A Come back....

After a long journey,I know how I feel happy to be back here..It took time to get adjusted to the new addition in the family .I personally thank my readers who took time to read my blogs and comment and appreciate them.The enigma and charm of India has always fascinated me and I assure you all to bring out her strengths in all the posts I do.

Images:Lakshmi Arvind

Please do not copy images

Transformed Small space

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Decor ideas

There has to be no real reason for decoration.You decorate because you want to decorate.I browsed through some intelligent make overs,some arrangements which are artistic,some space management ideas which i thought will be useful for my readers as well.hope you will find these ideas useful
an old door being used in avery stylish way.perk up an old cupboard.it may serve another purpose.Time stands still ,says artist Brinda Miller.She perked up the old clock with the collection of clock parts her father in law had with him.Revitalise an old cabinet creatively.

mobile bar to life with adiscarded piece of furniture..

a radiogram piece used as aside table and being painted by sachin sagare,it has got anew life.
tribal beats on walls of collectors home.the enclosed balcony of NAvjot Altaf is peppered with carved wooden sculptures from tribal areas,terracotta wall frames and brass vessels and so on..

image courtesy:Indian design and Interiors,oct 2007

Living with craft

The compilation of my Magazine Inspired "home tours",series coming to full form this monsoon.Magazines are always a source of inspiration for me ,by breaking the creativity block,by opening the doors of art and design of homes. Some homes can remain simple ,while some remain beautiful works of art and some maintain their unique space and style.

Now that I am at my native,discovering old magazines,from 80's which have been stashed,safely in shelves,finding a way into my blog..

Hope you will all enjoy these tours...

In Gita Ram's,enchanted forest of ferns,that fills a sun splashed pergola at the entrance of her Madras residence there lurks a rich diversity of forms.For Gita Ram,Secretary of The Crafts Council of India,who has been actively associated with the Crafts Council for the last ten years is a firm believer in the idea that if crafts and craftsmen have to survive their existence depends on crafts becoming an integral part of our everyday lives.Very true isnt it?

the inner courtyard with the traditional tulsi plant and the madhubani is by the artist Paswan.

the family looks out into the verandah and into the courtyard and the rug is from Tilonia and the plamyrah stools are still in the prototype stage and the diwan is form Keralathe main living room with furniture from Taaru .the hanging lamp is from Bangladesh derived from reed skull caps and the kilm is from afghanistan.

staircase is paraqueted with teak and the good luck symbols are from sikkim

the dining room is dominated by a large round table with a richly polished brown marble top.A collage by the name "Bird"by Thotta Tharini,presides over a low table holding a number of interestingly crafted utensils of everyday use.study divan has ceramic tiles on to its backrest.a teak medicine chest with bras inlay.the drawing is by "Devadoss"

Gitas craft collections

Image courtesy:Inside Outside,IssueFeb Mar,1989

Text:Meera Rajgopal,Photographs:G.Karthik

Room for the gods.

Puja rooms in Indian homes are no longer tucked away in a corner.Today they are given prominence and paid special attention to by the architects and residents.

The Puja room,which was a private space present in every home,has now come out into the open,changing from a personal votive area into a a semipublic space.Although present in every home ,the puja room,always facing east,would generally be located niche in the kitchen,in the store room or in a recessed space under the stairs.A little shelf ,a couple of pictures of dieties,or some Tanjore paintings would consistently this sacred space,and puja implements such as deepams,bells,kolam,on the floor and fresh flowers were all considered routine puja articles and practices.

As awareness of the aesthetic beauty of these implements increased,the puja niche was given a special space within the South Indian home...a tiny,but full fledged room,not tucked away in an unseen corner,but sited in a more inhabited area of the home.

Though the Puja room comprises of only a few square feet of space,its orientation with regard to the other spaces,lighting and ventilation have to considered.Also to sit the dimensions we suggest smaller depictions of TAnjore paintings,mandapams to house the dieties etc.

Now traditional bronze icons ,ornately framed Tanjore paintings,softly glowing brass deepams,all find their place withing the right context,the puja room;this revival is extremely welcome and positive.The best of Indian art pertaining to religion still retains its utility and has found aesthetic expression in its rightful place.

Artistically planned and breathtaking to beholdAn antique piecethe door is wood,filled with tinkling bells and makes noise when openedadjacent and opposite the puja room are the courtayrds that provide ventilation.decorated with old tanjore paintings and deepams

a close up of the deepams

two large glass panes one depicting vinayaka and one depicting lakshmi adorn the two mandapams

Images courtesy:Inside OutsideJan1999

Text courtesy:Nivedita Chander

Photos courtsey:G.Venkat Ram

Hauz Khas Village,New Delhi

NewDelhi's most faboulous green patches surrounds Hauz Khas Village,a nice walkway around the lake,some impressive monuments dot the region.A different world thrives in the small area surrounding the lake and called Hauz Khas village,an artists village.The artists village is not too much designer type,but still very stylish and bohemian.Its got some decent cloth stores,decent food joints,jewellery designs,cafes,leather,art,fashion agencies,travel agencies etc.The area is quite and laidback.Its quite stylish and has got some real wacky names unlike a standard market in Delhi.

Back in the village,wander through the narrow lanes to experience a medley of old and new structures-expensive shops and art galleries in a medieval warren.Find your way to the gardens near the ruin of a madrassa at the back of the village.In the 1980's Hauz Khas was designated an upscale tourist destination,but the process of redevelopment was never completed,so some of the village's character persists.After exploring,stop for a ameal at one of the viallges restaurants,particulaly,(Park Balluchi) in the Deer park,Naivedyam or the Village Bistro...

We entered the small bylanes of HAuzkhas and this is what we saw and you all enjoy

Park your cars here,private cars are not allowed inside the village

you pass the Mulk Raj Anand centre here,you can register yourself for tabla classes here,watch out for exhibitions here..

advertisements adorn the walls

kunzum cafe,what a name for a cafe? Very nice place.

a litter free board..quite artistic

we had our lunch at Naivedyam..and set out for the walk.

indian arts store where you get ravi varma prints,lithographs and maps and movie posters..

you walk down the stairs and select the best,prices are fixed..

interesting advertisements for shops

interesting posters..

a temple in the bylanes

we have been to gunpowder umpteen times,only problem is it is in the fourth floor,climb all the way up,book your seats in advance..

it was diwali time and marigolds where seen everywhere hanging in front of shops,an artistic way to hang

country collection,you can window shop or enter and see the rare old furniture housed here..

drawings on the walls...

shom or ishom?

purple jungle,where you get things kitschy..

the front of an art gallery,lovely seating designs

what a name for a clothing store

Hope all of you enjoyed the joy ride in the bylanes of Hauz Khas...

Image courtesy; Lakshmi Arvind.please do not steal nor copy images..