Thursday, September 30, 2010

Captivating Colours and My Living Room


A Contemporary Interior manages to incorporate the traditional elements while maintaining a fresh appeal.At home we try to incorporate the traditional elements to a great extent ....

Flowers are found everywhere in India-strewn before visiting guests ,offered at altars in homes and temples and lines up or centred on the dinner table for natural adornment.The vibrant hues of the petals are used to shower a room with radiance or simply to introduce some enlivening accents.Either way the assertive combination conveys exuberance and energy..




a wooden chest and some antique wooden chairs with cane seating and an antique book rack an all time favourite

Furniture at our home has been limited to a few pieces.One of these is the "bajot" a typical low table found throughout in India.This has been pressed into service by us as a centre table or sometimes as a handsome resting spot for favourite objects,such as urulis,a bowl of roses,or a bowl filled with fragrant petals or an inlaid box or sometimes serve tea too...





Will surely share lots more,keep visiting....



All compositions and Images are copyright Lakshmi Arvind.
Its not been copied nor does this site allow stealing images..

Friday, September 24, 2010

Wildernest, Swapnagandha Valley,Goa

Today let me take you all to Swapnagandha valley,the Valley of Fragrant Dreams where the Wildernest cottages are situated,the most ecofriendly of the resorts one would come across in this part of the world.The Swapnagandha valley is situated in the ridgeline of the Chorla Ghats between the rich forests of the proposed Bhimgad Wildlife sanctuary of Karnataka and the declared Mahdei sanctuary of Goa.

Snuggled cozily amidst picturesque setting of the fabled Western Ghats landscape of Goa at a height of 700 metres above sea level in full view of the majestic Vazra Sakla,a 143 meter waterfall on one side and the tranquil Anjunem backwaters on the other is swapnagandha,a fresh paradise that is ready to be explored and experienced.

I have always shared with you my stories and the Indian Decor which I have come across on our travels.This travel was not part of my life but my brother's "Travels of a Lifetime " as he has fondly calls it.He shares with us the story of the rainsoaked forests,the monsoon butterflies,the winding roads,the ecofriendly wooden cottages with internationally acclaimed ecofriendly standards,the tasty, tasty food which came in ecofriendly traditional 'martaban' jars and served on the dried arecanut leaf plates....and so on and on.

The cottages present an unobstructed view of the famed swapnagandha valley and the forests.

Come enjoy the beauty of Swapnagandha!
view of the valley and the hills....breathtaking
the winding roads in the hills
the ecofriendly boards on the way
the bed ,lamps and the view of the valley from the rooms
sit outside and enjoy the view,very ecofriendly
the flooring is made of old rail sleepers ,very natural and smooth



the water jugs and glasses

ecofriendly lights in wood holders
the walls are also in wood

the dining area which doubles up as the movie hall in the night when nature documentaries are shown.
all wooden furniture facing the valley
the food spread is in terracotta and martaban jars ,look at the rustic ways they have adopted laid out on a huge log of wood which doubles up as a table
their rustic kitchen
cloud 9 bar and the seating arrangement
various shots of the infinity pool perched dangerously at the edge of a cliff


Dusk by the Pool
Come let's go for a walk....
Seating above the Machan to view the valley,climb up and enjoy
Various artefacts to show the true rustic style in their garden,very tropical and natural
Seating arrangement in the cart
Various totem poles strewn here and there in the Landscape

Lord krishna's temple forms the heart of their premises
Seating arrangements to sit,when your tired
Enjoy the outdoor seating

Each nook has been decorated carefully yet subtly

Another figurine on the way
Sign boards to get back ...,the old grinder ,used a show piece in most gardens to float flowers...
Carved seating arrangements in wood
seating arrangements on the Restaurant Deck overlooking the Valley and the Waterfall
Some photographic moments
Looks like an ecofriendly platter to me
on the way back


Beautiful nature ,everywhere

A never before experience is what he described it as...Rustic charm and simplicity clubbed with all comforts make it an ideal retreat to chill out and wash away all the weariness of our urban lives.
Images courtesy:Sandeep Menon
Pl do not save images nor copy them from the site.

Wednesday, September 22, 2010

Masmara - handcrafted products by rural artisans


"Masmara" the story unfolds here says their first post on their blog.....


Masmara, founded by Two friends ( who are incidentally married to each other :)) quit their jobs and then travel, chill out, laze around...and soon decide its time they did something more constructive with their time.. They travel some more, meet lots of people, research some ideas and zero in on starting "masmara".


Masmara, based out of Bangalore, was started with the intention of bringing little known rural crafts to a global audience. Masmara strives to bring before you some beautiful handcrafted products which sustains and promotes good craftsmanship.


All our products are eco-friendly says "Masmara" and are aimed to appeal to a wider global audience. Being original handmade selection of products, they are surely a treat for your eyes. Coming in an affordable range of prices, we have several products in our collection which are made of natural fibers like jute, cotton, banana fiber, sheep wool and hibiscus fiber. We also collaborate with NGO’s who promote craft-based sustainable livelihood projects for women.


I like Masmara,coz they have a huge collection of my favourite Kerala Murals in a different fashion,drawn on bamboo and which could be put on walls and cute pendants and silver jewellery which I have been always eyeing on....


Enjoy their products and promote "Masmara",Truly Indian

Simple jewellery from beads and colored thread and a mural workLambini jewellery made by lambini tribes in Karnataka

very colorful bagsbeads in different colors
mural work on bamboo,wall art



mural painting by rural artisans
mural art kept to the side of the mirror


All images are courtesy to "Masmara"



Related Posts with Thumbnails