Diwali at home...

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...

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

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...

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...

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...

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

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...

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...

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!