Quintessential Indian "Matka"

Dutch designer Pepe Heykoop has worked with people from one of Mumbai's poorest areas to transform traditional water carriers into leathery vases. The patchwork of leather forms random patterns which are different on every piece.Based on techniques used in Heykoop's earlier Skin Collection, the project recycles Indian stainless steel water carriers called 'matkas' by covering them with high quality scrap leather.The patchwork of leather forms random patterns which are different on every piece.

To produce them, Heykoop teamed up with Tiny Miracles Foundation, a charity that aims to raise one poor community living in Mumbai's red-light district to middle-class status within 10 years. Locals are now employed by Heykoop to make the vases in a workshop in the neighborhood.

Using distinctive techniques from his Skin Collection, Matka Vases are designed by Pepe Heykoop and produced in his workshop located in one of the poorest neighborhoods in Mumbai, India, providing meaningful jobs, income and hope for the neediest.

Matka Vase is designed using recycled Matka's (traditional Indian stainless steel water carriers) and scrap leather. Every single vase contains a unique and personal story both of its previous owner and the person who gave it new life and use. Matka Vase has just recently gone into production and proceeds from sales are partly used to send street children to school.

As a reaction to the huge amount of waste of high quality leather created by the furniture industry (25 up to 30%), Pepe has designed the Skin Collection in 2011. In 2012, the Matka vase was born. The scraps generate a unique and random pattern as every piece has a different shape, giving the Matka a new life by turning waste into a Vase. In this way, Matka's represent a signature product of Pepe Heykoop: they tell a story of change and growth, a different one for each unique piece of hand-made furniture. Thus it makes sense that his favorite materials are recycled; they are ready to tell a story and grow into a new product.

About Pepe Heykoop:

Dutch designer Pepe Heykoop (28) recently set up a workshop together with Tiny Miracles Foundation right in the middle of the poverty stricken, red light district of Mumbai, India. In 2010, he started working with this community when he started manufacturing Leather Lampshades with jobless slum moms. These Lampshades became a global success. Pepe graduated from the prestigious Design Academy in Eindhoven in 2008 and has been awarded with multiple awards for his designs. Pepe has exhibited his works at numerous design shows including Milan, Singapore, Tokyo, New York and London and has his home base in Amsterdam, where most new concepts and products are born, based on unique low-cost techniques.

About Tiny Miracles Foundation:

Tiny Miracles Foundation is run by Pepe's cousin Laurien Meuter and focuses on one community in Mumbai, India. This 1,000 people community lives on the pavement in the middle of the red light district. The goal is to lift this community from 'very poor' to 'middle class' within 10 years and turn it into the 'City of Miracles'. Essential to making the community self-supporting is income generation. This will be realized through production in Pepe's workshop. Part of the proceeds are donated to the foundation to fund child education.

Eco Seatz Makes Colorful Chairs from Heavy-Duty Recycled Cardboard Tubes

by Richard Holmes

Eco Seatz is a new company in the UK that handcrafts modern furniture from environmentally friendly materials. Their designs are based upon heavy-duty cardboard tubes made from recycled paper, which provide a very strong and lightweight core. They currently handcraft kids tables and chairs and display plinths, and they’re always looking to add to their range. Their design ethos focuses upon sustainability and re-cycling, and their website publishes simple recycling ideas for everyone.

Live the Smart Way

Have you ever imagined walking into your home to be greeted by soothing music, cool wafts of air-conditioner and the soft intensity lights to help you relax?. That's the new intelligent homes for you!

In fact the concept of intelligent homes started in the 1980s in the United States and since then has undergone several changes around the world.

The technology uses touch-screens and user-friendly software that impacts four key areas in any building --energy efficiency, life safety systems, telecommunications systems and workplace automation.

The two main methods of home automation are:

Plug in System, the popular one, wherein modular systems are simply plugged in walls and communicate through power or radio lines.

The other is the Hardwired system where the solution is planned and installed in the walls of the building during construction stage.

Lighting has, by far, been the most popular use of home automation. One can switch on/off or dim the lights from a remote control moreover can also create mood lighting or play preset function for the room such as dinner lighting, party lighting etc. The motion sensor lights get automatically on when detect a movement and turn off after a period of time. Similarly air-conditioners with self adjusting settings can adjust the cooling pattern depending upon the number of people present in the room, can be preset to preferred temperature setting and also can be controlled through computer, PDA or cell phone.

Of course, other than light fittings, there's natural light to consider too. Motorized curtains, blinds and shades can be raised or lowered by a remote from the comfort of your couch, and can be programmed to open or close at a predetermined time even when you are away. Additionally light sensor blinds automatically extend and retract according to the position of the sun. Then there are entertainment systems where all the audio visual equipment are controlled by a single remote with programmed settings which will select the speakers through which to play audio, button to start the DVD, raise the motorized projection screen and dim the lights to give a complete home theater experience.

Sure enough security is an important aspect for any house owner and an automated security system provides far more protective and safer experience than traditional methods. While with cameras you can view your house through internet, the motion sensors can send you an e -mail or text message if they sense movement or breaking of glass. Furthermore wireless alarm systems can also detect gas leakage or fire accidents. Apart from these there are automated systems that inform owner of energy, water and gas consumption as well as wireless electronic meters that display the cost of electricity used and send Alarm alerts for excessive loads.

The home automation has both practical as well as environmental benefits. Managing your home appliances and gadgets is at your fingertips now. Programmable washing machines, refrigerators, ultrasound steered vacuum cleaners, automated lights, air-conditioning and ventilation as also Internet-connected video camera to check on baby sitter can make life that much easier for working couples. Conveniences like an alarm to have the lights gradually increase intensity or ensuring the coffee is brewing and the television switches on to the favorite news channel can be a boon to a weary soul after a hard day. Equally advantageous are the advanced systems that lock up all the doors and windows as one's leaving or video door phones with alarm systems that can provide security to elderly couples. Additionally automated lights and appliances can save up to 75% of electricity whereas automated window covering can minimize solar heat gain. Besides intelligent air- conditioning systems can significantly reduce energy consumption thereby offering monetary savings plus conserving energy resources.

Automation makes life simpler however intelligent home systems are still considered lifestyle products as they are perceived to be expensive but one can go for individual products as per their need from security systems to internet enabled refrigerators. The biggest challenge though is that the complex products may baffle not so tech savvy people. We still have a very long way to go where intelligent homes are concerned, but the concept is catching on particularly with the new generation.

Glossy covers to Your Home

We often when going through glossy magazines showing pictures of beautiful homes ask ourselves how my home can look like that. The fine balance between functionality & creativity is what makes the rooms in glossy magazines look exceptional & that is the difference between interior designing and decorating.

Designing an interior has to be done in context of the space we have, our character, interests & lifestyle. The famous designer William Morris had stated that you should have nothing in your house which you do not know to be useful or believe to be beautiful.

Design room as per the function; be creative without losing sight of everyday needs. For example a family lounge needs comfortable seating, a television to watch; space for kids play & so on. Thus we need to design it for this very functionality & the outcome should not look like anything else.

Treat rooms as the part of whole; common mistake we make is to design each room in isolation. Rooms should flow into each other, which gives spacious look to the house. A common neutral color of walls or continuous flooring can be carried in whole house to bind it together & accent walls in different color or treatment can set the theme for that particular room.

Too much unity can be boring; don't overdo matching of all the items in the room, repeat elements sparsely& balance them throughout. For example if a boy's room has blue painted accent wall, avoid using the same color everywhere, in furniture, bedding, accessories etc rather use mix of contrasting & complementing colors to add variety.

Create emphasis; as the rooms in the magazines always have a certain strong feature which is emphasized like artwork, fireplace or window treatment, you too may create a center of interest, which draws the eye towards that feature area that also inspires the decor of the room.

Appreciate empty space; by restricting the use of colors, strong textures, motifs & furniture, we can create space making effect & emphasize selected details or objects. Be selective, the features of your favorite piece of furniture when given enough space in which to value it, will multiply in decorating worth.

Minimize accessories; don't be overwhelmed by the use of accessories. Absence of clutter will help visitor's eye move easily from one object to another & appreciate the selectively chosen features & elements. For example collections of hung artwork are not needed where one or two impressively perfect pieces can create the similar effect without detracting from the architecture of a room.

Power of light; is often underrated in the home interiors & is also the major differentiator between the homes of glossy magazines & our homes. The use of illumination as light should have a dual purpose of creating light itself, and the magical effect that it can offer if used correctly. Natural light within a room should be used to its full potential by adopting a minimalist approach to your window dressings. For example use sheer materials like muslin, silk, and lightly printed voile.

More often than not in our aspiration to create a beautiful home of our dreams we try to imitate what's shown in the interior design magazines in our own homes, which turn out to be a disappointment, leaving us wondering where we went wrong. What we need to understand is that each space is unique with its own set of conditions, show respect of space; recognize the functionality, stay disciplined & follow simple design principles to achieve the look you envied in the glossy magazines.

Science behind Vastu

Vastushastra as we all know is an ancient Indian architectural science. It contains principles to ensure a harmonious balance between man & nature thereby bringing happiness, health, wealth & prosperity. However as an Architect I see how people now have started practicing vastu more as a superstition rather than as a logical ancient science which is relevant to the modern world in a limited capacity.

Vastushastra originated thousands of years ago in ancient India. In those days people were dependent on the elements of nature to fulfill all their basic needs. Sun provided light & heat, wind gave cool breeze, rivers & rain were the main source of water, earth provided food & shelter and fire heat & protection. Thus the principles of the building science laid down during those days too were based purely on the effect of elements of nature. In the age when it was formulated, the society was largely illiterate, the illiteracy generating a fear of the unknown. Science was beyond the realm of their understanding while religion was omnipresent. It was therefore simpler for the ancient Vastu experts to spread the concepts of the Vastu Shastra through the intricate network of religion and superstition. Unfortunately, as time passed only the superstition filtered down the generations, while the actual theory eluded the world.

All the ancient doctrines of Vastu Shastra may not be applicable in the present scenario in their entirety. Some of the tenets particularly show a strong social bias, which was relevant to the social structure which existed at that time. Such tenets have certainly lost their significance now. However the fundamentals of the vastu theory are still relevant & can be adapted to the modern world.

What we need to keep in mind is to recognize it as a logical science which has nothing to do with religion. It is true that over the years Vstu Shastra has imbibed religious overtones, but that does not seem to have been the original idea. The religious implications were probably inculcated by the proponents of the science, when they realized that the society of that time, being a God-fearing one, would not accept norms that strayed away from the notions of God.

To understand Vastu all one needs is a little knowledge about Astronomy. For example we know that our earth, while moving around the sun, continues to spin on its own axis with a tilt of 23.5 degrees. While spinning, the earth moves from West to East. You will observe that car is designed in such a way that its front part is kept lower than the rear part, to enable it to overcome the wind resistance when in speed. Similarly the nose part of the plane and rocket are kept tapering forward. Since our earth is moving from West to East, if your building is lower on the East and higher on the West, only then it will be able to withstand the resistance of winds easily and get filled with positive energy from North-East, leading to peace and prosperity of the inhabitants. Similarly the Sun, as our ancestors revealed, is the only source of light and heat for human and other living beings. It directs and sustains life on earth. Therefore, the rising Sun is like God, and its direction of rising is considered pious and is taken as a point of reference. Therefore, the effect of the direction affects the building/house constructed therein. Thus a clear understanding of the principles of science can help you to delve into the true meaning of Vastu Shastra.

It is a fact that the original Vastu tenets prescribed the type of site and then specified the layout materials and construction techniques and directions. In an urban milieu, one can hardly indulge in choosing dwelling sites or for that matter direction of choice. (I myself live in an apartment in a building, both of which hardly confirm to most of the rules of vastu but still without being immodest I can say I am healthier & wealthier than many of my clients whom I mentioned earlier).We should look at adapting macro level implications of vastu to contemporary needs logically not superstitiously.

Vastu Shastra cannot be directly linked with prosperity. It only suggests ways in which we can live in tune with the laws of nature so that we can be healthy and peaceful and work efficiently. The ancient texts of Vastu Shastra have probably claimed to bring prosperity, as an indirect consequence of being able to perform well at home and work.

I would like to emphasize that however God-fearing you may be, you should not feel threatened by Vastu Shastra because it is a science. Science does not condemn God, or disprove its identity. Vastu Shastra is the science of construction, formulated to help us live in tune with nature. It does not give solutions to your domestic or financial problems.

Vastu Shastra evolved as a compilation of planning principles for a healthy living based on the knowledge base of the time (similar to Western treatises such as Vitruvius') and was not meant to be absolute. In recent years, it has again gained mainstream popularity, and there are several Vastu 'consultants' in India, some dubious, some genuine. Unfortunately, again many of the modern Vastu exponents are exploiting the layman ignorance and gullibility.

Simply Rug

Rugs are a great way to add personality and color to a room without requiring installation or the permanence of carpet. They can be called an extraordinaire accent tools to combat drab decors. However you may like to consider few things when trying to choose an area rug, so that it is less harmful to the world we live in.

There are several sustainable floor covering options available that can minimize indoor pollution and relieve health problems caused by toxic carpets. These rugs are made from recycled and eco-friendly materials simultaneously being durable, stylish, and often less expensive than conventional rugs and carpets

The eco-friendly rugs made from recycled materials or from renewable or sustainable resources are:

Bamboo Rugs: Bamboo is a fast-growing, renewable resource approximately eleven times stronger than most market woods. Harvesting doesn't kill a bamboo plant, thereby allowing for several yields, making it effective against soil erosion, greatly minimizing deforestation concerns. Also bamboo rugs features the chic aesthetic appeal, as it is an extremely polished and fashionable finished item.

Jute Rugs: jute is one of the most environmentally friendly fibers, starting from the seed to expired fiber, (as the expired fibers can be recycled more than once). It's a long, soft, shiny vegetable fiber that can be spun into coarse, strong threads to weave rugs which are extremely resilient and durable and surprisingly affordable. With a consistently neutral palette and interweaving construction, jute rugs are an excellently subtle and eco-friendly way of decorating in a refined yet casual manner.

Sisal Rugs: Sisal is an extremely rugged natural fiber obtained from the long, knife-shaped leaves of the agave plant. There are many benefits to selecting a sisal area rug over synthetic material rug. It is naturally stain resistant, are extremely strong and versatile, ideal for high traffic areas. They also have the unique ability to be tightly woven with other textiles such as wool.

Sea grass Rugs: Sea grass is a slat marsh grass grown in paddy fields.After harvesting the long strands are dried and spun into yards and woven into a variety of designs to produce trendy rugs available in warm colors like tan, brown, and terra cotta. these are durable and very sturdy, capable of resisting heavy stains and known due to their luminosity and shine that are much like grass blades

Cotton Rugs: Cotton is a soft, rugged, and durable fiber that is available in a wide array of colors. Cotton rugs are biodegradable and they also lower the level of atmospheric contaminants in the home.

Wool Rugs: Another example of great natural fibers is wool which is naturally resilient, long lasting, stain resistant and naturally flame retardant. This versatile fiber is non-toxic, non-allergenic and biodegradable.

Recycled material Rugs: You may look for rugs made of recycled materials like rubber, plastic and packing materials which make for durable, stain and water proof, easy to clean and attractive rugs. Less pollution is created when the recycled fibers are re-engineered than when new fibers are created.

When deciding on an eco-friendly material for your rug, consider the renewability of the product, if it can be replenished in a short period of time; also consider the effect the resource will have on environment and the amount of chemicals needed to process them to make it ready for sale.

Also watch for treatment chemicals, the fewer chemicals the rug is treated with, the more eco-friendly it is. The backing should also be made from natural fibers, and environmentally friendly adhesives. Donate or recycle previous rugs which would otherwise take 20,000 years to break down in a landfill.

Redesigning Interiors

Many of you may be considering to makeover your living room, kid's room or renovate whole home before the coming year. However if the cost or time factor is the spoke in the wheel for your grand plans, then Interior Redesign is the answer for you. It is an affordable alternative to "start from scratch" Interior Design. It is a specialized decorating service that not only gives the space an entirely new look but also saves time and money!

Although this concept is in nascent stages as yet, however looking at its advantages it sure will grow in popularity. Interior Redesign is a credible and affordable service for just about everyone. Some of the traditional designers have now been adding interior redesign to their list of services.

So if you are planning to get the interiors done for a particular room or entire home on a budget, hire an interior redesign professional who with their fresh perspective can visualize the potential of your space objectively & will use the existing furniture, lighting, art & accessories to transform the room into a more functional and stylish space. This new twist on interior decorating is called Interior Redesign.

Reasons to Redesign:
o Your house has carefully chosen loved pieces but still lacks a pulled together look.
o Your home looks exactly the same for the past three years or more & feels stale.
o The house is rented, you are desperate for new look but knocking down of walls or major expenditure is not viable.
o Clutter of all the pieces & memorabilia you cherish seems to sabotage all your creative efforts.
o You would like to renovate the home but are completely overwhelmed by the prospect of complete interiors.
o You would like to incorporate latest modern accessories & gadgets with your delicate antique furniture but don't know how to do it in a cohesive manner.

Process of Redesign
The interior redesign professionals will first discuss your lifestyle and the function of the proposed room during which you may go over any special needs of the family. The designer will also give you suggestions about presently required new items & optional future purchases to complement the existing pieces.

Some of the basic steps involved are
-Space planning & making efficient use of your existing space.
-Selecting a focal point of the room. Creation of overall color scheme.
-The placement of furniture that will complement the focal point
-Using lighting & light fixtures correctly.
-Choosing the right window treatments & incorporating the existing style & material.
-Addition of rugs, side tables, shopped from your own home. For example swapping side tables in your bedroom with the end tables, if it matches the style in your room redesign.
-Adding artwork and accessories by looking for pieces in your home like photographs and personal collections.
-Finally re-vitalizing the room by re-placing (not replacing) existing furniture, artwork accessories & complementing newly shopped items.

As is rightly said great interiors is not about having beautiful things but about knowing how to play with those beautiful things. So as a prelude to the festival season, pamper your home, get reintroduced to your long lost possessions and get ready for dramatic results, sans the pain of time & money consuming structural alterations & shopping trips.
'Start from scratch' interiors is not de rigueur to achieve a new 'feel & look' for your home. Redesigning is all about borrowing from the past and moving into the future!

Sex & the City

In urban cities despite the apparent visibility of women, women across class do not share equal access to public space with men. Is the flaw in the city planning and design of these spaces which do not encourage women to enjoy and benefit form them? Or is our public spaces expression of the patriarchal society that we are?

Public spaces are essential to the quality and experience of urban life which is used freely on a day-to-day basis by the general public, such as streets, plazas, parks and public infrastructure open and accessible to everyone. Regrettably most public spaces in cities are "gendered spaces", poorly designed to exclude women - due to safety and convenience reasons.

Traditionally, in most societies there has been a clear demarcation of public & private realm with women relegated to the latter. Most of the things in our built environment are designed with male perspective based on a male model. There are differences between men and women in terms of ergonomics but designs that are inept for women still are commonly used. It seems women are constantly being dis empowered by the non- progressive planning and designing of built environment and community spaces and the question is to how changes to the physical environment might help women to reclaim the right to use public space as and when they wish. Women consistently express fears for their personal safety in public spaces and institutions. In fact engendering public spaces and reducing their vulnerability can result from simple design solutions:

1. Installing effective signage that makes it easier to know where you are
2 Planning better lighting clear sight lines for visibility especially at night
3. Efficient arrangement of road systems, highways, pedestrian walkways and parking areas.
4. Building subways safer by making them easily approachable and maintainable, with efficient light systems, avoiding hiding places and planned security systems.
5. Designing stations for attendants, wardens or policemen in the public spaces to provide prompt official assistance.

Planners need to create urban spaces that are hospitable, by designing women and child friendly street furniture, suitable height of footpaths, sloping kerbs at intervals for prams, fewer steps for children, handrails, accessible litter bins  well lit and easily accessible car parks and roads and demarcated areas for women with babies for breastfeeding or nappy changing. Another important aspect to the subject is the absence of sufficient public toilets for women in the public spaces including public institutions resulting in long queues. Designers still accord the same number of square meters to male and female toilets, while in reality women are apt to spend more time individually in the toilets unlike men who have urinal stalls. So why not double the allocation?

The urban planning concepts that affect women most are predictable: schools, housing design, parks, pavements, safety and transport. If public spaces were designed with women in mind, they would look entirely different, with much more lighting, better-situated car parks, easily accessible play areas and more areas where residential and office spaces are mixed, making it far easier to juggle work and childcare.

It is disturbing, to note, the way women restrict their lives or get used to being uncomfortable or simply accept the physical and geographical limitations placed on them in everyday life. Gender has a low priority, but what is good for women is good for everyone. It will create better cities for all. Above all, it is about designers being open to this issue and becoming part and parcel of building a caring society which is sensitive to the needs of all including the elderly, children, women and the disabled.

Coffee Ottoman Style

What is a living room without a coffee table?

Evolution of coffee table started in Europe with the idea of a table specifically used for serving hot drinks or putting down one's cup between sips. The first wooden tables specifically designed and called tea tables, were made during the late Victorian era in Britain.

However today coffee table has evolved into something that does more than just hold coffee cups, they are style statement in themselves and center piece of our proud living rooms. Instead of a regular hard wood or glass table top table where you can just set things down, one may choose a totally different option- accent furniture crafted out of fabric, leather or faux leather, even microfiber.

That's Ottoman - a little different coffee table for you!

Ottoman traditionally is defined as an upholstered seat without arms or a back, commonly they'd be paired with chairs to be used to put up feet and relax. The piece got its name from the ornate fabrics used to cover footstools that came from the Ottoman Turks in the 13th century. Victorians loved Turkish couches & used them as decorative & functional furniture pieces.

Although ottomans have been used in the interiors for years, this often overlooked piece of furniture is now making a bold statement in the interiors.Today ottoman, once considered mere footrest has become an interesting piece of furniture- coffee table, extra seating, storage space all rolled in one.

What makes ottoman coffee tables so special?

First of all it is a stylish and multipurpose piece of furniture. Secondly place an upholstered ottoman in your room and you can be sure that you have made a style statement. This furniture of humble origins is now regarded as accent furniture.

Ottoman coffee tables are ideal for pairing with any room seating since they are available in multiple shapes and sizes. There are traditional options that are longer, rectangular, round, square, they can be octagonal, triangular or free form. To suit contemporary living room interiors they are available in modern and sleek, clean symmetrical looks, while others that are very eccentric and have an art-deco feel accentuate similar interiors. Then there are classical options that have a very delicate, antique appearance which very well go with ethnic or traditional style decor.

If you want to furnish and decorate your living room in a unique way, then ottoman coffee tables are perfect answer. Also it can add an accent color into the room. Best of all, ottomans may also provide extra storage space with built-in cabinets. With such diversity in designs, sizes, upholstery & function, ottomans can be used in just about any room of the house.

Here are a few tips on various ways to use upholstered ottomans:

- Place a pair of outdoor ottomans made of wood, aluminum or wicker covered with firm cushion in your patio or balcony & create a comfortable reading area sans the bulky chairs & table. 
- Place them against the wall; bring them out as extra seating when you have a lot of guests. 
- A firm upholstered ottoman as a center table without the sharp edges of a traditional coffee table provides a safe alternative for families with children. 
- For the space challenged this versatile couch can also have an extra storage space inside. Have them on castors & you can just slide them out of the way to create space for kids play. 
- Add casual elegance or accent color, cover your ottoman in leather or luxury fabrics & give your living room a unique touch. 
- Not to forget, place it next to your sofa, prop up your feet on it and relax- a gesture not so comfortable- on a table.

In the end if you are planning to design any part of your home, indoors or outdoors as sophisticated modern or minimalist & sleek or traditionally ethnic or a casual chic, experiment with this free floating piece of furniture which can remain humbly functional as you like it, will suit any kind of decor you like and will also accentuate your decor in an unpredictably stylish way.

Love Thy Plants

We all love to be near nature. Many of us fortunate enough to have gardens, terraces or balconies can fulfill our wish of greenery but for those not so lucky make do with potted plants inside the house or window ledges.
However plants can not only satisfy your green thumb but can also be great functional & decorating accessories for the interiors.

Here's how to create green décor:

1. Focal Point- Some plants look stunning when placed singly along a plain wall. Architectural species such as Dracena or a big blousy plant such as Alocasia Portadora or Spatiphylum with a spot light on them makes an unforgettable feature in the entrance hall or corridor.

2. Room divider- Plants can be an efficient room divider. Tall plants like Areca Palms & Tall Ficus can visually divide a living & dining room, without breaking the space into smaller areas. Etageres or open shelved high cabinets are another way to divide a room. Plants interspersed among the shelves and between other knickknacks provide an interlude between the areas to be divided.

3. Decorative Pieces- One well-used idea for decorating a living, dining or any other area is to place flowering plants like Orchids, Anthuriums, or African violets as table centerpieces on coffee tables, dining tables or to place cascading vines of Ivy Plant on fireplace mantles, stairs, top of a tall cabinet or dresser to be eye-catching decorations.

4. Window Treatment- Instead of covering a window with draperies, try hanging a few plants like English Ivy or Philodendron in front of it. You'll enjoy the diffused light provided by the plants while it camouflages the less-than-perfect view. Another idea is to run glass shelves across a window and place several potted plants on them. Have all the pots match in order to avoid a messy, cluttered look.

5. Enhancing space- To make your room look larger, use green plants near windows, if there's greenery outside it will make your indoors an extension of the outside greenery. If the sill is too narrow, extend with a shelf held up by brackets. Place a waterproof tray on the shelf; add pebbles to the tray and keep it moist at all times. Put your potted plants on the shelf and watch them grow. If your room is small in height, then you can use tall and slender plants like Dracaena marginata which will give a feeling of height in the room.

6. Accent Features- Plants can look stunning when arranged in mixed groups but always complement the color, size and form of the plants with each other. You may also group number of plants of same variety geometrically in the same container; this arrangement is particularly effective in contemporary designs. Grouping plants to fill a dead corner is a clever way of transforming it into an accent feature of the room or you may also place a plant between two chairs or other pieces of furniture to break the monotony.

Aside from being visually stimulating, plants can also stimulate your sense of smell. Natural scents of flowers like lilacs, chamomile, and lavender are very calming. So instead of scented oils, candles & dry potpourri, your plants will add a distinct aroma once you step inside your home.

The choice of plant is obviously a matter of personal choice but generally there are some plants that complement a contemporary scheme and some that suit traditional styles better. However most interior plants particularly Palms, look good in almost any setting.

We all want our homes to look good and add all sorts of imported furniture, furnishings, accessories but the best way to bring the zing to your home is to add houseplants. They bring positive energy, add warmth, and give the place a finished look and a welcome feeling. Not to mention bringing us a little bit closer to nature.