Explore The Colours Of Bo-Kaap! For August 2019

Colour Stories

Bo-Kaap is a colourful neighbourhood in Cape Town. People call it the most “Instagrammable” place in Cape Town. Read on to know all about what makes it so popular.

If you ever visit Bo-Kaap, you will not be able to overlook the colourful houses on the quaint cobblestone streets. People come from far and near to see these colourful houses that range from canary yellows and sky blue to bubble gum pink and lime greens. This area in Cape Town is a photographer’s delight and there are infinite possibilities when it comes to capturing the colourful neighbourhood.

If you are wondering when and why did the dwellers of Bo-Kaap start to decorate and enhance their houses in vivid, bright colours, you can never really guess since there are many origins to this ritual!

Some believe that the bright colours were in celebration of the former slaves' emancipation since the neighbourhood traces its origins back to the 16th to 17th centuries when Dutch traders transported people from Africa, Malaysia and Indonesia as slaves to the Cape of Good Hope.

Others think that since many of the new homeowners didn’t have much money, they simply used colour to decorate as this was the cheapest way to bring some personality to their houses.

The most commonly believed theory is that the colours of Bo-Kaap are in honour of Ramadan, the Islamic month of fasting wherein at the end of Ramadan, the Eid al-Fitr celebration takes place where it is customary to wear bright colours – a tradition that may have transferred over to the houses themselves. A lot of residents repaint their homes at the end of Ramadan each year as part of the celebration – meeting with the neighbours in advance to make sure the same colour isn’t used twice.

It is also speculated that it has a lot to do with the self-reinvention of South Africa as the Rainbow Nation. Some feel that when the Bo-Kaap community residents bought their houses from the city council, they decided to decorate their own homes with bright colours as a celebration of their new-found freedom and as an expression of long-subdued individualism.

Today, Bo Kaap is a place that every tourist must visit when in Cape Town and walking tours of the colours of Bo-Kaap area are readily available. If South Africa is the “Rainbow Nation” then Bo-Kaap must be the rainbow since this place is truly a gem!

Colour Trivia

Colour Facts For August 2019

1. Fruit or colour? What came first? The word “orange” has two definitions, something we all have been referring to. The fruit’s name originally goes back to the Sanskrit nāranga, which means ‘orange tree.’ This then became the Persian nārang, the Arabic nāranj and eventually old French orenge. It finally made its way to commonly known English ‘orange’ in the 1300s, referring to the fruit. What about the colour? The colour did not appear until the early 1500s. It was probably the wider availability of the fruit that inspired people to come up with a name for the colour.
2. The first person to ever have blue eyes lived around 6,000 to 10,000 years back. During that time, everyone had brown eyes. A research published in 2008 found that the earliest mutations in the eye-colour genes that led to the evolution of blue eyes occurred about 10,000 years ago in individuals living around the Black Sea. A genetic mutation is the cause of the eye colour of all blue-eyed humans alive on the planet today. If you have blue-coloured eyes, you share a common ancestor. So, if you have blue eyes, you share a common ancestor with the likes of Miley Cyrus and Taylor Swift!
3. There are many anecdotes about the origin of “paint the town red”. Although we associate red with anger, it is also linked with excitement, good times and even love or romance. Many people might now know that "paint the town red" is euphuism for celebration whereas in South Africa red is the colour of mourning. It is also an old slang for drinking and painting the town red, usually involving a heavy drinking spree. Back in the day, in the west, the idiom was referred to a gun-toting cowboy who would threaten to “paint the town red” with the blood of anyone who dares to interfere with them.

Colour Quotes For August 2019

• • Just as black and white, when mixed, make grey, in many ways that's what it did to my self-identity: it created a murky area of who I was, a haze around how people connected with me. I was grey. And who wants to be this indifferent colour, devoid of depth and stuck in the middle? I certainly didn't.

    - Meghan Markle

  • The mind of the painter must resemble a mirror, which always takes the colour of the object it reflects and is completely occupied by the images of as many objects as are in front of it.

    - Leonardo da Vinci

  • There are people who can achieve huge success in life while adding a bit of fun and a splash of colour to this increasingly grey world.

    - Peter James

Colour Tips For August 2019

1. Painting an exposed brick wall or façade? The most important step is to prime the walls. First, clean the wall gently with a soapy solution. Then, rinse it with clean water and let it dry completely for a few days. Next, use two coats of primer so that the likelihood of dark colour of the brick showing through the paint reduces. It is recommended to have one extra can of paint than what you think is required. Bricks have porous and uneven surfaces and tiny holes so the paint is likely to seep into it easily, using up more paint than that is required on any other surface that is flat and even.
2. Monsoons are the best time to be your lazy self and spend plenty of time indoors in your favourite, comfortable spot. Your bed and blanket become your best friends, usually coupled with some hot coffee and your favourite book. To create a comforting space, use calming and soothing shades like lilac, lavender or purple for the wall colours. Use natural colours and fabrics for the bed sheets and pillows. Invest in colourful throws and scented candles and diffusers. You can also DIY some homemade potpourri using coffee beans in a bowl or make your own essential oils using orange, cinnamon and clove— great to remove the musty monsoon smells and odours.
3. Are you thinking of getting your house painted during the monsoons? Ensure that you have your walls scanned with a moisture meter to inspect if there are any traces of moisture left behind on the walls. If left undetected and untreated, the moisture in your walls will not only ruin fresh paint but cause leakage, cracks and mould. In India, the best time to get your house painted is from February to April. The dry weather conditions and fewer drops in the day and night temperatures make it ideal weather for house painting. We stress on doing a thorough moisture scanning since there could be moisture trapped in your home walls from the previous rainy season.

World of Colours

Colours & Emotion For August 2019

1. Have you ever wondered why blues music is called so? The name of this American music may have originated with the 17th century English expression “the blue devils,” for the intense visual hallucinations that may come with severe alcohol withdrawal. It was shortened over time to “the blues,” and came to mean a state of depression or agitation. According to a research done by the University of California, Berkeley, our brains are wired to make music and colour connections based on how the melodies make us feel. Fascinating, isn’t all this, to the ears?
2. Israel Abramov, a behavioural scientist asked men and women to break down the hue of a colour and to assign a percentage to the categories red, green, yellow and blue. The outcome – Women were more adept at differentiating between subtle gradations compared to men. This sensitivity was most evident in the middle of the colour spectrum. Women were able to distinguish tiny differences between colours that looked the same to men. In fact, Abramov saw that a somewhat longer wavelength of light was needed for men to see the same hues as women – hues identified as orange by women were seen as more yellow by men.

Colours & Fashion For August 2019

Gingham print has been around since several centuries all around the globe. The actual word “gingham” was introduced to the English language way back in the 17th century. It was used to describe a striped fabric imported from India. But over time, the more familiar checked pattern took over. Did you know that the word "Gingham" comes from the Malayan word genggang or "striped"? It is marked by having the coloured yarns (the warp) going against the uncoloured yarns (the weft) to create a light-weight texture on both sides, making it essentially reversible.

Colours & Gems For August 2019

1. Pyrite
   Take a look at this beautiful gemstone. Don’t be fooled by its appearance. It has been called “Fool’s Gold”, because of its superficial resemblance to gold. It occurs as a mesmerising intersection of cubic crystals. It is known to be useful in enhancing willpower when you want to get rid of bad habits. It is believed to be beneficial for students as it helps them focus and concentrate on their studies. Pyrite is named after the Greek word “pyr” meaning fire. It is known so because in the olden days, it was used to create sparks to start a fire.
2. Apophyllite
   This gemstone is known as Apophyllite. It lets you be proactive against anxiety by pinpointing its destructive qualities with the energy of calm. The wearer can get rid of overactive thoughts, negative patterns and repressed emotions using Apophyllite. You can redirect your attention from the mind to the body with the help of this gemstone. The gemstone is believed to cleanse the third eye and crown chakras and bring your attention to breathing in peace and exhaling negativity. In fact, it is considered one of the best healing stones in Reiki.

Colours & Nature For August 2019

1. Richmond Birdwing Butterfly
   Take a look at this beautiful creature. It is the Richmond birdwing, one of the largest Australian butterflies. It has a wingspan of up to 13 cm in males and 15 cm in females. This species is featured as Vulnerable in Queensland in the Nature Conservation Act 1992. The male butterfly distinctively differs from the female in appearance. The males have a black forewing with a striking, iridescent green fore-edge while the females have grey or brown wings. The female butterfly lays her eggs on a plant called the Richmond Birdwing Vine, which gives it its name.
2. Coleus
   Look at this plant. Isn’t it striking? Although coleus does flower, it is popular for its brightly-coloured quilt-like leaves and rightly so! The plant requires plenty of water and grows in sun to partial shade. It reaches 20 to 24 inches but its trailing types can be used in hanging pots. You can use coleus indoors as a potted plant in a sunny window or outdoors in part sun. In fact, it is hard to go wrong with this plant. It looks best when planted in groups and does not attract any insects.

Decor

4 Reasons Why Waterproofing Is Important

Waterproofing is not a home enhancement but a necessity.

Monsoon is the most beautiful time of the year. It is a relief from a scorching summer, the smell of petrichor, fresh and cool breeze and lush greenery — all things that bring a feeling of joy.

However, for our homes and buildings, monsoon also brings dampness and water seepage problems. If the waterproofing is not done correctly or neglected, water gets collected in the walls, resulting in damp patches, cracked walls and peeling paint. And even if you use good quality construction material, using inferior paint on exterior layers of house walls can cause serious damage.

Here are 4 reasons why waterproofing should be #1 priority on your monsoon checklist:

1. Safeguards interiors from water damage
   Waterproofing your foundation can prevent water from seeping into your home where it can cause walls to rot and deteriorate and ruin your possessions. In case of a commercial building, the expensive inventory can damage quickly when exposed to water from a leaking roof. Water damage will also lower the value of the building you have invested in.
2. Saves money
   The cost of waterproofing your house might seem like a blow to your budget, however, if your house is not waterproofed, the damages can end up costing you 3x the cost, plus the headache of dealing with water seepage and damaging your expensive interiors. Investing in wall waterproofing treatment in the start is a smart move since prevention is less expensive than cure.
3. Prevents the onset of health problems
   When water seeps in your walls, it becomes a perfect environment for mould and mildew to grow. This mould gets projected into the air and when you breathe in, you directly breathe the toxic mould that can lead to severe health conditions, damaging the lungs. This can also trigger allergies for some people, causing discomfort and pain. For a safe living space, always waterproof the house correctly so that you and your family can live and breathe clean.

4. Long-term comfort from water damage problems
   Waterproofing the house is a long term solution to many water leakage and seepage issues. It makes your house more comfortable to live in, while also providing a foundation for future work. Waterproofing in the start will save you from future headaches and burnouts.

   Whether you are building a new house or renovating your old house, it is important to ensure your house is waterproofed. Berger Paints has expert waterproofing solutions that offer effective and cost-efficient waterproofing solutions. The waterproofing experts use Moisture Meter, a device that accurately gauges the extent of water damage and provides solutions to combat and prevent leakage and seepage issues.

These Trendy Wall Paint Ideas Will Upgrade Any Space

If you are looking for a home refresh, indulge your walls in these hues for a trendy upgrade.

Deciding on the right paint colour can be daunting, especially with endless hues, textures and colours available in the market today. Whether you have recently moved into a new space or upgrading a room in your house, we have curated a list of top trendy wall paint colours that will give you plenty of inspiration and ideas for your wall painting. And to make it easier for you, our colour experts have put together top trending colours from Berger Paints so that you can get your walls painted in your favourite hues.

Pantone’s colour of the year 2019 — Living Coral is a popular choice for interior paint colours, for all the good reasons. It makes the mood in the room energising and uplifting, a great hue to play around with for kid’s room, music room or even the kitchen. You can blend this hue with its orange and pink counterparts and keep the rest of the elements neutral and muted.

Get the colour: Berger Paints, Coral Cheer, 1D2008

Deep greens are inspired by nature, said to bring healing properties of the outdoors inside the home. This hue can make a dramatic statement in any room, bringing memories of everything green and lush. Green can be deep and dark, as well as bright and lively. It can be combined with other hues like teals, citrus or lime.

Get the colour: Berger Paints, In The Woods, 4A0276

Yellows are reflective and vibrant and can be used to create a bright and happy environment. This hue can be used in living rooms, hallways and entry spaces for a light-filled living space. Look for accent pieces in grey and green for an ultimate upgrade to your room that is guaranteed to add sunshine to every day.

Get the colour: Berger Paints, Summer Sun, 3A0386

And finally, there is nothing more classic than an all-white palette. However, 2019 is a year of almost-white. For those who crave a minimalistic vibe that still feels contemporary, an almost-white shade is a perfect choice. Since these shades adapt well to different lighting, furniture and other colours, it is a fool-proof choice to begin with if you are looking to experiment.

Get the colour: Berger Paints, Light Dessert, 7P1949

House Painting: Tips For Choosing A Home Painting Contractor

Hiring the right house painting professional does not have to be a headache.

Choosing the right home painting service can be an overwhelming task, especially if you haven’t painted your house before or moved to a new city. And let’s face it; home painters don’t exactly have a good reputation. Be it for the lack of professionalism, skill or untimely work.

As a consumer, you need to be educated and informed. You will need to ask the right questions and communicate your requirements and ideas.

Follow our tips for a seamless, professional and stress-free home painting experience.

Look for experience

While selecting a painting contractor, you need to consider how experienced and skilled the painter is. Hiring a contractor through a paint company might be more expensive than your local contractor, but they come with years of experience, skills and training. Berger Paints Express Painting offers a hassle-free painting experience with skilled painters, cutting-edge technology and furniture moving and covering.

Be clear and specify all details

The contractor won’t understand what you have in mind unless you can communicate your requirements. Describe the job in details, including colours and products you want to use, desired time frame and if any repairs need to be considered, like waterproofing, priming etc. If possible, bring images of what you are looking for, in terms of wall paint. Be clear about the type of surface preparation, priming, waterproofing, paints and estimated costs and budget you have in mind.

Cost

The cost of wall painting is something you need to budget for. Before finalising on the job, get a written estimate including breakdown of labour, material costs, the number of coats of paint and primer and a detailed description of the amount of surface preparation that will be done.

Get multiple quotes

Getting multiple quotes will help you in making the best decision. When asking for quotes, be sure to share the same details with each contractor. This way, you can weigh in the pros and cons and decide on the best contractor that fits in your requirements and budget.

Ask for warranty or guarantee

The new house paint should ideally deal with any chipping, peeling, flaking, fading or chalking that happens within two years after the job is done. If the contractor tells you the paint comes with a warranty, don’t be fooled. This warranty only extends to problems with the paint itself and from the paint company you have purchased paints from, not the labour.

Colours & Ancient Sciences

Feng Shui For August 2019

If you live in a small space and find it chaotic and disorganised, you can try some Feng Shui tips to make it clutter-free and harmonious. Read on to know all about it.

Feng Shui for Small Living Spaces

Get rid of the clutter

If you want energy to flow freely through your living space, make the area clutter free. Start with the entrance of your house as it is the main source of energy. Make use of decorative storage boxes to store shoes.

Divide your rooms

It is a good idea to divide the living space cleverly with room-dividing options such as tall plants. You can keep two or three plants in between the kitchen and dining space or install a bookshelf or a row of curtains to divide a room.

Hang mirrors

Mirrors reflect light and create an illusion of a large space. Keep it in such a way that you can see the reflection of outdoor views as this is believed to add beauty to the space.

A popular Feng Shui technique is hanging a mirror behind the top burners of your stove-top as it is believed to magnify wealth. Make sure to clean the mirrors often and avoid hanging them right across each other.

Pick soothing decorative elements for your bedroom

When you wake up in the morning, you want something soothing to greet you. Opt for soothing images like a mesmerising waterfall or a beautiful scenic photograph to wake up to.

Incorporate the five elements

In Feng Shui, there are five elements — fire, wood, earth, metal and water.

Each of the elements channels a certain kind of energy. Fire represents passion while wood enhances prosperity. Earth promotes stability, metal enhances focus and water improves communication. Incorporate the elements based on the energy you want in your living space. You can create the same energy by incorporating the colour of the element in the room too. For example, if you want a productive environment, you could paint the walls grey rather than invest in a metal desk.

Implement these easy Feng Shui decorating tips to welcome positive vibes into your home and life!

Reiki For August 2019

Stressed at the workplace? Want to improve efficiency and enhance creativity? You can try Reiki to make your job easier and more enjoyable. Read on to know just how.

Reiki at the Workplace

To begin with, Reiki is a practise that you can do while working. For instance, if you are typing a letter or filling a form, you can ask Reiki to flow while you perform the task.

What you need to do is simply visualise the power symbol before starting the task at hand. While drawing the symbol, intend that Reiki will flow the entire time that you are working on it. As you type or work on your project, give some of your attention to remain with the flow of the Reiki energy as it pulses through your hands and arms. Think of it as the cool breeze or the warmth of the sun. Reiki will flow both to you and to the project that you are working on. By doing so, you will feel more relaxed yet alert. You will be able to type more quickly with fewer mistakes and get more work done effectively.

If it is a creative project, you will be able to tackle problems more easily and combine ideas in clever ways. Your memory will be enhanced and you will be more present and focused on your project. Your communication will be more effective and clear with the help of Reiki.

You can also use Reiki while talking to clients, customers or fellow employees over the telephone. Draw or think of the distant symbol and intend Reiki flow to you and to the person that you are talking with. You can try Reiki even without the use of symbols by just thinking of Reiki and intending it to flow. The communication will be more effective since both you and the person you are talking with will have a greater tendency to hear and understand what the other is saying. This will be helpful with all telephonic communication but can be especially valuable when handling tricky customers or handling difficult phone calls.

Try Reiki regularly to see the results for yourself!

Vaastu For August 2019

Did you know that the right Vaastu around the gymnasium can help achieve targets and goals set by individuals? This guide is for all those who want to set up a gym.

Vaastu for Gyms

Read on to know how to go about it and make the most of Vaastu.

To start with, constructing a gym requires a large amount of space because there are several different accessories and equipment that you need to install.

Ideally, a gym should be in the south while a yoga centre should be in north-east or east. It is best to place heavy equipment in the south or south-west as it emits positive energy. Do not keep the machines under roof beams as it can obstruct the flow of energies. Lighter equipment should be placed in the north. It is recommended that one face the east while performing mat exercises.

The steam room along with the shower room and changing room can be in the east. However, the washroom should be in the north, though make sure that the washroom door is not opposite to the gym. Reception should be constructed in the north. Flower and plants bring peace and positivity so it is a good idea to place them in the reception area. Proper lighting is equally important. Make sure that the room is well-lit and receives plenty of sunlight.

Make use of mirrors generously as it helps double up the energy of the area. Mirrors even keep individuals focused on their goals in a gym. Ensure you install them in the north or the east walls and avoid the south, south-west and west directions.

The image of a butterfly is given a lot of importance in Feng Shui since the journey of a butterfly, transitioning from a cocoon to a beautiful butterfly is not only interesting but also motivational. Make sure to display posters of butterfly to keep individuals motivated in the gym.

It is necessary to keep the gymnasium well-ventilated with large glass windows. The ceiling must be kept high so that it does not cause suffocation. The floor can have a carpet that provides a smooth floor while exercising.

Hope you find these tips helpful!