Monday, January 19, 2009

Rang Decor Readers' Creative Spaces: II

Shalini Bahadur
Shalini is a freelance writer and researcher. Today she shares a few creative corners from her serene oasis in Dubai. She describes her home as contemporary but also individualistic. Modern lines but with a sense of warmth and comfort. Her philosophy, that truly reflects in her home, is that one need not spend loads of money to buy paintings by famous artists to make one's home beautiful. Being creative and inventive is the key. (She has been extremely inventive given the fact that she left most of her art & paintings back in India, when she moved to Dubai with her husband.) This simple paisley design artwork has been handmade by Shalini.A close-up of the paisley design.
The horse and the rider print in her bedroom is actually a newspaper cutting that Shalini really liked.The black and white framed artwork is a wrapping paper from Borders! Teamed with beautiful cushions from Ikea, makes it a relaxing corner in her living room.* Very creative*

Shalini continues,"I like symmetry and pairing things, but not to the extreme. I definitely don't like the magazine perfect look".Mr & Mrs. as she calls them were picked up from a garage sale in Kansas City.A cotton durrie hangs on the wall was a gift from her mother-in-law.This bedroom corner has simple elements of nature. A set of four framed leaves picked up during her morning walks. The delicate leaf pattern on the table lamp goes really well with the frames.

Shalini loves surrounding herself with things with personal history, mementos from travels, arts & crafts and loads of books.
This photograph in the silver frame is of Shalini's maternal grandmother. * So beautiful*Books form an intergral part of Shalini's home space. Another very important thing in her home is nature's treasures brought back from morning walks:-)Delicate Neem flowers, Frangipani or even few stems of fresh neem leaves add that extra cheer to her space."My home is a place where you can put your feet up, curl up on the couch and simply feel at ease." says Shalini.
I completely agree.
Thanks for sharing some beautiful corners from your home Shalini!
She blogs at of travels and travails and shares her beautiful photographs on flickr as ganobristol

P.S~ If you have any question for Shalini about her home, please ask in the comments section so she can reply to you.

29 comments:

Shalini said...

Wow, thanks so much Arch. My home looks good on your blog :-)

Anonymous said...

fabulous post...i've always enjoyed ganobristols flickr stream... nice to know shalini!!

Diti said...

o, it's a lovely house. each item reflects on her character. very personal and individualistic...

Anonymous said...

Beautiful.... I love how every little item has some history. and how she find art in everyday things.
lovely!!!

megha puNAter" said...

shalini has a beautiful home,i love her frames and her paisley the most.
like diti mentioned every item reflects on her character.
and her photographs are fabulous.
great post arch :)
looking foward to more.

Anonymous said...

Very nice, I am a fan of Shalini (and of course, you too!). It's very nice to see the creative corners in Shalini's house..I absolutely agreed that this could be a simple example of home where the heart is..very comfy, simple, classic and very creative...

Anonymous said...

Hi Shalini,

Your house looks great!! When are you inviting me over?

Kits said...

OMG Shalini..the house looks mindblowingly amazing :)

Shalini said...

Thanks so much everyone for your lovely comments. I'm thrilled to bits!

Manorita my dear girl, my home is always open to you....plus, I've learned lots of potato dishes to keep you happy :-)

Artnavy said...

Shalini- your home is truly splendid and I love the artwork

great job archana of seeking these homes out and sharing

~mE said...

gorgeous pictures of your home shalini...and lovely post arch

D said...

I'm getting some great ideas of how I can use those things that are stacked up somewhere in my trunks. Love this!

Anonymous said...

I loved paisley the most. Shalini is very creative to find art in most mundane things. Loved her ideas of framework.

Good Going Arch...Looking fwd to many more posts

Cheers

Pradeep said...

It is simply super... having spent an evening there makes it more special for Monisha and myself.
Pradeep

Shalini said...

Thanks everyone....I'm so glad you like my home. A lot of credit goes to my dear hubby to let me do my thing and be creative.

Monisha & Pondy, you both need to head back over here :-)

Sampoorna said...

Hey,
very beautiful Shalini.
Thank you Archana for sharing these beautiful homes wid us.

Looking forward to seeing more beautiful things on ur blog........

Sharon said...

Hi Shalini,
You have a very beautiful home. I love the personal touches in your corners, and the soothing decor. And, I have loved looking at your flickr stream too.

Thanks Arch, for bringing us these images of Shalini's home.

Anonymous said...

Shalini, loved the idea of neem flowers/leaves.

Love the blog too :-)

Veda said...

i loved this home so much! very comfy! nice space.....enjoying this feature so much......very creative n inspiring arch!

Veda

Vineeta said...

Ganobristol's (as I know Shalini)home is beautiful & a great example of how one can create great beauty in unexpected ways. Simple & ingenious. Thanx for sharing her home with us Arch! :)

Shalini said...

Thanks so much everyone for your generous comments. You all have given me a great boost to continue being creative and innovative. I really appreciate it.

Thanks most of all to Arch because of whom this has come about. You're quite an inspiration, and I'm looking forward to more on this series.

Unknown said...

shalini, i have never met u, but i hope u remember me as the person who sent u the flowers on behalf of sunit at chandigarh. Loved your home.so down to earth or rather so close to being earthy.

Shalini said...

Of course I remember Anna-di! Thank you so much! I loved what you said..."...so close to being earthy". That's just so beautiful. We must meet when we come to India next, it's long overdue. And congratulations, we heard about your new position!

Rosy Outlook said...

Shalini's home is as warm, peaceful and lovely as she is. It's perfect harmony when your home reflects who you are, who and what you love. Just wonderful. Great work... Arch + Shalini! Shalini, thank you for graciously welcoming us into your home. xx

Sandy said...

Shalini, what a wonderful set of pictures! I feel I know you so well. Your beautiful home perfectly relects the creativity and serenity of your personality.

I love coming to your photostream on Flickr because I know I will find calmness and beauty there. Your friendship is a gift - thank you for sharing yourself and your home with us all!

Shalini said...

Rosy and Sandy, thanks so much for your input! I love being able to see how real people live and sharing my space here has been a great experience. It's all thanks to Arch!

mindspace said...

I got Rang Decor's link from a blogger's 'D' site. must thank her for I loved this site.

Thanks Archana for putting together such beautiful stuff.

and what I enjoyed thoroughly right now is the creative wonderful and yet so simple ideas that turn corners of Shalini's house into so warm, cozy and inviting!

Shalini, my friday morning has been spent over at your blog. I will comment more there but just wanted to tell you that I am so tempted to copy some ideas of yours. I already do similar stuff with the 'nature's treasures brought back from walks'

Thank you all :)
~Tara

Unknown said...

Hi Shalini,

My comment is the youngest of the lot, considering all of them have been posted in 2009! Anyway, since I did go through the post, I wanted to take a minute and thank you for sharing your ideas. I am setting up a new home and family in Hyderabad and am as such an enthusiast when it comes to interiors and design. It's a treat to read Arch's blog and get to learn so much. Your home looks lovely!

Shalini, could you advise me on the type of flooring I should go for the home. The builder offers us vitrified tiles, but when I read some of the blogs, I found most people going for stone.

Suggestions are welcome! Thanks for your time!

Cheers,

Ipshita

Anonymous said...

beautiful home shalini...and archana what can i say...u r one creative being. this is a superb blog and its my good luck that i jus happened here by chance. keep going...
...and to the latest commentator who wants advice for flooring... i'd suggest athangudi tiles.look-up the net n u'll fall in love with them.