Color and Personality: Shivani's Stylish Apartment in Delhi.

Hello my loves! Do I have a treat for you today--you're absolutely going to love this home tour. It's full of style and  loads and loads of vibrant, mouth-watering color. We're traveling to Delhi today to catch up with interior designer Shivani Dogra and peep into her gorgeous one-bedroom apartment. There are so many things I love about her apartment, the foremost being that her color palette was inspired by the lush bougainvillaea growing outside her window. That has to be the best source of inspiration I've ever heard of. I also love that she transformed the space on a budget (her blog is named shoestring style! :) ) and a little (okay, a lot of!) elbow grease. And truckloads of style. 

I'm actually going to turn this space over to Shivani now, because, as you'll see, interior decorating is just one of her many talents. It is a pleasure for me to read her eloquent description of the process behind decorating this apartment, and I'm sure you're going to enjoy it just as much.

(We're going to start with the grungy "before" pictures, because I feel  that you can't truly appreciate the beauty of her space before you've seen them! I'm sure you will excuse me if I only post the smallest version of the pictures available! Magic is what this girl has brought to this space.Take it away Shivani!)

"This was the state of the flat when the landlady first showed it to me. It fit my slim budget and, though completely decrepit, its potential shined through. In my long search for rented accommodation, I’d seen many places that some might call more appealing than this one. Yet I chose this flat over the rest.  I was somehow certain that hidden under the neglected eye sore before me at the time, was a wonderfully inviting home."

"After clearing the place out and cleaning, cleaning, cleaning, I got down to the fun part. The first step was choosing a theme for the space. I wanted something cheery and inviting at the end of a long work day. And it was imperative that the theme went well with the surroundings outside. I had a large, shady jamun tree just beyond the window by my bed and masses of vibrant bougainvillea all along the back of the building.  A crisp green and cool white combination seemed perfect for the bedroom – vivid, but not too loud, soft enough to blend in gently with the outdoors when the windows were open.

The furniture came in bits and pieces. I didn’t have a ‘plan’ all sketched out, but worked from instinct and feeling whenever a piece came my way. The futon was bought reasonably (Rs 6000) from someone leaving the country.  The cupboard came with the apartment, but in a mousy brown, so I used the left-over paint from the doing up the walls, bought a couple of tins more and repainted the cupboard, giving it a distressed finish with wax and some sandpaper. The side tables were bought at a thrift store and the desk was my grandmother’s. I reupholstered a dusty chair with an old bedcover, using what remained to cover a pinup board just above it so they matched.

The windows needed curtains, but the ones I tried at first—striped in blue, green, and purple—didn’t look quite right to me. I replaced them with colourful grass mats that I could easily roll up for more light."

 

"The Jahanara poster came from Daryaganj on an early morning visit to the book bazaar one Sunday. The chest of drawers was from another thrift store in Okhla. The blue door was the result of a long summer afternoon that had me locked indoors. And the pictures are from a work trip when I travelled down the Ganges. What I love about this space is that it tells my story. I like a good adventure and the jobs I’ve had have given me the chance to do just that—travel across the remotest corners of this vast country, exploring and discovering people and places. Almost everything that I displayed in my flat was picked up on one of these journeys through dusty lanes of forgotten towns or the bustling markets of one of our great cities."

 

In my brief interaction with her, Shivani's personality came off as warm and cheerful. I think this space really reflects her "aura". Lime green+Prussian blue+Rani pink. Did someone just say "cheery and inviting"? :) Isn't it amazing how color can transform a space? Also, love the open shelving. Why hide those pretty lentils in a closet? :)

I'm going to leave you with a pretty vignette that ties together the colors in her home so beautifully (you know me--I'm a sucker for colorful glass bottles!) 

If you loved her space as much as I did, please be sure to check out her Blog and Website. I'm hoping to do a follow-up post on her work as an interior designer, so please stay tuned! Post coming soon....

xoxo,

G

A home filled with art and cherished memories: Kamini's Seattle Home.

You and I have been waiting a long time for this post, which only makes it that much sweeter, don't you think? This home tour brings me back full circle......Kamini's was the first home I ever featured on P&P.  I mentioned that day that Kamini was a person I'd love to know in the real world (and even though we still haven't met in person) she's since become one of my closest friends, and that in itself can justify the existence of this blog. :) This home tour also celebrates Kamini's return to a city she loves, so full-circle on that as well. ( I actually have a lot to say here, but it's threatening to get super-emotional, so I'm going to zip it save it for another post.) I'm sure you've already read about the epic move, but in case you've been on sanyaas, anthills and all, here are a few links to bring you up to speed!

Okay, enough talking for now, let the drool-fest begin! We'll start with the entry, with it's stunning rug and painted table--we've seen the entry table before, but I think it looks right at home in it's new space, don't you? Love those turned legs--they remind me of those lacquered wooden toys that we used to play with as kids.

As Kamini describes it, this floor of their home is one long rectangular space, with an open floor plan; it houses the kitchen, the dining space and the family room. There's also space for a perfect sunlit reading nook. I love the way  Kamini has created functional "rooms", with the skillful use of (her gorgeous collection!) of rugs. The warm wood, paired with those stunning rugs really cozies up the space!

The dining room and kitchen island--love love love those block-print bar stool covers. The dining table with more stunning legs on display. You can see portions of the reading nook in the background. And you've just got to love all that gorgeous green growing in the backyard.

The reading nook, with her father-in-law's favorite chair, a comfy footstool, a fireplace for the colder months, plenty of natural light, and her little "temple" which holds cherished family heirlooms like her grandfather's ivory box and bell, incense holder, water jar and a set of wooden spoons that have been used by the family priest for over 50 years. A frankincense holder hangs next to the window, completing her little sanctuary.

The family room is nestled right between the reading nook and the kitchen. It's full of color! We see a lot of old favorites, including the treasure trunk she painted (major talent!). There's the daybed, with it's jolt of vibrant color, a gorgeous lamp to read under and the huge copper pot that holds extra cushions. And then there's the coffee table with it's beautiful embroidered tapestry providing the perfect backdrop for amber glass and lacquered wood. Sigh.

The formal living room is set off the entryway, boasting more reading nooks, and  a cozy grouping of poufs  and traditional chairs to get the conversation going! I can just imagine this house full of laughter and animated conversations! Oh the parties that you'll have! :)

Love that mirror frame! And those poufs look so inviting.....

Another reading nook, featuring Kamini's favorite new chair! You can read all about it here. You can also see the edge of the coffee table and the coasters she mentions in her post in the picture below.

And of course, there's the art. Oh the art. Most of the paintings you've seen on the walls of Kamini's home are her own work.The sandblasted glass artwork you see next to the silver lamp in the picture above was made by her as part of an assignment for design school.

Her home is full of colorful, thoughtful little vignettes, touches that suggest that this home is loved, and lived in.......

Her colorful collection of glass bangles, as much a work of art displayed on the wall as they are on the wrists.

The spice corner, there's a story behind the traditional spice box, I'm sure!

All lined up! Her tiny succulent garden!  :)

Gentle reader, I hope you enjoyed reading this post as much as I enjoyed writing it! Kamini has only just settled in, she hasn't lived in this house for more that a few weeks and already has it looking like a home. :) Knowing her, I can only imagine how much there is still left to uncover. I hope she will continue to inspire and the posts on her home (and on her blog!) will keep on flowing.....

Kamini, thank you for opening your beautiful home to us. It was an honor to feature your home here.

Kamini's previous homes have also been featured here, here, here and here. You can find Kamini here:

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A family affair: The Ananths' home in Bangalore

I have to admit I get misty eyed when I read of all the love that goes into making a home--- it touches a chord when I know how each detail has been meticulously planned, the effort and budgeting that has gone into making a home. It's always these stories, of sacrifice and a dream that I am drawn to. While there are those who choose to build 27 storey pads (really (????), I hunger for glimpses into sweet humble homes that I can relate to.  Be it the quintessential American dream or its Indian version "Roti, Kapda aur Makaan", we are, at so many levels, just the same--our core, the humanity and human-ness is unmasked once we peel off the layers.......

So this is a story of a home envisioned by the parents and brought to life by the collective effort of the family. A home created with love, which probably planted the seed for this home, created by the daughter. A home where these adorable terracotta haathis (elephants) have roamed the lawns for 11 years. :)..

I. Die. For the gardens and for these two adorable pachyderms.

These are thousands of cliche's that say it---(i.e. the apple doesn't fall far from the tree), but the truth is that we get a lot more that just genes from our parents. If you'd clicked the links I'd provided in the previous paragraph, you must have arrived at this conclusion: Yes, we're off to meet Mathanki's mum, Rama Ananth, who is an amazing lady in a league of her own.

Oh, the gardens.....what I wouldn't give to have a chance to walk these lawns every morning, huge mug of steaming chai in hand........

Of her gardens and home, Rama says:

 "The garden is a no maintenance garden, it has been just the way it was landscaped (and maintained by us) for the last 11 years. It is all mostly perennial and easy to maintain."

 

"Our Landscape consultant was a friend and we told him to give us a garden that would not need much maintenance, and design a Moorish style garden. He has done a beautiful job for the garden--[it] is almost the same with very few changes over the last 11 years. Only the trees have grown taller and bushier. Also we insisted that he come up with a garden that could survive shortage of water."

Love, love, love those terracotta planters, against the terracotta tile on the floor!!!!

Frangipani/Champa...can anything be more Indian/tropical than it?

I'll take this little patch of heaven, please!

On the conceptualization of the dream:

"My husband was always fascinated by Spanish architecture, so he made a basic plan and we gave it to our very dear and close friend to work on..... We also had a book on Spanish villas of California with us, which was literally our bible, we put our heads together and came up this wonderful house which call our home. We named it Buena Vista, meaning a beautiful view, for it indeed looks beautiful from all sides. We also have a typical Spanish style bell just like they have in their villas in Spain."

 

One view of the living room.

Their gorgeous staircase, terracotta tiles, orange wall...love every little painstakingly crafted detail!

All decked up for diwali! What a  gorgeous space!!

 
 

"People are always amazed at our bold use of colours: they really go well with what we had in mind. [The house] is open all around with lots of doors and window and lots of cross ventilation and light."

 

Just one of the special touches that abound in this home .....

 
 

The planning of the home was executed to perfection:

"We saved a lot of money by not going in for marble flooring in our house. We decided to go for the terracotta flooring as it would not only cost less but would also give our home a country cottage look, and would also keep us warm during winter and cool during summer. We opted for Bamboo rafters, because wooden rafters are way beyond our means. We must thank our Architect Jyoti Dingra for coming up with the idea of putting up the Bamboo rafters. She felt it would go with  the general theme of the house, and it did work wonderfully. Since everyone involved with the building of our house were friends, it was the combined brains of everyone working to give us the best in the budget we had in our mind. "

 
 
 

Love the earthy colors--what a gorgeous rug--it plays up all the other colors in the room beautifully, don't you think?

 

I loved this vintage-y photograph of the bedroom. Sigh. and drool.

The giant mirror reflecting the other details in the master bedroom--the bamboo rafters, the soothing green tones, the floor length windows...

"The tiles that you see in the entrance and inside the house are all hand painted by our daughter and our son, for in those days such painted tiles were very expensive, and we had to have painted tiles: so our children had  to pitch in to do the job."

 
 

 
 
I love how heavily the whole family was invested in the project; the kids had their say, they pitched in with the work (possibly the reason why Mathanki is who she is now....I would say the parents did a great job molding the kids as well!!). Mama Ananth says of the kids' choices:

"I have not given a photo of Mathanki's bedroom,  for which the wall colors and the curtains were chosen by her. It is blue and orange and white. My son's room  color too was chosen by him. Since he wanted everything very modern and stylish we went for perforated steel rafters and steel ladder for his loft style bedroom and also went for gray and dark blue tiles and gray doors and windows."

 

Only a mother could so lovingly preserve her son's toy cars.... :) Loved this sweet display!

Finally I leave you with a picture of the radiantly happy couple, with their beautiful home in the background!

(the tiles on the arch in the background were also done by the kids...I also love how insouciantly the artwork leans against the wall....)

Want to know more? Why don't you hop on over to Rama Ananth's blog where she shares bits of her life, the books she reads, the wisdom she's gleaned, and yes, where she also shares some snippets of her life as an aerobics instructor. She's full of surprises and a really fun personality. Go say hi! Also there are [many] more pictures of her gorgeous home (including some great ideas for diwali) here, and here. Hope you enjoyed the tour as much as I did!!

Let's talk drama: Tara's warm and magical home in D.C.

Hello again my friends! How are you today? Since candy-night is right around the corner, I thought we'd indulge in a little candy today. Eye-candy, that is. :) We're going to visit newlyweds Tara and Daniel in their tastefully done up condo in D.C. "Tara" means star in hindi....if you visit her blog, you'll see those stars twinkling in her eyes. There's a warm, intelligent look about her, which is confirmed once you get to know her better, so be sure to linger on and read her posts as well (after the home-tour tho'!). Her home is like an extension of her---fun and fresh and alive! There are many things about her home that reached out and grabbed me, the use of color, the level of comfort, but what I love about it most is that it was so well-thought out. There isn't an inch of wasted space, every room has it's own story and yet the whole home blends seamlessly together. It is coherent and oh-so-stylish. And it's a home that is lived-in and loved.....

I usually handle the write-up for home tours, but I love how nicely Tara articulates her thoughts on her home. Because I wouldn't be able to put it across any better (and because I'm lazy!!!) I'm going to let her do most of the talking here.... so let's grab that cup of Earl Grey and settle down to be i.n.s.p.i.r.e.d. Take it away Tara........

"I live in a fairly modest-sized condo in a suburb of D.C., with three smelly boys: Daniel, Rufus and Malcolm (my husband, a pug, and a Himalayan cat, respectively.) So, of course, I gave up trying to keep a perfect house a long time ago. Instead, I try to embrace a system of organized chaos:  casually laid-out pockets of carefully curated things that we absolutely love. Limited space, as well as our love of home decor projects and regular antique store runs also means that our home is in a constant state of flux, in terms of decor. Also, travel is something very close to our hearts, and I suppose that shows when you look around our place- we have little knick-knacks from all over the world, from India to Ireland and everywhere inbetween."

This is the entry to the condo. Tara says

"It's a teensy, narrow space, occupied only by a Ghost chair that takes up no visual space while providing extra seating when we have company, and by a console table that we use as a bar, a bookshelf, a china cabinet and a place to display our tchotchkes. Oh and the kids curl up on the shelf for their afternoon nap, as you can see. Displayed in the frames are the guest tree from our wedding, and an antique political map of Calcutta."

I've been seeing that ghost chair for a long time now--it's been Tara's preferred spot for taking pictures!! If you're even remotely interested in fashion, you really have to go check out her blog--she puts together the most fun outfits. This is one stylish gal, she knows her mind and she (and her home) look perfectly put-together.

Her gorgeous living room. That rug! Swoon!

Tara, on her living room:

"The living room: This is the most important room in our home, as far as we're concerned, because we actually live in here. We entertain friends in here, have movie night and game night in here, and, at the end of the night, we curl up on our used and abused couch with the cat and the dog. We have slipcovers on the couch, and the armchair's leather, because it needs to withstand shedding, drooling and muddy paws, daily. The rug is a Turkish kilim, and all the portraits and paintings on the wall are done either by me or by close friends. The color on the walls is "Poised Taupe" by Sherwin Williams- a controversial choice, but one that we're very happy with- it makes the entire space feel like a warm hug."

 "Poised Taupe" makes a wonderful backdrop for slipcovered couches, don't you think? Love her gallery wall and the splash of yellow. I love that her home doesn't feel contrived--its practical and comfortable and yet it doesn't compromise on style! I think I like warm-hug! :)

Some details from around the living room.

Her balcony:

"Our tiny slice of the "outdoors"- haha. But really, we love this little area. We have a teeny-tiny container garden (not pictured), some flower boxes where we rotate seasonal flowers, and a little garden furniture where we relax with drinks and a hookah, while watching the leaves turn colors in the fall."

I love those fairy-lights! And Rufus appears to be having a pretty good time at home--that's one pampered pup! If you click back to her blog here, you can see the balcony in daylight.

The bedroom....

She says..

"This is supposed to be our tranquil oasis. The walls and drapes are in a serene, refreshing shade of minty blue, and the ceiling is painted a barely-there shade of pink for added interest. We moved our Persian rug to this room when we got the kilim in the living room, and it  works great with the color palette here. We're lucky enough to have huge, east-exposed windows in both bedrooms, and in this particular room, we tried to capitalize on all that light by bringing in mirrored bedside tables and an antique gilt mirror that has special emotional significance to us. In one corner of this room is Daniel's workspace. Getting a corner-model desk helped keep the bedroom a bedroom instead, since it takes up so little visual space."

Where she blogs from. I love the little brass bankura ponies on her table!

A closer look at her table top.

The antique gilded mirror she spoke of. You can see part of the kitchen reflected in it!

Her kitchen.

"Small and functional, our kitchen is still fitted with all the contractor-grade appliances it came with. If we decide we're going to spend another five years or so in this house, then we'll start upgrading things and making it more user-friendly. For now, it's a cozy space with pale yellow walls, and a breakfast bar for Malcolm the cat to sit on while we cook."

The dining room. I love those bold stripes of color--she really knows how to bring on the drama don't you think?

"The dining area is actually an extension of the living room, since we have and open-plan home. We painted the wall in taupe and gold stripes, since there are few things I love more than a dramatic dining room. On the wall are two original, signed etchings of San Francisco scenes by Alec Stern that we stumbled upon on one of our antique hunts. The oval table is surrounded by mismatched mid-century modern and traditional dining chairs. Remnants of my wedding bouquet, along with springs of eucalyptus are in a glass jar, surrounded by more glass jars (empty pasta sauce jars, jam jars, you name it) filled with candle wax, to set the mood for a romantic dinner :)"

Even her bath is stylish:

"The silver tray and silver glasses that house our balms and bathroom doodads on the vanity were part of a sterling silver set that was a wedding gift from my parents- a family heirloom. The wooden owl was a present from Daniel from his trip to Thailand, and is very near to my heart."

The guest room:

"This was once our primary bedroom. The sunny yellow instantly puts you in a warm, happy mood when you wake up in here. The canopy bed was a graduation present from my mom, and the tattered blanket is something I've had since college, but just can't get rid of because I'm so attached to it!  The convex gilt mirror above the bed is another antique store find, and the silk wing-back chair is another sentimental piece from my college days. The console-turned desk by the window is my space- it's got some sentimental art pieces, my books, color pencils, and an origami heart that Daniel made me when we first started dating."

Love those sharpened pencils against the sunny yellow walls! also note said origami heart. Aawwwwwwwww... :)

That corner looks so inviting! I think I need to add a throw to my chair now....

I love that I'm winding up this week with a tour of this charming home......those warm sunny yellows have left me with a warm fuzzy feeling and loads of inspiration. Didn't this home bring a smile to your face? You can catch up with Tara on her blog here. Happy browsing!!!

Tara, thank you for inviting us in..... :) Loved doing the home-tour!

All pictures courtesy of and copyrighted to Tara Bannerji Hoang.