, to support them in difficult times and to build a happy and comfortable world for them. And when it comes to expressing our love for our family, any occasion is the perfect occasion and even the smallest random act of affection is the perfect way of conveying our feelings. 

Talking of family, love and care; the Interior Designer in me - owing to my designer's vision - couldn't resist myself from thinking about the most visible thing in the house that displays the family's affection: the family photo!

Technology has helped us come a long way from that era of black and white photos which displayed discipline in the family rather than affection to the digital era of candid photos. However, quite often, this advanced digital technology makes us keep our beautiful family photos to our devices. But the fact is, it's only when one attractively displays the photos that they look charming.

According to my observation, it is not only the family photo which has evolved over time but also the way it is displayed. There were certain conventional ways of displaying a family photo in the house - a nicely framed photo on the wall of a living room, two photos of husband and wife placed in a either side of a foldable photo frame kept in the showcase, a tiny golden colored family tree on which photos of all the family members hung like its fruits... and few more such standard ways. Today, thanks to advancement in the digital photography and printing technology, your interior designer can suggest you numerous interesting means of displaying your family photos. In fact, they integrate the family photo(s) in the home design itself.

While planning the perfect display of a family photo(s), decisions regarding the kind of wall paint to be used, whether to make use of any wall art, monochrome vs multicolored prints, the perfect spot in the house, other accessories and many other such aspects are considered by the Interior Designer. Because they know, incorporation of your candid pictures in the home design will truly turn the residence into your beautiful world.

So next time when you capture the happy mood of your family members in the camera or get it captured by a professional, don't just keep the pictures to your digital devices. Take prints, display them and give your residence the character of those who happily reside in there.

Say cheese, it's family day today :)

www.aakrutiinteriors.co.in

Total Filmy Hai Boss

The news of 61st National Film Awards flashed on TV channels yesterday, making me realise that the Indian Cinema - or to put it more accurately, the biggest obsession of Indians (whether after or before cricket can be a debatable point) - completed 101 years yesterday! OMG! That's something!

There have been several generations of artists that have entertained, inspired, motivated and mesmerised millions of Indians over last 101 years. And our love for them has only grown with each passing year.

Indian cinema is more than just a mode of entertainment for us. It is a part of our lives. The clothes we wear, the way we celebrate our festivals and important occasions, the way we talk to our friends and many such aspects of our lives are in some or the other way influenced by Indian cinema. Believe it or not, films can influence the way we decorate our homes too. The eyes of an Interior Designer like me couldn't miss some novel and filmy ideas for home décor which I came across lately. Sharing some tips to turn a room of your house into a Bollywood corner.

Hand painted posters of Indian cinemas have always been admired by movie lovers. They are sold in some old shops in Chor Bazaar, Mumbai. Lately, these posters (or the printed ones which may be available online as well) are being considered as a decorative wall piece. It gives a vibrant look to the room. And if it is the room where you have set up your home theatre, nothing like a poster or a collage of them on one of the walls. Alternatively, one can have framed images of favourite film stars. Bollywood themed furnishings, especially cushions, are also available these days. One can decorate the room using such furnishings. Flaunt your collection of movies and music through attractive CD shelves. I have come across filmy coffee mugs and other merchandise in some shops, at a couple of stalls in Kala Ghoda Art Festival and even online. They can be smartly arranged in the room for that novel and dashing look. And lastly, have a nice magazine rack that stocks all the filmy magazines. With all these filmy home décor ideas in place, I am sure your visitors will surely exclaim 'total filmy hai boss!'.

Yunki, ye hum bola :

www.aakrutiinteriors.co.in