Warmth

Like Eddard Stark, protagonist of HBO's new drama Game of Thrones, always says:  Winter is coming.  This year, it's going to be a cold and snowy one in Europe and much of the US.  The design world is responding in force with a trend which - at the moment - is very simply being called "Warmth."
Though I'm a philosophic believer in the concepts of minimalism, personally I love a space with more character to it.  As the winter months approach, the appeal of welcoming colors has as well. Wood, rope, tartan and denim are all big at the moment, as well as neutral tones complimented by bolder, warmer colors. 

a classic coffee table brings a sense of home

Eastvold's Classic Coffee Table represents a chic, retro look with modern sensibilities.  Entirely handcrafted in the United States from ethically harvested lumber.  The classic design and dark wood maintain a homey aesthetic.

elegant and classic

This chair by KOI is made of top-grade leathers stitched in italy atopa nickle base.  The real appeal of this chair is it's sheer breadth of range.  The chair can fit in styles ranging rustic or euro-chic to mid-century modern. 

just the right amount of flair to cuddle under

Spun in England, dyed and knitted in Wales, this UK-delight, Donna Wilson does right by blankets.  The variety of colors open the blanket up to tie together disparate parts of the room's design. 

oh-so welcoming

Made from incredibly high quality cowhide from Argentina, these Doppio Cowhide Rugs are precisely the warm, dark tones that your living space craves.

While the weather starts to get frightful, we're looking forward to spending many-a-day warming up from snowball fights in design as welcoming as that cup of hot-coffee.

Gallery Design in Rio De Janeiro

Horne recently recieved an email from Triana Serrano who recently worked on the development of an exhibition in Casa Cor 2011,  Rio de Janeiro.

Like most galleries, the idea was for the walls to be mainly white.  White backgrounds are meant to focus the attention on to the piece.  More than any other color, we see white as a color of neutrality.  Solid choice for a background of a gallery.

The space itself holds a striking minimalistic appeal.  White and black form a sharp contrast on the walls while the sparse furniture and massive open-glass windows form a beautiful and functional space to appreciate the art.  The formality of the minimalist space definitely suits the world of the gallery.

Simple, clean lines counterpoint the glass liner and facade.  

Being form-and-function aware, the glass is Guardian's Climate Guard Light, reducing the damage solar rays can cause to human and art alike.  

Facinating about this space is the darker section of the wall.  Floating 40 cm above the floor, the wall is covered in Corten steel.  The section seems to be suspended in space making it all the more striking. 

The huge appeal of this gallery - also a big surprise - was the mirror-ceiling that increases the feeling of space, expands the sense of light and creates interesting dynamics for the entire artistry of the attendance to be viewed under.  

Advertising and art combined when three meter images were displayed on the glass facade, making them viewable from both inside and outside of the gallery.  

An antique piece of Analdo Danemberg wooden furniture was used to tie the space together.

80-20 in Design

In the past 5 years Pareto’s Principle has become increasingly famous.  Malcom Gladwell’s Blink brought the term into pop culture while more and more industries are starting to recognize how directly the term applies to their field.
The call sign of Pareto’s Principle is 20/80.  The phrasing around those figures has become variable, depending on the field it’s applied to, but the basic idea is that 20% of your effort will generally create 80% of your results.  So if you can parse down on the excess 80% of work you do, you can approach peak efficiency.
Despite a bit of research, I haven’t seen the principle applied to design.  Here are some basic thoughts on how it might be.

Space:
What if we were to look at our rooms and measure it out.  Thinking about a room with efficient space-usage, I wager we’d come up with something closing in on 80% open, 20% decorated.  Even an efficient minimalist space might follow this principle.  Between a couch, bed, desk and shelf, even the most basic studio might follow this advice.  If you’re attempting to find your balance between clutter and minimalism, perhaps looking into using the 80-20 rule might give a good guideline.

Items:
Yes.  You can fill that entire wall with ornaments or make a statement with every single pieces of dishware you own.  Your entire bedroom can be a sensory-overwhelming experience of colour and tone and sharp lines and vibrant sheets.  Yes, you can.  However, for every excessive item you include in your room, you’ll limit the statement each one can make.  A well designed room is like a small group playing a classical piece of music.  Each piece must be allowed the volume it requires without anyone else screaming over it or without being drowned in needless chatter.

Funds:
Let’s simply translate ‘effort’ into ‘funds.’  If you’re attempting to redesign on a limited budget, keeping this in mind might help you from making frivolous purchases.  Working at buying the important pieces of a room while whittling away excess, you’ll save money and create a cleaner, more mature look.  20% of the things you buy might create 80% of your rooms appeal.  Invest in well designed pieces rather than a large number of pieces.

These are just thoughts, what other ways might you find Pareto’s Principle - or any other off-topic principle - affecting your design choices?  What comes to mind as you set about shopping for your design needs?

Design Inspiration: Spain

I just returned from a whirlwind tour of Southern Spain.  Amidst Tinto de Verrano (almost no Spainaird drinks Sangria, but just about everyone in Seville drinks this Lemonade/Redwine mixture) and tapas, I was struck by the sheer beauty of the winding streets and style influences present in Andalucia. 
See, Andalucia was the hub of cultural...exchange...shall we say.  Between the Moorish conquest of Spain and the eventual reconquista, and subsequen centuries of trade and conflict, no region of Spain has had a more profound fusion of cultures.  No region of Spain shows it off quite as much either. 

In Seville, during the medieval ages, the term 'eating iron' came to represent lovers stealing kisses through the wrought iron window gates of their houses.  Wrought iron is still a very popular design element of Spanish interior design.  Wall ornaments abound in tapas bars as well as classically decorated homes.

Inside, Spanish homes are spacious and warm, earthy tones suggest that even villa owners aren't far removed from the beautiful landscapes that surround them.  Terraces inside as well as rough, stucco walls are still in style in Spain as well as traditional Terra Cotta roofing.

What I loved about Spain's food culture was there was a very distinct and tasteful level of style.  While some tapas bars would - like any bar or resturaunt - flood your sense visually, Spanish homes and home-style resturaunts always maintained an earthy, minimalized feel which emphasized the food and company, not the visuals. 
Spain's a country which - seemingly almost conciously - lays low on the international scene.  It doesn't take itself too seriously and it's style reflects a conciousness towards the importance of inner warmth and happiness.

Wedding Style

Fact:  We have a sleek, user friendly wedding registry.
Preston Bailey recently did a quick blurb on it, praising our selection as well as the user interface.  Thanks, Preston.  Weddings can be fretful enough, we try to keep the fun parts fun.
Wedding registrys are a staple of the special day.  A mix of utility and merciful guidance for the gifting impaired, the registry is a nod to the partners new life together - and a chance to get some stellar design pieces.
For instance, some of the favorites selected by Preston were absolute essentials on any registry.
The UrbanCase Emergency bar is a funny play on the essential cocktail corner for any newly wedded couple.  Friends will be dieing to see the new home or flat.  Not to mention, a stiff drink might help when the in-laws come over.

With an eye slightly tilted more toward traditional,  this French Carafe by Royal VKB is an elegant way to enjoy the bottles of wine any newly wedded couple will surely accrue.
Other must-have's include stellar dishware.  These beautiful dishes from Bodo Sperlien will surely be a welcome addition to any new home.

Thanks again, Preston, for your kind words.  We'll keep up the good work on this end.

Eye Candy

Part of me wants to apologize.  It's almost unfair what our trip to Paris is doing.  We're laying out a spread of new products that would be Michelin Star rated.  The talent of these designers is simply outstanding.  When we come across content like this, we remember exactly why we founded Horne on quality modern home design.
David Trubridge is back with a few new pendants.  We love Daivid's work and are thrilled to host a few more of his pieces.
This large pendant inspired by the sea urchins near New Zealand.  The interlocking pattern is similar to his previous designs.  It comes in two tones, black and natural.  Off set a white-aesthetic room with the bold black pendant, or blend in for a more zen experience with the natural tone. 

The folks at Urban Case are firm believers in a minimalist philosophy as well as minimalist design.  They focus on simple designs that combine beauty with functionality without needless flash.
This ledge space by Urban Case is unique and simple, really delving into the idea of function and form.

My favorite part of this one might be it's name, 'The Emergency Cocktail Station' brims with humor and quirk.  A parody of a first-aid kit, it'll always be around in a tight spot - and is a great conversation starter.

There's always more releasing at Horne, keep an eye on our New section to stay abreast of our most recent additions. 

Metal Fall

Fall summons some pretty immediate visuals.  Ember orange rips through the leaves of New England.  New York City breaks out thicker jackets and cute hats dot the streets.  Oh, and pumpkin. flavored. EVERYTHING.  

Fall's one of my favorite times of the year for colors and for fashion.  I love a sharp jacket, a cozy sweater, and a well turned scarf. Traditional tones of fall are earthy, subdued, warm.

But this fall, we're seeing something fun happening in the color world.  Metallics are shining  this season, whether on dresses or in crafty pillows.   

Metallics really add a tone of youth to a space.  While they can be deadly if over used (I think we'd all like to move past some of what happened in the 80's)  metallics in thoughtful deployment create interesting, eye catching pieces.  Metallics have range.  Above you see a fun eccentric display of sheen where as the bottow of the two pictures shows that the color and the metallic can meld in to one.  

So spruce up a bit of your decor or highlight your favorite outfit with a dash of metal sheen.