Why Landscape Designers Will Be Key to the Future of Our Cities

For most people, spending time outdoors in well-designed public spaces is one of the 

highlights to city life. Why, then, do we spend comparatively little time and money 

on designing them? In this article, originally posted on Metropolis magazine as 

"Designing Outdoor Public Spaces is Vital to the Future of our Cities" Kirt Martin, 

the vice-president of design and marketing at outdoor furniture designer Landscape 

Forms, makes the case that landscape architects and industrial designers working in 

the public realm are key for our cities' health and happiness.

All of us treasure our time in outdoor spaces. So why do we devote so little of our 

attention to their design?

As a designer in the site-furniture industry, I am always curious about the value 

people place on the outdoors. I like to ask people I meet to describe a great city 

like New York, Chicago, or Paris and what they most remember about being there. Or I 

ask them, if they won $25,000 to spend on a dream vacation, where they would go and 

what they would do. Their fond memories of a celebrated city or an escape into the 

wild often have little in common, except for one thing: Their most memorable and 

meaningful experiences almost always revolve around the outdoors.

source:http://www.archdaily.com/771035/why-landscape-designers-will-be-key-to-the-future-of-our-cities

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Noida

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The 3 Principles of Interior Design

Account for function, mood and personality in any decorating project with these pointers.

A beautifully decorated interior not only functions well but it creates a mood or a feeling and shows off the personality of the family that lives there. It's attention to these three important ingredients — function, mood and personality — that ensures decorating success.

Before painting and rearranging, spend some time thinking about your family and how you live. Look through magazines for inspiration and pull out ideas or rooms that appeal to you. Gather things from around the house that make you feel good and study them carefully for color cues and perhaps a clue to the mood you're looking for in your home. This is the beginning of a well-planned and decorated living area.

As for the rest, let's start with function.

Function

Decorating is more than just eye appeal — it's making a room really work for you. Here's how to do it, element by element:

• The focal point: Sometimes rooms have natural focal points (places the eyes travel to immediately upon entering a room) — a fireplace, a bay window with a view, maybe even a built-in bookcase. If the room doesn't have a natural focal point, create one with a dynamic piece of art or a colorful area rug.
  
• The furniture: Determine whether the furniture satisfies the functions you've planned for the room. If a piece isn't working or if it's too large or too small for the size of the room, get rid of it or trade it for something else around the house that may be more appropriate.
  
• The lighting: Lighting should be selected for the functions of the room as well as for visual appeal. Every task will require either direct lighting from a lamp or indirect lights that simply brighten the room for conversation or TV-watching. Accent lighting — floor spots, track lighting or recessed spotlights — enhance texture, color and room details.
  
• The furniture arrangement: Draw your room on graph paper. Measure and mark electrical outlets and switches, vents, windows and doors. Measure your furniture and place it in your floor plan. Generally, the main furniture pieces are directed toward the focal point, keeping the major traffic patterns open. Fill in with pieces you'd like to have that may or may not be available now. Be sure to balance high and low pieces as well as heavy and light ones around the room.

Add caption

Mood

The mood or feeling of a room is created by your choice of colors, the style of furnishings, the amount of texture and pattern you choose and your accessories. Since there's so much to think about when creating a mood, establishing a theme through the selection of an inspiration piece can make this portion of a decorating project much more fun and interesting. Here are the factors you need to address when setting a mood:

• The inspiration piece: The easiest way by far to decorate is to start with some source of inspiration. A decorative pillow, a favorite scarf and even a magazine photo are good places to begin. Select your inspiration piece wisely, and be sure it makes you feel good when you look at it. It's the basis for selecting your theme, colors, patterns and textures.
  
• Theme: Analyze your inspiration piece and develop a theme name for it. For instance, a needlepoint pillow with a botanical design on a black background may inspire a title like "formal botanical garden." Be descriptive with your theme name and all sorts of supporting ideas will come to mind. Botanical prints, striped walls, greens and floral colors, formal fabrics and furniture, dark woods and black accents all fit this particular theme.
  
• Color cues: Color should always support the theme. Many times, the colors that are most appropriate are found in the patterns and design of your inspiration piece. Generally, it's best to choose three colors in a room: a dominant color, used for walls, carpeting and fabric backgrounds; a secondary color, found throughout the room in fabrics and accessories; and an accent color, used sparingly to give energy and excitement to the room.
  
• Patterns: Stripes, checks, florals and plaids are just a few of the patterns to consider as you continue supporting your theme. It's all right to mix patterns as long as you do three things:

1. Keep the background color the same.
2. Make sure all patterns share the same colors.
3. Vary the scale or sizes of the patterns. 

• Texture: Too many smooth, shiny objects or too much nubby, rustic texture becomes tiresome. Use variety to keep the room interesting. Even a pattern can be used as texture. Many prints look dimensional and therefore add depth to a decorating scheme.
  
• Furniture: Aside from being functional, your furniture plays an important role in supporting your theme. Some pieces may function well but their style or color may stick out like a sore thumb. Try to salvage it with slipcovers, tablecloths or paint. If it's a lost cause, remove it from the room.

Personality

Here's your chance to put your personal stamp on a well-planned room. Here are some strategies:

• Accessorizing: Pictures, vases, pillows and area rugs are all integral parts of a great decorating plan. Generally, they should support your theme, but allow more flexibility here; an antique picture frame could add wonderful variety to a contemporary room. Accessories are located on walls, mantels, furniture, tabletops and floors; they can be paintings and photos or pillows.
  
• Whimsy: This is optional in your decorating scheme, but it can counteract any sterile quality that may have been created by strictly following all the guidelines. A beautiful country sitting room may get some relief from a playful quilt placed over the fireplace.
  
• The unexpected: Interest doesn't have to be whimsical; it can simply be something unexpected in a room, like a brightly-painted ceiling.
• Source:http://www.hgtv.com/design/decorating/design-101/the-3-principles-of-interior-design

Horizon Concept Pvt Ltd

B131 Sector 2 Noida

www.horizon-concept.com

info@hcgroup.in

This Dutch Beach House Has an Unexpected Look

Though undeniably gorgeous, beach homes tend to stick to a few design cliches. There are usually sisal rugs, driftwood decor, white slipcovered furniture, and a palette of soft blues. It doesn't mean we don't love this style, of course. (We think it's one of the most soothing schemes out there.) But if you're looking for a more eclectic take on coastal decor, this Netherlands home is it.

Like most beach properties, the price tag is steep, at roughly $1,963,424 for the palatial eight-bedroom, two-bathroom property. The circa-1907 home was renovated in 2006, which preserved the original details while opening up the space a little bit. Our favorite feature has to be the glass walls, which give the rooms a feeling of privacy while allowing light to stream through. The unusual wood-paneled ceiling, though, is a close second.

HORIZON CONCEPT PVT. LTD

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U.P. 201301

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Source:http://www.housebeautiful.com/design-inspiration/real-estate/a4046/netherlands-beach-house/

The Most Popular Flowers for Each Month in Summer

We asked Christine Noelle, BloomNation florist and owner/creative director of Chicago's Dilly Lily, which blooms people just love to see in their bouquets during warm-weather season.

HORIZON CONCEPT PVT. LTD

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Source:http://www.housebeautiful.com/entertaining/flower-arrangements/g2411/popular-flowers-summer/

This Bedroom Went From Blank Slate to Beautiful

When it comes to decorating our homes, the bedroom (sadly) often becomes a low priority. Maybe it's because we spend most of our time in there with our eyes shut, or because it's the room least likely to be seen by guests. Whatever the reason, too many bedrooms tend to feel like blank slates.

That was precisely the case for Erica Chan Coffman of the blog HonestlyWTF. While the "before" (see below) shows a few promising elements (like the flokati rugs), the room didn't reflect her fabulous taste. That's why she turned to celebrity designer Will Wick, who collaborated with the online design service Decorist, to help bring out the personality in this space.

The new look feels cozy yet spacious, thanks to the neutral palette of white, beige, and gray hues. This serves to create a gallery-like effect that allows carefully curated accessories to truly shine. "It's such a perfect reflection of Erica's style, combining modern, vintage and global elements — from the pineapple lamp she scouted on Chairish, to the textured St. Frank Juju Hat from Cameroon, to the sleek lacquered nailhead dresser," Wick says.

Source:http://www.housebeautiful.com/design-inspiration/home-makeovers/a3938/decorist-makeover/?mag=hbu&click=yr

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HORIZON CONCEPT PVT. LTD
B 131, Sector 2, Noida,
U.P. 201301

CITY GARDENS

How does your garden grow? With city gardens, the answer is with ingenuity. 'I always light city gardens more than country gardens in order to create the effect of having another "room" when looking outside at night,' says Sally Storey, design director of John Cullen Lighting. Whether you have a roof terrace, an itty-bitty balcony or lush cityscape, get inspired by these garden design ideas perfect for city gardens. (Looking for more? Don't miss these small garden ideas.)

The double steel doors leading to the terrace were designed by Ebba Thott to give access from the main corridor. A rustic rocking chair and brightly patterned cushion give the London flat's outdoor space a relaxed atmosphere.

HORIZON CONCEPT PVT. LTD
B 131, Sector 2, Noida,
U.P. 201301

T: +91 1204166161
M: +91 9015511222
E: info@horizon-concept.com
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Source :http://www.houseandgarden.co.uk/

10 TIPS TO MAKE YOU FEEL HAPPIER AT HOME

We spend a good amount of time and money on our homes, so why not make each space within them feel a little bit more like, well, home? Making your house a place that reflects your tastes, speaks to your inner being, and makes you feel happier can be a challenge, but taking the time to do it can be well worth the effort in the end. Here are 20 interior design tips that will make your house what it was always meant to be: your happy home.

• Pay attention to lighting.

Use lighting to highlight areas you most want to see. Consider spotlighting a picture you love or creating a cozy reading nook with a dimming light.

• Use white.

White is refreshing and inviting. As it reflects light well, it can make your space feel brighter, which will do wonders to brighten your mood.

Consider new ways of displaying your favorite items, like hanging your favorite plates in unusual arrangements, so they become a point of visual interest.

• Use mirrors to elongate and brighten a space.

Mirrors do wonders to make a space feel larger and brighter. Try allowing light to reflect off them to create a brighter space.

• Be okay with a space that looks “lived in.”

If you’d like your family and visitors to feel comfortable in your home, allow them to be comfortable. This means that plastic on your couch is a no-no.

• Let in the sunlight.

Use natural light whenever possible, but take care when exposing fabrics or wood furniture to the elements. To properly care for your wood furniture, you’ll want to make sure that shade is available for times when the sun is high.

• Don’t just buy “the set.”

Furniture stores are always trying to get you to buy the set. Keep your house from looking like a sterile showroom by getting the pieces you need and really like, not the ones the store wants you to need and forces you to like.

• Bring the outdoors in.

Add greenery and planters, like the ones suggested by the Huffington Post, to improve air supply and de-stress your home.

• Choose colors that say how you want to feel when you’re at home.

If, for example, you want to feel calm, consider bringing in more blues, which are naturally calming.

• Invest in an organizational system.

You don’t have to buy the whole closet system, but when pieces have a place, they’re less likely to clutter up a space.

• Mix patterns and textures.

Velvet with Satin? Don’t be afraid to think outside of the box when it comes to putting fabrics together.

Try any or all of these 10 tips to create your own personal oasis. Don’t be afraid to think outside the box and have fun with your interior design!

HORIZON CONCEPT PVT. LTD

B 131, Sector 2, Noida,

U.P. 201301

T: +91 1204166161

M: +91 9015511222

E: info@horizon-concept.com

W: www.horizon-concept.com