Villa Balquisse

My International pick today is from one of the most exotic places~ Bali.
Villa Balquisse- a tropical retreat set between coconut groves & mangroves in Jimbaran. The retreat has old Balinese Villas that have been restored and decorated in an eclectic style.

The interior designer's latest travel ifluence her designs- you'll find exquisite cushions & bed linen created from Java silks & Jaipuri sari's.You can relax by the emerald swimming pool made out of natural stone or walk down to the beach which is only a 300 meters away:-) Enjoy a sumptuous dinner made by their Chef under the twinkling stars...
Each Villa is decorated in a unique style.They have 3 bedroom, 4 bedroom, 5-bedroom & a 9-bedroom villa! So take your pick, enjoy a great mediterranean style holiday with family and friends...
Exotic flowers displayed in unique artifacts handpicked by the owner. You can buy some of the furniture & lamps from their online store Villa Balquisse Living
Absolutely love the cream canopy drapes & simple rustic furniture.
Soak in the Balinese hospitality, the great attention to detail, de-stress with some amazing massages & enjoy the heavenly food prepared by the Chef.

(images from Villa Balquisse)

Happy Diwali!

Wishing all you lovely blogger friends a very happy and bright Diwali! The 'Festival of Light' where the lights or lamps signify victory of good over the evil within every human being.
Sorry for the late post, have just about found some quiet time to sit down and assimilate all the festivity around me:-) Today I am going to share the festivities in our home....Welcome!A simple rangoli made with white poster colours greet you at our doorstep. My favourite Frangipani flowers in terracotta bowl.Traditional brass peacock lamps at the entrance.Tealight candles in 'Chai' glasses add light and festivity to our dining table which is dressed in it's colourful best;-) Also seen here are some traditional Indian Sweets.Flowers & candles...what more can you ask for:-)
Waiting to burst some sparkly fire crackers with my family:-)

Happy Diwali and thanks for all the encouragement, suggestions, appreciations and love that all of you have shown me during the last couple of days.

Thanks Everyone!!! Have a great Diwali!

Diwali Ki Shubhkamnayen: 7.11.2007

Dhanteras is celebrated on the first day of the five day Diwali celebrations. This day Goddess Lakshmi- who is the Goddess of Wealth is worshipped for wealth & prosperity.
It is extremely auspicious to buy gold & jewellery today as it is believed to bring happiness, wealth and good luck:-)Here is a simple Dhanteras arrangement with faux gold coins obviously:-)


(Images & ideas by Arch, feel free to get inspired and link to me but if you want to use my photographs for some other purpose please send me a mail)

Diwali Ki Shubhkamnayen: 6.11.2007

This has to be one of those impromtu ideas, which just strikes you when you are doing something as simple as making Idlis for breakfast;-)
Serve traditional Indian sweets in one plate of an Idli mould, dry fruits in the other and light oil diyas in the mini-cocktail Idli mould:-)
You have a simple, instant Diwali Decoration ready!

(Images & ideas by Arch, feel free to get inspired and link to me but if you want to use my photographs for some other purpose please send me a mail)

Diwali Ki Shubhkamnayen: 5.11.2007

This is an out & out traditional arrangement. Beautiful green beetle leaves arranged in a circular fashion with festive, cheery yellow marigolds and pink buds giving it that colourful contrast.

In the center is a mini traditional Kerala lamp lit with wicks dipped in oil. Shiny brass diyas complete the outer circle with their festive brightness:-)


(Images & ideas by Arch, feel free to get inspired and link to me but if you want to use my photographs for some other purpose please send me a mail)

Diwali Ki Shubhkamnayen: 4.11.2007

I am very excited about this decorating idea, since this doesn't fall into the 'traditional' slot yet it has interesting traditional elements in it:-)

Antique ceramic Japanese tiles from Chettinad, look at the interpretation of Goddess Lakshmi!
I completely adore the blue & pink combination. Arrange on your table, float some pink gerberas or lotus if you can get them in glass bowls. I have used simple kerosene lamps to add that white glow to the arrangement and I don't have to worry about it blowing off!

(Images & ideas by Arch, feel free to get inspired and link to me but if you want to use my photographs for some other purpose please send me a mail.)

Diwali Ki Shubhkamnayen: 3.11.2007

Rustic. Simple. Divine.

I love the simplicity in this style of decorating. Beauty carved in stone. Pluck flowers from your garden, scatter it all around. Float them in stone diyas ( let your creativity flow:-)
Put some pebbles in the diya before lighting them. Add a dash of colour with 'Kum-Kum' or Vermillion and you have a simple yet beautiful decoration ready.
I float flowers in just about any thing;-) So this was a natural choice, flowers in diyas for beauty & festivity!

(Images & ideas by Arch, feel free to get inspired and link to me but if you want to use my photographs for some other purpose please send me a mail.)

Diwali Ki Shubhkamnayen: 2.11.2007

Diwali- The Festival of Lights, of happiness, of celebration, of prayers, of beauty, of prosperity.

It's a day where we pray to Goddess Lakshmi to fill our lives with health, wealth & happiness.

What better way to decorate, bring out those silverware, line the 'Thali' ( plate/platter) with shiny one rupee coins, fill it up with colour powders of your choice, or get creative fill it up with coloured rice, pulses, shells or crystals!

Offer your guests some chocolates, a great alternative to traditional Indian Sweets;-)
Add some fresh flowers & diyas and you have created a super, shiny, silvery & shiny Diwali arrangement!

(Images & ideas by Arch, feel free to get inspired and link to me but if you want to use my photographs for some other purpose please send me a mail.)

Diwali Ki Shubhkamnayen: 1.11.2007

Dust that old spice box, bring out that antique jewellery box your mother gave you, better still if it has some compartments in them.

Display it on your center table or that coffee table in your drawing room where you welcome your guests for Diwali.

Fill each compartment with dry-fruits, sugar candies, chocolates, take your pick:-) Drop a tiny tea light candle in one of the slots and see the festive glow it it brings into your home and on the faces of your guests:-)

(Images & ideas by Arch, feel free to get inspired and link to me but if you want to use my photographs for some other purpose please send me a mail.)

Diwali Ki Shubhkamnayen: 31.10.2007

Diwali is the time when major cleaning, painting, sprucing up is done and homes are transformed into a special abode for Goddess Lakshmi (Goddess of Wealth)

There is brightness everywhere. My Diwali routine includes taking out all my brass lamps, the simple brass diyas to huge Kerala Lamps.

Here is a simple idea that you can use as a center of interest on your dining table, infront of a picture of Goddess Lakshmi or at the entrance to your home.

Polish those simple brass diyas, place it in between the grooves of an egg tray (which you can pick up from any grocery store). Use any flower of your choice to fill up the gaps in between the diyas. Voila! You have a gorgeous centerpiece ready.

(Images & ideas by Arch, feel free to get inspired and link to me but if you want to use my photographs for some other purpose please send me a mail.)

Diwali Inspirations...

With Diwali- 'The Festival of Lights' around the corner, I have been looking everywhere for inspiration to decorate my home. There are amazing, sparkly diyas & lamps available in the market, fancy gift packs of dry fruits & sweets, amazing packaging of chocolates and so on but I want to do something innovative, something simple, something beautiful, something traditional, something different.

So why look elsewhere? I keep sharing ideas from my home now and then, but this is the first time I have decided to share Diwali Decorating Ideas formally.

Some ideas & inspirations from my home to your home every single day from today to Diwali that is on 9th Nov, 2007. (Ok, I have said it!)

Now please be with me and do tell me what you think of this. While I try and share some inspiring ideas, the next couple of days...

Bungalow 8

The name of an unusual home accessories store which is situated in an unconventional location beneath the benches of the famous Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai, India.
The store's philosophy of juxtaposing contemporary blockprinted linens in Art Deco cupboards, sleek Jaisalmer bathroom accessories on vintage basins is extremely interesting.Bungalow 8 is a store where you'll find an eclectic, traditional & rare mix of furniture & fashion hand picked from India and from all over the world.
The store was set up by Maithili Ahluwalia in 2003 in an unconventional location of a bylane in a residential area and started the minimilist trend. Today she has won many accolades both in India as well as internationally.
Bungalow 8 - "Modern home accessories, Designs inspired from tradition & Global origin".


(images from bungaloweight.com)

Art & Crafts of India #7: Gond Tribal Painting

Gond Tribal Painting is done by Gondi people who live in parts of Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Chattisgarh, Andhra Pradesh & Orissa.

Gondi people pray to various Gods & spirits. These paintings like various other tribal art is done on the walls of the houses. The depiction of their environment in the form of forests, trees, animals, birds is prominent in the paintings. Lord Krishna dancing on the serpent head, part of the Hindu mythology.

Beautiful depiction of animals.Black & White Gond paintings from www.indiahandicraftstore.com
Serpent's Head Tree by renowned Gond painter Bhajju Shyam.

Bhajju Shyam's work won a State award in 2001 and today he has illustrated 'The London Jungle Book' by Tara Books.

Lovely art form from the tribal forests of Gond. Amazing colours & intricate workmanship makes it a winner.
Already on my list of 'To-Buy':-)

(images from indiahandicraftstore.com, resurgence.org, tarabooks.com, shot at Chitrakala Parishad )