Miley Cyrus tops Maxim’s Hot 100...

FOR BEST DEALS AND INFORMATION SEE PAGE 32

Silverado Adds RuggedLuxury with New High Country

SONAM KAPOOR'S OUTFITFOR CANNES REVEALED

Miley Cyrus tops Maxim’s Hot 100 List

Lipsticks and glosses found to contain toxic metals

RAJASTHAN FASHION WEEK 2013

The quest for lush lips couldbe exposing women totoxic metals in lipsticks

and glosses, a new study fromthe University of California Ber-keley finds. Researchers tested

levels of certain metals, includinglead, cadmium, chromium, and alu-minum."Lipsticks and lip glosses oftenhave levels of toxic metals whichapproach or exceed acceptabledaily doses based on public healthguidelines," researcher KatharineHammond, a professor of environ-mental health sciences, toldHealthDay News. "At an averagelevel of use, it's not likely to be anissue," she added, but it could be aconcern for children playing withmakeup or heavy adult users of lip-sticks.The study was published onlineMay 2 in the journal EnvironmentalHealth Perspectives."Trace amounts of metals in lip prod-

32 different lip glosses and lip-sticks commonly sold at drug anddepartment stores in the US, butdidn't reveal brandnames. Some products were foundto contain potentially dangerous

ucts need to be put into context,"Linda Loretz, chief toxicologist forThe Personal Care Products Coun-cil, said in a statement. "Food is aprimary source for many of thesenaturally present metals, and ex-posure from lip products is mini-mal in comparison."This isn't the first research to focuson toxins in lipsticks. The Cam-paign for Safe Cosmetics pre-viously tested 33 lipsticks, find-ing more than 60 percent con-tained lead. In addition, a Decem-ber 2011 study of 400 varieties oflip products by the US Food andDrug Administration found lead insome products, but the agency saidthe levels were low enough to poseno safety concern.

The 2014 Silverado HighCountry will furtherbroaden Chevrolet’s

portfolio in the premium pickupsegment when it joins the LTZand Z71 models in the Silveradolineup this fall.Silverado High Country isdistinguished by a uniquechrome grille with horizontalchrome bars, halogen projectorheadlamps and body-colourfront and rear bumpers. Unique20-inch chrome wheels withP275/55R20 all-season tires arestandard, as are chrome bodyside moldings, door handles andmirrors.Inside, Silverado High Countryfeatures an exclusive saddlebrown interior, with authentic

materials throughout. Featuresinclude heated and cooledperforated premium leather frontbucket seats with High Countrylogos on the headrests,Chevrolet MyLink connectivitywith an 8-inch touch screen,Bose premium audio and frontand rear park assist.“High Country will be the topmodel in the Silverado lineup,with a higher level of premiumfeatures and materials with arich, Western themedappearance,” said Maria Rohrer,Silverado marketing director.“But at the same time, HighCountry is 100-percent Chevytruck, with the capability anddependability customers haverelied on for more than 95 years.”

This is her third year at the Cannes International Film Festivaland actress Sonam Kapoor plans to make a style statement inan Indian outfit at the red carpet there. Starting May 15, the

event will see screenings of three Indian movies Monsoon Shootout,Bombay Talkies and Dabba. At the 11-day event India will be theguest country, while Bollywood actress Vidya Balan will join thejury panel at the 66th edition of the festival.And Sonam plans to enhance the Indian flavour by hitting the redcarpt in desi look."I always walk two red carpets for Cannes and make it a pointto wear an Indian outfi t on at least one occasion. I hadpreviously worn Masaba Gupta and Anamika. I will wear anIndian outfit for sure for one or both the red carpet events,"Sonam told reporters here Monday at the unveiling of theL'Or sunset collection and Bollywood inspired make-up looksfor the film festival.

Miley Cyrus has seen off competition from Selena Gomezand Rihanna to be named as No. 1 on Maxim’s Hot 100List.

The 20-year-old actress made had already made a pre-announcementvia social media that she was named No. 1 by Maxim on itsannual Hot 100 List, the magazine has since released its fullline-up.“It feels amazing to be No. 1. Especially because it was voted on bythe fans. I have the best fans in the world!” the New York DailyNews quoted her as telling Maxim.She asserted that it is every woman’s fantasy to be told that she isNo.1 on Maxim’s Hot 100. Gomez was placed at No. 2 and Rihanna camein at number 3, followed by Mila Kunis and Academy-Award-winner JenniferLawrence. Jennifer Love Hewitt, Ashley Tisdale, Kate Upton, VanessaHudgens and Elisha Cuthbert completed the top 10.

‘ MILEY CYRUS HAS SEEN OFF COMPETITION FROMSELENA GOMEZ AND RIHANNA TO BE NAMED AS NO.1 ON MAXIM’S HOT 100 LIST.

NEW CREW CAB MODEL TO COMPETE IN PREMIUMPICKUP SEGMENTUNIQUE EXTERIOR APPEARANCE, SADDLE BROWNINTERIORSTANDARD 5.3L V-8 WITH 355 HORSEPOWER, UP TO23 MPG HIGHWAY

26 MidWeek MIDWEEK NEWS WEEKLY

TUESDAY, MAY 14, 2013auto

MidWeek 27MIDWEEK NEWS WEEKLY

TUESDAY, AUGUST 28, 2012

MIDWEEK NEWS WEEKLY

TUESDAY, MAY 14, 2013 auto



Honda Amaze launched in Thailand Porsche 911 Carreraand Boxster rangelaunched in India

Volkswagen Jetta TSI : Road Test

Honda made the global launch of its Amaze compact sedan inThailand. Powered by Honda's 1.2-liter i-VTEC engine, theAmaze has been launched in four variants (two automatic

and two manual) and priced between 454,000 THB and 521,000 THB

(Rs 8.16 lakh and Rs 9.35 lakh) in Thailand The much awaited HondaAmaze compact sedan that is based on the Brio hatchback has beenlaunched in Thailand. At the moment, Honda has only launched the

petrol version of the Amaze in Thailand that is powered by its 1.2-litre i-VTEC engine. Available in four variants (two automatic andtwo manual), the Honda Amaze has been priced between 454,000THB and 521,000 THB (Rs 8.16 lakh and Rs 9.35 lakh). The Japanesecar maker will be launching both petrol and diesel versions of theAmaze compact sedan in India next year. And judging by the currentmarket scenario the Honda Amaze is expected to be priced betweenRs 5 lakh and Rs 6.5 lakh for the petrol variants and Rs 6 lakh to Rs7.5 lakh for the diesel models. The petrol Amaze will be powered bythe company’s 1.2-litre i-VTEC petrol engine that does duty in theBrio and Jazz hatchbacks.

As for the diesel engine, Honda had unveiled its 1.6 dieselengine at the 2011 Tokyo Motor Show. However, due to regulationsin India diesel engines displacing less than 1,500cc bear lower taxes.Honda is therefore working on a downsized 1.5-litre i-DTEC enginewith a shorter stroke and slightly different exhaust treatment thatwill displace less than 1,500cc. This makes perfect sense since theAmaze is a compact and lightweight sedan. Honda made the globallaunch of its Amaze compact sedan in Thailand. Powered by Honda's1.2-liter i-VTEC engine, the Amaze has been launched in four variants(two automatic and two manual) and priced between 454,000 THBand 521,000 THB (Rs 8.16 lakh and Rs 9.35 lakh) in Thailand

After emerging as an independent entity in the country,Porsche India has now launched the Boxster S, 911Carrera and 911 Carrera S at Rs 81.72 lakh, Rs 1.14 crore

and Rs 1.33 crore ex-showroom Delhi respectively. Stuttgartbased sports car maker Porsche has launched its Boxster,Carrera and Carrera S models in India at prices of Rs 81.72 lakh,Rs 1.14 crore and Rs 1.33 crore, ex-showroom Delhi respectively.Since the official start of deliveries from Porsche India, thecompany has achieved its highest ever sales performance, with117 Porsche owners receiving their cars. “It has been a very

exciting six months for us at Porsche India and we are thrilledwith the pace of our network expansion and new model launchesin the country. Our first month sales result in October has beenin excess of 100 units which is the best ever for the brand here.I am also pleased to announce the arrival of the 911 Carrera,Carrera S and Boxster range,” said Anil Reddi, Director, PorscheIndia. Completely redesigned, the third generation PorscheBoxster S that was unveiled globally earlier this year, is poweredby a 3.6-litre, six-cylinder motor that produces 319PS of powerthat attains three-digit speeds in five seconds with the optionalSport Chrono package and the seven-speed PorscheDoppelkupplungsgetriebe (PDK) automatic transmission. Thenew open-top two-seater inspires more confidence and analluring classic design that enhances its design DNA.

The seventh generation 911 Carrera S offers a sportier driveexperience while enhancing comfort for day-to-day use. It’spowered by a 3.8-litre, rear mounted, six-cylinder petrol motorthat produces 405PS of power. With the optional Sport Chronopackage, acceleration to 100km/h drops to 4.1 seconds from 4.3seconds. The sports coupe is the world’s first seven-speedmanual transmission and is also available with Porsche PDKautomatic transmission. In terms of design, the 911 Carreraseries is now flatter, longer with more precise design details.The new coupe is also lighter compared to the outgoing modeland now comes with an electro-mechanical steering for betterfeedback.

Porsche India also sells the Cayenne SUV and the PanameraGran Turismo, both of which are available in a range of V6, V8and turbo-charged V8 petrol motors as well as a V6 oil burner.Incidentally, the first delivery by Porsche India was a PanameraDiesel to cricket legend Kapil Dev. Related: Porsche deliversfirst car in India

With the venerable Volkswagen Jetta now available with asmaller 1.4-litre TSI petrol motor, have the boffins at VWmade the right trade-off in order to get the best from this

executive saloon? We find out. In my 4-year tenure at ZigWheels sofar, I think nothing, and I mean absolutely nothing, has hurt mycolleague Muntaser as much as saying goodbye to the VolkswagenJetta TDI that was assigned to him as a long-term test car. Nope, noteven bidding adieu to the BMW 325i caused him so much distress.And it’s not just he who misses that sleek silver saloon. Literallyevery one of the ZigWheels staffers never missed an opportunity toeither drive or ride in the car. Yes, we all loved it that much. The JettaTDI was literally the epitome of the perfect executive sedan – stylish,upmarket, well built, great todrive and very frugal to boot. Soyou’d naturally assume thatwhen its petrol powered twin, theJetta TSI, was with us for acouple of weeks for a shoot, theZiggy Gang would haveshowered it with attention. Butyou’d be quite wrong.Make nomistake, the Jetta TSI is a greatcar. But it does pale a little incomparison to its diesel twin. Theproblem I believe is that we wereexpecting too much from it.When the rumour mill wasbuzzing earlier this year that VW was bringing in the petrol Jetta, thenatural conjecture dictated that what we’d find under the hood wouldbe that delightful 1.8-litre TSI motor that makes us howl with gleewhen we put our foot down in the Skoda Laura.

But the Germans pulled a fast one on us and word got aroundthat the Jetta’s petrol motor would in fact be just 1.4 litres indisplacement. But no matter, VW’s 1.4-litre TSI twin-charged engineis a petrolhead’s wet dream. This engine is such a technologicalmasterpiece that it has dominated the 1.0- to 1.4-litre category of theInternational Engine of the Year Awards since 2006 and has won thetop ‘Engine of the Year’ prize in 2009 and 2010. And as if that wasn’tenough, it even ended the Toyota Prius’ Hybrid Synergy Drive’sreign by winning the ‘Green Engine Of The Year’ award in 2009. The

secret behind this engine’s success is that using a combination oftwo different types of forced induction, ie, turbocharging andsupercharging, it can produce up to 179PS of power and 250Nm oftorque, while providing great driveability, excellent mileage and lowemissions. But sadly, for India, we lost the supercharger and receiveda 1.4-litre turbocharged petrol engine that produces just 122PS ofpower and 200Nm of torque. So you can imagine then, that lookingat the facts and figures, we’d all be left a little disappointed. Butthen what does all this mean for someone who fancies buying apetrol powered Jetta in India? Well, since this is all about a newengine, let’s get straight to the performance game.

Just how much has the performance dropped?Of course, with a smaller, and

more importantly less powerfulengine, performance is going tobe on the low side. So don’texpect this to take on its dieseltwin or its petrol powered cousinfrom the Skoda stables.Compared to the Jetta TDI, thisis 18PS and a whopping 120Nmdown while compared to theLaura TSI, the difference is 38PSand 50Nm. Now all this would befine if the car was considerablylighter, or that engine wasplonked into a smaller car. But at

a bit over 1.4 tonnes, it’s not exactly what you may call light on itsfeet. With just the turbocharger having to do all the work of forcefeeding that small displacement engine with mouthfuls of air, the runfrom naught to 100km/h takes 11.7 seconds, which definitely putsthe Jetta TSI lower down the performance ladder in its class. Zero to100km/h times are just one side of the story though, and the sidethat doesn’t matter too much in the real world. What matters more isdriveability, and here the Jetta TSI certainly impresses. Not becauseit churns out any class leading figures, but because it managesthings that you simply don’t expect from a car that, at least on paper,seems underpowered. The tractability of this engine is surprisinglygood, especially in the first three gears, and in third, this TSI canpull along from 60 to 80km/h in just 4.71 seconds.

Mahindra XUV500 DC Lounge : First Drive

Design guru DilipChhabria gets his handson the Mahindra

XUV5OO and gives it the DCLounge treatment. Dilip Chhabrianeeds no introduction. Founderof DC Design and the brainsbehind some of the mostwonderfully outlandish one-offcars India has ever seen, he hasalso been churning out what arecalled DC Lounge kits foreveryday cars for a little whilenow. The DC Lounge concept issimple – take a regular (andslightly large) car, strip out theinteriors and replace them with aset-up more lavish than even themost luxurious of luxury cars canoffer. And this service isabsolutely brilliant for those whowant something opulent to sit in,but don’t want any sort of flashto be seen from the outside. The DC Lounge’s weapon ofchoice has, in most cases beenthe Toyota Innova, but last yearthe firm also gave the sametreatment to its butch SUVcousin, the Toyota Fortuner. Butremember, we’re talking about anear 20-lakh-rupee car. So if youwanted to ‘DC Lounge’ an SUV,but had a donor car budgetequivalent to the Innova, youwere pretty much out of luck.Until now that is. The goodblokes at DC Design have justdesigned this super luxuriousinteriors kit for the MahindraXUV5OO. Once you hand overyour XUV5OO to DC Design, the

firm really goes to town on it. Theoriginal second row bench andthe foldable third row arechucked out, and in their placego a pair of 24-inch captain seatswhich are fully electric and canrecline to a maximum of 150degrees – perfect to take a napin on those long drives. Theseseats, clad in very tasteful brownleather match the rest of theinterior trim treatment, andfeature controls for the seatposition as well as the interiorlights in the armrests. The roofalso features an aircraft stylecentre module which offersdiffused ambient lighting as wellas an individual set of readinglights for each of the rearpassengers. The backs of thefront two seats feature a pair of10.4-inch LCD televisions whichcan be hooked up to a variety ofsources such as DVD players or

even laptops. And if you want touse your laptop or have a meal, apair of tables with sliding topsand glass holders fold out frombehind the driver and co-driverseats. And the customisationdoesn’t end there. The sameleather upholstery as well aswood panel trim is also availablefor the front of the cabin, to matchthe look and feel of the rear seats.The best part of a customisationjob like this is that you can enjoythe lap of luxury without showingit off to the world. However, if youwere in the mood to show off andthe let all those watching knowthat you aren’t being drivenaround in a regular MahindraXUV5OO, you can always go forthe optional DC body kit whichincludes a new sculpted bumperas well as elegant cladding on thedoors and wheel arches. All wecan say is, wow!

Throughout Chevrolet’shistory, there have beenfamily cars that were

stylish, affordable, anddependable – and had a littlesomething extra. In the case ofthe 2013 Malibu, that somethingextra is an all-new 2.0Lturbocharged enginethat makes then e w

Malibu the midsize sedan withreal Chevrolet spirit.

“The all-new turbochargedengine showcases just howcapable the new Malibu is, andthe turbocharged Malibu isperfect for customers who wanta midsize sedan that is fun todrive under a wide range of real-world conditions,” said MarkMeyers, GM global vehicleperformance manager. The

2013 MALIBUTURBO: A MIDSIZESEDAN WITHCHEVROLET SPIRITMalibu turbo can sprint from 0to 60 mph (0-97 km/h) in 6.3seconds and achieve a top speedof 155 mph (248 km/h). Even withthis performance delivered by its259-horsepower (193 kW)

e n g i n e , the Malibu turbo afuel consumption rating of 10.1L/100km City and 6.6 L/100kmHighway.

With its peak torque of 260lb.-ft. (353 Nm) sustainedbetween 1,700 and 5,500 rpm, theturbocharged engine also givesMalibu excellent response undera broad range of drivingconditions. This addedperformance comes with greater

refinement, as the enhancedtorque reduces downshifts andhelps quiet the buzz sometimesfound in four-cylinder engines.Malibu turbo’s performance isenhanced by a chassis that

d e l i v e r s

r e s p o n s i v ehanding with a high degree ofrefinement. It includes a four-wheel-independent suspensionsystem, hydraulic ride bushings,premium electric steering gearand more. “With its globalpedigree and European tuning,the new Malibu has a robustbody structure, premium steeringand suspension, and substantialfour-wheel disc brakes,”said Meyers.



MIDWEEK NEWS WEEKLY



TUESDAY, MAY 14, 2013fashion / body & soulPimples? Go for garlicjuice or mud pack Sleeping (too much/little)Sleeping for less than five hours or more than nine hourscan elevate your blood pressure and stress level. Moreover,it also increases the risk of coronary diseases.DepressionAll of us have to go through a moment of stress, depressionand tension, due to some reason or the other. Naturally, youcan't get away with these emotions easily, but the way youhandle these emotions can take a toll on your heart health.SnoringBesides being annoying, it is also a sign of sleep apnea.People with sleep apnea have an increased risk of heartproblems because they usually breathe in intervals,which causes the blood pressure to increase.Over exercisingExercising past your limit puts a strain on your heart,which results in heart fatigue or fainting. Hence, neverpush yourself beyond your limit. However, since themajority of people everywhere usually exercise belowor up to moderate activity levels, this is a problem thatonly exists for a very minor group.Oral hygieneBad oral health can give you bad breath and can alsoincrease the chances of cardiac arrest. Wondering howboth are related? It is because bacterias from the gumspass through the blood vessels, which narrows thepassages and reduces the blood flow, which furtherrisk your heart health.Over eatingObesity is the leading cause of heart problems. And obesityis caused because of eating too much and not exercising.Hence, try to eat less, avoid sugary and high calorie fooditems, to live a healthy life.SmokingSmoking even one cigarette a day, can double the risk ofheart problems. Besides, heart problems, it causes cancerand many other pulmonary diseases.

7 Habits that canharm your heart

If pimples and acne scars on the face are bothering you, try puttingsome garlic juice or a mud pack. Or if you are game for medicalhelp, laser treatment and chemical peels are an alternative, say

dermatologists. The acne problem usually starts around the age of10-13. Though many get rid of it by their 20s, for some it lingers.

"In teenagers, there are two things that trigger acne problem.First is hormonal changes in their body. In boys, it is the increasedsecretion of testosterone and in girls, the levels of both testosteroneand oestrogen rises," Chytra V. Anand, cosmetic dermatologist,Kosmoderma Clinics, Bangalore, said in an interview.

"Due to these hormones the oil secretion in the body increasesand the skin becomes oily and more prone to acne and breakouts.The other trigger for acne is bacterial infection," she added. Anandsays about 90 per cent of teenagers suffer from acne in varyingdegrees of severity. It has a psychological effect on youngsterswho want to have clean and clear skin.Various medical and naturaltreatments are available. "Medicated creams and face washes arethere. Topical treatments for teenaged acne include benzoyl peroxide,sulphur, resorcinol, or salicylic acid are there. The US Food andDrug Administration ( FDA) has found these effective for treatingacne," said Meenakshi Agarwal, a Mumbai-based cosmetic surgeon.

If the condition worsens, doctors prescribe oral antibiotics forbacterial infection, hormonal pills and light therapy with lasers. Thelasers can cost Rs.5,000-Rs.10,000. "Chemical peels andmicrodermabrasion are used to lighten post-acne scarring and costanything between Rs.1,500 and Rs.3,000," said Indu Tolani,dermatologist, Clinic Dermatec. "Post-acne scars can be cleared byclean-ups with salicylic or glycolic acid at a clinic. Gentle exfoliationwith these acids helps in taking out blackheads and whiteheads.Also, the skin becomes acidic and the bacteria doesn't grow in anacidic environment," said Anand. But she warns teenagers againstrandom treatments at beauty salons, saying: "It is important thatthe clean-up should be undertaken under the guidance of adermatologist in a clinic."

Some natural remedies like garlic juice, clay packs and lemonjuice also help in avoiding acne and lightens scars.

"To avoid acne, wash your skin twice a day. Make sure thatyou use a mild face wash that is meant for your skin type. Washingyour face too frequently, especially with harsh cosmetics, canaggravate your acne. Try to avoid processed foods like white breadand noodles as they often trigger outbreaks," Agarwal said in aninterview. "Use a face pack made of Fuller's earth (non-plastic clayor claylike earthy material) at least once or twice a week. This willhelp extract excess sebum and is therefore one of the best naturalmethods to treat acne. "You can also apply a little garlic juice onyour face, for about an hour at least once a week. Although garlicjuice will kill off acne-causing bacteria, do not keep it for too longas it can aggravate sensitive skin," she added.

Mix equal parts of milk cream and lemon juice and apply onyour face, says Anand. The lactic acid and citric acid in these two(respectively) help in lightening the scars. Tolani says naturalremedies help, but medical treatments are more efficient.

"A lot of people try out natural, home-based remedies like claypacks to cut back the oil from their face. Some use gram flour toscrub away the debris and acne-laden skin, but these treatmentsare not sufficient and can't replace the efficacy of medicaltreatments," she said.

How to get rid of blackheadsHere are some sure shot ways to remove blackheads through

some quick fix methods. Squeeze them out: Warming yourskin makes the pores expand, making it easier to squeeze

out the blackheads. You can do this by taking a warm shower orapplying a hot compress to the affected areas. Use an extractor toolor bobby pin to force it out. Be careful with these methods, and ifyou experience serious pain, try something else.Use Toothpaste: Apply an inch-sized amount of toothpaste on thetoothbrush. Wet the toothbrush and wet the affected area. Gentlywith your toothbrush, scrub the affected area for a short period oftime. Make sure you do not apply it too close to the eyes, as thevapours from methanol toothpastes can irritate the eyes. If youhave nose blackheads, apply an even smaller amount of toothpaste,and keep clear from eyes. Always sterilise the toothbrush withboiling-hot water after following this method.

Lime juice: Make a lotion with equal parts of lime juice, almondoil and glycerin. Apply your lotion to your face.

It will not only cure blackheads but the discolouring spots onthe face too.

WHICH HANDBAG SHOULD I BUY?Spoilt for choice when you go shopping for bags? Only five

handbags are really necessary! If you are looking at paringdown your style essentials or buying only the best accessories

this season, the handbag is a good place to begin. Every womanneeds to own five handbags, say fashionistas, so while you canupgrade your bags over various seasons, always make sure thatyou own the five styles that are the classics. The first and the mostimportant one is the carry all tote, which should be able to containeverything you need, right from your lipgloss to the novel you arecurrently reading. This is best in a neutral colour or in subduedprints. Anything too bright, flashy and large can add to your girthtoo, so buy these totes in soft shades only.

The second essential in your handbag wardrobe should be apretty clutch. Here you could go in for two variations - somethingwith ethnic motifs to suit Indian clothes, and a regular clutch to gowith all the rest of your going-out-for-a-party attire.

The third handbag that should always be kept handy should be

the overnight bag that you can carry when you can travel. It is bestto buy this whenever you find a beautiful piece so that you are notscrambling to stuff all your essentials into plastic bags or an uglyairbag if an overnight trip comes up suddenly. With environmentconsciousness being top of everyone's mind, the canvas tote orcloth bag is the fourth essential bag to own. But you need not useany old cloth bag to make your point. The stores are now full ofpretty bags with interesting patterns or motifs to make you lookattractive even when you shop. The fifth bag that you might like toown is the 'impress people' classic handbag. This should be yourone big splurge, created by a designer or a fashion house you admireand you could sport this handbag on important occasions, like a biginterview, an important meeting or even a coffee morning with thecelebrities in town. A good handbag always makes a fashionstatement, so even when you go shopping for these five essentialstyles, make sure you buy bags that make you stand out and lookgood too.



MIDWEEK NEWS WEEKLY






MIDWEEK NEWS WEEKLY

TUESDAY, MAY 14, 2013

'HOME PRICES ININDIA NEAR MOST

AFFORDABLE LEVELSIN OVER 30 YRS'

SIGNIFICANT INCREASES IN CONSTRUCTIONINTENTIONS IN TORONTO AND EDMONTON

FOR MORE INFO.SEE PAGE 40

More building permits in March 2013DETAILS ON PAGE 36

Contractors took outbuilding permits worth$6.5 billion in March, up

8.6% from February and the thirdconsecutive monthly advance.The March increase camemostly from the non-residentialsector in Ontario and Alberta.

The advance in March wasnot sufficiently large to reversethe declining trend that began inthe fall of 2012.

The value of non-residential building permits rose19.0% to $2.8 billion, a secondconsecutive monthly gain.Ontario and Alberta were behindmost of the growth at thenational level. Declines wererecorded in four provinces, withQuebec and Manitoba postingthe largest decreases.

In the residential sector, thevalue of permits increased 1.7%to $3.6 billion. The advance camein the wake of an 8.1% decline inFebruary. Despite this growth,residential constructionintentions remained on adownward trend that started inmid-2012. The increase in March

was attributable to buildingpermits for multi-familydwellings. The value ofresidential buildings permits wasup in seven provinces, led byAlberta. Quebec posted thelargest decline.

In the institutionalcomponent, the value of permitsmore than doubled to $980 millionin March, following a 28.1%increase in February. This wasthe highest level since October2012, when the value of permitsexceeded the $1-billion mark.

Institutional constructionintentions were up in sixprovinces, with the largestincreases in constructionpermits for governmentbuildings in Alberta as well asmedical and educationalbuildings in Ontario.

In the industrial component,the value of permits rose 17.2%to $472 million, a secondconsecutive monthly increase.This advance was the result ofhigher construction intentionsfor manufacturing plants inOntario, British Columbia and

Quebec, and for primary industrybuildings in Saskatchewan,Ontario and Quebec. Gains wereposted in seven provinces.

Following a 14.4% advancein February, Canadianmunicipalities issued $1.4 billionworth of commercial buildingpermits in March, down 9.6%.The decline came from a variety

of buildings, includingrecreational facilities, hotels andretail stores. Decreases occurredin six provinces, with Albertaposting the largest decline. Incontrast, Ontario posted thelargest gain, as a result of higherconstruction intentions forhotels, office buildings andwarehouses.

Home prices may have been onan upward spiral for many years,but the cost of owning a house inIndia remains near the mostaffordable level in over threedecades, shows data compiled bymortgage giant HDFC Ltd.The average price of a home,purchased with a housing loan,rose to over Rs 45 lakh in the 2012-13 fiscal- marking the fourthconsecutive year of uptrend fromabout Rs 25 lakh in the year 2008-09, HDFC has said in apresentation.The average cost of owning ahouse stood at 4.7 times of theannual income of the home buyerin 2012-13.However, factors like an evengreater surge in the personalincome levels, tax incentives andlower interest rates, have resultedinto houses becoming moreaffordable to purchase, it said.As per an 'affordability' ratiocompiled for over three decadesby HDFC, the average cost ofowning a house stood at 4.7 timesof the annual income of the homebuyer in 2012-13. The affordabilityratio, which takes into account theannual income of the home buyeralong with the price of the house,stood at as high as 22 in the year1994-95, but has been mostly on adeclining trend since then.This means that a home buyer, onan average, needed an amountequivalent to nearly 22 times hisor her annual income in 1994-95,but an amount less than five timesof the annual earnings is requiredfor purchasing a house now.

HDFC has released this dataset aspart of an investor presentation onits latest fiscal financial results.Explaining the improvedaffordability in the housingmarket, HDFC said it has beenpossible because of risingdisposable income, tax incentives(on interest and principalrepayments) and affordableinterest rates available to the homeloan customers.The lender further said that themortgage market was alsowitnessing a high demand growthbecause of increasingurbanisation and favourabledemographics of the country,where 60 percent of population isbelow 30 years of age and there isa rapid rise in new households.Interestingly, the affordability ratiohas remained in the range of 4.5-4.7 for the five consecutive yearsnow, although the home priceshave nearly doubled in this period.Excluding a temporary dip during2008-09, the home prices in thecountry have been rising for 11years now, after hitting thelowest level in two decades atbelow Rs 15 lakh in the year2001-02. However, the averageannual income of a home loancustomer has almost tripledduring this period from lessthan Rs 4 lakh to close to Rs 12lakh currently.To be precise, the affordabilityratio of 4.7 during the the last fiscal2012-13 is the fourth lowest everfigure, after after 4.3 in the year2003-04, 4.5 in 2008-09 and 4.6 in2011-12.HOW TO PREVENTSCRATCHES ONHARDWOOD FLOORING

Rugs and carpeting:One of the best ways to protect your hardwood floors is by using

additional floor coverings. Any kind of rug or carpet on a hardwoodfloor will keep the underlying hardwood looking good, barring anystains that seep through the coverings.Use furniture tabs for permanent pieces:

Putting small felt tabs or other items on the legs of your furnitureas these will help keep your hardwood floors looking good.Fix it kits:

Stores sell different kinds of hard wood fix-it kits with oils that canmake some scratches less visible. This might be an easy way to dodamage control on scuffed and scarred floors.Blunt your pet's paws:

Another very common way for hardwood floors to get scratchedis when active pets dig into the hard wood surfaces and you can avoidthese scratches by keeping your pet's paws well clipped.

Make lampshades from paper for your home

Many home owners often have old table or floorlamps, which no longer suit their personal taste.Instead of buying a new lampshade, home owners can opt

to make one, on their own. There are a number of styles that one canchoose from, to make a unique lampshade that suits one's style. Forthis project, you will need an old lampshade for the basic frame, fabricor paper of your choice to cover it, a thin piece of ribbon to match thefabric or paper, trimmings such as bows, beads, tassels, sea shells,small pebbles etc., glue and a pair of tweezers.

Ensure that you've got the right length of the paper or fabric andthe readymade lamp base, to make it convenient for you to glue yourown fabric or paper. Your first step will entail wrapping the fabric orpaper of your choice around the frame. While cutting out the shapeof your lampshade, make sure you leave about half an inch at the topand bottom edges, so that you can glue the edges neatly on theinside of the frame. Once you have glued the fabric or paper neatly tothe frame, glue the narrow piece of ribbon to the edges, to give yourframe a clean look. Now, it is time to personalise your lampshade. Youcan stick pebbles, beads or sea shells directly on the shade, usingtweezers. Alternatively, use ribbed sea shells or some other home-made stencil such as a cut ladyfinger or French bean. Now, dip the sea

shells and the other stencil items in paint and create evenly spaced designsof your choice. You can also stick a row of tassels on the bottom of yourlamp shade. If the lampshade is for your children's room, you can use acardboard with paper glued onto it. Cardboard will enable you to cut outshapes of stars and other favourite cartoon characters, which will then giveout images of those characters on the wall, when the lamp is lit. If you'remaking your own lampshade, use only low-wattage light bulbs to ensurethat your fabric, paper and other trimmings do not catch fire, as high-wattage bulbs can get very hot when lit for long periods.


TUESDAY, MAY 14, 2013real estateHow about a splash of black in your home?Black is indisputably the

colour that spells suavestyle and sophistication.

But does it really work that wellwhen you pull it out of thesartorial confines, into the wallsand upholstery of your homes?

Most interior designers anddecorators state tha t b lackdoes make a statement but ithas its own drawbacks too.The colour has the quality tomake things look smaller thanthey are and that is why it ishuge ly popula r among thewel l -endowed men andwomen. They bank upon thisdark colour to indiscreet lytake away a few pounds offthem! And this is just whatb lack does even to yourhome. It tends to make it looksmaller.

Ke tk i Pass i , in te r io rdesigner, explains, "Any darkco lour makes rooms looksmaller. And I believe that ablack floor or ceiling is notreally advisable. When youchoose to use black, it is wiseto accent it with other brightco lours . " Us ing accents i sessential when you have a lotof black in the room.

Des igner Krsna Mehtasays, "I prefer charcoal to thebasic black. Charcoal wal l

accents like a red or a white etc,in your room can help. Whenthe bedroom is black you canuse this colour for decorativeitems such as throw pillows, oras source of contrast on acolour accent wall.

Young singer-actor AdityaNarayan is a hardcore black fan."I have been obsessed withthis colour since my teenagedays and had always wanted touse it in my home. Now almostthe entire decor at my house isdone up in this colour. Idesigned my house all bymyself and every little thing inmy home has been hand-pickedby me." The talented youngman has two black cars andhas already booked a third oneof the same colour! Though likemany other youngsters he lovesthe bright sunny and windyoutdoors; when it comes tointeriors he wants everything tobe dark. He says, "I don't like itto be too bright. Here I am writingsongs, singing, listening tomusic, watching TV or sleeping,so I like it to be muted and dark.Some may call it bizarre but I loveit." Using black and its shadescan be tricky but you canincorporate it all in nicely whenyou use accents. So go aheadand get blacked out!

looks great and so does deepgray. Abso lu te dark b lackmay not work well for walls.But black accents can changethe look of any room." Headvises that when a room hascharcoa l wa l l s , then thefurniture could be fuschia orteal or an oatmeal or cement-coloured upholstery.

Interior designer MohitNissa r adds tha t l igh t ingplays an important role in ahome, where the decor i sp redominan t ly b lack . "Ablack and white combinationworks we l l , " says Ke tk i ,add ing "S ince b lackcompliments anything, one isfree to use any colour alongwith it — like matte gold orsilver." When it is the livingroom tha t we a re t a lk ingabout , cush ions , cur ta ins ,rugs of bright colours go verywell.

A bedroom shoulda lways have some warmelements, so it 's best not tohave black and white as theonly colours in the bedroom.A fuschia carpet or rug canlook great on a glossy blackt i l ed f loor. Ac t ress KoenaMitra has used black for herhome with a lot of red.

Dec iding to use colour



MIDWEEK NEWS WEEKLY

TUESDAY, MAY 14, 2013 real estate

Danielle Proud is aninterior designerand craft expert

who regularly presents homesand interiors features on ITV’sThis Morning, she speaks to usto tells us about home trends for2012

Tell us a little about thiscampaign that you're workingon with Ambi Pur.

I decided to get involvedbecause I'm really into crafts,making your house a home andthose really smally touches tomake your home much morebeautiful and I think thatsomething like Ambi Pur isfantastic because it's one ofthose small, inexpensive thingsthat can make a total differenceto your home. Creating a scentof something almostatmospheric as low-level lighting

Danielle Proud talks homeand having the right cushionsand the right textures in yourroom, I think it makes a reallybig difference.

Like you said, you like thesmall little touches. What sortof pieces do you like?

Small statues, candles. Ithink that lighting and scent arethe perfect way to create a moodmap in your home. So, if forexample I'm having a dinnerparty, I might have a nice spicyscent on and then my candlesand my lighting would be about20 per cent - which is somethingthat a lot of restuarants andnightclubs do as well, they havedifferent light percentages fordifferent times of the day.

What do you think is goingto be a big trend for homedecoration in 2012?

I think that people are

going for individuality. At themoment people are valuing smalltouches, rather than full-onrefurbishments and refreshmentsof their home. Rather thancompletely redecorating like theymay have done in the eightieswhen there was a lot more moneyaround, now what people aredoing, is just sort of adding towhat they've got or buying acouple of pieces to complimentwhat they already have. And kindof creating a narrative and a storyin your home. Putting up achildren's picture, rather thanbuying a big, canvas whichcovers the wall quickly.

What was your favouritetrend from 2011?

I liked the whole sort of mix 'nmatch trend, having lots of differentbright colours together. Mismatchingpaintings on the wall.

What sort of tips do you havefor someone decorating theirhome for the first time?

Create something really cleanas a canvas, skim the walls, put

nice wallpaper on, make sure the floorsare really good quality, and then reallyslowly bring in smaller touches. Ratherthan jsut going for a quick I'm-going-to-everthing-at-once, and the reason I

say that is because it's financially a lotmore viable and also it makes so muchdifference if you're living in the homeand feeling the atmosphere and thevibe the place is in.GET THE RIGHT LIGHTS FOR YOUR HOME

DEBARATI S SENUsing the perfect light can make or break the look of every little corner of yourhome - with the help of general lights, accent lights, focused lights, recessed lights,overhead lights, floor lamps, table lamps, chandeliers, etc., you can changethe entire look of any room. When placed in the right way, the entire look ofthe room can change and a house can become a home.Living room:

A central source of bright light like a well-lit chandelier complimented bydiffused light in the corners works well for living rooms. Table lamps, floorlamps also look great. Make the best use of whatever natural light you have.Placing large mirrors in the correct angle can help double up the light in yourrooms too. If you have artifacts, paintings displayed in your home, makesure you highlight them with focused light. A chandelier in a room can giveit a royal aura.

They don ' t need to be heavy or ant ique - you can f ind some real lyinteresting and unusual ones in your neighborhood store. Make sure youuse a direct overhead light on your dining table. It can change the look ofyour dining area.


TUESDAY, MAY 14, 2013décor

In March, the total value of permits was up in 16 of the 34 censusmetropolitan areas. The largest increases were in Toronto andEdmonton, with Saskatoon a distant third. In Toronto, the

advance was largely attributable to commercial and institutionalbuildings. In Edmonton, the increase was primarily the result ofhigher construction intentions for institutional buildings. InSaskatoon, the value of permits was up for the third consecutivemonth in March, mostly because of institutional and industrialbuildings.

In contrast, Montréal and Vancouver had the largest declines.In Montréal, construction intentions were down 17.8%, falling belowthe $500 million mark for the first time since November 2011. Allcomponents except the commercial component contributed to thedecline. In Vancouver, commercial and institutional buildings andsingle-family dwellings were responsible for the decline.

In March, the value of permits was up in six provinces,led by Ontario and Alberta. Ontario posted the largest gain,as a result of higher construction intentions for institutionaland commercial buildings and, to a lesser extent, industrialbuildings. In Alberta, institutional buildings and multi-familydwellings were behind the increase. Saskatchewan followed a distantthird, because of higher construction intentions for multi-familydwellings as well as institutional and industrial buildings.

Quebec posted the largest decline, as a result of lowerconstruction intentions for multi-family dwellings, commercialstructures and institutional buildings. In Manitoba, all componentsexcept multi-family dwellings contributed to the decline.

Significant increases in construction intentions in Toronto and Edmonton



MIDWEEK NEWS WEEKLY

TUESDAY, MAY 14, 2013 décor

5 MUST DOS WHILESHIFTING HOME

-ANULA ABOOBACKER

ANYONE who hasshifted homes will be able totell you it is no easy task. Theentire business is emotionallyand physically taxing. Fromhiring the best movers totelling goodbyes to friends,every step should be closelyplanned. Here are five simplesteps which will help you moveto your new home comfortably.

The A to Z list: Take timeand prepare a checklist. Writedown everything which needsto be done, from paying yournewspaper boy to the list ofpeople you need to saygoodbye. It is easy to let

something important slip awaywhile you are having so muchin your mind. A list will giveyou the confidence that youwill not miss out on anything.Plan your move in advance:The more time you have theeasier the shift is. A gradualchange is better than a last-minute huff-puff. It not onlygives you enough buffer timein case everything does not goaccording to plan but alsohelps you and your family toemotionally adjust to the factthat you are moving to a newhome.??Talk to your children:Dealing with kids while shiftingis one helluva task.

Most of them will find

leaving their friends andsurrounding traumatic. Sit withthem and tell them what willchange and what will remainthe same. Ask them to collectphone numbers and mail ids oftheir friends so that they canstay in touch. Talk to themabout their new school andtype of people they will comeacross. Involve them whilepacking up their bags andgoodies so that they feelresponsible and not leftout.??Pack with care: Todaypacking is well taken care byprofessional movers. But thatdoes not mean you shouldnot be involved. Who wouldlike to see their favourite vase

broken during the movingprocess. Make sureeverything is properlybundled and fragile items arewell packed before loading.

Consider taking yourfavourite items along withyou in the car.??Be positive:Yes, shifting residence willsap your energy. Do not letthe grief of leaving yourhome and anxieties aboutthe new surroundingsoverwhelm you.

Learn to take one day ata time. Focus on the shiftand hope for a good homeand happiness. The positiveenergy will help you moveforward without trouble.

EASY TIPS TODETOX YOUR

HOME

WE give you some simple household tips for this season.Stains on the wall, clogged drains, and dirty shower doors,

among other things, can make your house seem depressing tolive in. When unexpected stains appear on floors, walls andfurniture, removing them can seem an unpleasant task. Butmaking your house look its best isn't as tough as it seems ifyou know just the right tricks. Here's a short list:

Removing candle wax from woodFirstly, soften the wax with a hair dryer. Then use a paper

towel to remove the wax and wash the surface with a mixtureof vinegar and water.

Chrome fixturesUse fabric softener sheets to shine chrome-plated fixtures

in your bathroom and kitchen. Take the pulp of a lemon andrub it on your kitchen fixtures.

Clogged drainIf your drain is clogged with grease, pour a cup of salt

and a cup of baking soda into the drain followed by a glass ofboiling water.

Crayon on the wallsAnyone who has a toddler at home will probably know

how kids love to scribble on walls. Use a simple, plain eraserto rub the writing off. Alternatively, you can also take a blowdryer and use it on the marks for about five to ten minutes.Wipe the area with a clean, dry towel.


TUESDAY, MAY 14, 2013real estate

Create an atmospheric

LIVING ROOM

Usually a living room or hall is the first room one noticeson entering a home and must, therefore, be the mostcomfortable and relaxing zone in your house.

-Arrange your furniture in such a way that one can easilymove around without tripping.

-If you have a fairly large hall, then designate separate areasor zones for various activities like dining, lounging, reading andwatching television.

-If your hall is small, then opt for a multi-functionalarrangement by placing the seating or the dining zone in frontof or near to the entertainment or television area.

-Decorative screens, flooring, rugs and even art-work playan important role in defining the zones in the living room.

- A wall can be made the focal point of the living room. Thiscan be done by adding interesting accent pieces like paintingsand photographs.

GLASS HOMEPRIVACY IS LACKING IN THIS TOKYO

In a connected world where privacy is a valued, but diminishingpart of daily life, home remains a reliable refuge. But here’s onehome that intentionally strips away even that illusion for its

inhabitants. In this nearly transparent Tokyo home, known asHouse NA, outsiders can see everything and everyone inside.

Tucked into a quiet residential neighborhood, this three-story, 914 square-foot home was created by an award winningTokyo architect named Sou Fujimoto. His unusual design, withhigh glass walls and varying sized modular tables, contains 21“floor plates” for residents and guests to sit, work, cook, eat,sleep, or play. Some of the floor plates are heated to providecomfort in the winter.

Surprisingly, Fujimoto’s multi-level home design wasn’tinspired by stacked phone booths but rather by the concept of a

tree with perches on both high and low branches. “The intriguingpoint of a tree is that these places are not hermetically isolated butare connected to one another … “ said Fujimoto, a lecturer atKyoto University, in a statement explaining House NA. Thoughthe home is almost entirely transparent, there are curtains thatprovide some modicum of privacy for occupants. Still, living in afishbowl might make residents think twice about climbing down tobreakfast without firstgetting dressed.



MIDWEEK NEWS WEEKLY

TUESDAY, MAY 14, 2013 real estate


TUESDAY, MAY 14, 2013real estate

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