Rang-Decor {Interior Ideas predominantly Indian}

Embellished dwellings in Kutch...

2012-01-22T19:39:00.000-08:00

Kutch is a mystical land.

Intriguing. Exuberant. Enthralling.

...and all I believe is to do with the people who have migrated from Afghanistan, Pakistan, Himalayas, Northern India and Central India.

Each community bearing different names like Jats, Meghwals, Rabaris, Mutwas, Sodhas, Ahirs but bound together by the land.

The land that is dry, arid and harsh. The land that has seen years of drought and earthquakes.

Great admiration surges in my heart when I see the people of Kutch who have overcome these hardships by painting a vibrant colour-scheme on a dull, unyielding landscape. Their palette saturated with colours adorn they homes, their attires, their work and their lives!

Sharing with you few frames from their humble but grand dwellings. The dwellings which are fabulous examples of aesthetics & functionality. They are practical yet beautiful. They are small yet roomy. They are organized yet exuberant.

Inside and outside a Bhunga in Gandhi Nu Gaam near Ludiya, Kutch.

Inside a Mutwa community dwelling in Dhordo, Kutch

Interiors of another Mutwa Bhunga at Dhordo, Kutch.

Sculpted clay 'Lipaan' work on the exterior of the Bhungas.

A Meghwal family in Hodka Village, Kutch.

Inside a Bhunga of Meghwal community. Everything one needs is neatly organized.

Painted doors.

Vibrant patchwork quilts.

Look at all those quilts they have been sewing neatly stacked.

Smiling in spite of all the hardships.

Art in every wall, every corner, everywhere.

...and it warms my heart to see art, embellishments, beauty winning over this harsh land of Kutch.

(Images by Arch)

Shaam-E-Sarhad, Hodka Village, Kutch.

2012-01-18T21:27:00.000-08:00

Little did I realize that while I had posted about this resort from a magazine, way back in 2007 and the subsequent posts about NGOs working in Kutch, that I was actually laying invisible foundation stones for a trip to Kutch, Gujarat in December 2011, a good four years later.

Shaam-E-Sarhad is a eco-resort built in a Kutchi village-style setting using locally sourced materials and crafts of the region. It is owned and managed by the Hodka village community and is open only from October to March.

The resort promotes Endogenous Tourism where one travels not just for pleasure, but also to appreciate local community and their life in rural Gujarat.

"The Endogenous Tourism Project in Hodka village seeks to promote local culture and craft based tourism for sustainable livelihoods and integrated rural development. Its aim is to improve the local people's quality of life, by creating more livelihood options, while preserving and allowing the community to develop their unique culture and share it with visitor."~ hodka.in

The reception area is adorned with 'Chittar Kaam' patterns and designs in earthy colours.

The use of local architectural style, the intricate art & crafts is very evident as soon as one enters Shaam-E-Sarhad (translated 'Sunset at the border')

Hodka village is not very far from the Rann of Kutch region which shares the border with Pakistan.

The dining area is below a multi-hued canopy of bright local fabrics patches...

A sit-out made out of a mixture of smooth mud and dung. Beautiful patchwork quilts made by local artisans spread their colours on an otherwise neutral colour-palette.

A Kutchi cloth doll with traditional dress swings gently in the breeze from the wooden poles..

Even the switch board is made using locally crafted wooden plank.

There are a few Bhunga mud houses and many tents where you can experience sustainable living.

Orange dawn from our tent on the first day of our stay at the resort.

The next day we moved to the Bhunga house:-) The resort is very popular with travelers who come to visit the White Rann of Kutch, Dhordo, Hodka and the wildlife sanctuaries.

This is Pandhi Bhai with another local gentleman. Pandhi Bhai plays the Morsing on cold star-studded winter nights sitting on that 'charpouy' in the previous photograph.

Bhunga is a house that is circular in design, made of mud plaster, dung and twigs, it has a light dome-shaped bamboo and thatched roof. A glorious mud structure that is resistant to high windspeed and earthquakes.

The thick walls keep the interior cool when the temperature rises to 46 degrees celsius in summer and warm when it drops to two degrees in winter.

A fabulous example of Kutchi architecture and eco-living.

The 'Chittar Kaam' or Mud paintings convert the exterior of the Bhungas into art canvas' as well.

The 'Lipan Kaam' or the sculpted mud-mirror work frame the wooden windows.

'Lipan Kaam' at the entrance to our Bhunga with lacquer work wooden door.

The interior of the Bhunga with stunning patchwork bedspreads and curtains.

The purple seating glows as the light filters in.

Utterly, deeply and completely in love with the woven curtains.

The intricately carved wooden window shutters.

Sitting under the canopy of rainbow colours, watching the dusk envelope the Bhungas at Shaam-E-Sarhad, we sat sipping our hot Khullad chai and just being in the moment.

(images by Arch, the last one by Mr. Husband)

The House of MG, Ahmedabad.

2012-01-02T22:35:00.000-08:00

Our journey to the colourful state of Gujarat began with Ahmedabad. Having read so much about the architecture, the heritage and the people we chose a place which would be a gateway to all these.

The House of MG in short for The House of Mangaldas Giridhardas is a heritage mansion built in 1924 and belonged to the wealthy textile businessman. It has been converted to a beautiful hotel which still retains it's old world charm.

It is located in the Old City of Ahmedabad just walking distance from the 'Teen Darwaza' the oldest gateway of the city established by Sultan Ahmed Shah.

Antique photographic shrine of Sri & Srimati Mangaldas.

The whiff of subtle floral incense sticks along with the stream of winter sunlight welcomed us into this heritage mansion and I at once knew our stay here would be a memorable one.

Floating rose petals spreading their fragrance in the open courtyard.

Geometrical patterned tiles lead us into the heart of the mansion and the past seemed to come alive with the corridor walls forming a canvas of vintage portraits of the Mangaldas family.

Portrait of Champagauri.

On catching the glimpse of the antique swing against the terracotta walls a soft squeal escaped my mouth which triggered a giggle from my daughter.

Managed to photograph this stunning piece of furniture without capturing my reflection and followed the patterned path wondering at what else the mansion was going to unravel.

Wooden staircase leading to the various rooms.

Entrance to one of the fourteen luxurious rooms in the mansion.

The central courtyard with smooth ceramic mosaic work.

Outside our room

The walls are peppered with black & white photographs of the Malgaldas family.

Inside our room.

We had a traditional Gujarati swing in the room!

Loved the lighting idea, it's a yellow tube light fitted on a wooden plank with holes. The effect is that of spotlights!

Tastefully done up corners of the room.

The lobby area has a small idol of Lord Krishna seated on a swing and the oil lamps illuminate the space as the sun sets on the old city of Ahmedabad.

A family portrait of the Mangaldas family then and now...

The air fills up with the heady fragrance of incense inside while there is hauntingly beautiful 'Adhan' call for prayer from the Sidi Saiyed Jali Mosque opposite the House of MG.

This post is probably the longest one on Rang Decor till date and really hope all of you like it as much as I have loved sharing it with all of you:-)

You can see the slideshow of photographs of The House of MG here.

( Images by Arch)

Happy Holidays...

2011-12-19T07:53:00.000-08:00

Wishing all Rang Decor readers Merry Christmas & a Happy New Year, 2012!

Signing-off for the year, will see you all in the brand new year!

(Our bokeh-licious christmas tree)

Nature is the art of God.

2011-12-07T19:30:00.000-08:00

Nature is the art of God. ~Thomas Browne

Walking into my terrace this winter morning, I found these dried fern leaves dangling from the pot. Gently pulling it out, what do I see?

Two beautiful christmas trees!

I marveled at the fact that to bring the festive christmas spirit into your home you just need to turn to Mother Nature and she sends these little treasures that spread magic!

Enjoy the festive season everyone!

Christmas Cheer...

2011-12-07T02:33:00.001-08:00

Time to spread the love and cheer. Some beautiful things that will help you get into the festive spirit.

The handcrafted wooden 'Kurvi' ( Sparrow) Boxes by Varnam

Intricately carved Christmas Tree on a wooden hand block by The Indian Block Company

Bring on Christmas festivity on your table with these gorgeous dinnerware and linen from Freedom Tree Homestore

Carved Stone Christmas ornaments from Collective Craft

Handcrafted Fabric Christmas Decoration ornaments from Matsya.

This eco-friendly gift box from The White Light just blew me with it's simplicity.

So become Santa Clauses and start gifting your loved ones or go ahead and indulge yourself! It's Christmas!

When stars descend on earth...

2011-12-04T20:41:00.000-08:00

...yes it is that time of the year again:-)

My home gets transformed into a little winter wonderland when tiny angels, snowmen and elves jump out of old shoe boxes and take their place in the spotlight.

Today they definitely made their presence felt...

Hope to share few frames from our home during this Christmas season and some simple ideas for an Indian Christmas soon...

(images by Arch)

Charan Sachar

2011-11-09T20:40:00.000-08:00

Charan Sachar is one of the talented people I met serendipitously on Facebook and so glad I discovered this talented potter.

Charan, who now lives in Seattle, has lived in India for a significant part of his life where his mother ran a boutique designing clothes for brides and bridesmaids. The colors, fabrics, embroidery and designs he came across then has had a strong impact on his work now.

He uses a combination of techniques such as wheel throwing, extrusions, slab constructions and alterations to create his forms. Each piece is then further decorated free hand with underglazes and slip to give it the textured feel of embroidered fabric. Some pieces go through multiple firings to give it more depth of color and texture.

Platter for Crackers ~ Serving tray

Oktoberfest Beer Stein ~ Big Coffee Mug

His work also reflects his love for Bollywood movies and his fascination with life in India. He strives to give life to clay, decorating it with Indian influences keeping functionality and uniqueness in mind.

Love the detailing in his work!

Dancing Divas~ Inspired by Bollywood.

Charan says,'Pottery has given me the much needed respite from the monotony of everyday life. Working with clay and giving it form feels as satisfying as organizing and bringing peace to all the chaos that is there around me.

My goal is to continue to work with this medium to create art work which is cherished for life.'

We wish him all the very best in his endeavor:-)

You can check out his Facebook page or buy his stunning work at his Etsy store Creative with Clay

(images by Charan Sachar)

pinning my interests...

2011-11-07T19:36:00.000-08:00

...something that has been keeping me completely occupied these days!

Pinterest is a visual board style photo-sharing platform, where users can categorize their inspirations under various topics.

The best part is with just the 'Pin-It' button on your browser you can pin all your inspirations to your Pinterest page, while you surf the internet.

Here are screenshots of some of my boards.

A board for 'My Style' on interior design...

An inner page with my recent pin...

You can follow me archanasr on Pinterest as well! Let's share and get inspired!

Wishing the festival of lights...

2011-10-25T23:32:00.000-07:00

...illuminates all your homes.

Been a hectic festive season with very little time to share Diwali inspirations & ideas but hope to get back soon!

(Image: It is a embellished silver floating oil-lamp)

Rang Decor Readers Creative Spaces: X

2011-09-10T22:31:00.000-07:00

Meena Sriram

Today Rang Decor Reader Meena Sriram shares few creative corners of her 1700 sq.ft town home in Ottawa, Canada.

Vintage art prints...

Meena explains, 'I wanted to create a light- filled home that is serene, relaxing, with an airy breezy feel and lots of punchs of colour'.

Living room view...

She has used a lot of different natural textures to bring a homey feel, sisal rugs, bamboo blinds, a lot of old art prints carefully handpicked from antique stores in Chettinad, reframed and hung in groups.

Dining area with her favourite blackboard and art prints...

She continues, 'I’ve also tried to keep it very simple, functional and clutter free. Plenty of plants and books are a must! Its been a year since we moved in and I’ve pretty much worked with what I had without spending much.'

Guest Bedroom...

Knots & crosses and books...

Bright Kitchen...

Meena feels homes don’t have to be perfect but they should be original and personal. She loves inspirational quotes, and blackboards, so they're all over her place.

She has a thing for old world charm, so she has tried incorporating plenty of vintage and flea market finds.

The old radio in the kitchen, the pickle jars and chettinad tiles...

She believes it is important to always choose things that are meaningful to you as opposed to what is trendy at the moment and feels you don’t need to have a lot of money to create a beautiful home, just a little creativity, quirkiness and adding that personal touch makes it your own!

I agree, your lovely home is proof of that. Thanks for sharing few corners of your home with readers of Rang Decor.

If you have any questions for Meena do ask in the comments section. Thank you.

(images by Meena Sriram)

bring on the festivities...

2011-08-30T06:15:00.000-07:00

It's that time of the year again. A certain festive anticipation takes hold of me.

Mr. Sun decides to illuminate certain corners with his geometrical rays. Love that fragrance of a season in transition. A season of festivals.

The festive season propels me towards adding that little extra which transforms the home and gets you ready for new events, happy changes and cheerful living!

As promised, sharing few joyful corners of our home...

Jai Hanuman!

Allamanda flower on his open palm...

My shiny silk cushion covers in bright colours & borders...

Mangalgiri borders give a traditional look...

Some tealights in a glazed glass holders...

Fresh fresh flowers in my copper tea kettle...

Bedside chest with a tower of books and flowers...

A Panjurli (Boar Mask) from Udupi...

Roses on my dressing table, kept in little bowls of water placed inside woven palm leaf basket...

Hope all of you enjoyed a virtual tour of few corners of our home.

Eid Mubarak & Happy Ganesh Chaturthi to all my readers! Have a great week!

(Images by Arch)

Heritage Madurai.

2011-08-23T19:51:00.000-07:00

Last week saw us visit the beautiful Meenakshi Temple in Madurai, devour traditionally prepared South Indian lunches served on banana leaves and get lost in a tropical haven created by Geoffery Bawa.

Heritage Madurai is a 17-acre resort originally called the Madurai Club and was designed by the famous Sri Lankan architect Geoffery Bawa. Bawa's style of blending indoor & outside spaces is evident through out the resort.

Locally sourced materials and natural elements makes this place very unique. Bawa's disciple Vinod Jayasinghe has restored this resort to it's former glory by blending tradition with modern luxuries.

Granite used liberally at the resort.

Intricately carved door at the reception area.

Reception area with antique wicker work chair.

Entrance lobby with fresh floating flowers in a granite urli.

Lotus leaves growing tall at the entrance area.

'Frangipani' trees framing the Luxury Villas.

Granite pillars and furniture at the Luxury Villas.

Our room.

Traditional wooden doors and granite formed the main design in the room.

Our very own plunge pool with Frangipani tree!

Do we really need to head back home?

Temple Tank inspired pool at dusk.

Dining area at dusk.

Geoffery Bawa~ I really adore your style. Madurai ~ I enjoyed your rich culture.

(Images by Arch)

a festive, seasonal makeover at home...

2011-08-22T19:36:00.000-07:00

coming soon. Stay tuned...

Blessed...

2011-07-26T20:53:00.000-07:00

I feel extremely blessed when 'art' in any form comes home. Whether it is a a small woven basket picked up from a craft fair or a huge Tanjore painting brought home from one of our various travels.

This week began with me experiencing that feeling not once but twice!

All of you must be familiar with the super-talented blogger of the famous Artnlight ~ Vineeta Nair. I have been a longtime follower of her blog, from the time of it's inception to the time it started showcasing Vineeta's new venture of decoupaged line of products, each piece so unique in it's design.

I had been eyeing this box for a while and finally placed an order for it and here it is!

The attention to detail is amazing...

A piece of art from Artnlight that I am going to treasure for a long time to come. Thanks Vineeta.

Remember this post on Aarohi Singh's exhibition? That was way back in November last year. I had bought a gorgeous 'Goddess Saraswati ' Thali from her and decided to pick it up from her after the exhibition.

Days led to weeks, weeks into months. The busy individuals after planning and re-planning finally met in the middle of the day over hot khullads of chai for some stimulating creative conversation:-)

I welcomed the Goddess to our home...

...offered her some frangipanis from our garden.

Thanks Aarohi.

You ladies completely made my day!

(images by Arch)

Rang Decor featured in Pool Magazine...

2011-07-13T19:20:00.000-07:00

Open publication - Free publishing - More design

A big thank you to all you lovely readers and to the Pool Magazine Team.

Pool Magazine is India's First International Design Magazine. They stand for Design, Innovation & Creativity.

Do check out their site here.

collective craft.

2011-06-12T23:41:00.000-07:00

When I received a mail from Shweta Mohapatra of collective craft, I must admit I was completely blown away by the delicate designs on stone. I believe the products really are 'poetry in stone'.

collective craft is the brainchild of Sibanand Bhol an architect from the SPA ~School of Planning and Architecture, New Delhi, and Shweta Mohapatra an animation film designer from NID, Ahmedabad.

Soapstone Tealight Holder...

collective craft works towards creating environmentally responsible design solutions and engaging traditional handicrafts in contemporary product in Odisha (Orissa).

Shweta and Sibanand work with artisans who have been involved in the age-old traditional stone art form of Odisha where soft soap stone is used for carving figurative forms.

The collaborative currently works towards securing rural livelihoods by generating work opportunities for artisans through interventions and innovation in design and technical processes.

Leaf Series Platters...

Granite Range Bowls...

Leaf Series Coasters...

Pink Series Coasters...

Stone Jewellery...

Their beautiful creations are retailed at~

KAMALA

Gallery 1, Rajiv Gandhi Handicrafts Bhawan,

Baba Kharak Singh Marg, New Delhi 110 001.

Ph.: +91 - 11 - 65969600 / 23743321

Shweta blogs at collective crafts

Varnam presents 'Stories of Channapatna'

2011-06-01T21:34:00.000-07:00

Varnam~ Colours for your home, which is Karthik Vaidyanathan's venture brings to you beautiful lamps from their series called 'Stories of Channapatna'.

Each piece has been designed by Varnam and handcrafted by the artisans of Channapatna.

Channapatna is a rural town on the outskirts of Bangalore which is popular for it's wooden toys best known as Channapatna toys. The work involves lacquering the wood of 'Wrightia tinctoria tree also known as 'Aale mara'. The origin of these toys can be traced to the reign of Tipu Sultan who invited artisans from Persia to train the local artisans in making wooden toys.

Green 'Villaku' base, inspired by the traditional oil lamps...

Green base with White and Gold lamp shade...

Lamp bases in various colours...

Green lamp base with Purple Buta Shade...

Karthik says,'I have always found the 'glossy' vibrant colours of Channapatna very intriguing and wanted to explore them in a different avtaar, away from their 'toys' imagery. Since I keep a keen interest in home decor, wanted to combine the two.'

If you want to pick up any of these do drop by at

The Ants Store

#2023/B, 1st Cross, 14th A main, HAL 2nd stage,

Indiranagar, Bangalore - 560038.

Tel :- 080-4175639

from June 3rd to 5th, Fri to Sun, 11AM to 8 PM.

(images by Varnam)

Barefoot at Havelock, Andamans

2011-04-29T22:13:00.000-07:00

...is an eco-friendly resort in Havelock Islands in Andamans tucked away behind the tropical tree fence on Radhanagar beach.

Having read some great reviews online we decided on this place for our summer holidays and it surely was worth it.

Pristine, unspoilt beach with aqua waters and surrounded by lush tropical foliage it is a treat for city dwellers.

All the structures at the resort are constructed using locally sourced natural materials. The reception area...

A vibrant arrangement of tropical flowers floating at the reception area gives us a small peek into the amazing things to be experienced during our stay...

The Nicobari-styled dining area completely engulfed by lush foliage...

Exotic tropical flowers...

We enjoyed the airy dining area with a great view....

Eco-friendly-ness is evident in every aspect of the hospitality experience, the place-mats are made of handmade paper and dried flora.

The low dining arrangement was out favourite during our evening chai sessions, listening to the sound of waves on a high-tide, the changing shades of sky and excitedly watching fireflies at dusk...

The sandy path scattered with dries leaves of various shapes and colours lead you to the various cottages...

What a practical way to keep the sand off your cottage, just wash your feet and enter 'bare feet' into your room...

Sit outside and enjoy the sounds of the tropics, the intoxicating symphony played by the crickets, chirping birds and croaking frogs.

Our place on the deck for many cups of tea...

...and hours of reading.

The interiors of our cottage, antique four poster bed with mosquito nets, which the housekeeping staff would spread out in the evenings...

What a memorable experience of being surrounded by nature's best elements....

Will be doing a post on our travel experience soon on Rang~ The Colours of Life.

( Images by Arch)

fluttering mulmuls...

2011-03-24T21:41:00.000-07:00

...swaying sheers, & soft cottons to the gentle summer morning breeze is something we all dream of.

Here are some summer curtain options...

Ocean Breezes Sheer Curtain from Saffron Marigold, that I had shot sometime back...

Block-printed Sheer Curtain from Good Earth sways in Mishta Roy's home...

Gorgeous sheer curtains from Bungalow...

Amethyst Bohemian Sheer Curtain from Attiser...

Dauphine in Indigo Curtains from Les Indiennes...

Cosette in Chocolate Curtains from Les Indiennes...

Do check out Fabindia & The Red River for their sheer curtains as well...

(some images by Arch and the rest from the websites)

Frangipanis & an angel...

2011-03-16T20:45:00.000-07:00

Summer has 'Frangipani' trees blooming everywhere, spreading a carpet of delicate fragrant flowers on the pavements.

Bring simple elements of nature, of the season into your home. Fragipanis, or Chamelis.

Line them up on your window sill or on a table...

Frangipanis just need small bowls of water where you can float them but to add a little something, take out those simple 'yera' glasses or chai gilaas and float single flowers in them.

Cluster them on an interesting platter...

Bring in the angel:-) You can create center of interest by adding any element like a small buddha or any idol...

Another view...

Let your creativity flow. Just remember to take in the intoxicating fragrance of these delicate flowers as you pass by the arrangement. I promise you, you will pass by many times in a day;-)

( Images by Arch)

Then followed that beautiful season... Summer.

2011-03-15T20:30:00.000-07:00

Filled was the air with a dreamy and magical light; and the landscape
Lay as if new created in all the freshness of childhood.
~Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Yesterday one of the readers' of Rang Decor suggested that I post about 'Summer Decor Ideas'. Following that I received a lot of suggestions about what readers were looking for and topping the list was simple DIY ideas!

So here is the deal. Starting today I will be posting simple DIY ideas and styling from my home!

Stay tuned. A wee bit nervous about taking on this project, so please be with me:-)

Peaches & Pinks...

Bring out your cushion covers in fresh colour palette of peaches, pinks, blush, creams & white. A few sprinkling of copper or gold adds magic...

Brass containers are great as vases, but copper too has it's charm and compliments the peach & pink palette so well.

Carnations come in so many shades and last long too! So have fun and enjoy the season!

Look at this curious lovely visitor who flew in to check on my early morning photoshoot!

( Images by Arch)

Here are few resources for Cushion Covers~

Anek Designs, Varnam, The Red River, Neev Home Decor, Saffron Marigold, Kye

Nidhi Chanani

2011-03-02T19:10:00.000-08:00

I received a mail from Nidhi Chanani introducing her work to me and I thought her illustrations were very charming.

Veranda...

'At the veranda, above everything, she takes a break and enjoys the moment.'

Sari...

'I followed my mom everywhere, holding on to the edge of her sari. It was soft and silky like the comfort of her love.'

Nidhi, a freelance artist and illustrator was born in Calcutta and raised in California.

A Grand Adventure...

'What kind of fun will find these kids as they head out in search of adventure on top of a friendly elephant?'

The Gate...

'She stands at the gate and watched the world unfold.'

Do visit Nidhi's Etsy Shop for more of her lovely illustration prints.

( images by Nidhi)

Rang Decor Readers Creative Spaces: IX

2011-02-27T18:52:00.000-08:00

Mishta & Anirudh

Today under Rang Decor Reader's Creative Spaces, I take you to a colourful Goa-inspired home in Bangalore.

Entrance Porch...

Mishta and Anirudh are a 30-something couple, both designers, one a product designer and the other a graphic designer, decided to build over Anirudh’s family home’s existing ground floor bungalow on a 60 x 40 plot in Sadashivnagar, Bangalore.

The design of the house revolves around three courtyards and two trees.

Avocado Tree at the entrance...

Mishta explains,"A courtyard on the second floor at the back of the house is carved out to let a mango tree spread it’s limbs...

...and a main courtyard, also on the second floor, at the front of the house, is designed to pay homage to Geoffrey Bawa’s tropical style with a pond and landscaping."

The over-arching theme of the house has been heavily influenced by the couple’s love for Goa, a destination they run off to, to recharge, every two and half months.

Mishta adds, "The idea was not to recreate a Goan house, but to pick Portuguese influences, through colour and form and combine that with the sense of an open Asian tropical house."

The drawing room...

The dining area...

Balinese Lamp against coloured glass at the stairwell...

The Master bedroom...

Guest bedroom...

Second floor lobby...

Mishta adds, "The main colour scheme for the house is yellow ochre and dark green. The flooring is cool green kota stone with small floral tiles inlayed at intervals.

Common passageways are in black and white checks. Rustic tiles in terracotta and green have been used in the flooring of the courtyards. Ceramic floral tiles were sourced from Spain and fitted into niches in all the courtyards."

Custom-made nameplate tiles from Velha Goa...

Mishta & Anirudh~ Thanks for sharing so generously photos of your vibrant home with readers of Rang Decor.

P.S. If anyone has any queries regarding Mishta and Anirudh's home, feel free to ask in the comments section.

( Images by Mishta Roy)

Chai Studio, Honolulu

2011-02-08T20:50:00.000-08:00

Today I take you to the gorgeous Hawaiian Island of Honolulu to Chai Studio.

Amerjit Ghag, the lovely lady behind Chai Studio, Honolulu describes it as a lifestyle expression - casual, colourful and comfortable.

The store came into being in 2010, inspired by Amerjit's love for the handicrafts, the culture, the colour and the people of India. She believes that hand- picked products are a natural fit for the type of casual lifestyle they have on the Hawaiian Islands.

Love the warm pink...

The furniture pieces that she selects are mostly rustic and oftentimes repurposed - a chukki becomes a stool, a damchiya becomes a coffee table.

The textiles are rich with stories of traditional use, she has turned them into throw pillows and she includes hang tags explaining the past lives of kantha, phukhari etc.

Whether it is home furnishings , a piece of jewelry or a contemporary tunic, you'll find it all here, lovingly picked up by Amerjit during her many travels to India.

Lovely Rajasthani earrings...

Exotic fragrances... I spot my favourite 'Frangipani':-)

Colourful Indian Kitschy bags...

As far as the name of the store is concerned Amerjit Ghag, a chai-lover ( give me a hi- five;-) loves the fact that everyone has a different, special recipe for chai and Chai Studio, Honolulu is her recipe for a place that offers ideas for an inspired lifestyle...

I wish her all the very best for her venture.

Do visit Chai Studio , Honolulu on Facebook

Ladle love...

2011-01-11T20:17:00.000-08:00

I have immense love for traditional kitchenware and utensils. The collection of ladles seems to be growing:-)

My grandmother's antique brass ladles...

Wooden ladles...

Regular stainless steel ladles, there are so many shapes and sizes for various uses...

Small wooden spoons...

What kitchen thing do you love collecting?

Hotel du Parc~ A heritage villa

2011-01-06T18:38:00.000-08:00

Hotel du Parc ~ A heritage villa, is where we spent our Christmas Eve in Pondicherry.

Built in the 17th century Heritage Villa Selvom, which has served as the residence to many French governors now is Hotel du Parc.

Beautiful pale yellow and pastel turquoise has been used to bring in the feel of Provence, South France.

Loved the blend of colonial style and contemporary look in the villa...

The dining area with the view of the huge Mango tree that forms a canopy outside in the courtyard...

The deck in the night...

Elegant rooms with antique furniture...Silk drapes and porcelain lamps add a touch of elegance...

The best part about this lovely villa is that it is located at walking distance from the Aurobindo Ashram!

P.S. All the images are from Hotel du Parc's website, my battery died just on the eve of Christmas:-(

Hues of Pondicherry...

2011-01-05T19:45:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year Everyone!

Our December vacations last year was spent mainly with family, doing absolutely NOTHING:-)

Okay, well almost...one day we decided to drive down to Pondicherry and enjoyed strolling through the various rues or streets.

Pondicherry being a former French colony in India still retains some of the influences. Here are some colourful captures...

Traditional door colored brightly...

The temple elephant...

Fabulous shade of orange...

Loved the huge doors...

...and the grills

The door-knobs...

The street signboards with french and tamil influences...

Hope you liked the various colours of Pondicherry, coming up next is a post on a lovely heritage villa where we stayed.

( images by Arch)

Priya's Charcoal Drawings...

2010-12-18T05:21:00.000-08:00

Today I attended Priya Sebastian's ' Charcoal Drawings' Exhibition at Plantation House, Leela Galleria, Bangalore.

I already have one of her works adorning our orange wall at home:-)

Here are some photographs I took at the exhibition today.

The lady with her collection...

Plantation House, in my opinion provided the perfect space that enhanced Priya's stunning charcoal work.

Priya's lovely visiting cards...

Found these simple drawings at Plantation House very innovative...

Exhibition Invites...

Shalini of Plantation House and Priya...

You can still catch the exhibition. It is on till tomorrow , the 19th of December.

Have a great weekend!

(photos by Arch)

festive lighting...

2010-11-28T18:42:00.000-08:00

Diwali is long gone and it's time for Christmas with reds & greens, cakes & cookies and loads of happiness....

...but festivity can never go out of style, can it?

I received a mail, few weeks back from one of Rang Decor's readers Rama Ananth and she wanted to share some of her Diwali moments with all of us. I loved the way she has used fairy lights and other traditional lamps to bring in festivity.

Here are few captures from her lovely home.

These are truly beautiful Rama, thanks for sharing it with readers of Rang Decor!

(images by Rama Ananth)

A Hundred Hands...

2010-11-26T20:57:00.001-08:00

A Hundred Hands is a nonprofit trust based in Bangalore, India.

Their vision is to create a world that celebrates the pleasure of handmade crafts in our homes and daily lives.

'The Handmade Collective' A showcase and sale of all things handmade is on and I had an opportunity to drop by yesterday and enjoy the beauty of various handcrafted work.

The gracious Mala Dhawan of A Hundred Hands showed me around and here are few lovely products that I captured from a variety of handmade goodies...

Amazing Aepan painting on tealight holder lamps...

Gift boxes...

'Aepan is a unique craft of the Kumaoni folk , where they use finger nails, originally done on walls. Intricate patterns are made using natural dyes as this craft gets a new lease of life decorating homes and office stationery.'

Christmas gift items by Flower Belles Decorators...

I just loved this idea of having fairy lights decorated with recycled egg crates by eCoexhist...

Eco-friendly Ganesha by eCoexist...Beautiful Sanjhi Art...

'Sanjhi is an art of cutting paper on non metallic surfaces with the help of plied scissors and sharp blades. While this craft flourished since its origin in the lands associate with Krishna, in Mathura and Vrindavan, Uttar Pradesh, today only one family claims to be carrying it forward through it's fifth generation of artists.'

Lush green plants for sale...
Beeswax products...
Hase Chitra, a tribal art form from Shimoga and Karwar district of Karnataka. Usually done on special occasions like weddings etc, now trying to bring it into our modern everyday life by painting on canvas and metal...

It was a great to learn about some very interesting art forms of India, that are being revived by 'A Hundred Hands...'

Do drop by at

A Handmade Collective

24th Nov to 28th Nov. 2010

4, Ashley Road, Behind Hotel Ajanta

off Brunton Cross Road

Bangalore

Do check out their Facebook page for other updates.

(images by Arch

Art by Aarohi...

2010-11-26T01:46:00.000-08:00

Nazar Batto Box...

Today, I dropped by at Aarohi Singh's exhibition at Pageturners Bookstore and was completely engulfed into a world of vibrant colours and Indian Kitsch.

Here are few captures of her wonderful work.

Side View of the box...

Horn Ok Please Kettle...

Thayyam Box...

Nimboo Mirchi Series Paintings...

Gorgeous Thalis (psst...that lovely Goddess Saraswati thali will soon be mine;-)

The lovely lady with her stunning work:-)

Aarohi's exhibition is on till 28th November, 2010 at

Pageturners Bookstore,

89 Kannan Building, MG Road, Bangalore

So if you are in Bangalore, do drop by:-)

Freedom Tree Homestore.

2010-11-16T19:04:00.000-08:00

Recently I interacted with someone from Freedom Tree Design. To be honest I hadn't heard of them before, so I did my research and landed on their colourful website and subsequently on their Facebook page.

I was amazed to see Freedom Tree Homestore's contemporary home decor collection of furniture, table ware, linen, accessories all made in India.

Freedom Tree range of ceramics

Poochapalam textile range...

Latika Khosla is the design director of Freedom Tree Design, a color and trend studio based in India.

Freedom Tree Homestore is her latest venture, where the focus is on creating colourful, remarkable design & print and also has designed, curated collection with quirky overtones.

The Independence Collection...

Mombaye, The City range...

Kukkiballi Textile Print...

The Independence Collection...

Aranya range...

ceramics...

Dhurries...

'The spirit is to celebrate modern India and as a vibrant design destination – it is a thumbprint against standardization. Loveable and fun products make everyday living beautiful celebrating a freedom of expression, freedom of thought and freedom of being.'

~Freedom Tree Design

What a lovely thought!

The Freedom Tree Homestore is based in Mumbai. They are also on Facebook.

(images from Freedom Tree Design)

photography inspires art...

2010-11-16T02:14:00.000-08:00

You might have heard many times, "Oh, that photograph looks like a painting!" or "The painting is so real I thought it was a photograph."

One of Rang Decor's lovely readers Pree pointed me towards this blog, CreationS - The Essence Of Arts by Rachana Saurabh.

What a lovely surprise awaited me. Remember the post 'paint your prayers...' where I had shared photographs of little feet painted on pebbles? Well, Rachana a very talented artist has created a lovely painting inspired by that photograph!

My photograph...

Her painting...

It's wonderful to see readers get inspired by the little ideas I share here on Rang Decor and really appreciate it. Thank you!

P.S. If you have been inspired by any post on Rang Decor, do share your photographs on Rang Decor's Facebook page.

Rang Decor now on Facebook...

2010-11-10T18:05:00.000-08:00

Facebook being a great space to interact and share ideas and inspirations, I have finally created a page dedicated to Rang Decor.

Readers will be able to get updates, when I post on the blog and hope to add many more interesting features...

So do drop by at Rang Decor on Facebook

Diwali at home...

2010-11-05T23:19:00.000-07:00

Diwali ki Shubhkamnayen!Diwali at home was lot of fun with family and friends, ladoos and chocolates, sparklers and diyas, dinners and laughter...

Few captures from our home during Diwali.

Hope all of you had a fabulous Diwali!

(images by Arch)

Festive goodies to enhance your diwali...

2010-11-02T19:07:00.000-07:00

Apart from the traditional brass lamps and the earthy diyas which are evergreen, why not add some zing into your diwali decoration with these creative, innovative and interesting goodies.

Sharing some lovely accessories from some very creative stores...

Tribal Route

Welcome prosperity and good luck by hanging these...Decorate with Lanterns...

Ceramic incense stick holders...

Available at Tribal Route

The Loose Ends Store

I completely fell in love with these 'Truck Art' inspired cushions and lamps...

What vibrant colours and so Indian!

Switch on some colourful festive glow...

Available at The Loose Ends Store

Matsya

Beautifully decorated terracotta lamps...

Available at Matsya

Bliss

A rainbow of tealight holders and lanterns...

Bliss showcases some great brands from across Mumbai and India.

Available at Bliss

The Color Caravan

Patachitra-painted bottles and other goodies...

Available at The Color Caravan

Have a fabulous, colourful and safe Diwali everyone!

Will be away from this space for a couple of days cleaning, decorating, celebrating with family and friends.

(images from Tribal Route, The Loose End Store, Matsya, Bliss, The Color Caravan)

Rang Decor featured in Ideal Home & Garden

2010-11-02T18:51:00.000-07:00

Rang Decor has been featured in 'Ideal Home & Garden' November Issue, 2010 article 'Decor Goes Online'

A big thank you to Chandana Banerjee and Ideal Home & Garden Team.

doily patterns...

2010-10-30T23:33:00.001-07:00

Tealight candles adorning our entrance...

Tealight candles have become a big part of the Diwali illuminations in many Indian homes. I love using these along with the traditional oil diyas.

I wanted an interesting background to form a base for these candles. Coasters were one option but I zeroed in on traditional 'Kolam' stencils available widely in stores that sell 'pooja articles' or stalls near temples.

The patterns remind me of doilies that my mother used to crochet during my childhood:-)

A lotus shaped kolam stencil...

Some interesting design stencils...

(images by Arch)

glassy illumination...

2010-10-26T21:11:00.000-07:00

As the festival of lights approaches, my head is bursting with various ideas to try out at home.

I also love checking out what's new in the market for diyas and lamps...

Recently I picked up these small glass oil lamps. It's a small flower shaped glass container with enough space for two tablespoons of oil. On top of it goes a detachable metal flower-shaped wick holder!

Placing them on a terracotta plate and scattering white rose petals makes it a lovely center of interest.

Love the floral pattern the light and glass together create:-)

You could also place them on small traditional coasters and line them on your window-sill or entrance...

Here I have placed it on small framed 'Patachitra' painting.

(Images by Arch)

festive twinkle...

2010-10-24T19:07:00.000-07:00

Yesterday while cleaning the drawers I found a string of fairy lights.

I draped it on our antique medicine chest and saw stars descend into our living room.A simple idea that can transform your space.

These twinkling lights are definitely going to be part of my diwali decorations:-)

Hope to share more simple decorating ideas for diwali from my home.

Varnam

2010-10-17T18:45:00.000-07:00

Remember the lovely Creative Corners's of Karthik Vaidhyanathan's home in Bangalore?

He's back this time with Varnam~ A colourful line of home furnishings.

A full-time media professional with a passion for interior design, Karthik's Varnam showcases the amazing beauty of traditional Indian handmade textiles.

Karthik explains, "Varnam is a sincere attempt to highlight some of the inherent beautiful qualities that traditional Indian fabrics possess.

The product line consists of table runners, curtains, cushions, etc. all handmade from Indian sarees and blouse materials.

Pillow Covers made from saree and blouse materials...

Curtains...

Table runners...

I felt these were apt since Indian stories incorporate some of the most beautiful patterns, colours and motifs. The sarees include traditional nine yard Maharashtrian sarees or ‘Navvaris’, cotton sarees from Tamil nadu , Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka.

I have also made use of the very popular and blouse material traditionally used by women along the Maharashtra-Karnataka border, ‘Khan’."

The products are simple with no added embellishments.

Varnam is being showcase at The Ants Store in Indiranagar from October 22nd to 24th, 2010. If you are in Bangalore do drop by and check out the stunning range of home furnishings from Varnam.

(images from Karthik)

warm blush...

2010-09-29T20:53:00.000-07:00

It's official, in my home the 'warm pink' is the fall colour:-)

What are the hues that are painting your fall this year?

kitschy goodies...

2010-09-08T20:38:00.000-07:00

Whenever we drive out of Bangalore during our many weekend getaways, we make a quick stop at Channapatna, a small town famous for it's wooden toys & lacquerware. Every time we manage to find something interesting:-)

During our trip to Masinagudi few weeks back, we did out customary stop at Channapatna, my eyes fell on these button-like boxes with Indian Kitsch painting. It was instant love.

Such a familiar scenery that one gets to see painted on trucks and on auto-rickshaws in India.

Oh yes! Taj Mahal had to be there...

I am amazed at the lovely art and crafts in India.

If you are driving out of Bangalore sometime, do stop by at Channapatna, you won't be disappointed:-)

Have a great festive weekend everyone!

paint your prayers...

2010-08-31T19:49:00.000-07:00

This post is largely inspired by Geninne Zlatkis, one of my earliest flickr and blogging friends. She is an extremely talented lady, who illustrates, draws, sketches, paints, carves stamps, crafts, cooks, home schools and also paints on pebbles!

Yes, in her beautiful homes in Mexico (designed by her architect husband) one of the ways in which she adds cheer and beauty is by painting natural motifs on collected pebbles, an interest that I share with her:-)

I always bring back pebbles and stones from our various travels.

I was inspired to try my hand in painting those lovely pebbles. I gave it an Indian twist by painting the traditional 'Kolam' or painted prayers...

Tiny Lord Krishna's feet, for Janmashtami...

Some painted prayers give company to my succulents....

Why restrict yourself to just Kolams, let your creativity flow~ Try Alpanas, Blockprint motifs or any symbol that holds a special meaning for you:-)

Do paint your prayers and see them answered in the form of cheerful corners in your home:-)

(images by Arch)

handmade creativity...

2010-08-17T18:30:00.000-07:00

Today I am featuring two very talented young women Kanika Bahl of Anek Designs and Kalyani Ganapathy of Kye.

Kanika Bahl is a textile designer from NID and has recently started her own Etsy Shop called Anek Designs. She designs handcrafted home furnishings and accessories.

Brocade Fabric Gift Envelopes

Colourful Fabric Gift Envelopes

Kantha work mobile pouches

Potli Keyrings

Do drop by at her blog, ...AND ANOTHER or Anek Designs on Etsy.

Kalyani Ganapathy is an illustrator/artist and also the creator of Kye. A venture where she designs home furnishings and accessories.

Kye has just launched their monsoon collection of handcrafted cushion covers called Monsoon Struck

Embrace, screen printed and hand embroidered cushion cover

Siesta, screen printed and hand embroidered cushion cover

Birdie, screen printed and hand embroidered cushion cover.

You can order online by writing to Kalyani of Kye at writetokye@gmail.com.