Manish Aroras Home-Riot of colors

The interiors of Manish Aroras home in New Delhi.Manish Aroras apartment is consciously impermanent.Everywhere you glance you can find an ornate decoration,a flash of bright color or an intricately patterened fabric.Red ,blue and  fuchsia colors are the important colours he likes.

 Fabrics are so important to me in interior decoration that I have even covered my walls in them - and it's wonderful.' says Manish in an Interview to Mail online

He's not wrong. In the corner of one room he has created a daybed using a quilted effect with a brightly striped fabric that covers both the base and creeps up the wall, creating the feeling of a cosy hideaway that is perfectly integrated into the main room.

But as eye-catching as the fabrics are, what really adds character to the house are the little touches.

Kites,handmade from gujarat,A part of the Uttran Festival

Rubber dolls from Barcelona,Bed cover from Dilli Haat,many trinkets hang on the bedpost.

While in some rooms this takes the form of mannequins clothed in his own Technicolor designs, in others there are swathes of material in the form of drapes, blinds, curtains and paisley-covered cushions. Fans of his clothes may find some of the patterns more than a little familiar.

Pearls are from his work and the garland is typical to be put on Gods

From the dreamcatchers and fairylights that bedeck the bed, to collections of coloured glass vases, retro toys, colourful cartoons and jars full of beads and buttons.

Passion for colour, texture and exuberant, life-filled forms matches Manish's own. But for all its flamboyance, he sees this house as a quiet refuge.

'I like the ambience of utter comfort in which I can relax and recover every day,' he confides.

'My favourite moments are those I spend alone in the morning, doing yoga, and those spent having a drink with friends in the evening.'

(Excerpts form an interview to Mail online,Welcome to the Techicolor Dream House)

(Photographs courtesy:Thames and Hudson,Henry Wilson)

Some of his colourful designs..
The new design for Nivea Cream,launched in summer 2009 in paris
The Mac Ad

Small Cottage,Striped Down

The New feature of Indian Homes started this winter is going to be in full form from today.I hope I can bring to you as many Indian home tours as possible,so that my readers could integrate them in to their respective dream homes and make the living in them truly and experience in its own.I hope everybody will love this home to the fullest

Set in Parra,This holiday getaway is filled with vibrant hues complemented with DIY Decor.

Sparsley furnished with furniture,it sintricate wood work lends the character to the living room.A white linen curtain breaks the burst of colors leading to the dining area.



A sari used a drape provides privacy.whle a painted rangoli adorns the floor.the entrance
A handpainted wooden rail to hang knickknacks
Cutlery in a jar
Kitchen flaunts furniture made with the help of local carpenters..Bright striped walls help accentuate the double storey ,concrete finish on the slabs,counters..
Some boxes on the wall to store
Pink themed bedroom
Uncluttered and basic,the concrete finish gives an austere look to the bathroom.
Headboard resembles a jharokha opening.Linen with delicate cutwork from Fabindia.

Tips:

Always remember,When adding texture to the walls,using one colour from the colour scheme tends to give continuity

Colour contrast:Dont be afraid to step outside your colour comfort zone and try.that will give you good results

wall embellishments:Dont stop at your fav artwork.spruce up the walls with lots of texture.

Accessorise:Put travel to good use.this is what will tell the story of your decor..

Hope the colours will pep our spirits and dont forget to tell me about this home tour.

lots more coming your way..

Image and Text courtesy:Elle Decor,June -July 2009

Capital city of Kerala:Thiruvananthapuram

Last visit to our home town was actually where I got immersed studying a little bit of history of the place we belong to..Just a morning walk in the bylanes of the Fort area  transcends us into a period long back,the period of kings  horses and chariots..

a pleasure walking the streets which u have walked an innumerable number of times,not knowing its importance.Photographing  and showing the world the heritage zones of the capital city,which alot of them lie hidden.

Heritage zones  have been identified long back and works were undertaken in the fort areas which are actually rich in heriatge and steeped in history..Still some of the decor elements are covered with ivy,climbers and wines,doomed in postercolors of elections and film posters....

The Fort area in the Capital City of Thiruvananthapuram bears a lot of historic significance. The Fort houses several magnificent palaces, palatial houses, and agraharams (Brahmin houses). Standing out is the Padmanabha Swamy Temple, dedicated to Lord Padmanabha an incarnation of Lord Vishnu. The Fort has stood witness to many events in the annals of the erstwhile Travancore Kingdom, and also in the development of the Capital City of Thiruvananthapuram.Padmatheertham, the temple pond is located in front of the temple.

The entire Fort area has been declared by the State Government as a heritage site. For a visitor, the imposing gateway of the East Fort, painted in white and located on the eastern side, facing the famous Chalai bazaar is the usual way to get inside the Fort. 

Built in AD 1747 by King Marthanda Varma, the East Fort is the most prominent of the forts, and the structure displays a touch of French architecture with guardrooms on its sides. One can also find two mandapams (platform with a roof supported by pillars) at the top, which were once used to announce royal proclamations. There are seven such forts,each in a style unique to them and different architecture.

As one enters through the East Fort gate, straight in line with the entrance is the Padmanabha Swamy Temple. Built in traditional Kerala and Dravidian style, the architecture of this seven-storeyed temple tower itself is a sight to behold. The deity of the temple is Lord Padmanabha, the incarnation of Lord Vishnu, the preserver of life according to Hindu belief. Here, the 18 feet long deity is seen as lying on a serpent called Anantha. The Kings of Travancore ruled the land as the servants of Lord Padmanabha. Inside the temple, a mandapam (platform with pillars) carved out of a single piece of rock displays eye-catching sculptures.

Built in 1818 is the Padinjarekotta or the fort gate situated on the western side. This fort gate was built following the closure of another gate called Nariadachankotta, which is situated close to it. Just like the East Fort, the Padinjarekotta also has a touch of French architecture. The annual Aaraatt procession from the Padmanabha Swamy Temple passes through this fort.Nearby the Fort, are the palatial houses, locally called as Amma Veedus.All are best examples of Dravidian architecture in Kerala state. These are houses more than 150 years old, specially built for the consorts of Travancore Kings.

These houses display a blend of Kerala and European styles of architecture. With beautiful matchless interiors, these houses do not have cement and iron as part of their building materials. The prominent Amma Veedus include the Arumana, Thanjavur, Vedasseri etc.These structures are not only specimens of architectural practices but also reflect the cultural traditions ,festivities and lifestyles of the peiod.

These are buildings, which were once used by the members of the Travancore royal family. Except for few, most of them now function as various offices.

each design was so unique,a mixture of so many types of architecture..

It was quite sad to notice the pathetic condition...

the gates,main entrances had so many filigree work on them,all very old,during the 18 century..notice each of them is unique,some had lions in the centre.
notice the windows had some work on top too..not left plain as just windows,set inside the walls in a depressionthis usage of two colors caught my attention
look at the number of windows in the palaces,count them
notice the lions and peacocks on both sidesMajestic lionsgate and the filigree work on the entrance in detaila set of different windows,with glass on topcount the number of windows..detail of the windowDetails of the colums on the side of the window
posters all over the placethis particular one has been rented by some private institute..amazing architecture,look at the windows.beautiful and exquisite..Another set of windows and details..
view from down..
coloured glass on top,european long windows,usually will be bay windows..a style invogue these days

Another set of houses...Another notable one among the palaces is the Sree Padam Kottaram, which is one of the oldest palaces inside the fort. Situated to the north of the temple, the palace has played host to kings and queens who arrived to participate in the temple rituals.Its rented as a marriage hall.

Set of palaces rented Out to a hostel.

                                 Images and ideas conceived By Lakshmi Arvind