Update*

*I am taking an autumn break. Will be back with loads to share. Enjoy the season everyone.

Pinakin Patel

This country retreat designed by Pinakin Patel Associates looks so beautiful, serene and relaxing I want to spend a lovely weekend there...actually many weekends there:-)Pinakin Patel graduated in Chemistry but today heads one of India's leading design firms and owns a unique lifestyle store.
"The firm is known for their distinctive interpretation of the clients needs, producing contemporary design from a classic base, juxtaposing yoga and bhoga"

Do click on to read more...

(images from pinakin.in)

The gentle breeze blew through...

...sheer white curtains with a touch of gold.Two posts in a day, I must be certainly very inspired! It was very exciting to receive an email from Chitra Gopalakrishnan, informing me about a new venture. A venture with a social cause of giving a boost to the Kerala handloom industry.

KARA- Weaves of Kerala is an endeavor by a group of very enterprising women who work with weavers fom Kerala and create high quality cotton handloom furnishings for the home.Woven linen and gold cushion covers
They have a range of curtains, cushion covers and some super soft cotton towels.Do check out their online store here.

My Kitchen Shelf...

There is this small shelf in my kitchen which inspires me to try out various arrangements. The little blackboard definitely helps me convey a message:-) It doesn't require any great skills but has me smiling all day. Do you also have such a corner, a shelf, a table or a windowsill in your home that inspires you to try new creative arrangements?

Illustration Love...

Today , I share with you works of two amazing artists whose styles are so diverse from each other but have touched my heart in very special ways.Neend Meein
Kalyani Ganapathy is an artist/ illustrator, whose work has a profusion of vibrant colours, patterns and has a traditional Indian folk-art feel to it. ponnuku malli poo asai translated 'A little girl likes jasmine flowers'
thothe baag mein pedh ke neeche
paani bharna
Kalyani has started a new venture called 'Kye' which means hand. Here you will find unique handmade products like cushion covers, bags, dinner plates and trays. Do check it out!

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Celia
Priya Sebastian is an awesome artist and illustrator who works mainly in charcoal and pastel.
Whenever I see her work I feel 'black' is the most beautiful colour. Congregation Self-Portrait
The most striking feature in most of her illustrations are the 'eyes' of her characters, they seem to express so many different emotions!Yama
She uses colours also beautifully just to give that extra punch.* Sigh*
Cats
Woman
I am still under the spell of the amazing works by these two extremely talented artists. Hope you enjoyed their work as much as I did showcasing them.:-)

(images of Kalyani's work from Jellicle Cat and Priya's from The Plum Tree)

P.S. A special thanks to Masala Chai, who introduced me to Kalyani's work.

Rang Decor featured in Domino!

I feel really honoured to be featured among the 16 International Design Bloggers on Domino. Some of them being my all-time favourites.
Thanks Holly of Decor8 & Domino for the lovely write-up about my blogs Rang Decor and Rang-The Colours of Life.

P.S. Sorry for going missing for so long, will be back soon with lovely post on some interesting Indian artists.

Les Indiennes.

Another post on block-print? Well, I am so taken by these beautiful Indian Kalamkari inspired designs by Mary Mulcahy, the one behind Les Indiennes.I am sure many of you are aware of the amazing line of products by Les Indiennes, but what I really liked is use of just one or two colours, using Kalamkari technique which traditionally uses multiple colours.

Kalamkari is an ancient Indian Art which involves dyeing of sun-bleached cotton fabrics with natural dyes and then hand-block printing with carved wooden blocks.Les Indiennes has products in various materials like fabric, paper & felt.You can view & buy their products online and get inspired by these dreamy images in their Inspirational Flip Book.

This is so soothing, so summery, so cool and so inspiring:-)

(images from Les Indiennes.com)

Inspiration galore...

Erin Loechner of design for mankind has done a commendable job of compiling a monthly e-zine full of inspiration.
Yes, inspiration in various forms and this month's inspiration e-zine is titled "Nook and Crannies: Inspirations in the Home."
Erin was very kind to ask me to participate in the 'Inspiration E-zine' for this month.
Thanks Erin!
Everyone needs inspiration from time to time and a monthly Inspiration e-zine sounds perfect:-) So do visit design for mankind and download 33 pages of inspiration:-)