Will be back after a short break!

I am heads (and hands and feet) down with the prep for my sister's wedding, hence the absence from posting new delicious stuff...
I will be back next week once the wedding is all done...though, folks who know me by now, also know that I just might peep in and poke in a bit with a quick post during my break!

In the meantime, why not view some whites with a dash of color?

And, also visit this link for an addictive game designed to help end world hunger!

Iran

I came across this photographer's work on Flickr, and kept coming back to his intense images of his beautiful country - Iran. A country rich in art, architecture, poetry, calligraphy and handicrafts, among other things. And, Abbas has captured all this seamlessly in his photographs...

Imagine such rich colors and craft in your home! You can view more of Abbas's work here to get design inspiration from the Middle East.

Child labor

Click an Image To Enlarge

An ode to color

As we feel the nip in the air (and in some parts of the world, the nip must be quite nippy by now!), we are drawn towards warm colors. Possibly that's one of the reasons why I was so enchanted by Nikhilesh Haval's photography!

Nikhilesh, an Indian based in the UK, specializes in travel, architectural, interiors and events photography. His work has appeared in many well known magazines, and his client list includes many Moroccan clients, as is evident by his rich portfolio.

Such a good way to make a striking red wall even more dramatic

Wall art that accentuates the room colors

Copper Samovar and painted trunk. Mud/plaster fireplace and lovely floor tiles

Who could possibly resist a Greece inspired textured white wall?

Warm tones of orange and yellow

Isn't the chair quaint and modern at the same time?!! Beautiful shade of blue in the tiles

Hint of color against white

Imagine having a cup of subtly flavored chai, while sitting on this diwan (day bed) admiring the gorgeous carpet

Hmm..Art deco?

The stark beauty of black and white

[All images from Nikhilesh]

I love you the best

Better than all the rest

I love you the best

Better than all the rest

That I meet in the summer

Indian summer

That I meet in the summer

Indian summer

I love you the best

Better than all the rest

Song by Doors

what a nice coincidence! Here are some more Doors! :-D

Grand entry

Door with faux jharokas (window)

Entry way masquerading as a peacock

Ornate door in a soothing shade of green

A door as a door is supposed to be...strong!

And a beautiful entry to a humble abode

And when it comes to doors, you also think about...

Bolts

Locks

and maybe a sentry or two if you like hiding treasures...

This was a glimpse into some of the doors as seen in old palaces and forts in India...more towards North India. In upcoming posts, I will also cover doors from other parts of India :-)

(Images courtesy: Jyothi Karthik Raja and Gul Chotrani @ Pbase; Meanest Indian and k3llissima @ Flickr)

The day I welcomed Diwali, and You, to our home...

Never have I been such an enthu pataka ('enthusiastic cracker' for the uninitiated) about taking pictures on Diwali! But, I promised you, my beautiful friends and readers, that I will share images from my home, and I being quite the gentle(wo)man when it comes to 'published on net' promises, I did exactly that! And had a lot of fun in doing so too!


Let me re-live with you the beautiful day it was yesterday, when we celebrated Diwali....

Welcome...

Lord Ganesha (made of brass) presides in his niche, content with the offerings of marigold. The two brass bowls belong to my grand mom. The smaller one was used by my mom for her meals when she was a baby and hence holds a very special value for me

In anticipation...during the day:

Took out the brightest of colors...in this case, a red bed cover and cushions with gold block print. A recently acquired rug now proudly hangs above our bed. The corner chair in my bedroom is one of my favorite places in our home during winters..


Waiting to be lit up as the dusk falls. Marigold and Orchids. Bougainvillea petals from my garden

And 'this' also waits to be placed at the proper place! 'This' being some of the booty from my recent trip. Iron grill candle holder and various tableware from Boston (Crate and Barrel and Target primarily...I was pleasantly surprised by some of my finds at Target), and Mr. I.M. Aboy magnet from Camden. The mirrors are from Ikea (from an earlier trip) that I got polished to this shade of wood to match the rest of our woodwork

And as dusk falls, the festivities begin:

Three different kinds of lights welcome you to our home! First one is a Bastar iron candle stand, and then we have.. who else but the mighty elephant taking on the load of diyas, and finally, a flaming mashaal (torch) right at my doorstep


And as you step in: a deep pink lantern; cut work diyas in a row; and my latest obsession - hammered brass urn with pink and yellow dried leaf lotuses - all greet you with open arms!

And not to be left behind, some other nooks from my home adorned with tea lights and cane lamp. The silver chowki (small stool on which the tea light stand is kept) was used for some purpose at my wedding (don't remember what purpose!)

But who gave the permission to light up all this fancy stuff? Well, everything was lighted only after we did a small puja (religious ceremony) in front of Lakshmiji (Goddess of wealth) and Ganeshji (God of everything good and auspicious). The figurines on the left are made of terracotta, as is the small house known as 'hatri'. A new set is bought each Diwali...
(And Constance, I lighted a candle for you while we prayed...)

And, finally, we wrap up another Diwali...

Still warm but now vacant chair after family and friends left; solitary lantern providing some warmth to the black cushion; 'not-wanting-to-be-left-out-even-though-I-am-regular-and-not-related-to-Diwali-decor' lamp (my favorite one!); and the metal candle lady (whose head was cut off by the mosaic maker!) looking at the other black cushion push the pink cushion off the couch when it thought no one was looking...

Some afterglow of solitary votive; two (oh %^&*! I have forgotten a word again...what do you call this flower?!!)...well, anyway, the two flowers dozing off on my kitchen counter; brave bastar camel guarding the only two books on my newly built additional book shelf and orchids playing the last game of peek-a-boo with the stairs..

Thank you for visiting me on Diwali...you made this beautiful festival even more special for me this year :-)

P.S: All terracotta diyas and other terracotta items were bought from The Blind Relief Association at N.Delhi, where each year, visually challenged children make these products, while pursuing their education. I strongly recommend (specially if you are in Delhi, or are visiting) to help this non-profit institute by buying at least something made by these children. I can assure you that you will not be disappointed when you visit their workshop. :-)