Settled in for a Lifetime (Home Tour)

I’ve always loved showcasing homes that are not forced to look good but have come together very organically over the years. And by that I mean a home that is not caught up in trends or imitating another's style but a home that has interesting layers of its own. Each layer replicating the personality, interests, style, aesthetics of its home owner and decoding the meaning of ever evolving perception of relaxed living. We have toured Hemangini’s rental pad earlier and now a year and a half later we get to take a tour of their very "own" piece of haven in Gurgaon. 

Dr. Hemangini Hoskote is a Consultant Nutritionist with a Ph.D in Nutrition and Mr. Hoskote is a senior leader in Quality and Business Excellence. They share the home with their teenage son who is quite the decor enthusiast. He has had his fair share of influence when it comes to his home's design and style. 

The Hoskote family wanted to embrace a design scheme that’s contemporary in style yet exudes warmth, elegance and simplicity. Infact, this design plan was advocated by none other than their teenage son. It seemed right in the context of the relatively modern apartment with high ceilings and a glass wall running through the entire one side of the apartment letting in abundance of sunlight for a bright and airy space.

The Living Room is furnished with pieces that have clean lines and a contemporary feel. A supporting cast of well edited accessories add the shot of color, pattern, texture, identity and make a cultural point with its design. But most importantly, I think they have cracked the code when it comes to the process of a home being relaxing visually, physically and mentally! 

Brass tattoo markers (the two thin sticks displayed on the wall) were found at a local weekly market at Lake Inle, Myanmar. Another unique element added to the wall display is an antique carved wooden kavadi that the family found during their Chennai stay. It was recently refinished and proudly made part of the living room.The black throw is a Ladakhi shawl and the Ikat one is from Java, Indonesia. The turquoise silver and leather lamp is Moroccan.

As a family, the Hoskotes love traveling and photography. They seamlessly integrated their interests into the design of the home by displaying pictures from their travels in different corners of the home. Majority of photographs are grouped into simple frames that are propped on white ledges in the living room that blend into the wall creating an almost floating effect. Besides bringing back memories of fun times, these framed pictures are great conversation starters! Hemangini makes sure to update the pictures in the frame every now and then with the latest ones from their various vacations and globetrotting expeditions. 

Here's what Hemangini had to say when asked about her decor style, "We have deliberately not followed any particular theme/style but primarily used a few hand-me-downs with travel finds. The thumb rule we follow is, one has to absolutely love it and it has to be 'hatke' (unusual/unique), before we buy it and bring it home. The apartment had white walls which are a perfect back drop for the colorful finds."

More from Hemangini, "We did not hire a 'contractor/decorator’ as we do not like the 'decorated' look with gypsum board ceilings though we had to go with the existing gypsum board ceiling in some parts of the apartment."

This corner has been personalized with wooden musician ladies that were picked from an antique store in Jew Town, Kochi, Kerala. The terracotta pieces are all from Goa, acquired over several visits from Potter's studios to antique stores. The Indonesian mirror was bought when the Hoskotes lived in Dubai. Accentuating the bench style seating are throw pillows that pick up the rust and terracotta hues from the gallery wall above.

One of the bedrooms was converted to serve as a media room. It's where the family spends most of their down time. Hemangini decided to have a collection of posters of their favorite movies framed to reinforce the theme and also clearly gives away that the family members are movie buffs!

The media room also serves as their library. With abundant display and storage space on the adjoining wall, books and other collectibles are neatly organised and provide a clutter free look. A diverse collection of musical instruments from Africa, Mauritius and Indonesia allows for a visual change of scene.

Lovely little corners are created using the family's collectibles and rightly shows the power of grouping things in varied heights and textures.The tribal Ganesha is from the Craft Museum, Delhi.  On the console table along with the brass statue of Radha and Krishna are vases and porcelain fishes that were brought home  from a pottery exhibition in Gurgaon. The pencil sketches featuring the horses were done by none other than Hemangini herself.

The dining area has an informal vibe and suits the family's relaxed style of hosting. The ta-da element in this space is the wall of masks. The collection was amassed from family vacations to North East India, Far East, Mauritius, Africa and so on.

A practical dining set works in tandem with the rest of the clean line vibe evident in the home. Clearly "comfort is everything" is a norm that takes charge with the decor in this home. Overlooking a balcony area, the doors are thrown open when entertaining on weekends or to enjoy those relaxed and laid back evenings after work.

Absolutely love the open kitchen-dining-living concept! Over to Hemangini for more as to why she prefers this concept, "It was a plan that I had always wanted in my dream home and am loving it. It’s so much more fun to chat with family n friends as one is rustling up a meal. And it works perfectly with our lifestyle. The cleanliness freak that I am, have to be a little more efficient in having the kitchen even more cleaner at all times! I opted for the open shelves as I wanted the kitchen to look light and airy. Upper kitchen cabinets would have made the kitchen look smaller n boxed in."

What a charming breakfast bar! I'd make excuses of having frequent hunger pangs just to enjoy this lovely nook, wouldn't you?

The Hoskotes were very clear from the onset that the maid's quarters would be converted to a home office for Hemangini. Hemangini shares, "This makeover did take the longest time and even though we had a relatively tight budget we didn't compromise on the look n feel of the office. In a space little over 100 sq feet,we managed to create a small, cosy office."

The walls of the office have SH Raza's prints and pencil sketches made by all members of the family.

The gallery wall in the Master Bedroom suite has a host of paintings and travel memories. The pencil sketches here too, are those done by the talented family members. The Copper n Gold art work, is a temple etching on rice paper, bought in Angkor Wat, Siem Reap, Cambodia.

More pretty corners from their Master bedroom. The easy chair is an heirloom piece that was handmade by Hemangini's grandfather-in-law! The console in the master bedroom has baskets from Bali, Thai wooden bust, Myanmar lacquer bowls and marble plate from Goa. Love how the old and the new have together so effortlessly in this space.

And finally we get a peek into their son's room. Done up in shades of deep blue, the textured wall was what the young man decided on all by himself. This room is everything a teenager would want - practical, comfortable, low-maintenance yet stylish, masculine and totally lit!

I hope you enjoyed the home tour as much as we loved sharing it with you. Things to take away from this home tour : 

~ Skillful space planning, 

~ Visualizing the function of the space before executing the design plan, 

~ Include artwork to make the space feel more soulful and individualistic,
~ Mixing and layering the old and the new to create a classic vibe and

~ Visually linking the color scheme or decorating style of rooms that open onto one another.

Thank you Hemangini for trusting me yet again with your beautiful home to be showcased on TECD. We wish you and your beautiful family the very best! 

(Image Credit: Hemangini Hoskote, do NOT use the image/images from the blog without prior written permission of the homeowner and TECD)

The Laissez-Faire style of Decorating (Home Tour)

Based in Gurgaon(India), this rental pad is the home of the urban nomads, the Hoskote family. Dr. Hemangini Hoskote is a Consultant Nutritionist with a Ph.D in Nutrition and Mr. Hoskote is a senior leader in Quality and Business Excellence. Together they have a 14 year old teenager. Though the couple  have disparate professional backgrounds, they have an intrinsic liking when it comes to the topic of interior design and home decor. The family has lived in this place for about 6 years. Sprinkling it with generous doses of their personality and unique collections, their abode is anything but a regular rental home. Infact, as I write this blog post they are all packed and ready to set up base, yet again in a new home ! 

What struck me about the Hoskotes decorating style is its refined, laid-back, real and quintessentially global in appeal, each in the perfect proportion. Over to Hemangini to explain more about her style, "I'm as passionate about Home decor as I am about my profession in the field of Nutrition. Guess it’s a balance between the left and right brain activities that makes me happy! Am very fortunate that my husband shares my love for an aesthetically done up home and what we invest in, is often a joint decision. I love reading, music, travelling, cooking, pencil sketching and gardening and certain aspects of these are reflected in my home. As regards interior design, I dislike ornate décor as also too many heavy, dark pieces of furniture. I am not a fan of opulent or a kitschy look.The preference is towards a look that is natural, clean, uncluttered with an understated elegance. We pick up whatever we love and then mix it with our existing stuff. So it could be something during our travels or ancestral, we don’t believe in following any particular style because it seems like it limits our choices. But yes, we do hate the false-ceiling-decorated-look." We hear you loud and clear Hemangini, not a fan of it either!

When it comes to the subject of flowers, Hemangini is a lady after my own heart. She loves to bring the outdoors in with groupings of fresh flowers in every nook and corner of her home. For instance, on the coffee table, she has employed a brass container from a kabaddi store in Surat to house these radiant sunflowers. She also managed to salvage a coconut scraper from Jew Town, Kochi that is currently serving as a wooden tray! 

The entryway of the home, hosts a collage of the family's art. Batik Ganapatis were picked up from the first ever Kala Ghoda Arts Festival, Mumbai. The Tanjore painting of Goddess Lakshmi casually propped against the wall, was a parting gift from a friend in Chennai. As you can see, the little console illustrates the style that follows in the rest of the home. The artwork is prudently paired with a stone sculpture of Ganapati picked up from Siem Reap, Cambodia. 

The living room boasts of a pared down, simplistic style with an underlying color scheme in an oatmeal shade. Chestnut stained furniture and warm bright hues are used as accent colors to add a little verve to this space. No-fuss surfaces and a conscious effort to edit their collection imbues the home with a relaxed, casual mood.  

In the far corner of the living room, the warm glow of brass seeks attention. The exquisite Radha-Krishna idols are from Bengaluru and made of an alloy of bronze and brass.

Thoughtfully put together vignettes are scattered throughout the home making it a visual feast for the onlooker. This beautiful vignette comprises of a Ram- Sita wood carving from Ubud, Bali, lac containers from Myanmar and a potted green for that splash of freshness.

It's commendable how Hemangini has played with textural variations. Tactile beauty at its best........Burmese sculpture of bell/gong ringers sourced from Myanmar is prudently paired with a Raphis palm.

Another grouping of treasured possessions - Buddha and disciples (originally part of a 7-piece set) from Myanmar, horse table from Jodhpur and recycled Spanish glass bowl with floating sunflowers.

This was the lovely lounging nook that I had seen on Hemangini's Instagram gallery that ticked off the entire house tour episode! Isn't it perfect!This is Hemangini preferred place to relax, "The Chaise Lounge is my favorite place to read, savor a hot cup of tea or simply relax." The Indonesian Mirror Frame was bought in Dubai, the teal vase is a Khan Market, Delhi find and the Chaise Lounge is from Ikea. 

You can't go wrong with a composition of books, fresh flowers and a teal mosaic teapot from Leh! Decor advice from Hemangini, "It may sound cliche but I absolutely believe in using/buying something I totally love. Then it’s easy to work it into my existing decor. Am a believer in "Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication”."

A hand-crafted Moroccan lamp is turned on to drive the evening gloom away! The bamboo-handled vase is from Auroville, small bowls from a local pottery exhibition and a pencil sketch inspired by Raja Ravi Varma's "The Milkmaid" was done by Hemangini herself.

The chair you see here is a prized possession of the family... a set of two, these were handmade by Hemangini's husband's grandfather over 80 years ago.Very fond of working with wood, he used his spare time to engage in creating beautiful creations out of this medium.

A grouping of earthen pots from Indonesia and Delhi make for a lovely corner. The Iranian Kilim bought in Dubai defines the living area and adds the much needed warmth to the cold Gurgaon winters.

A potpourri of African dolls, woven basket from Malaysia, seashell container from Dubai, another pencil sketch by he homeowner and some long stemmed Gladiolas make an interesting corner.

Antique dancing Buddha is another find from Siem Reap, Cambodia. More floating sunflowers in a copper urli from Coppre. Here's what Hemangini had to say about influences on her design style, "My Mom has always inspired me to keep a beautiful home. She did a marvelous job at a time when decor stores in India were non-existent. I have always been interested in home decor and would devour all the fabulous decor books in the library right since my college days!"

A collection of musical instruments from the continent of Africa make for a rustic, global display. 

Masks brought back from a holiday to Venice are framed beautifully in an Ikea Shadow box. The Black-n-White painting below it was done by the 14 year old as a school Art class project. Hemangini managed to coax the teacher to part with it, now proudly displayed as part of the wall collage in the living room!

Clockwise from left: An assortment of Blue-n-white vases makes for an attractive display. The collection comprises of tealight holder from Jaipur, Delft pottery from Holland and more ceramics and glass finds that are part of the vignette as they come from the same color family of blue. A closer look at the Ganesha from the entryway; The copper container is from the bylanes off Juma Masjid, New Delhi and hosts a generous bunch of Queen Anne's lace; and musicians are from Vietnam.

Hemangini loves to swap out her decor accessories every now and then to keep the ambiance looking fresh and interesting. Here, the Indonesian masks from Java are replaced with a Turkish ceramic plate. The carved wooden plate is from Surajkund Mela, Faridabad and the vermilion jewelry box from Trivandrum, Kerala.

Hemangini says the rental pad posed many decorating challenges as the wall colors were boring, kitchen uncomfortable and dark and certain corners of the apartment such as the dining area do not get enough natural light. However, the challenges did not preclude Hemangini from creating an evolved, inviting and initmate space that downplays the negative aspects of a rental property and highlights the inhabitants personality, interests and their well traveled life.

The bedroom is a calming landscape done up in shades of white that oozes a hideaway vibe. The bedside table is uncluttered and organised, with a stem or two of fragrant roses to delight the senses. Describing what a home means to her, Hemangini shares, "A place which exudes love, warmth comfort and beauty. It has to have aesthetic appeal to soothe and calm one after all the stresses of the outside world."

With that its a wrap people! I'd like to thank Hemangini and her wonderful family for letting us tour their beautiful home despite their agenda to pack and move. We wish you all the very best and  another wonderful decorating journey in the new home:) 

(Image Credit: Hemangini Hoskote, do NOT use the image/images from the blog without prior written permission of the homeowner and TECD) 

Flea Market Loot!

Adopting an “Eclectic style” can be quite liberating when it comes to design dilemmas, don't you think? Here is my take on why I say so - it gives you the artistic freedom to pool together diverse styles, cultures and periods. The combination of different styles and cultures coming together is wonderful but the one thing that is imperative for me is that the home should feel warm and lived. For a home to emote that kind of a vibe, I think one must layer the home with a good mix of pieces from different periods. The worn surfaces, washed-out colors and peeling patina and paint of vintage treasures have the magical ability to infuse a room with character and an informal vibe that says come and sit awhile and put your feet up.

Like I’ve said earlier, flea markets are a great place to score vintage finds. And summer is the best possible season to explore them. If you are considering design on a dime, flea market style is definitely the way to go. I love the way my eight year old sums up the affordability factor, " Mom, really! For the price of an ice-cream you can get a painting?" Well, if you put it that way, then I say the ice-cream can wait and let's go on that flea market jaunt!

After all the rummaging what did we find, you ask? We scored some 1930s British Regimental illustrations. The print on the right depicts “The 10th Royal Hussars (Prince of Wales's Own)”, a cavalry regiment of the British Army from 1715 to 1969 while the print on the left, shows Skinner's Horse (1st Duke of York's Own), cavalry regiment of the Indian Army, which served in the British Indian Army before independence. I just love the aged tonal quality of the print - it is anything but a factory churned production of today!

Next on my list of the flea market loot, is the Hellenic glass set complete with a brass wire holder from the Jeanette Glass Company. The Grecian patterns pop against a sea-foam green and are reminiscent of Wedgewood design. These are sometimes hard to come by as Jeanette Glass shut down in 1983.

My final score, a vintage ceramic two tone milk jug that I’ve re-purposed as a vase! 

So what say, ice-cream or vintage style?

Images are the property of Sruthi Singh and subject to copyright. Please do not use without prior written permission.

Decorating Creatively

The star of my post today is the modest mortar and pestle or the "Sil Batta" (in Hindi). Wait ! I promise you it is going to be a decor related post. But first, let us revisit how the (now disappearing) sil batta was an indispensable tool in the traditional Indian kitchen. It was predominantly used to prepare fresh spice mixes for cooking. I remember my nani using a sil batta to make masalas for curries. She preferred the sil batta to the electric mixer and grinder as the natural oils and the flavor essences that are contained in the herbs or spices were kept intact. She explained to me that by choosing the convenience of an electric grinder, one was not only compromising on the aroma but also the taste as the herbs and spices tend to get over heated with the grinder blades being operated at high speeds. So no surprises there why nani's food is so sought after and cannot be replicated.

A couple of days ago, a brand new mortar and pestle, replaced my old stainless steel mortar. I did not have the heart to throw the old one away and came up with this idea of using it as a vase! Anyone who has been a reader of TECD long enough knows of my infatuation with flowers and finding unconventional containers as vases to house them. I have two different versions to share with you'll - the first one, an antique brass mortar in a traditional ethnic setting and the second, a stainless steel mortar in a more eclectic-modern  setting.

A bunch of red roses packed tightly into the antique brass mortar look stunning ! To complete this vignette, I've paired a Green Aventurine Natural Stone Ganesha statue with a Ravi Varma's " Yashoda & Krishna" oleograph. A couple of bead malas ( like the rudraksha, lotus seeds and the sandal wood), I picked up from a street vendor in Malleshwaram (Bangalore) add textural charm to the vignette.

For this vignette, I have a cluster of deep maroon colored mums tucked into my stainless steel mortar. Then I went ahead and paired it with my favorite Buddha. When you actually think of it, teal and maroon seems like a dubious combination. But I like the looks of it. What say ? 

No matter which style you choose, the bottom line is, be creative and make the things you've got, work for you !

Images: Clicked by Sruthi Singh. Please do not use without prior written permission. 

Images are the property of Sruthi Singh and subject to copyright. 

I Feel Good !!!!

It feels good be back after the digital detox and I hope the holidays was just as relaxing for you too. I haven't made any specific resolution except for the fact that I wish to tackle 2015 with the curiosity of a 2 year old, the energy of a 20 year old and the maturity of a 70 year old. Being aware of the fact that this year brings with it 365 + possibilities to make it productive and creative is fascinating to me !!!

And taking the creative aspect seriously, I had to start with the blog. As you can see, there have been a few changes at TECD. We have a new logo and banner on our FB page, a new tag line and banner for the blog and a few updates to my About and Features and Mentions pages. 

And now for a few updates.....January is going to be a busy month at TECD. I have a string of wonderful and inspiring posts I'd like to share with you'll. Highlights being a tête-à-tête with one of my favorite artists and a Home Tour in true TECD style. So giddy up and stay connected......... 

Images: Clicked by Sruthi Singh. Please do not use without prior written permission. 

Images are the property of Sruthi Singh and subject to copyright. 

Color it Autumn

When the first leaves of Autumn break free and sway to the persuasive winds and the diligent little squirrels hoard their bounty of acorns that they've painstakingly rounded up, you know it's time to start tweaking the corner's of your home to be in sync with the changing season. Autumn's inviting palette with it's rich and comforting earth tones makes decorating for Autumn, a natural and easy task. 

I've kept my base color of orange and brown in the sun room and have gone ahead and added hints of teal, lavender and mustard to alleviate what other wise might be a stodgy color scheme.The India Circus Peacock cushion in teal, is a go to favorite of mine and fits the color scheme I had in mind perfectly. 

I harvested the last of my lavender flowers for the season. Using a copper watering can to house these beauties, it ties in perfectly with the other accents in the room. My copper watering can was a Target find (last summer from the clearance section). Priced at $6, it was in my shopping cart without a second thought. (Tip: End of the season sales and a keen eye can result in some great deals.) This watering can seems to be popular and I spotted it in the September  2014 issue of the Matchbook Magazine "Get the Look" section !!!   

As pools of sunlight warm the space and gradually release the restorative aroma from the lavender, I'm consumed by the beauty that nature so abundantly showers on us. To experience and connect with it, is nothing short of a blessing.......

Have a wonderful day !!!

Images: Clicked by me. Please do not use without prior written permission. 

Images are the property of Sruthi Singh and subject to copyright.      

Zen is in the Details

Don't you think that our homes shape us as much as we shape them ??? Taking the time to create unique, calming and inspiring spaces, not only indulges ones artistic preferences but also feeds the inner psyche. Thus, the process of home making is an interactive undertaking that is ever evolving with the passage of time and our maturing tastes. I've found my design style and by sharing a few eclectic zen vignettes from my home, I'm here to help you explore and discover your own personal style and create enchanted corners in your home that pitch in towards the building of the ultimate sanctuary. So let's get started and peruse the compositions, colors, textures and design elements of the various eclectic zen vignettes from my entryway to the ones transforming my coffee table.

The entry way is a great place to build anticipation and set the mood for what's in-store, as you cross the threshold. My prized flea market find - a red Chinese console sets the tone in my entry way. Accompanying terracotta Buddha head (that was painted black to enhance the details of the Buddha) and an unpretentious orchid complete the entryway vignette and set the ball rolling for an eclectic yet zen theme.

The experimental streak in me animates this vignette that's laden with zen appeal. Consider combining things that strictly don't go together. You'll be surprised at the results. I've used only four elements in this vignette. The gold painted Buddha and the mani prayer wheel from Nepal bring the zen factor to the vignette. A traditional south Indian urli displaying a fresh cut dahlia from the garden adds color and contrast. A walnut wood box with iconic Kashmiri carving exemplifies the importance of textural charm and provides storage for unsightly objects that need to be stashed away.

Dedicating a corner of your dresser to decorative accents like the Buddha hand mudra presents a wonderful opportunity to add a little extra zen to your busy mornings. It perfectly serves it's dual purpose as a jewelry organizer and  secondly as the ideal zen decor accessory thus exuding emotional resonance to help you stay focused and get ready to tackle a day that's filled with tasks that battle for priority.

Dead spaces in the home, beg for your creativity. A surprising alternative to a console, is a bevy of books stacked together with a wooden plank to form a sketchy version of a console. At the center piece of this vignette, is a canvas stenciled with the  Buddha silhouette. It's not only an artful addition to your home but it also reinforces the theme of zen. (Read more about the artwork here.)

Bring your walls to life with a Tibetan Thangka Painting. The iconography on this Thangka painting referred to as "The Wheel of Life" is incredibly rich and epitomizes exclusivity that's associated with handmade. Intricately painted details (like the sacred images of the Buddha, Bodhisattva deities and other ritual symbols), in saturated tones not only brightens my home but also my very soul.

I had to pull up this image from the archives of TECD posts as it's one of the most popular images doing the rounds on Pinterest. This eclectic zen vignette breaks the rule that zen means neutral and minimalistic. You can sate your thirst for color and still achieve a Zen  vibe. My most cherished Buddha lends his presence to  this reading nook that's soaked in color and texture. 

Be off beat with your approach and let your creativity get the better of you. Transform a coffee table in a few minutes with a stone carving mimicking the Buddha eyes on the great stupa of Boudhanath,  together with a collection of river pebbles. Isn't this a a refreshing take on a zen vignette ??? 

I do hope that by visiting the TECD today, you have received your dose of zen inspiration. Do write in to me if you'd like to share your zen creative spaces and vignettes with us and I'd gladly 

showcase it here on TECD.

Happy decorating !!!

Images: Clicked by me. Please do not use without prior written permission. 

Images are the property of Sruthi Singh and subject to copyright.