'Sone ki chidiya'- Fascinating India-Chapter 1

An attempt at exploring the rich culture and heritage of our motherland!
'Madhubani'!!
Madhubani means Forest of honey! These are beautiful ancient form of Indian wall art passed on through centuries. Madhubani Art is named after 'Madhubani' a village in the State of Bihar,India.

 Traditionally it is done by village women to adorn the walls of their mud huts with beautiful motifs usually themed on Gods and Goddesses and local flora and fauna or just everyday objects,rituals like weddings etc.The paint used are organic and are from natural plant extracts.

'Madhubani Paintings' are part of India's rich culture and history.They are said to have their origins during The epic 'Ramayana' when Raja Janaka commissioned artists to paint the city walls with the tales of his beloved daughters Princess Sita''s wedding with Lord Rama.

Modern take on the ancient Art form: 'Madhubani painting' are now embodied on wall paintings, lamps,coasters, storage boxes,book racks and other everyday decor objects.They not only add colour and vibrance to your home but also help you revive a part of history in your living room!



Photo courtesy: Dreamtime, Bombayjules,Jane Antonacci

The humble Balcony!:)

I love my Balcony..its were i spend most of my time.... evenings after a long day at work relaxing and cooling off with a cup of steaming hot tea...after dinner gazing at the stars...the lazy sunday's reading a book over brunch..catching up with friends or even after a little tussle with my family!:) The Balcony plays an important part in my household.
In this modern day age were everything measures in square feets specially in big cities the high rise apartments tend to have little outside space and tiny balcony that seem to be squashed in somehow...
It can be a bit of a challenge to make this space functional and livable yet warm and inviting were one can relax and unwind.
A little personal touch and a few design ideas can transform this tiny space into a colourful,warm and personable space.

Choose the right furniture...you can use wooden bench and seats to keep it simple and smart, wrought iron to give it a more french classic feel or cane furniture for shabby chic.Add a combination of colourful cushions and table accessories to seal the deal!:)

Choose colourful Planters and a variety of plants that would add colour and vibrance...you could go classic terracota, warm wood,elegant ceramic or retro mettalic.Use different sizes colours and shapes to add variety and charm.
If space is a constraint go for hanging baskets, railed mounted planters or wall mesh to grow climbing plants.You can add a little bit of glitz by using pin lights or ethnic moraccan lamps and sheesha for a culture twist!:)

Some design ideas i found amazing...water fountain for uplifting the soul...wooden blinds for those sunny afternoons..storage shelves to hold plants..music dig...a kids corner and wall slates for planting herbs and spices!

When you have a tiny balcony you want to make it functional yet warm and inviting!
Glazing the entire space can allow light and ventilation at the same time extend the living area without loosing the purpose of the balcony.Add a variety of blinds (wood/jute) to modulate harsh sunlight and a selection of wall mounted furniture can help make your balcony functional...add your personal nick naks and you have a delightful space to relax and let your mind wander!:)




Photo courtesy:Home Edit,Stylisheve

White..Crisp..Classic..Edgy...Scandinavian!

When i think of pure functionalism,minimalistic and stark modern one thing strikes WHITE! The core of Scandinavian Design is this very moto keeping it simple functional modern minimalistic and tasteful yet affordable!

Scandinavia predominantly comprises three countries Norway,Sweden and Denmark.
The serene landscape of this country could have been an inspiration for the classic clean design approach.
One of the chief players of Scandinavian design and whom all of us recognise is IKEA.The other well known players are Arabia, Bang and Olufsen,Pandora etc.More on IKEA and design inspirations in later blogs!
Scandinavian Design is easy to assemble and has a unique Design Quotient.

   White and black can be crisp and edgy,adding a bit of colour can make it contemporary and fun!

   Scandinavian Kitchen ideas.Plain simple and chic!

                     Minimalism is the the key.Keep it crisp and fresh!:)

Colourful and functional.. furniture that are contemporary and easy to assemble.The above are some examples of Ikea's design ideas! Keeping the base colour as white and adding colour through furniture and soft furnishing.More on Kids rooms and design ideas in coming blog updates!:)




Photo courtesy: Per_Gunnarsen,Scandinavian designs,Ikea product library

Things I love- Part 2!!

Chai chai chai nothing like chai!!!

This article is dedicated to one of my dear friend and a complete Tea lover Mona Cheers babe!:)

Following the rains not surprisingly chai is one my favourite things! A total Tea totaller that I am.... I can have tea anytime of the day...its just that warm feeling that reminds me of many happy days and comforts me anytime..somethings bring people together and for me its chai..its fair to say Mona and I bonded on a cup of tea and our love for chai!
And needless to say all of us at some time or another would have had that magical concoction at the roadside thella/tafri as we call it..one of the most delish tea I have had is at the roadside thella and at the train station...weather it be masala chai,adhrak chai or nimbu chai they just warm you up and brighten up any stressful day!:):)

Tea transcends cultures and races across the globe.Tea plays a very important part in Japanese culture.They have special Tea ceremonies and traditional Tea Houses serving Tea!Tea also plays an important role in Chinese culture.

Turkish tea is called 'çay'. Traditionally prepared in 2 stacked kettles (çaydanlık)  specially designed for tea preparation, the lower kettle used to boil water while the upper one has some water and steeped with flavourful tea leaves.The tea is then served with beet sugar...warm and comforting in the cold Turkish winter nights!
In the Middle East Tea is traditionally served with dates! The flavour reminds me of the Kashmiri 'Kava' which my friend Mona introduced me to(she is a Kashmiri kali:)), its really yumm and has the lovely flavour of pistachio cinnamon elaichi that just brings a warm feeling and has brightened many a grey uk days!:):)

Things I Love-Part 1!!

Warm summer days, the busy traffic....people walking in the sweltery heat getting around the hub dub of life... sitting by my hostel window i can see the dark clouds gather...and then suddenly the sky cracks and slowly tiny droplets of rain break out ...people start rushing to the nearby shops...the smell of rain fills the air...the green grass...the water droplets on the window panes and the big smiles on happy children jumping puddles on the roads...the bhuttawala opens his tent and i can smell the aroma of roasting bhutta and spicy chilli chatney....
 i recollect my own childhood... my mom shouting and asking us to get the clothes from outside..and we asking her to make pakoras and chai for us!...I love the Monsoon..the green grass..the sweet smell of the earth...and the sweet memories!!
and now the rains have all new meaning in my life...bringing back the joys of childhood and teenage years as I stand in my kitchen and make pakoras and adhrak wali chai for my hubby and i can hear the rain drops falling on the window panes and the cycle of life continues...

Shabby Chic Rattan!

Warm and homely rattan furniture always remind me of childhood in Andaman Islands, we always had rattan furniture at home.Rattan furniture are true shabby chic with a little bit of coloured cushions and planter around they can give a bohemian feel to the space.
They are cheap and easily available roadside in India and you can get huge bargains when you haggle:)
Traditionally cane furniture are usually used as garden furniture or in the balconies but you can now use them as dining furniture as decorative baskets, as swings for relaxation and also as coffee table and chests.

Mirror Mirror on the Wall !!!

MIRROR MIRROR ON THE WALL WHO IS PRETTIEST OF THEM ALL!!!.....
Mirrors are great accenturators of the space...they can add glamour and glitz to any room.Ornate Mirrors can add character and give a vintage charm to the space.




You can also use mirrors in contemporary setting and smaller units to double the space making the space look bigger and adding that extra floor space at no added cost!!
Mirrors can be used in all kind of spaces.... In the entrance hallway, living room,as floor to ceiling cabinets,wall decors,as a coffee table or a glamorous piece of abstract art and give any space the WA WA WOOM feel!:)

Spaces-The Courtyard

Some of our fondest memories are from childhood, the time spent playing with grandparents in our village home.One of the architectural elements that always stood out has been the courtyard. A simple space in the centre of the home, the courtyard was the centre of our world. We played, bathed, slept, ate food while the older ladies cooked and gossiped going about the mundane everyday household chores.

Traditionally, Indian houses followed the principles of Vastu Shastra. One of the most accepted Vastu principles called hindu-brahmasthan is used while designing a courtyard. Hindu-brahmasthan states that all spaces emerge from a single point, i.e. the centre of the house. This is also the reason why the courtyards were designed in the center of the house and centrally located courtyards gained importance in traditional Indian architecture.

Architectures across the globe have the courtyard concept.Courtyard homes have been designed and built throughout the world with many variations depending on the climate, culture and spiritual use etc. Ancient Greeks and Romans built courtyard houses too. In China houses with inner courtyards were very popular for a long time. Arabs lived in courtyard houses since olden times.In India, courtyard houses are still prevalent all over the country.

Above are examples of how we can incorporate the benefits of the traditional courtyard concepts in our house designs! 
Adding a bit of colour, a few plants and some floor cushions or garden furniture they can be perfect relaxation corner for the family and friends over endless cups of tea and gossip!:)

Photo courtesy: JA kazuhiko kishimoto;gnana;renemariacrystal