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THURSDAY 12 FEBRUARY 2015 • [email protected] • www.thepeninsulaqatar.com • 4455 7741 inside Earth’s SPORT DAY core • Many private companies and organisations mark theory National Sport Day P | 4, 5 & 6 P 10 | MARKETPLACE • McDonald’s Qatar adds Grand Chicken Spicy to its permanent menu P | 7 Tips to encourage couples to focus on the most important FILM elements of decorating, not • The SpongeBob Movie: just style but the four C’s: cost, Superhero slugfest drags comfort, colour and compromise. a good sequel down P | 8-9 HEALTH • To reach your goals, don’t be such an optimist P | 11 TECHNOLOGY • Celebrity computer Watson is now learning Japanese P | 12 DOING INTERIORS LEARN ARABIC • Learn commonly used Arabic words AS A COUPLE and their meanings P | 13 2 PLUS | THURSDAY 12 FEBRUARY 2015 COVER STORY Five ways to survive a home decorating project as a couple By Elizabeth Mayhew admit it. I singlehandedly took over the decorating of my family’s house. To most, this would seem natural because I work I in the field and have always had a very strong aesthetic point of view. But what our friends and colleagues don’t realise is that my husband also has interior design opinions — ones that I bulldozed over. Although I am proud of how our house turned out, I am not proud of the fact that I pretended to, but in reality did not, involve him. My husband equates the decorating proc- ess to the time we selected our wedding regis- try — I dragged him along under the guise that his opinion mattered when all I really wanted was for him to like what I liked. For our house, we bickered about the place- ment of the dining table, the colour of the sofa, whether to hang curtains and of course the price of everything. In almost all cases, I got my way, but not without consequences. Even today, years after the last room was finished, my decorating domination comes back to haunt me especially in the heat of an argu- ment (it’s the prime example of how I take over everything). Although I can’t undo my actions, I can impart some wisdom to my clients so that their process is more balanced than ours was. I encourage couples to focus on the most impor- tant elements of decorating, not just style but also what I call the four C’s: cost, comfort, colour and compromise. I also asked for the advice of Gail Saltz, clinical associate professor of psychiatry at the New York-Presbyterian Hospital. Saltz gives smart, no-nonsense tips — ones that I wish I had followed years ago. PLUS | THURSDAY 12 FEBRUARY 2015 3 When it comes — Cost chips. Clarity comes when I tell them that to decorating, I The No. 1 thing couples fight about is the simplest way to judge a colour is to try it money, so when it comes to decorating, the out, at which point they roll up their sleeves have worked with most important thing you can do is set a and get to work. Painting is fun, and working couples who have budget before you begin. Do your homework together will make you both feel good. Saltz clearly delineated and make sure you factor in all extra costs says it is important to give each other credit. such as moving and installation. I always sug- “Pride in your home, like pride in your family, responsibilities: gest investing in the big pieces first for each is something that can increase your closeness He deals with room: sofa, dining table and bed. Saltz suggests because it reflects both your tastes.” going one step further: discuss early on how everything you will handle either one of you wanting to — Compromise outside, she deals make a budget change along the way. When it comes to decorating, I have worked with couples who have clearly delineated with everything — Comfort responsibilities: He deals with everything inside. Comfort is one of the trickiest elements of outside, she deals with everything inside. But decorating because what is comfortable for for most it’s not that easy. One client of mine a 5-foot-2 woman might not be comfortable said, “all men want a La-Z-Boy recliner, and for a 6-foot-4 man. Go furniture shopping all women don’t.” Though the truth might together. Also know the purpose of each room not be so black and white, the challenge still and furnish it accordingly. Saltz suggests that is finding a way to balance style desires with couples should decorate in 10-year increments comfort and financial desires so that, as Saltz for actual family living. In her experience, says, “you avoid later resentments.” I wish I many fights occur when couples decorate for had had that advice. Saltz recommends that an ideal and not for kids, messiness and ease couples make communication a priority with of care, which not only creates tension, but weekly check-ins during which they take each also decreases the opportunity for fun family other’s temperature on their decisions, budget experiences and memories that build intimacy. and any changes that might have arisen. From a decorating standpoint, comfort and fabric go hand in hand; you will never be fully — Style relaxed if you are terrified of staining what Style is perhaps the trickiest for couples to you’re sitting on. To determine the right fab- navigate because it is so personal. You can’t ric choices, think about look, feel and, most argue with someone if he or she thinks a sofa important, durability (check out solution-dyed isn’t comfortable, but you can argue if that per- outdoor fabrics for all upholstery). And when son doesn’t like a sofa because of its chunky leg it comes to sofas, consider extra-deep seats, and modern silhouette. Presumably you and down or down-covered foam cushions and your partner have had some discussion of style ample pillows or throw cushions (these are before you embark on a decorating project, but, so that short people like me will be comfort- quite often, one’s taste changes and evolves dur- able in those extra-deep seats!). ing the process. Saltz warns that “if you disa- gree, remember it is stuff, not people, you’re — Colour talking about, so don’t personalize having differ- Painting your walls is without a doubt the ent tastes.” The one place Saltz makes a definite single most transformative tool in all of inte- style recommendation is in the bedroom. She rior design and one of the most flexible. Its says, “Think ‘romantic’ in your bedroom. This impact is immediate, changing the mood of a is your nest with your partner. Increase both room and your perception of its size. Although of your feelings of being desired by planning a painting a room is easy, choosing a colour can place to share your love for each other.” be a challenge. Numerous times I have sat Mayhew is the author of Flip! for Decorating. with couples as they labor over tiny paint WP-Bloomberg 4 PLUS | THURSDAY 12 FEBRUARY 2015 SPORT DAY Al Zaman Exchange won the first place in Qatar Central Bank Marathon conducted as part of Qatar National Sport Day. NIA cricket tournament orth Indian Association (NIA) Ncelebrated National Sport day by arranging Cricket tournament at Qatar Cricket Association Ground No. 5 in West Bay. Four teams participated in the event. Shoprite won the gold cup and PWC won the silver cup. Medals were awarded to other participating teams from PEPSI and Al Qamra. Ikhlaq, Piyush Rathore and Dr Aswani Bose won the ‘man of match’ awards and Dr Bose also won the man of the series award. NIA managing committee arranged breakfast and lunch at the play ground for the participants, members and guests. Umpires were Shivani Mishra, and Narendra Tomar. Mohit Pant was the scorer. The Peninsula Intertec Group celebrated the National Sport Day with the Group CFO George Thomas. SPORT DAY PLUS | THURSDAY 12 FEBRUARY 2015 5 Galfar Al Misnad Group holds Sport Day Run — Go Green s part of the Qatar National Sport Day event, AGalfar Al Misnad Group conceived and sponsored the Sport Day Run — Go Green on February 10. More than 500 people comprising the manage- ment, staff and workers of Galfar Al Misnad Group participated in the more than 3km run along the corridors of Corniche. The main objective of the 'Qatar National Sport Day Run' was to effectively showcase the importance of preservation of greenery and spread awareness of healthy living. Hema Chandran, Group General Manager, addressed the gathering and pointed out that the private sector is responsible for the appropriate upkeep of the environment. Mohammed Saif Al Kuwari, Assistant Under Secretary, Ministry of Environment, stressed the need of imparting continuous awareness and knowl- edge of ‘Go Green’ throughout Qatar. Saoud bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, Secretary and CEO of Qatar Olympic Committee, stressed the importance of health and healthy living conditions for all. The Peninsula Mannai Corporation marks National Sport Day annai Corporation marked the outside our work environment.” with various team activities set up for all including National Sport Day celebration with He also added: “Mannai will remain to promote human foosball, bubble football, obstacle race, tug its employees and subsidiary com- an active healthy lifestyle through our inter- of war among others. Mpanies at the Marriott Hotel, Beach department tournaments and other external Mannai also organised off-site tournaments that area. engagements. We continue to exercise the val- were held prior to the National Sport Day celebra- On the occasion, Khalid Mannai, Executive ues of ‘The Mannai Way’.