Shivani Dogra Interiors: Transforming spaces with her love of color.

In my obsessive trawling of the internet for pretty homes I've come across and written about countless gorgeous spaces. In all these rooms, while there are always some elements that appeal to me, there are some features I would tweak out if I actually had to live in them. Not so in the spaces designed by Shivani. Her style really resonates with me--perhaps it's because she's a Delhi girl like me, perhaps it's because she's traveled India extensively, perhaps it's because she has that deep-seated appreciation for Indian design. Whatever the reason, her spaces (and words) really speak to me--she manages to infuse traditional Indian design into contemporary settings without making it appear over-the-top or kitschy: real spaces for living in, not set designs for a photoshoot, to put it bluntly. Do you see yourself living in these rooms? Take a number, because I'm moving right in! (I wish!) :)

I can totally see myself curled up on that chaise lounge with a good book!

Shivani had this to say about her style as an interior designer:

"I love colour and the dramatic effect it has on moods and space. For every project that I undertake, it’s important for me to wander around its environs a bit, explore the space I’m redoing, learn about its inhabitants –their stories, its story. Much like a good novel, the space becomes a world that I inhabit for the length of a project and miss when it’s over. I love taking rooms from drab and unexciting to full of life. I’d much rather source locally and draw inspiration from India’s rich arts and crafts traditions, with their unabashed love for colour. I usually incorporate the outdoors as part of an interior scheme, matching and harmonizing colours with the natural surroundings."

 Love the clutter-free bedroom. Those colors and textures are all I need! 

Sigh. Can I admit that I'm at a loss for words here? I'll take it all, Shivani, thank you!

In case you're as impressed with her work as I am, please be sure to check out her Website and Blog for more!  Shivani's work has already received some great press, including features in BBC GoodHomes India, DNA and on one of my favorite blogs of all time, An Indian Summer. Shivani, thank you for sharing your story and work with us. I have a feeling we'll be seeing more of your work on the web. Keep inspiring and all the best!

Shivani can be reached at:

Website | Blog

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

Getting rusty......

Reaching for some color in my wardrobe today..........Rich, full-bodied, rust. The earthy color of bricks. A hint of sparkle.........

Join me as I ogle these works of art? Image sources: 1/2/3

Happy Monday!

{you're welcome!}

xo,
G

Pow! and Bam! Take that, ho-hum!!

Today while browsing some of my favorite blogs, I came across Jeffery Becom's work. I just had to share. Howz this for kicking some rainy-morning blues away? enjoy!

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Though these images have been collected from various sources over the net, I would recommend that you visit the real thing at Jeffery Becom's page. Gogeous, glorious color!

Happy Monday!!

Hola!! Let's infuse some color into this week shall we?

flickr.

In case you're wondering where this wondrous place is: this glorious riot of color exists in Guanajuato, Mexico!! How goes the week, buddies? Hope you started it on the right note.... Me, I have several projects waiting for some magic. I'm amped up on inspiration and ready to go!!!

What will you be taking on this week?

Happy Monday and colorful beginnings.........

 .....to a brand new week!! this week I'm really loving photographer Debi Treloar's work. Here are some pretty pictures to start your week off right...

Ummm....... tumblers and roses. {love}

Love that tea-flask vase!! what a neat idea.

DIY idea: every anniversary, my sweetheart gives me a bunch of delicious roses. I let them dry on the stems and save the dried blooms in a glass vase, so I can enjoy their beauty throughout the year (my crop this year got mouldy and had to be discarded, so be sure to dry them out very well).

Lovely, gauzy colors of summer. Reminds me of India!!!

I've mentioned rambling rose earlier haven't I? This is sooo my idea of bliss!!! :)

So what are your plans for the week ahead my lovelies??? I have a new friend---she's a fabulous, creative DIY-er and we get to visit her home!!! squeeeeeeeeee. Are you up to it? Great! I thought so!!! stay tuned...we'll be dropping in for chai and biscoot (biscuits) later this week. And there's tons more design inspiration brewing at P&P central, so don't forget to check in!!

All images: Debi Treloar Photography.

Color my world....

and a happy Monday to you my friends..... I'm loving these colorful collections today...

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Flickr image via.

For sale here.

For sale here.

Country living.

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southern style.

Do you have a colorful glass display? Send in some pictures...I'd love to see how you've grouped them! here's a collection of greens from my dining room........

Photograph taken by yours truly.

(It's a windowless room, so please excuse the lighting...trust me when I say it looks wayyyyyyyyyy better in person. Please also note the strategic placement of a single twig...all the better to disguise the shoddy photography by moi!!! :) )

PS: Check back tomorrow...we're off to Europe to visit an incredibly charming home................

Some pretty pictures...

...and a punch of style for your week ahead!! ............as I work on prettying my nest, I'm constantly on the lookout for the next piece of inspiration to reach out and grab me...here are some random images from this week's forays into the design world.

Hello. Monday.

Love this. Very do-able...covered settees/colorful cushions/plants/lamp/mirrors=all elements usually found within our own homes. I would love to recreate this space in my own home...even the wall art seems possible (if I were allowed to paint-we rent, you see). But there's loads of options opening up...eg. wall decals, mounted fabric (and some more, which I would like to introduce you to in my future posts...)

A little OTT in my opinion....but those gorgeous pieces of furniture were just calling my name...they remind me of Kashmiri walnut wood carving...sigh!

Apartment Therapy.

Framed fabric=genius.

Blue pottery+shades of brown... what a pretty combination.

All images unless mentioned otherwise: Elle Decor.

This weekend was the usual: chores and errands + firefly watching + cooking up a few treats. I cleaned and scrubbed like a woman possessed...I'm happy to report that we are now several U-haul boxes lighter (luckily for us, our neighbors are moving and I gladly passed them on--anything to prevent them from landing up in a landfill...I don't understand why some states don't recycle!!). In other news, can't get this song out of my head.

This week, as promised, we will be travelling to Asia for a really heavy dose of inspiration....so hold on to your hats coz' this ride's about to begin.....!!! Check back tonight for the first installment.....(*giggle* I love acting like the suspense-wala announcer...seriously, what a ham, huh?)