Thursday, December 13, 2007

Two for joy, immense joy...

...wondering what I am talking about?

Today I am sharing with you not one but two great spaces which have got imprinted on my mind ever since I saw them a couple of days ago. The first on, is designer Jivi Sethi's ultra-stylish residence in Assagao in Goa.Jivi Sethi's home which is featured in Vogue Magazine, this month is an eclectic blend of antique objets d'art with contemporary furniture. He has styled his home with loads of glass, mirrors & chandeliers. I love the way he had brought in the old goan charm by using antique chandeliers, old wine bottles & loads of floral arrangements:-)Look at the fusion of antique goan wooden cupboard with contemporary glass & lacquer coffee table designed by him:-)
Flowers everywhere...*sigh* Love the way he floats the 'Parijat' flowers with the orange stalk upwards adding colour & texture to the arrangementAnother thing striking is the use of vibrant colours, his home is filled with art from his friends blending in with his own pieces of heirloom from his family home in Amritsar & Delhi.There is something fun, colourful, vibrant & eclectic in this space which reflects the personality of this very creative & stylish designer.

From the a vibrant home to the placid backwaters of Kerala....
Join me in gliding along the backwaters in a 'Kettuvallam' or the traditional Houseboat. Earlier these boats with coir and bamboo roofs were used as cargo boats but nowadays they are used as 2-3 room houseboats cruising along the Malabar coast. A passage along the side of the boat. The boat is lit by oil lamps in the night. You can see a traditional brass lock on the door.
A small deck at the tail of the boat from where one can watch the magical sunsets in the backwaters.The arches of the boat have been constructed with palm-leaf matting, woven into a bamboo frame and tied together with coir ropes (very eco-friendly, I must add)
Imagine sleeping under this romantic canopy and waking up to the gentle sound of the oars splashing the water.....now that's a thought!

On that note, I take your leave for a couple of weeks. I am taking a 'Winter Break' and will be doing some travelling and practicing loads of photography:-)

Meanwhile do check out Neece Clark's Shop Online. She has some amazing paintings up for sale for the holidays.
Will also be keeping my eyes open for fellow blogger An Indian Summer's Bazaar which is opening in January 2008.

So do visit her too where she will be bringing to you '...an eclectic mix of select Asian and Indian crafts and products of exquisite design and high quality.'


Happy Holidays to all you lovely people!

( Images from Vogue India, Dec 2007 & Indian Interiors, Taschen)

Wednesday, December 05, 2007

Pitch your tent...

...on the exotic desert sands of Rajasthan. Soak in the local flavour sitting by the bonfire and listening to the folk songs or wake up to call of peacocks just outside your tents...
The concept of Manvar Desert Camp dates back to the 17th century when Mughal Emperor Jehangir known for his luxurious lifestyle used to set up royal tents with all the amenities during their hunting trips. Manvar Desert Camp has 30 tents arranged in a semi circle around a central 'durbar' hall. The central dining area from where stunning sunrises & sunsets can be seen.The interiors of the tents are extremely luxurious with custom designed block print motifs & large teak wood beds. Huge windows with pull up flaps allow the fresh desert breeze to come in and nets to keep insects out:-)


Live like royalty from the bygone era. Spend some amazing time under the starlit skies of Rajasthan in Manvar Desert Camp.


( images from manvar.com)