Garden
5. Location: San Francisco, USAWhy we love itNot every rainbow needs a white background, either. This subdued library lets the family’s colourful books shine. As writer Junichiro Tanizaki remarks in his controversial ‘In Praise of Shadows’, “In the mansion called literature, I would have the eves deep and the walls dark”.Check out ingenious bookshelf designs in surprising spots
2. Location: Los Angeles, USAWhy we love it Think wallpaper is just for walls? Think again. The risers of these stairs are decked out in custom-designed wallpaper – invisible when you’re walking downstairs, attention-grabbing when you’re walking up.These 30 staircase designs are guaranteed to impress
You can play with geometrical shapes and abstract patterns to create your own unique coloured floor. This part of the floor in the picture is a collage of yellow Jaisalmer stone, red sandstone, white marble and black cuddapah stone.Read more:6 Stone Floors Best Suited for Indian HomesThe Pros & Cons of Stone FloorsTell us:Do you have a strikingly coloured floor? Show us pictures in Comments below.
Jaisalmer stone is great for outdoor applications, too. The terrace of this home sports a chevron-patterned floor made of yellow Jaisalmer stone and grey Kota stone. Jaisalmer stone is porous in nature and reactive to acids. Hence, it stains and corrodes if exposed to harsh detergents or acidic food items. These slabs should be properly sealed before installation. Have a look at these 6 floors that keep you rooted in India
1. Yellow Jaisalmer stoneYellow Jaisalmer stone, as the name suggests, is quarried from Jaisalmer, Rajasthan. It is a durable variety of natural stone, available in colours varying from yellow to pale yellowish-orange. The radiant colour gives a warm, welcoming vibe, and goes well with white walls, and brown and black accents, as in the picture. It goes equally well with a palette of blues and white.
2. Natural historyThe natural world as a decorating theme is quite flexible and inspiring, encompassing everything from insect motifs and bird’s nests to botanical prints, natural fibres and found and foraged items from nature. Support your natural finds with a colour palette inspired by the environment that most resonates with you – dunes on a windswept beach, a lush wetland or a dense forest.
Chic vacation mementosCherished treasures from vacations and trips tell a personal story and deserve a special place in every home. Gather up all of your treasures and assess them as a group, as this can spark creative display ideas. Tiny mementos like matchbooks and sea glass have the most impact when grouped together, so consider mounting and labelling them in shadow boxes, or display them in a glass apothecary jar. Use larger items, like vintage glass bottles, as a centrepiece or line them up on a windowsill.Less is more, so try to winnow your collections to the best examples and the most meaningful treasures, and let go of the rest. Isn’t one photo album, lovingly created, more important (and easier to rescue in an emergency) than 10 boxes of jumbled messes that no one looks at?Check out these 20 fantastic ways to display family photographs
1. Well travelledTell a story with your decor by incorporating finds from your travels or by highlighting a culture you love. To evoke a sense of place, look at good photography books for inspiration and pick out key elements to replicate at home. For a Parisian-inspired space, for instance, go with a bistro table and chairs or vintage café au lait mugs.A room, like a novel, is more satisfying when it is well edited, so exercise restraint and display only your favourite pieces. Foundation pieces in your usual style (modern, traditional etc.) will help the room function well – and make the handful of carefully selected treasures stand out even more, as in the gorgeous Moroccan-influenced space shown here.
External blindsMotorised external Venetian blinds provide even greater heat protection and light control than internal styles. External Venetians range have slats that can be set to any angle to control internal room temperature and light. When closed, the system offers complete privacy, and when fully retracted, it provides for an unobstructed view.Read more:12 Ways To Screen Your Glass DoorsTell us:What style have you chosen for your external glass doors? Share pictures and give us your ideas in the Comments below.
Window coveringsCovering your glass doors provides another layer of defence against the heat and sun, and can boost energy savings further. The additional layer improves insulation, creating an extra layer of still air between the windows and interior space, thereby reducing heat transfer in both hot and cold weather. Take a look at 6 window treatments to change your perspective
External shadingShading glass doors can reduce summer temperatures, improving comfort and saving on cooling costs. They can also protect floor coverings and furniture from fading in sunlight.Most homes will benefit from shading on the northern side of the house where high-angle sun enters. East and west openings receive low-angle morning and afternoon summer sun. They typically need less shade in the morning when the sun is not too hot, but afternoons can get uncomfortable, in which case vertical structures, such as trees, shrubs or timber battens, can help screen light and heat.
Insect screensInsect screens will help keep bugs outside, while allowing for natural air flow, sunlight and views. They come in a variety of styles, mesh types and mechanisms, and are typically used in conjunction with, rather than in place of, external glass doors.Retractable insect screensThe house above has a roll-away insect screen. Spanning up to nine metres, the roll-away insect screen can be used in conjunction with bi-fold, stacking and French doors, and pillar-less corners. It can also be fitted into a recessed track for a more streamlined look.These etched screens help create different zones in the home
ShuttersShutters are typically made out of timber, and may have adjustable or fixed louvres. Depending on the hinge mechanism, shutter doors can be slid, stacked or pivoted to control light, ventilation, shade and views.Here’s why you should consider plantation shutters for your windows
LouvresLouvre windows and doors feature small, rectangular blades, that allow for ventilation, light and a visual connection with the outside environment. Louvres can be adjustable or fixed. Adjustable styles allow you to pivot the blades to facilitate light and air flow. With fixed louvres, the angle of the blades cannot be adjusted.Check out 9 reasons to bring louvers into your home
You’ll also find all manner of performance glass on offer that can improve your comfort levels at home. “Acoustic glass will minimise outside noise, privacy glass lets in light while providing privacy, and security glass is harder to break than normal glass, which gives homeowners peace of mind,” says Carley Armstrong, glass expert at Stegbar.Richard Bailey, general manager at Viridian Glass, adds: “Using glass over a large area can leave your living space more exposed to the outside elements such as temperature extremes, noise and harsh UV glare. When selecting glass for the doors in your home, keep the following in mind – year-round comfort, noise control and solar control.”
Low-E glass Low-E (low-emissivity) glass has a transparent coating – an invisible layer of metallic oxide – that minimises the amount of heat that passes through the glass, while still allowing light to flow through. Low-E coatings add to the cost of a window, but will reduce your energy costs.
Energy-efficient windows and doors come in a variety of forms, including double- and triple-glazed, and low-E glass.Double and triple glazingDouble-glazed windows and doors can reduce heat loss or gain by almost 30 per cent in comparison with single-pane aluminium windows. Triple-glazed styles perform even better, while being no thicker, heavier or more expensive than double-glazed ones. Triple-glazed styles are ideal for cold climates. Here are 14 reasons to embrace glazing
GlazingUp to 40 per cent of a home’s heating energy can be lost and up to 87 per cent of its heat gained through windows. So choosing the right glazing for your external doors can not only make your home more comfortable naturally, but can have an impact on your power bills too.
uPVC frames come in a variety of styles, including wood grain, plain colours and metallics. Quality uPVC frames retain their colour even when exposed to extreme temperature and weather conditions.They require little maintenance and can be easily cleaned with a mild detergent or soapy water.
AluminiumDurable, cost-effective and resistant to the harsh climate. Frames made from aluminium are typically low maintenance but do require some upkeep, particularly in coastal areas.The lightness and strength of aluminium makes it easy to slide and stack doors.With high thermal conductivity, aluminium can be a poor insulator. As a result, a large proportion of heating and cooling energy can be lost through the frame.Aluminium frames are generally silver, but they can be powder-coated to blend in with the architecture and interior design of your house.They are structurally strong and capable of withstanding weather extremes, particularly in high-wind areas.Confused between aluminium and uPVC windows?
What to considerDoor framesThese not only contribute to the aesthetic of your home, but its energy efficiency too. Aluminium, timber and uPVC (vinyl) are the most common framing materials, but there are also new composite styles available which blend the classic appearance of timber inside with the durability of aluminium outside.
uPVCAlso known as vinyl window frames, these are low-maintenance and resistant to weather and environmental conditions. They also have excellent acoustic properties.They are cost-efficient when it comes to energy performance, and have low thermal conductivity. This means they limit the transfer of heat and cold through the frame, which can reduce your reliance on heating and cooling. “If you use the same insulated glass units but you have one window with a uPVC frame and one with aluminium, the window with the uPVC frame will be approximately 40 per cent more energy efficient than the other, which will save you money,” says Sorin Marginean, managing director at Windows for Life.
TimberThe most traditional material for door frames, appreciated for its warmth and classic appearance.Timber frames are energy efficient and naturally insulate against heat and cold. Frames in this material are long-lasting, easy to repair and wind-resistant. However, they may require maintenance, particularly if exposed to harsh weather conditions.Timber can be polished, painted or stained, offering plenty of design flexibility.
Read more:8 Challenges for First-Time Kitchen GardenersTell us:What makes your garden feel peaceful and serene? Tell us in the Comments below.
8. Design to cut down maintenanceYour garden won’t feel like a serene retreat if you are constantly reminded by the weeding, pruning, mowing and other garden chores that need to be done. Design your garden, or rethink certain areas of your landscape, to require less week-to-week maintenance. One idea: Reducing the size of your lawn and replacing it with a seating area and gravel patio that only requires occasional raking can seriously cut down the time spent on weekly garden chores.Conversely, having a more relaxed idea of what your garden “should” look like and allowing plants to be a little more natural or leaves to linger on pathways can also help reduce time spent on maintenance.
5. Add a water elementPerfect for bringing the peaceful sound of water to a garden of any size, recirculating fountains can be easier to install than they may seem. Almost any ceramic pot can be turned into a recirculating fountain with the help of some basic plumping equipment and a trough to hold the pump.For urban gardens, in particular, water features that have a trickling or splashing sound can help mask the noise of the city and enhance the serenity of your patio or balcony.Wondering how to induce a water feature in your garden?
4. Embrace repetitionIn the same way that mass plantings can have a calming effect in the landscape, repetition in form and colour can as well. Take a look at this simple poolside planting. The repeated form of five sculptural plants (visually doubled by the reflection) creates a simple, balanced design that inspires calm.
3. Choose a soothing colour paletteCool colours like blues, silvers and greens, as well as neutrals, can feel more serene in a landscape than hotter reds, yellows, pinks and oranges. That being said, the colours that make you feel calm and peaceful can be different from those of the next person. Select plants and hardscape materials in colours that you personally find calming, and arrange them together in large groupings. For example, a purple monochromatic planting of salvia and catmint give this path a relaxing feeling.
2. Simplify your planting schemeLarge swaths of a single plant species, or a few, act as places for the eye to rest in the landscape. While you may want more diversity in places like perennial borders, look for areas of your garden – beneath trees or on either side of walkways – that could benefit from mass planting. Your landscape as a whole could feel more serene as a result.Check out the best succulents for Indian gardens
1. Create a threshold Marking the garden’s entrance or change from one area to the next gives you an opportunity to create a physical transition. Think of it as a nudge to yourself to leave at the gate some of the stress and worries you carry and enter the garden feeling a little lighter. Gates, arbors and other visible thresholds can also be beautiful garden features in their own right. The circular arbors in this garden, for example, mark the passage from the main garden to a woodland area and add to its serenity.
15. Clove (Colaba)The quaint retail destination designed by The Busride has a warm-your-heart kind of character with its arched doorways, clean interiors and neutral palette. Brainchild of Samyukta Nair, the multi-designer space offers classic and eclectic items, such as home linen by Anavila and Shift, objects from Claymen, Fiona Caulfields’ Love Travel Guides and more. Also, as part of the edit, are labels such as Untitled Co., Ikka Dukka and Atelier.Address: Churchill Chambers, Allana Road, ColabaRead more:Homegrown Wonders: 6 Young Brands That Celebrate ‘Made in India’Tell us:Which is your favourite store and why? Tell us in Comments below.
4. Maison (Indiabulls Finance Centre)It’s like entering a luxurious store in Europe, and immediately appeals to your senses, making you want to redecorate your home from scratch. A stunning experiential space where one can find bedroom, dining- and living-room concepts curated to offer a holistic experience for the buyers on how they, too, can do the same for their home. Aruna Tara’s label provides unique handcrafted furniture and accessories sourced from furniture manufacturers in North America and Europe. Address: Tower 1, Lobby level, Indiabulls Finance Centre, S.B. Marg, Elphinstone Road (W)
3. Freedom Tree (Shakti Mills Lane)Visit Latika Khosla’s store, and you can be sure to find the most edgy, vibrant designs and quirky items for your home. The brand works exclusively with Indian artisans and small-scale industries to bring us a special selection of furniture, tableware, textiles, floor coverings, lighting, home fragrances and accessories. The store emanates a cosy vibe, with plush sofas, soft linens and rows of vibrant pillows. You’d love to just settle down here.Address: Block 31, Laxmi Woollen Mill Compound, Shakti Mills Lane, Off E. Moses Road, Mahalakshmi
2. Tresorie (Bandra)You wouldn’t mind making a day of this store visit: after all, the home-couture destination by Sonali Arora is spread across five large floors. Each level shows a striking curation of objects that require long hours of browsing. Encompassing home collectibles, silverware, tableware, bar accessories, kitchenware, bedding, bath, rugs, aromatherapy lines and much more, over 30 international brands fill up the retail space. It’s easy to get lost here, because there is just so much to look at and experience. Address: Linking Road, Potohar Nagar, Santacruz WestWondering what your decorating style is? Take this quiz
1. Good Earth (Raghuvanshi Mills)India pride resonates in every aspect of this widely popular brand started by Anita and Simran Lal. The expansive store exhibits a confluence of colours, prints and patterns and is designed to resemble a mini royal palace. Here you’ll find pretty corners accentuated with candles, tea lights, a throw or a rug draped casually over a sofa, large cabinets housing stunning tableware … You get the drift. An array of goodies, from furniture, tableware and linen to bath products, cushions and wall coverings, narrate the story of our country’s rich heritage. Address: 11-12, Raghuvanshi Mills Compound, Senapati Bapat Marg, Lower Parel
7. Arm styleSofa’s styles are heavily influenced by their arms. This sofa’s rolled arms add a feminine Art Deco element to a sofa that would look much more masculine and modern with straight arms.Take a look at these 9 timeless sofa styles
5. Cushion appearanceOverstuffed cushions look casual and comfortable, while tailored cushions look sophisticated. This sofa has a great mix of tailored bottom cushions and loose top pillows…Wondering how to choose the right sofa cushion?
8. Bleeding heart vine (Clerodendrum thomsoniae)The bleeding heart vine is a woody vine bearing ornamental bi-coloured flowers and bushy green leaves. The five-lobed white sepals with little red flowers contrast with the green backdrop, making the climber picturesque and charming. The flowers blossom abundantly through the summer months. What it needs:This vine loves sunlight and thrives when watered regularly.Read on:Where to Grow Vines and Creepers10 Clever Urban GardensTell us: Do you have climbers in your garden? How do you take care of them? Do show us pictures in Comments below.
7. Flame vine (Pyrostegia venusta)The flame vine or golden shower climber is a fast-growing, woody climber that blooms with countless orange-red flowers during winter and spring. The tip of each branch forms a cluster of 15-20 flowers, presenting a distinctive ‘fiery’ look to the vine plant.What it needs:Regular watering and full to partial sun facilitate the healthy growth of this evergreen climber.
6. Sweet potato vine (Ipomoea batatas)A very distant relative of the potato, the sweet potato vine is, surprisingly, from the blue morning glory family. It is a vigorously growing, perennial plant species with beautiful dark-green to lime-green leaves and white flowers with purple throats. Its enlarged, sweet, starchy root is the edible sweet potato vegetable, popularly cultivated in parts of south and east India. The ornamental variety is known as the tuberous morning glory.What it needs:This vegetable-producing vine requires moderate watering all through the year. It enjoys well-drained soil under full to partial sun exposure.
5. Bengal clock vine (Thunbergia grandiflora)The Bengal clock vine has lovely trumpet-shaped blue flowers borne in long clusters, dense foliage and perennial growth. This native Indian plant, also known as Bengal trumpet or blue skyflower, has rope-like stems which twine only clockwise, giving it its unusual name.What it needs:The Bengal clock vine is a low-maintenance, evergreen plant. It grows best in moderate conditions – partly sunny, warm, gently moist weather.
4. Star jasmine (Trachelospermum jasminoides)The fragrance-laden star jasmine or confederate jasmine is an evergreen climber, but is not a true jasmine. It wears shiny green foliage and white flowers on woody stems. The five-petalled flowers blossom abundantly during the late spring and summer. True jasmines, almost identical to the star jasmine, are juhi (Jasminum auriculatum), Arabian jasmine (J. sambac) and angelwing jasmine (J. nitidum). They are twining vines with fragrant little white flowers, commonly grown in India.What it needs:Although star jasmine is a hardy, winter-tolerant plant, it favours medium watering and well-drained soil. It can do well in full to partial sun conditions.
3. Devil’s ivy (Epipremnum aureum)Devil’s ivy is commonly known as the money plant or golden pothos in India. Heart-shaped leaves with yellow or white speckles are the main characteristics of this evergreen climber vine. It is a low-care, fast-growing plant.What it needs:Bright, direct sunlight and low humidity do not suit this vine; a shaded or semi-shaded zone of the garden would suit it just right. Regular watering is needed in the summer months and infrequently during winter.Know here- How to Live With a Money Plant
FacadesProject: Jain residenceArchitect: Architecture Paradigm
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