ZingyWalk - Delhi Sightseeing Tours , Delhi 1 Day Tour , Best Walking Tours, Delhi

A tailor made walking tour for all architecture enthusiasts, heritage lovers and walking connoisseurs in the country and beyond! ZingyWalk from ZingyHomes, the first of it's kind in the history of India tends to interpret the architectural science in a fun and creative way!

Nay, it ain't an architectural walk, if you were wondering....

Well, first things first, why take this walk?

Before I would quote anything else, I would be glad to mention that it costs less than 1000/- bucks ( 499/- for students and 599/- for others, 1000/- for foreign tourists ) unlike other walking tours in Delhi and is a blessing for all those travelers who won't mind spending 1000 bucks for an insightful and adventurous walking tour!

Plus, you would be really thankful for what you get in return-

 

The Route- The first walk which was held on 31st Aug 2014 and a successive one to be held on 28th Sep 2014 follow the same route of Connaught Place

Starting from the giant skyscraper of LIC, ZingyWalkers trail through Jantar Mantar, Capitol Point, Hanuman Mandir, Landscape in front of State Emporias, Gurudwara Bangla Saheb and Sacred Heart Cathedral. 

Time- 7:45 am- 10:00 am
Days- Usually Sundays. 

Well, if you live in Delhi, you might be bumping into these buildings almost everyday. But have you ever observed them from architectural perspective? Do you know why are the red sandstones engraved in most of the medieval and colonial buildings? Well, no.

Through this walk, you would get to know the hidden myth behind these buildings and simultaneously would explore the architecture of Delhi in a fun way!

And not to mention, a series of contests associated with the walk. There are plenty of quizzes and trivia scheduled in between the walk.

Also,  ZingyHomes has various on-air photography contests with opportunity to win prizes of your choice.Simply, upload your walk photos and win multiple prizes every month for every walk you attend.

Plus, you ll make new friends in the city and share your likewise interests and passions!

For event details, visit http://www.zingyhomes.com/events/zingywalks/past/zingywalks-connaught-place-walking-tour-route-1/   ( 31st Aug 2014)

Register yourselves for the next ZingyWalk event here http://www.zingyhomes.com/events/zingywalks/architectural-research-walk-cp/

Dresser Area of an Ethnic Style Office...

This is the first ethnic office I have come across! Soaked in golden brown color theme, the office was designed with grace. And there was one thing that highly grabbed by attention- The dresser area -which was beautifully inlaid in gold, white and brown.

Click http://www.zingyhomes.com/project-detail/mahesh-punjabi_7059/hdil-office-bandra#portfolio5361 to view more photos from the office.

Simple yet artistic Penthouse design!

This penthouse spans over considerably large area. Despite openness in space, the penthouse decor has been kept minimal. The house is bathed in lighter tones- grays and whites are prominent and are supported by the shades of brown.

Here are few stills from the penthouse.

Design Courtesy: Smruti Kamat and Lester Rozario( award winning architects)

To view more, visit Hazel Penthouse Project Details

To know more about Smruti Kamat and Lester Rozario, visit Architect Profile of Kamat and Rozario Architects.

Bathroom Design Trends 2014

These are not conventional. But are a mix and match of modern styles that are in trend. Take a look at some of the best bathrooms designed by Indian architects and interior designers.

Classy Wooden Bath

Bathroom with a view 

Bathroom with a fancy Wallpaper

Exotic Dresser Area

All White Bathroom

Minimal Subtle Bathroom 

For more bathroom ideas, visit http://www.zingyhomes.com/search/All-style-Bathroom/

Few Shades of Monsoon...

Advancing monsoon calls for an unconventional romance in nature which is highly apparent in the objects that change colors and adapt to seasonal harmonics. Every home should feel the retreat of a season and arrival of another, such that the décor can be tweaked likewise.

Well, very few of you might be willing to do the walls, but don't worry. You can rejuvenate the space by simply introducing those romantic hues in your furnishings , upholstery or decor accessories!

Here are few enticing color pallets that you would love to try... 

1. Pinks and Grays

Blend of floral pinks and charcoal grays rejuvenates the aura and when used together blossoms up the space. Charcoal gray cushions would look good on a couch with floral pink upholstery. If you are keen to do the walls, a contrasting palette of both the colors can bring a dramatic effect. 

2. Shades of Turquoise and Greens 

Turquoise and green are the colors of the monsoon. Make your home ready for the monsoon by putting in more of these colors- curtains, accessories, wallpaper or upholstery. When used in combination with other colors, these colors give a soothing feel.

3. Lavender and Fuchsia 

Lavender and fuchsia when used together takes us to the boulevard of fuchsia flowers. Both the colors rushes a fresh feel of the monsoon. Curtains and accessories in fuchsia color look amazing on a lavender backdrop. 

4. Yellow and Tangerine Orange 

Yellow and orange provide warmth in the cool monsoon season. Bring in some flowers in these colors or put up a few bright paintings and you ll start feeling the change.. 

A pristine bathroom to relax your body and mind..

Zen bathing spaces at home are the only instances of home based getaways where one could feel at ease. Whether it is a tiny shower space or a home based spa on your agenda, you must find out the ways to relate it to nature.

Zen relies more on architecture than accents. So the first step would be to keep it simple. Hire a pro.Let them do the layout. And once the layout is done, organize your bathroom as you want to!

Zen Bathroom with a Large Window : designed by Sandesh Prabhu

This is the simplest form of Zen Bathroom. And yes, not to mention, you can check out some great Feng Shui tips to bring the Positive Energy within. 

Rendezvous with the Beauty Entrepreneur....

Who doesn't know Shahnaz Husain? Almost eight out of ten woman must have used her beauty products for once in their lives and six out of ten must have acknowledged her Ayurvedic and herbal creams. Because they knew it. They trusted it. And the results have always been excellent!

Now, today, it's time to take some home decor tips from the beauty entrepreneur. The lady's taste in decor is as beautiful as her innovation in beauty products!

Here are some photos from her European style home.

Shahnaz Husain gives some really good home tips to the homeowners in an interview with ZingyHomes. READ THE FULL STORY AND SEE MORE PHOTOS HERE. 

Blogadda

Bungalow on an exotic mountainous terrain...

Stretched across vast acres of land running along the mystique river that flows in full swing, this rustic bungalow is the best countryside hideaway. No big plans, no travel expenditures, only a visit a month in the nearest village will thrive the blood in your veins and you would start feeling alive again! 

What else could satiate that yearning thirst in nature connoisseurs? Whether you plan to spend the rest of your life here or rather visit a few times a month, this type of place is a perfect family resort. 

Architect Rajesh Patel's client was insistent... and hence he came up with this.. 

A very well conceptualized layout and innovative architectural practices led to this mountainside abode. Bricks have been used to give a very rustic themed exteriors.

Interiors of Mountainside Bungalow can be viewed here. CLICK THIS!

Please share your comments and let me know how do you feel about this idea.  

ethnic simplicity... neutral shades are returning!

What could be the simplest instance of ethnic bedroom? This Moroccan themed bedroom seems to portray a very peaceful picture thanks to the use of eye soothing neutral tones.

Who says ethnic decor has to be colorful all the time? Instead of eye jarring colors, the architect has chosen subtle tones of beige and brown to make it look very natural. 

And not to mention, a very delusional wall art facing the bed distracts the individuals occupying the room from neutral monotony. Here it is- Simple, relaxing and serene bedroom with an ethnic touch! No exaggeration at all! 

The bungalow is actually located on an isolated terrain. To view more pictures from the bungalow, please visit http://www.zingyhomes.com/project-detail/architect-rajesh-patel-consultants-pvt-ltd-_9616/pavana-bungalow

Simply plunge in there to beat the heat!

Summers are on their peak this June and it's important to take care especially at places where temperature escalates up to 40 degrees or more!

Under such extreme circumstances, what could be better than a pool dive? And this can become your daily affair, if you have an in-house swimming pool.

Click here for more info- In House Swimming Pools Designed by Indian Architects.

Woody Delight at Home....

Wood House Interiors are fancied by one and all. The interiors are extensively donned in wood, giving a reminiscence of a country house down the woods or atop a hill.

The left portion of ceiling is gracefully stuffed with chopped tree trunks and the right portion features wooden veneer that continues down the wall. The show put on by the tree trunks is brought to the limelight by the ceiling light that illuminates the space.

More on Wood House Interiors- Ethnic Wood House Decor. Click to read more.

Decorative Mirrors in Living Room

A Farmhouse to Watch Out For!

In a lush green farmland located in a beautiful countryside lies this farmhouse of the dreams. Check out some photos of the interiors here. 

                                               The Royal Living Room 

The Bedroom 

The Exteriors

To view more photos, visit the Project Page of Architect N. Goyal Associates.Here is the link  http://www.zingyhomes.com/project-detail/n-goyal-associates-_104/farmhouse#portfolio3390

stay safe indoors!

One dedicates his heart and soul in Home Renovation but often hit amiss the important features, like security.Owing to rampant crime in major cities of India and the world, architects have come up with modern security ideas. Door latches and knobs have become complex, yet security is guaranteed. 

Safety Door 

You know, you need secure doors to keep the dangers at bay. For out more. What kind of safety doors we need for home? 

I was moved by this lady of substance!

Img Src: www.zingyhomes.com

As an avid reader, I always keep myself busy reading things online. But, recently, I came across something extremely motivating. It was no expert article; rather an interview and that too of a contemporary Indian artist whose praises are sung by every art connoisseurs in this country.

Anjolie Ela Menon, I doubt it, you are not an artist if you haven't heard the name before! As an avid art fan, I have read various interviews of hers, but this one was really moving.

The interview can be found on this link- http://www.zingyhomes.com/thought-leaders/anjolie-ela-menon/. 

Wall Paints for this Summer

Summers have already swept in but you haven't figured out the perfect colors for your walls! Deciding paint colors might be overwhelming at times. And why not? It's something that is done only once in two yrs time.

Well, guess what? I found an interesting read on this link- http://www.zingyhomes.com/latest-trends/five-paint-hues-summer/

I was in a dilemma too before I bumped into this. But believe me, the writer has suggested few options that would not just work for the summer but would maintain the harmony all year round.

What else you wanna know about Satish Gujral- the post independence era artist who wore many hats?

Very few people manage to gain expertise in multiple domains. Satish Gujral, the man with many faces has accomplished this. And this is the reason why he has earned worldwide fame in every sphere be it architecture, art, murals and poetry. 

Mr. Satish Gujral in his living room 

Well, my blog won't eulogize the same story over and over, rather we would like to take you to a link where you can know more about him. Whether you are a follower or a fan , an art connoisseur or an avid poetry lover, you would find this interview himself. 

The comprehensive interview is the property of ZingyHomes. The team went all the way to his place. Here are the edited excerpts. Click on the link to read http://www.zingyhomes.com/thought-leaders/shri-satish-gujral/

I hope you would like it! 

Interview with Architect Jaisim

In my previous post I was talking about Professor Krishnarao Jaisim who has presided over the position of Chief Advisor for a startup firm ZingyHomes.

Architect Jaisim 

Immediately after his association with ZingyHomes, Architect Jaisim revealed something about his style, approach and more in a short one-on-one interview with one of the team members. Check out the excerpts from the interview- http://www.zingyhomes.com/thought-leaders/prof-krishnarao-jaisim-thought-leader/

Architect Krishnarao Jaisim of Jaisim Fountainhead joins as the Chief Advisor of Zingy Homes

ZingyHomes, an agile start up firm is proud to have Professor Krishnarao Jaisim, the founder of Jaisim Fountainhead on board. The former chairman of IIA and three times Lifetime Achievement Award winner, Prof. Jaisim can be regarded as one of the forerunners of Indian architecture.

If you are an architect, interior designer or anyone from the design industry, you must have heard of the famous Jaisim Fountainhead, based at Bangalore. Started in 1970, Jaisim Fountainhead was the architectural firm known for practice of an architecture that takes into account every aspect of building industry.

To know more about Krishnarao Jaisim , his early life, career and awards, visit http://www.zingyhomes.com/aboutus/architect-jaisim-fountainhead.

Ninisha Ojha - Meet the budding interior designer who believes in giving life to the space!

Ninisha Ojha- The budding Interior designer 

Our team recently interviewed a young, vivacious budding architect based at Delhi- Ms. Ninisha Ojha, who believes interior design is all about giving life to the space!

Also, she believes in tailoring things as per client's requirements. Here are few excerpts from the interview where the interior designer reflects on her style and approach.

LINK- http://www.zingyhomes.com/young-turks/ninisha/

.....and thus "Furniture Library" was born!

How often have you seen hobbies getting turned into actual professions? Scarcely. Well surveys say that it happens and we cannot deny this. If you observe the figures closely, you could cite a number of examples.And yes stats apart, today we have a dynamic example right before us! Viraj Mahajan- the founder of Furniture Library.

The idea dates back to mid ninetees. Viraj was a fresh B.COM graduate then with not even the slightest stint of interior design or product design. His parents were facing problems of sourcing furniture as the manufacturer/dealer suddenly moved out of the town. Both the parents were design savvy since the beginning and this was very well reflected in their interiors. Every furniture piece brought into the home was latest and extraordinary. 

Since the sourcing problem cropped up out of the blue, Viraj took the first move and started analyzing various design elements. Playing with tiny furniture parts and fixing them up became a part of his hobby. This led to quite a number of unique designs which were created accidentally as offshoots. At that time he had no idea that this playful experiment would someday make him an entrepreneur.

The idea struck him in 1997 and the hobby was converted into a business- phenomenally big. And this followed the birth of"Furniture Library". Recently, Viraj Mahajan shares everything in a chatty conversation with our team who went all the way to Gurgaon to cover his story. The link- http://www.zingyhomes.com/product-barons/viraj-mahajan-furniture-library/. 

Meet the Young Turks- the budding architects!

Stats say there are over forty thousand architects in India. Who knows the number could be little less or more, but after all it's just the number! 

And now the sad part-The design professionals who are ranked in numbers are neither recognized nor are ever heard of, reason being no print media taking interest in their works. 

Out of these struggling professionals, there are a few who manage to escalate to that "RECOGNITION ZONE". They are the ones whose works are reviewed and nominated. NDTV, the large media giant organized the first ever award event in interior design and architecture and they were stunned to witness 900 entries in the first shot! 

The best thing about these awards are that they are not biased. Everyone is in the same boat regardless of years of experience they have. Young architects were showered with an approachable opportunity; their submissions were reviewed by most intellectual jury members in the country; and finally some of them made it! 

This was how few young architects like Kayzad Shroff and Piyusha Taeare came into the limelight. ZingyHomes has recognized these budding professionals and has tried to reveal their faces to general public. 

MEET THE BUDDING ARCHITECTS FROM INDIA READ THEIR INTERVIEWS HERE http://goo.gl/GzmM6G

TECHOARCHITECTURE OFFICE

Well, it's all in the name! It was highly obvious in their case. And NDTV jury members have played a fair game!

A firm that believes in constructing high tech sustainable buildings wanted a very similar backdrop where they could gather their thoughts, brainstorm and lay down new strategies everyday.

Designing their own workspace seemed a little overwhelming in the beginning, but when you know your requirements pretty well, you have a way to go! Technoarchitecture firm had no idea that they would be nominated for this.

Let us go through the photos. To view their profile visit http://goo.gl/Vkqz38

A sustainable design studio!

Study reveals that architects are prone to leave their signature mark in every project they do. And when it comes to designing their own spaces- their very own design studio where thoughts are assimilated , interpreted and idealized, they would not mind going down the line. 

Let's take an example. Here are few stills from Archohm Architects' award winning office Archohm Studio.There is an architectural science hidden beneath this phenomenally awesome office. The office is seldom labeled as "The Design Fort". Establishing a concord with sustainability principles, the 4400 sq feet Archohm Studio celebrates innovation and spontaneity in every brick! 

The Conference Room 

Exteriors 

If you wanna dig down deeper into the architectural case study of the building, check out the article on the following link http://www.zingyhomes.com/architectural-case-study/archohm-studio-noida/ 

The Beach House by Kayzad Shroff

All heads were turned when architect Kayzad Shroff was called on the stage to bag the NDTV Landscape design of the year at the first ever Design and Architecture awards introduced by NDTV.

"Beach House" , the winning project involved renovation of an old bungalow, situated near the sea shore. And since most of the project involved landscaping, with emphasis on swimming pool, spatial decks and not to mention a large patio area, the project struck the jury members.

Here are few pictures of the beach house.

The Patio

The Pool

The Terrace 

Visit http://www.zingyhomes.com/project-detail/kayzad-shroff_196/beach-house/ to view more photos.

Visit http://www.zingyhomes.com/interior-designer/kayzad-shroff_196/ to view Kayzad Shroff's complete profile. 

SHARE YOUR HOME SELFIES AND GRAB TWO FAB CUSHIONS FROM FGL!

No matter whether you are a professional photographer or a camera novice, you love selfies! Everybody does! 

But have you ever realized that these SELFIES can make you A CONTEST WINNER? THE PRIZE IS WAITING......

ZingyHomes is bringing in a "SELFIE-CONTEST" for all the "HOUSE-PROUD" homeowners in India who after having gone overboard in home decorating wanna show their creative side to the world. 

These FAB cushions from FGL are worth Rs. 3000. 

Simply SHARE 10 SELF CLICKED PHOTOS OF YOUR HOME on editor@zingyhomes.com and win these fab cushions. Also you can describe in one or two line. Word limit- Up to 250 words. 

READ SIMILAR SELFIES HERE http://www.zingyhomes.com/latest-trends/category/home-selfies/

Has a CONTEST been this EASY before? 

Wait.. Is WHITE the new BLACK?

It's unbelievable. But most of architects and interior designers think so. In interior design and architecture, 'WHITE' is an alias for SPACE. And SPACE is the integral part of design. So why not incorporate some 'SPACE' into your interiors? 

The Dresser 

The living room

The Bedroom

The Bedroom 

The Dresser

The Master Bathroom

Let's experiment. Suppose you live in a small 1 BHK apartment with fuchsia walls and cyan doors. You have built in wardrobes- but that was not enough... You required additional storage racks... And hence, you have got them fixed on the wall.The space looks dark despite the ample natural light from an enormous awning window in your living room.However, the walls seem closing on you even after you stash away all the clutter.

Now, let's turn the tables.

A friend next door suggest you to use white color for the walls.You bring in white paint, a paint roller and all the necessary equipment and begin rolling.. covering the dark walls in bright white color. It takes two complete days for paint to dry. Meanwhile, you declutter the rubbish.And  when you are in the middle of cleaning, you bump into the curtains- blue curtains that has been filtering all the light. Now, you have an idea. You visit an online furnishing store and order few white curtains and beige blinds. 

The space looks somewhat less cluttered. From this very moment, you starts believing in the magic of white.Then, you get your sofa upholstered in white and replace the old brown leather couches with the white ones. You starts feeling and better. 

Over a month, you have become a fan of white color. It's time for doors, windows and cabinet. You paint them white. Now after removing the extraneous, you can feel more space and more light. The aura becomes pristine and relaxing.

Congratulations! You have succeeded in creating a 'void space'. 

VIEW MORE PHOTOS HERE 

Mystery behind 'Prost'- Bangalore based Beer Brewery

If you happen to stay in Bangalore or even in the vicinity, do check out this cryptic beer brewery! Well, if I say cryptic, I am not referring to unusual ghostly powers hiding in there.It's the entire architecture and layout of the space that evokes enigma.

Dark, Dingy and Rustic Decor was intentional.

The distortion that's apparent in the picture was purposefully done to create a mood- which the Architect Aamir Sharma has been dreaming of since a while- He delved down into the history of Europe and researched on how people brewed beers about 2000 yrs ago. He wanted his brewery to reflect the history of beer brewing- including all the dedication put in by the brewers in those factories and thus, a similar ambiance was required- and yes, of course it had to be 'out-of-the-box', i.e., never done or thought before. And his conceptualization materialized the way he wanted.

The factory-like walls 

They pulled down a large ship and worked out the interiors- The ship was dismantled and the layout was chalked out accordingly. Aamir wanted the brewery tanks and pipes to show up as they were exposed in an old beer factory. When the basic layout was ready, they brought in the seating stools and installed the lighting fixtures- Brewery tanks were also lit up eventually.

The reception near the Entrance 

Now, talking about the ambiance, the place gives a very authentic feel! All you can do is sit and relax and keep on gulping down as many beers as you wish!

Feel the magic 

Also, the ruined surroundings give a feeling of the history- as if you are tossed back to 1st century AD and are drinking with the good old German winos!

Prost! Enjoy your beer! SEE MORE PICTURES HERE 

Furniture, Accessories and Home Furnishings- What we saw was exactly what we heard!

The Design India Exhibition 2014 saw a number of furnishing and lifestyle stores from across the country. I am not a big fan of exhibitions like this if they have nothing extraordinary. Even if there is something out-of-the-box, getting easily carried away or rather convinced is a far-fetched thing for me, unless it preoccupies my mind fully. But here, I was rather amazed by what I saw! 

Their words were true. I could actually feel resemblance between what I heard and what I saw. I caught a glimpse of home decor products which stand out among the crowd of others of their kind. 

Now let me take you to the stalls one by one. The first one was SERENO- first stall in the third hall- that's where I started. I was thrilled by flickering lights apparent from the doorway, that had kept the space alive all that while. 

Illuminated Planters-Sereno

And there was the guy- Yuvraj Singh Ahuja, the enthusiastic director of the company! His brand SERENO has a proportionally good USP in India. Illuminated Planters and Seatings are not very common here.Made up of high grade polymer, the quality is unquestionable. Yuvraj was always keen on designing home decor products that is close to the environment and appealing to one's eye and hence was born SERENO.READ THE FULL INTERVIEW HERE.

Then there was Geetanjali Kasliwal's Anantaya- full of timeless decor pieces that promise to fit every setting- be it a traditional, vintage, contemporary or modern. When it comes to the USP , the lady entrepreneur mentioned artisans- who are working behind the scenes day and night to shape up products this extraordinary. Looking at the paper lamps, I could tell that their craftsmanship is incomparable. Also, Geetanjali was glad that her dream of employing Indian artisans has come true. READ THE FULL INTERVIEW HERE 

                                               

Paper Lamps- Anantaya

On the third stall, we were greeted by Aarti Agarwal and her team who were glad enough to put up the best show that day. The theme was Mardi Grass Dining Concept which was based on the Spring Dining Festival Mardi Grass when they dine sumptuously on the FAT TUESDAY. Her furniture pieces were not only beautiful but also versatile. The new dining concept is of course new to India and with such a multipurpose dining cabinet and exotic pendant lights that accentuated the dining table, who would resist this Dining Table? READ THE FULL INTERVIEW HERE 

The Dining Cabinet- House of Design

The last one was the Address Home. The stall was right in front of the food stalls, situated in one of the corners of the first hall. Rajat Singhi leads the chain store that have 16 outlets in India till date. His products comprised luxury home/lifestyle accessories. What I loved about them was that they offered a mixed bag- a complete package of home accessories and furnishings! Moreover, every piece can be customized as per customer's requirements. READ THE FULL INTERVIEW HERE

Rajat Singhi's complete home package- Address Home

With stores like these, Indian customers need not rely on foreign products anymore. Innovation has hit India and it is conspicuous in every other industry. Under these circumstances, Architecture, Interior Design and Home Decor could not afford taking the backseat!