Stylkist

Sanjukta & Subrat Sen's Comely Indian Home

2010-09-14T19:10:00.000-07:00

Much before I started blogging on décor and home spaces, I had told Sanjukta Mashi (Mashi, as in aunt in Bengali, as I refer to her), that her home was too pretty to be kept a secret. When I visited them first in Hyderabad, I remember being fascinated by her sense of style and aesthetics. It was one of those homes that perfectly reflected and embodied the personality of the person who did it up. The pictures shared here are from her home in Mumbai. I love Indian looking homes. Sculptures, paintings, knick-knacks and the 'Teak wood look' always works for me. Also, I think day beds always give living rooms a cosy look, don't you agree? I love the day bed in the first picture.

The second picture is my favourite. It is a simple black singer sewing machine that she picked from chor bazaar and converted it to a beautiful artistic looking table with a glass top. Yes, she is not one of the run of the mill home decorators. She invests time and creativity in little things to personalise her home. Hope you love seeing Sanjukta and Subrat Sen's home and send them some love for inspiring you!

This is the kind of place I call a perfect place for some 'adda'.

See you soon!

Tweet in a chic 'Atmosphere'

2010-08-31T04:26:00.000-07:00

I love Atmosphere Furnishing's online presence. Apart from a really active FB page , their latest offer is a very innovative digital marketing idea - Twitter backgrounds and desktop wallpapers, to change the 'atmosphere' of your Twitter page. I found the concept fresh, fun and relatively new in the décor and furnishings space in India. The same has been developed and conceptualised by their digital agency 22 Feet. I'm loving how digitally savvy marketeers are getting.

Also ensure you check out their website that won them an award for the best retail website design at the BBC Digital Media Awards.

Nice and chic, don't you think? You should give it a try, Tweeple!

Cheers!

Fun Online Lifestyle Store >> Quirko

2010-07-01T18:39:00.000-07:00

Been a while since I saw a store as fun and full of quirk as 'Quirko' ! I love the name too! Quirko is an online lifestyle store that stocks knick-knacks, accessories for your table, couch, bar, fridge, desk and wall - all absolutely cool things to turn your home into a fun zone. I saw some Happily Unmarried stuff stocked there too!
I loved some of their cushions, especially the first one I've put up here called ' Butterfly tie up cushion' -

And these were some of my favourite picks. I want those digital art prints for my study.

This piece of beauty is by Mukul Goyal Called the ' People Tree' - haha! I loved it :)

You now know where to buy fun gifts from and how to add a dash of quirk to your home. As for me, I'm going to wait till they start shipping internationally. Oh, and click here to go to their Facebook page, and 'Like' them, if you like :).

See ya soon!

Few images from a cosy home in London

2010-06-29T04:27:00.000-07:00

Sharing a few heart-warming pictures from Kavita's apartment in London. Yes, the same Indian By Design, stunning lady. :-) Lovely arrangements- simple and elegant .

See you soon!

Aliyeh's vibrant pad in Bangalore

2010-04-21T19:36:00.000-07:00

Aliyeh's home can be best described in artist Hans Hofmann's words- 'It is not the form that dictates the color, but the color that brings out the form'.

The way Aliyeh has made use of colour in her absolutely delightful home in Koramangla, makes you want to curl up in one of her striking corners with your favourite book and a cuppa. Subtle greens, striking yellows and a dash of pink gives Aliyeh's pad that 'spring here is eternal' feel!

Together with the little curios, knick knacks and little bits of the world that she has collected in her travels, makes her place the perfect home. So come, lets see her sunshine place, that she has so alluringly done up.

The snug living room

In Aliyeh's words- 'The Serenity Corner'

Notice the dreamlike green curtains?

Aliyeh's Mum's paintings, coloured bottles I so love and the Mother Of Pearl Chandelier from Goa

A close up of the lovely bottles!

A dash of pink by the window

Love the cushions and the Japan poster.

Her dressing corner

Colours galore!

Sink into that chair with a cup of Darjeeling while you listen to some music

...And a new day will dawn, for those who stand along...Led Zepp Poster

Happiness in a shelf!

*Picture Courtesy - Clare Arne

Did that brighten you up? I hope it did.

French Pop - A cosy place in London

2010-01-10T00:30:00.000-08:00

This cute and cosy colourful home in London is adorable.
The colours are so well put together and the darkest corners of the room are lit up with colourful accessories.

The living room is my favourite! Source: marieclairemaison.com

Decorating! Twitter style...

2009-11-17T11:04:00.000-08:00

Twitter employees got a funky new office in San Francisco this week. Adorably, the entire decor is 'twitter style'! The office is complete with funky lounge areas, a DJ booth and conference rooms and working areas surrounded by birds wall graffiti!
Very tweet, I must say!
Here are some pictures that were shared by some employees.

Images source: http://www.techcrunch.com/

Stylish Diyas,Incense Holders and More for Diwali

2009-10-11T00:43:00.000-07:00

Hi All,

Our festive spirits are up and hope yours is too! Check out the stylish diyas, incense holders and more on http://stylkist.com

Seven Feet Splendour at a 5-star Spa

2009-08-26T00:10:00.000-07:00

We had a super interesting project we worked on recently. A 5-star spa in Chennai inspired and styled in the Bodhi theme. They loved the Stylkist look and we jointly got talking on how we could create interesting looks and products for them. From cushions and candle-stands for the treatment rooms to tea-light holders and vases for the common areas, the spa accessorizing began!
The central space of the spa had a large empty wall and the spa team was keen to have a metal sculpture in place for this. The Stylkist creative team came up with an idea to extend the concept of the Bodhi (peepul) tree and create a large 7 ft sculpture of this. The tree would be wall mounted and fitted with several glass votives to light up with t-lights. Here are some pictures showing the entire process of making this mamoth piece :-)

We started with the leaves

Then came a miniature concept of what we wanted to create - Bonsai Sculpture

The t-lights add to the beauty of the piece

Several issues came up with the larger size through!
Should the foliage be rounded? Symmetry vs assymetry?
Twice the tree had to be re-welded as the branches wouldnt stay up!
Finally we had success!!
A coat of paint and then packaging into a mamoth box...off we go.
Bluedart sure made a ton of money off this one!

The sclupture is now home in the center of the spa and we will update pictures of the spa soon.

A chic apartment in Mumbai

2009-08-16T04:43:00.000-07:00

It takes a lot to be bold with your own home, especially with colours that you choose. I have seen gorgeous homes that tread carefully on beige, white, pastels, and homes that have gone a tad bolder and painted perhaps, one wall of their living room, a red or orange. And that's as far that one usually goes. But a quirky green ceiling in your dining room, a spectacular shade of aqua in your bedroom, a brick feel in your study -how many do that?

Mathanki did and she goes far beyond set norms. The young art director's recently done up swanky new home, is a riot of colours. Set in Mumbai, her home is exuberant, cosy and chic. Look for yourselves, the magic she has woven, and read in her own words all that inspired her to put together this delightfully atypical home.

Stylkist: Your biggest influences while designing the house

Mathanki: I guess it would have to be a New York loft or apartment. Reason being apartments in New York- like Mumbai are quite tiny, yet some of them are so chic and tastefully designed. They also use a lot of brick in the their decor, and we wanted to bring in a bit of that. We picked up a couple of 'Design for small spaces' books from Crosswords, which was a good starting point. We also got a lot of ideas from this show called 'Top Design', and flickr.com and apartmenttherapy.com It's amazing the amount of design ideas available for free on a click.

Stylkist: Which room did u enjoy doing the most?

Mathanki: The study. Initially I was really nervous about the brick wall, if it would go with the rest of the house, but then it gave the room a rich warm feel that totally grew on us. The blinds for the window, we made out of a Portico bed sheet. Bedsheets always have a lot of colors and patterns somehow that's always missing in the 'curtain material' section in stores. The bar counter on the other side was made of tiles salvaged from the kitchen and bathroom, and that wall is actually white pin stripe texture wall-paper painted black. Although it seems like random things put together, everything blended in just right. So we definitely enjoyed doing up the study the most.

Stylkist: The use of colours- is there a story here? we see so much aqua!
Mathanki: I love colors. And Bombay is not the best city if you want to maintain white walls. Although we didn't go overboard coloring every wall, we did want bring in a bit of color in every room. For the living room, we went for a rich dark chocolate texture 'art' wall, which would provide a good contrast to all the framed artworks and prints we plan to put up. The brick wall brought in enough color to the study. As for the aqua- there is no story, except it's my most favorite color! I find my bedroom wall most calming- reminds me of the oceans, reminds me of nature. Aqua unlike most colors is neither to bright and jarring to the eye, nor is it too dark and depressing.

Stylkist: A little about accessorizing your house- I love the study and the wall prints. Give us some insight into making the cosiest room of your home.

Mathanki: We put a lot of thought and time into the accessories. We had a budget, and so I surfed through the net and made a note of the few 'must visit' shops in Bangalore and Mumbai. We picked up a lot of stuff from Good Earth, Loose Ends, The Bombay Store and HomeStop. As for the prints- I have been collecting vintage prints of various sizes from all my travels, so finally I have walls to put them up on. What's making the rooms look cozy- I would think it's the size! Tiny and cute, with comfy couches and futons and lots of fluffy cushions!

Hope you loved this original, cool home! Oh, also, do check Mathanki's blog- By Two Kaapi n a Bit of Art, some cool stuff there too!

A Summer Post

2009-05-14T18:12:00.000-07:00

In between sips of coconut water and applying sunscreen, I think of moving base to the Himalayas. But I am reminded, how much fun summer is when you dive into the cool blue pool, when you stock lemonade and ginger ale, when you take long evening walks by the sea, and when you revamp your wardrobe with summery prints and whites. Summer is fun, after all!

So, while you are at it, we bring to you interesting summer ideas, some from Adil Writer and some from us at Stylkist.

Adil Writer’s Dream Series

Stylkist’s newest addition to the store are a delight to the soul. It makes for some very Zen like atmosphere to your space. The new summer collection is a mix of ceramics, Faux leather accessories and living room pieces. Have a look, we are pretty sure, you'll love them!

Rock The Boat Tea Light Holders

Zen Square Vase

Purity Center Piece and Vase

Zara Storage Box

Faux Leather Side Board

Iridicent Lamp Cum Aroma Burner Cum Vase

Like them? Go on, shop online with us, don't bother stepping out in the sweltering heat!

Art for the Soul

2009-03-25T22:49:00.001-07:00

Recently, I came across an artist - Sonatina Mendes, whose work seems mature and calm beyond her years. She is relatively new to the art scene but her paintings are amazing.. Something about the washed look of her collection I saw at the Hacienda gallery in Mumbai was spectacular and soothing at the same time. It is total fodder for the soul. Here are a few pictures I found online on different art sites:

Stylkist brand spreads its wings!

2009-03-12T06:19:00.001-07:00

To our dearest friends and supporters, we wanted to share the much awaited news of new retail partners for the Stylkist brand of decor in the south.

Stylkist decor can now be found at "The Design Store' in Bangalore and Coimbatore.

Do check it out and tell us what you think!

Bangalore

The Design Store
982 1st floor
80ft peripheral road
koramangala
bangalore 560 034

T: 91 80 25522205/25502470

Coimbatore

The Design Store
47/ 30, bharati park
2nd cross
saibaba colony
coimbatore 641 011

T: 91 422 4384702/4384802

Some other retail outlets where you can find select Stylkist Products:

Dcube, Jubilee Hills, Hyderabad

Vanilla, Navrangpura, Ahmedabad

Neemrana Calling

2009-03-09T23:15:00.000-07:00

You've been toiling way too hard at work. You can't bear looking at the cook's food on the table at dinner and the last thing you want to do is look at the unkept bed and your living room which as usual, is in a complete mess. You need a holiday. A holiday where you can pretend to be a queen. Here, look at these pictures and decide if Neemrana Fort Palace is the place for you.

Neemrana Fort Palace, Alwar. A 15th century fort restored by the acclaimed interior designer, architect and restorer, Aman Nath.

(Source: neemranapalacehotels.com)

In an interview I read of Aman Nath in The Hindu, he talks about Neemrana Fort palace architecture, where he says the 15th century rooms were treated in a more Indo-Islamic way and the 19th century rooms more colonial in design.

These pictures come from a budding photographer and travel enthusiast, Arijit Sen.

The Baradari. You could perhaps take your handmade paper notebook and a pen, write
stories of love and betrayal over here in the evening? :-)

I love the way its restored. Colours and contemporary elements added, without disturbing the old world charm, like the stone pillar..

Spectacular.

Source:www.asienguiden.se

Source: www.asienguiden.se

Source: www.asienguiden.se

Plan that trip, pack your camera, and take along a book to read on one of their private terraces and get lost.

Green is in

2009-03-08T22:44:00.000-07:00

We’ve all done our bit in furthering the ‘green’ cause. We’ve carried bags from home to the supermarket, chucked that plastic bottle in a bin, bought recycled paper, planted a sapling in the neighborhood park. We love all things green and certainly don’t mind that little Bonsai sitting on the ledge of our study window. And trust me, a few more of those indoor plants and your home will be the perfect place to breathe the freshest air. Besides, have you realized how much life and colour it adds to your interiors? See for yourself.

Here are a few stills from Mathanki’s house. This art director from Bangalore certainly has a high green quotient. Check out the plants kept in cozy corners and window sills to delight your soul.

Plant them in bottles, floor pots or dangling ones, they all look as beautiful as this. Money plants are also perhaps, the easiest to maintain too.

A bamboo plant for that oriental touch, or just for luck and harmony. Don’t miss the green wine bottles on the sill.

I have always loved a palm indoors. It gives the room so much character and personality!

These pictures come from a plant lover. Given a choice she’d live in a garden.

A plant for company, while you sip your tea and read

A yellow Chilly plant in a beautiful yellow planter to brighten the sink area.

I told you, a money plant is never one too many for a home.

A touch of green for the washroom.

Feeling fresh already? Bring that little plant in. Plants never go out of style. And while you are planing on bringing the green in this summer, do check out the Bodhi planter cum candle stand from the Stylkist store.

Indian by Design

2009-02-17T22:41:00.001-08:00

While browsing for Indian blogs on design and art, Indian By Design is sure to catch your eye. This hip blog is a veritable design house and is as chic as its author, Kavita Rayirath. From home decor, fashion, interesting homes and jewelry to interesting bits on the latest goings on in the city, art and more, Indian By Design has it all covered very tastefully. Here A few screenshots of this very happening and stylish blog:

Read all about it on www.indianbydesign.wordpress.com

- Ketchup Girl for the Stylkist Team

Say it with Silver

2009-02-12T06:25:00.001-08:00

I know Diamonds are forever. But this Valentine’s say do something different. Say those golden words with Silver! Its chic, contemporary and will never go out of style.

Here is a range of jewelry from my favourite jewelry label- Amrapali. Their designs are very Indian, and have a bold yet elegant look. Besides, I think they make for a very romantic gift for her, this valentines day.

Source: http://www.amrapalijewels.com/

Need I say more?

______________________________

Posted by Ketchup Girl who has joined the Stylkist writers brigade.

Such a dream!

2009-01-25T10:53:00.001-08:00

Flipping through the Inside Outside Magazine this month, I came across this feature on artist Krishnamachari Bose's house. I do follow the contemporary art scene from time to time and do love Bose's work but I will confess that at times I have found his work to be a bit too outlandish or crazy - fun and intriguing none the less.

So, when I saw the pictures of his lovely lovely home, I was so impressed. It had such a lovely balance between wild and confortable and even quietly elegant! From the art, photography and interesting accents, to the wall clock and the vases, they were all in perfect harmony. Such a dream.....

Here are some pics from the magazine feature...Enjoy!

The modern chair blends in and yet stands out!

Wooden floors, colours, and intrigue!

The painted wall strikes an amazing contrast

A lovely wall clock that reminds me of the ocean!

Source: Inside Outside Magazine Jan 2009

A Styling Project by the Stylkist Design team

2009-01-16T20:59:00.001-08:00

The Stylkist design team recently completed a styling project for a modern flat.

Here are some pictures to share...

The Living Area:

We used a natural green and brown colour scheme for the living and the dining area. We worked with all the existing furniture in the house and accessorized to give it some character.

We custom created some interesting floor cushions and table runners to complete the look.

Seen here are: The Foliage Vase, O cushions, Pebble dish and more from www.stylkist.com

The Dining Area

We added some elegant colours to liven up the dining to stimulate conversation and fun at the table.

Seen here are Bodhi tree planter and custom green cushions from Stylkist.

The Master Bedroom

The master bedroom was styled with a dreamy and peaceful ambience in mind. We added a fabric art panel, a dreamy silk bed linen set and art to match the decor.

Seen here are the Mustard O linen and Inner Glow Wall Art from www.stylkist.com

The Guest Bedroom

We kept the guest bedroom simple and yet elegant with a vase, some bed linen and a couple of pieces of art to liven up the room.

Seen here are the Bamboozle Vase and the Lilies at Dusk paintings from www.stylkist.com

Have a project that could use the Stylkist touch, contact info@stylkist.com

Style Portuguesa - At Cidade Goa

2009-01-04T21:27:00.001-08:00

Goa's Cidade Resort is newly roneovated but keeps a lot of its old world Portuguese charm - complete with bright coloured buildings, square windows and Sun roofs and wooden ceilings.

Take a peek!

Chic Furniture....Online!

2009-01-04T04:25:00.001-08:00

Sometimes it is very difficult to find good modern furniture. There are a few places where you might find something if you are lucky (@Home is one that comes to mind). Or there are a bunch of places that may or may not be in your price range...(Abaca, GoodEarth, etc)

But the other day, I came across a site that has some simple elegant furniture in classic oak wood. The site and some of its product are quite a treat. What's more is that they deliver all across India. Check out: http://www.inliving.com/

The products are reasonably priced (similar to Fabindia):

The Tahoe and the Ice collections were particularly interesting.

Here are a few individual pieces from them:

A cute side-table

Single - book rack

A console table

Enjoy inliving.com and wish you all a very Happy 2009!

The Stylkist Design Studio

2008-12-07T06:49:00.001-08:00

Its been about 4 months since we launched www.stylkist.com and we have had a great time with it so far. We have grown rapidly, connected with several design enthusiasts and customers around India. We are also now retailing in 4 cities - Mumbai, Delhi, Ahmedabad and Hyderabad through premium boutiques in the respective cities. Of course, we have our own studio in Mumbai as well. We finally have some pictures of the place to share. Do pay us a visit if you are around.

Our address: 218, Crystal Plaza, 33rd Road, Bandra W, Mumbai 400050 (Near Croma)

+022 32170059/ +91 9867996218

Open 10am to 7pm Mon - Fri. Weekends - by Appointment

Here are the pictures from the studio!

Mad about Tea, Madder about the Tea Pots

2008-12-06T19:57:00.001-08:00

Being both a tea-lover and a lover of tea-pots, the Mad-hatters tea party exhibition ( in Kala Ghoda in Mumbai) was exciting and quite a treat. I noticed the name of one of my favourite ceramists - Adil Writer whose work I have been following for a while. I have always fancied the the classical Japanese style tea pots but I must say after I had not seen as many amazing contemporary, funky-cool tea-pots as I had at this exhibition.

Northeast Chic?

2008-11-15T09:50:00.001-08:00

A recent post from http://www.thekeybunch.com struck a chord....India's Northeast has been rich with bamboo weaves and textile crafts all along and yet today all we hear about is Rattan, Water Hyacinth, etc etc all from South East Asia.

Here is a beautiful Salon in LA by designer Seyie Putsure in LA who brings her influenced from Nagaland into this contemporary salon. Enjoy!

Time for a good natured debate!

2008-11-11T04:39:00.001-08:00

So, what is contemporary design really? I do believe that they are simpler lines, more fluid designs, less crowded prints, combining a dotted salt shaker with a solid coloured pepper shaker. It is about surprising and delighting the senses with the simplest of shapes. Less crowded and intricate motifs.

Here are some pieces of decor that I have come across that I thought were super examples of contemporary design:

A simple chest of drawers combined with Ratan type baskets for drawers - an ingenious and simple design from a manufacturer in Rajasthan

Use of simple aluminium containers as wall mounted storage from a design house in the UK

A hand made sugar and creamer set by Whitney Smith in the US

And - here are some pieces of decor we have created as part of our launch collection at Stylkist.com

Giving Benarasi silk a comtemporary look.

Quoted Ceramic vase that says quirky can still be gorgeous

A piece of art by Artist Rekha Krishnan that turns the traditional Indian lotus into a contemporary jaw-dropper

So its fairly obvious by now that I am a modernist when it comes to design and decor.

So, we asked Charu Tewari, an Interiors Stylist, Colour and Décor Consultant as well as a Regional Manager at atmosphere by day, for her thoughts on contemporary:

She believes that Inspite of the fact that minimal and fuss free modern décor has become very popular,Classical and Transistional designs and décor styles are here to stay. The reason according to her is that the world has a rich historical past of décor and design styles. Whether it is Ornate or Gilded frames for mirrors or Potraits and Art or decorated niches with curved floral mouldings; and that every classical décor item has a very strong personality.

Here are some examples she shared with us:

A modern set of fully upholstered Stools or Pouf’s with Classical fabric on them inspired by the european era

Roman Blinds and Roller Blinds are quite contemporary. Designers and Decorators add that Pizzaz and Style by using fabric with bold motifs from the Classical Era

Plump cushions with Classical motifs in rectangular Marble seating niches in the wall

So modern and contemporary or classical yet contemporary....you take your pick....As Charu and I take our debate elsewhere.

Soaking in Dewigarh

2008-09-14T05:43:00.000-07:00

A recent suprise birthday gift put me on a plane to Udaipur and sent me for a weekend with my better half to Devigarh. Inspite of seeing the castle and being struck by its beauty in the movie.Eklavya, I was short of breadth, when I saw it in person. It was so beautiful. It was so much to take in. Many many thoughts rushed to my head as I caught the first glimpse. I tried hard to remember all of them as we walked along. The castle looked like an elegant piece of jewelry - not the garish or the rich colourful kind but rather the quiet, elegant kind. Stunningly intricate and yet so contemporary.

There were arches and there were great views.......

As we entered the room, or the palace suite rather, my eyes were wide open, my jaw dropped and I let out a gasp. The beauty of the traditional meeting the contemporary was like I had never experienced before. There were traditional crafts and artefacts made of local resources placed in contemporary settings. There was the use of stunning red against the stark white walls and upholstery created a dramatic set up.

The only other thing I will add is that I never left the resort for most part of my trip. I tirelessly walked around to every nook and cranny to find surprising little coves of design that existed like these -

Finally, I sign off with cheers (from the devigarh bar) to the Poddars who created this dream as well as the interior designer Rajiv Saini

Ingredients for a Trendy Kitchen

2008-08-17T11:20:00.001-07:00

Kitchens are the hardest room to really 'trendify' in my opinion. This is true both in general and specifically in India. Of course, the market is now flooded with modular kitchen units like Veneta Cucina, etc but below are some of the ingredients of a truly trendy kitchen in our opinion -

An elegant basic wood cupboard ordered from a nearby carpenter could make a lovely foundation to the rest of your kitchen. Mix and match an assortment of crockery, glassesss, plants

Source- www.laminex.com.au

Straddle the old world and the new with these. Black or white - you can choose between a ast iron black pestle below or a cream ceramic pestle.

Source - www.silvernutmeg.com

Source: www.eurocosm.com

And last but not least - No kitchen is largely complete without a large over-sized salad bowl-

Source: www.shoppingessentials.com

Rosy Reds to Chase the Bluesy Blues

2008-07-08T05:48:00.000-07:00

Its raining pretty heavily these days. It can be quite romantic at first but then very soon you end up confined to the office or home. So here are some cherry reds and more to surround yourself with to chase away the blues this monsoon.

Add a dash of Red with cushions and bedding from Eucalyptus Boutique in Banjara Hills, Hyderabad

Merry Cherries on a long platter anyone? (Source: Verve)

A cherry red leather box to store sweet nothings? (Source Bungalow Eight- Mumbai)

Cos Kids need chic decor too!

2008-06-12T23:36:00.001-07:00

A friend has been thinking about starting her own kids decor and accessories outfit. Admittedly it is a bit hard to find great kids accessories and furniture that combine good design and good quality while making it appealing to kids. Sure, there is Mothercare but for a country with such a vibrant and growing population (and hence many many kids ;-)), sure we should have more choice. In that vein, a bit of searching led me to this cute online store called 'Kids at Home'

Image Source: http://www.kidsathome.in/

Of Cherry Blossoms

2008-06-05T11:23:00.001-07:00

The Taj Mansingh Hotel in Delhi had a Japanese food festival going on. They left a lovely little card about the festival in the guest rooms. I could not be bothered about the Fancy chef so and so who had come to the Taj for this festival etc but instead I fell in love with the imagery on the card about the festival. So i quickly scanned it to put it down here -

Image courtesy: Taj Mansingh Hotel

Thinking of the cherry blossoms, I remembered this painting I once saw on www.saffronart.com by an artist called Shabnam Mehra called 'Blossom'. I wondered if the artist got a chance to capture this in Japan. Had she made a trip over in perfect timing in April when the weather was crisp and yet with some sunshine in Tokyo. Did she head to the area where you could see the blossoms? If so, I am so terribly jealous!

Source: www.saffrontart.com

And check out this wedding center piece inspired by cherry blossoms. I'snt it gorgeous??

Source: www.flirtyguide.com

Of Tea and Tea-Pots

2008-03-09T05:48:00.000-07:00

A new rage seems to have caught on in Delhi a few months ago - one of tea houses. There aren''t that many contemporary tea houses in Mumbai though....
Imagine all the different kinds of teas there could be and an equal number of chic tea pots. Here are some we found and fell in love with:

A classic Chinese tea pot with a contemporary touch

Source: Fantes.com

A lovely meld of colours:

Source: Marsha Dow's pottery

A contemporary design of the classic turkish double decker tea-pot

Source: eturkuaz.com

The Oh-so-lovely Chinese flower tea in full bloom in the elegant glass tea-pot

Source: fullbloomteas.com

Last but not the least, a lovely Moroccan tea set to transport you into the cozy Moroccan tea houses around the world (which also server amazing desserts typically:-))

Smitten by White

2008-02-21T10:24:00.001-08:00

White is generally such a frowned upon colour for interiors and decor in India - what with all the dust and heat and a civilization of careless snackers, noisy messy babies....it wouldn't last a day right? Moreover, we are a colourful country!!! Who wants boring white....?

Well, I think not. Sure it needs a bit more effort maintaining it but certainly doesnt need to be boring. While suddenly feeling the white urges recently, here are some pictures that provided instant gratification :-)

source: Claridges hotel

source: Sunrise Furniture, Ebay India

White Fabric Coasters

Source: Elle Decor

Amazing Bathrooms

2008-02-01T00:18:00.001-08:00

Bathrooms are generally the most neglected part of the home in India - and what a shame honestly. The time spent in the bathroom can be so relaxing and rejuvenating!

Here are some simple yet amazing bathrooms found in Elle Decor and shootfactory.co.uk!

Enjoy...

A small bathroom space get enhanced with mirrors and bright purple fitting!

This bathtub makes turns the spartan bathroom into an experiential art piece.

This small landing space is turned into a gorgeous and relaxing bath-space complete with a sunroof.

5 things we would love to see more of in 2008

2008-01-23T04:30:00.001-08:00

1. More contemporary decor shopping options:

Whatever your style may be, if you like contemporary decor, there are very few large chain retailers to cater to your taste today. It would be lovely to have more options to shop like GoodEarth (a new one opened in Juhu in Mumbai), Pallate (Mahalaxmi, Mumbai) , Turquois (Bandra, Mumbai), all the lovely decor stores dotting the Mehrouli Gurgaon road.

Source: GoodEarth & MoonRiver

2. More Decorative Wall options:

Dressing up walls is the interiors new style mantra. Textured paints, graffiti, murals, mosaics, your creativity need know no bounds.

Source: Asian Paints Source: ICIDulux

Source: Blik

3. More Yachts to add luxury to our weekends:

Privada's luxury yacht timeshares in Mumbai has everyone talking. Gorgeous Italian yachts; exotic meals on board and major bragging rights:-)

www.clubprivada.com

4. More Terrace Gardens:

This is one concept that is a huge hit in both the open expanse cities in India as well as the crammed matchbox type 'flats are luxury' cities in India. Terraces are just as cool, soothing and freeing either place. Remember the lovely terrace space in 'Cheeni Kum' or the lovely balcony area in Abhishek Bacchan's character's house in 'Bluffmaster'? You might have also loved the terrace garden in the San Francisco apartment that Reese Witherspoon lives in the movie 'Just Like Heaven'. Simply amazing!

See some of our favourite terrace gardens from around the world:

5. More Travel & Living Shows on Beautiful Homes

Come late morning on a Sunday, we just want to sink into the couch and take in the visual feast of beautiful homes, interiors and vacation homes around the world. But somehow, we are seeing less and less of the beautiful homes and far more of cooking and beauty...We want the homes and decor back!!

Xmas Time - Bring out the Rum, Vodka & Wine

2007-12-27T01:56:00.001-08:00

Christmas is always associated with fun drinks - Port wine, mulled wine, fruit punch, cocktails and the works. This holiday season, we want to share some fun ideas to dress up your drink. A few drops of Vodka and a whole lot of design & style is the perfect recipe to add cheer this week or so we think :-)

Check out some fun & fancy cocktails -

Margarita

Kalua

Punch

Daiquiri

Portico's Urban Monk

2007-12-18T00:32:00.000-08:00

We noticed Portico India's spectacular collection called the Urban Monk that launched in Lakme Fashion Week a couple of months ago.

For the first time, a brand did so much more than a superficial sponsorship. They actually designed a wonderfully exciting fashion meets home linen collection full of colour, asian influences and rich design. Here are some of the images we gathered. Tell us what you thought.

Soak up the sun, design and luxury as you travel

2007-12-09T03:46:00.001-08:00

Maldives, with its glorious sunshine, white sand beaches and coral reefs , is a very popular destination with Indians. This piece of heaven on earth has a truly delicious resort that surrounds you with world class design and luxury. This year, Travel and Leisure Magazine's winner of design awards was the 'W Retreat & Spa' Maldives.

The lovely water bungalows, the infinity pool and the lobby design are spectacular. A lot of attention to detail makes this resort, designed by People Associates of Singapore

Here are some 'come fall in love with me' photographs and a video-

photos courtesy http://spg.com

Diwali is here ... Time for some contemporary lighting ideas

2007-11-10T08:25:00.001-08:00

Diwali has turned out to be delightful. This year was quite the turnaround for Diwali with more people than ever celebrating, lighting lights and lighting fireworks. Every sea-face in Mumbai was dotted with gorgeous rockets in the sky with rich colours and a lovely showery after effect.

Here are some funky and contemporary lighting ideas for the festive season.
1) Glass oil lamps with coloured oils of different density mixed together add a chic splash of colour and light to the home.

Image courtesy: Elle Decor
2) In a real innovation in lighting and candle-making, rocklite candle company makes oil lamps out of real rocks. Oil is poured into holes mde in real rocks and a fiber glass wick is inserted and sealed. No need to fill or change wicks....and yet, what a gorgeous natural look to add to the home.

Image courtesy: Rocklite candle company

3) These wooden tubular candles are to die for......what a unique shape and idea.

images courtesy: www.pimplighting.com

Wine and Design

2007-11-05T21:39:00.000-08:00

Nasik happened to India and thus started the wine revolution in Urban cities with the likes of Sula and Chateau Indage leading the way...

With the wine culture has grown the interest in wine racks and holders to stock wine at home for entertaining. Here is a look at some fine wineholders and racks to go with the reds and the roses.Image courtesy: www.wrapables.com

Image courtesy: www.atcj.net

Image courtesy: www.mycometalworks.com

Be Brave; Not Beige

2007-10-24T01:51:00.000-07:00

An unlikely caption found on Ikea's UK site. In a bid to attract more youth to their Scandinavian designs, Ikea has experimented with bolder colours straying aay from their clean natural wood finishing. We found some really interesting and fun pieces in their recent collection. Enjoy!An unlikely caption found on Ikea's UK site. In a bid to attract more youth to their Scandinavian designs, Ikea has experimented with bolder colours straying aay from their clean natural wood finishing. We found some really interesting and fun pieces in their recent collection. Enjoy!

Bar Stool
Mosaic Mirror

Shoe Storage

Images courtesy: http://www.ikea.com/

Retail Decor

2007-10-01T22:56:00.000-07:00

The perfect decor can make all the difference to a retail environment and not to mention to the stores' coffers. There are a couple of brands that pride themselves on their retail space breathing and living the brand -
The Apple Store (Computers, gadgets and accessories, international) and
Illuminations (candles and associated decor, in the US)

Here are some photographs of exteriors of the Apple stores around the world.

The NY store - photo courtesy-businessweek.com

The Japan store - photo courtesy -techaisa.com

Illuminations is more focussed on interior decor to enhance the shoppers experience while browsing inside with aromas and all store lighting with natural candle light!

photocourtesy: specialtyretail.net

courtesy: illuminations.com

Yummy Furniture

2007-09-29T09:44:00.001-07:00

Recently we were flicking through the lifestyle supplement of India today (called Spices?). We came across a fun story about a furniture design company in Mumbai. They took inspiration from wood and smoke associated with trains. They have a regularly updated and well designed website : www.blacksmoke.co.in

Over half their designs were fascinating and all were ultra contemporary and a feast to the eyes!

They make all their furniture on order and complete orders in a matter of 20 odd days.

Here is a big thumbs up to Black Smoke!!

Vogue launched in India a few days ago

2007-09-27T02:27:00.001-07:00

With 6 actresses /models on the cover.......The launch happened in Jodhpur. We heard it was a super fun event...

For many style divas the wait is now over :-)

If your room prefectly defined you..............What would it look like?

2007-09-27T00:55:00.000-07:00

Here is one we found that seems to say -
'Contemporary, Earthy and would probably get on a plane to Marakesh soon!'

photo courtesy- nordstrom home section

And here is another one that says -
' Classic, Chic and very friendly....Someone you can spend hours with over a cup of coffee'

photo courtesy- luxurylink