Antiquated Charm (Mini-Home tour)

Today we go all the way to Visakhapatnam in Andhra Pradesh to visit the home of poet and ardent reader of TECD, Aruna Patnaik. Aruna's collection of vintage artifacts and antiques is fascinating and so are the stories that accompany them. Isn't this one of the main reasons as to why we love a home tour? To hear the when, why and how of a particular piece being chosen and finding its way into the heart and home of its owners.

Let's cut right to the chase then shall we? Taking centerstage is the above vignette is a vintage, reverse glass painting of Gajendra Moksha. The painting, Aruna says is more than 80 years old and belonged to the royal family that once ruled a little hamlet called Mandasa in the Srikakulam district of Andra Pradesh. After marriage, Aruna had to move base to Mandasa where she up home in a bungalow that once belonged to a courtesan of the Rajah. Abandoned behind one of the doors in the bungalow, were 20 such paintings. On her first visit to inspect the bungalow, she heard a huge crashing noise only to realize that  someone's negligence had caused these lovely paintings to come crashing to the floor. Aruna could hardly believe what had just happened! She managed to save only two from the lot! After decades, it still has a place of importance in Aruna's home. Also seen in the frame above on the left, is an 18th century compass gifted to her by a cousin. Balancing it out on the right is an antique bowl weighing 3 kilos that Aruna managed to snag from a shop that sells steel kitchen utensils. The bowl was originally used by farmers to soak rice in butter milk that they ate for breakfast before heading out to the fields for the day. But now Aruna uses it to float flowers. 

At the far end, you can get a glimpse of the other reverse glass painting. This one features the Vaman Avatar.

Another lovely vignette where a collection of Kerala "Kindis" is arranged following the rule of height. Accompanying them is a traditional bronze lamp  that was got in exchange for some steel utensils.  

Now isn't that a fascinating antique bed? Infant, one doesn't get to see these anymore! What if I told you, that something as beautiful as this was going to be used as firewood?? GASP!!!!  Apparently, this piece along with a gramophone and a grandfather's clock were being taken away by some residents of Mandasa to be used as firewood. An acquaintance of the family, realized that this would be a hideous waste of such lovely pieces and brought this to Aruna's attention. Without a moments hesitation Aruna, decided to rescue them by paying for it. Now, they steal the show in her guest bedroom.

You know of my obsession with plantation chairs, don't you??? I absolutely love how striking this corner looks by combining a vintage plantation chair with a contemporary looking copper pendant light (a gift from Aruna's son from Habitat, London). As for the chair, yes it has a story.  Over to Aruna, "The plantation chair belonged to the same royal family of Mandasa who lost all their riches in time and were selling away things. It broke my heart just imagining the difference in their life styles. But little did they know about how valuable these pieces were. They asked for a Godrej cupboard instead in exchange for this piece!" 

Another score, an antique book case that belonged to the royal family. Now, its filled with Aruna's collection of books and a few other vintage brass artifacts. 

With that we come to the end of our mini-home tour. I hope you enjoyed the glimpses of this lovely home. Thank you Aruna for sharing lovely corners of your home with my TECD readers. We wish you all the very best!

(Image Credit: Aruna Patnaik. Please do not use the images for commercial or non-commercial purposes without the prior consent of the home owner or TECD)

As "Indianly" Rustic as It Gets (Farm House Tour)

Imagine being able to escape the city's humdrum, the deafening noise and the toxic pollution to a serene sanctuary where all that  surrounds you is the symphony of the whirring of the crickets, the squawking of the parrots and the neighing of horses. Air so fresh that a breath of this is as invigorating as an hour of a yoga session. And to top it all, the drive to this dream destination is only a stone's throw away from the city! Sounds too good to be true???

Not for real estate magnate, Jayesh Patel. The man loves his horses and farm like no other and definitely lives life large. Welcome to Jayesh Patel's traditional Indian style farmhouse, lovingly called the "Desai Vadi" (location - Kanjri (Gujarat, India)). Every evening after work his ritual involves driving himself to the farmhouse to spend some quality time with his prized horses and farm animals. This is his way of unwinding and replenishing his energy, to tackle another day of  busy city life. 

The Man - Jayesh Patel with his favorite mare, Laxmi.

The main entryway

The idea of owning a  farmhouse had been marinating in Jayesh's thoughts for a long time. Seeing and experiencing the relaxed life at his dad's farmhouse, had made Jayesh decide that he wanted to own one of his very own. His equestrian interests further fueled this thought. Jayesh decided to bring architect Pranav Patel and Meghna Patel on board to pilot his dream project. Together, they were able to complete Desai Vadi in a time span of 11/2 years. The result is an elegantly rustic 1,100+ sq ft space with a living, kitchen and sprawling verandah that honors traditional Indian style of architecture.

He says the effect of red tiled roof, a sweeping courtyard surrounding the farmhome, carved pillars and doors, in a rustic setting, effortlessly aides in melting away the layers of stress brought on by the city life. Imagine basking in the sun-toasted verandah with a cup of chai! This potent combination can only have a therapeutic effect and act as the quintessential laid-back tonic, won't you agree???

Jayesh's artistic capture of the traditional bullock cart used as a sculptural element in the courtyard.

A khatiya/charpai used for lounging in the sun-kissed verandah. Don't miss the earthenware pots with the painted handiwork of artisans that were specifically called to get the desired rustic effect.

Jayesh wanted to deliberately keep the feel of the farmhouse interiors, folksy and relaxed. Without making the decor overbearing, he opted for the traditional Lipan work to do the trick. Artists from Kutch were called in to work their magic. And in no time, the walls had a bejeweled feel with the mirror work shimmering from the pendant lights suspended from the wooden beams above (another beautiful architectural feature).

Ample seating with slip cover style cushions for comfort make it a clever and easy to maintain option. Pops of color are brought in with glass work cushions covers that are so abundantly available in Gujarat:)

A closer look at the details that make this space what it is! 

A view of Desai Vadi in the evening light!

Putting this feature together has only made my decision to retire in a little farmhouse (on the outskirts of Bengaluru) that much more stronger. 

I can't thank Jayesh enough for being so wonderful, responsive and patient through this entire process of putting this feature together. It has been such a pleasure coordinating with him! Jayesh wishing you the very best! 

Finally, I'm so glad that what started brewing almost 6 months ago has taken shape to share with my TECD readers. I hope you'll enjoyed the Desai Vadi tour as much as I had fun putting this together for you. 

(Image Credit/Courtesy: Jayesh Patel, All images are the property of Jayesh Patel and may not be used for commercial or non-commercial purposes without his prior written consent.)

Traditional Redux

Set in a small town in north central New Jersey, the Mehrotras home embraces traditional over modern, comfort over design rules and soul over trends. Having lived in this house for over 16 years, the Mehrotras are embracing a new stage in their life being empty-nesters, as their twin girls, Isha and Shree are off to college. Anjali Ganeriwala, grew up in Calcutta and moved to the US to pursue undergraduate studies in 1987 and has been in NJ ever since. With a background in Computer Science, she's currently transitioning to yet another career as a college admissions counselor. Prashant Mehrotra too studied engineering but sales seemed to be his area of calling. The couple met while they were studying at Stevens Institute of Technology in Hoboken, NJ and the rest is history.....The college sweethearts share common interests when it comes to decor, travel, food and Bollywood movies. One look at their home and their passions are mirrored in every nook and corner of their home.

A stunning antique door from a haveli in Rajasthan adorns the entryway. A lucky score from ABC Carpet & Home, the elaborately carved piece asserts the style adopted for the adjoining rooms. Potted beauties are brought indoors to breathe in some color and seasonal appeal into the interiors.

Craftsman style homes have a lot of character and Anjali's way of curating and furnishing her home, perfectly complements the warm wood elements and architectural details that are found so generously in all areas of the home. This is what Anjali had to share when asked about her decorating style, "I would call my style – colorful and very quality conscious. I tend to always look for quality over quantity and avoid kitsch like the plague. I love color and can never have too much of it! But the high ceilings and open architecture of my house have forced me to keep colors neutral and play around with accent colors to define each space." 

The formal living room screams cozy grandeur with earthy tones dominating the scene while peaches, coral and rust are thrown in for striking visual appeal. Traditional, big, statement pieces come together to create a dramatic effect while art, travel treasures, books and family pictures add the personal touch!

Luxurious Kanjivaram silk saris have been restyled as swag window treatments that cascade down the sides of the window softening the look of the space. The corresponding sari blouse pieces have been made into  custom cushions that spice up the muted colored couch and chairs. The collection of watercolor artwork behind the couch has sentimental value as the artist is none other than Anjali's sister.

The Mehrotras love collecting coffee table books from the different places that they visit. In the living room, Anjali has creatively piled a bunch of books on a wooden ‘paata’ with an enameled plate on top to serve as a side table where guests can put down their drink.

Another simple yet colorful vignette includes this silver statue of Dhola and Maru (a couple whose tragic story is the basis of many songs and told throughout Rajasthan) was bought while on a visit to Udaipur. 

Anjali clearly wanted her home to showcase their Indian roots and her love for Indian fabrics and textures. Though she would have loved to have custom work done but labor costs in the US and shipping costs from India made the ideas prohibitive. So she scouted high and low in stores like ABC and Pier One to find pieces that had an Indian vibe. The more traditional Kashmiri carpets were infact brought back in suitcases from their trips to India.

Adorning the stairway, a collection of odds and ends come together to make an interesting collage. Print blocks that have been repurposed as hooks (sourced from Anokhi) are juxtaposed with mini-terracotta masks (Kolkata) and carved wooden lizards (Mexico). The Rajasthani puppet adds a splash of vivid color and mimics the girl in the painting.

Furniture from Ethan Allen sets the tone for this grandiose style formal dining. Butter colored walls are the perfect backdrop for rust and wine colored patterns that dominate the room to create an intimate ambiance. On the far end of the dining room wall, actual menus from two of the top restaurants (the original Bouley of NYC (then consistently ranked as best restaurant in the 1990s) and Mama’s Fish House in Maui) that Mehrotras have dined in over the years is framed and hung, to remind them of some wonderful time spent with family. Other decorative wall art includes Talavera pottery from Mexico and other art pieces collected by the family.

Art forms the soul of this home. Clockwise from left: The painting above the fireplace is a signed limited print by famed Telangana artist Thota Vaikuntam. Next a sketch that Anjali herself did as a teenager is framed and displayed on the book shelf. She fondly recalls that this was the view from her bedroom window while she was in Kolkata. The set of two paintings by an unknown artist were sourced from Jehangir Art Gallery. Anjali says that the paintings were an investment with the intent to support deserving artists.

Another very special piece of framed art is a custom piece that Anjali gifted her husband on their 20th anniversary telling the story of how they met. She specially commissioned a Bollywood hoarding painter in New Delhi to create this one-of-a-kind piece. 

Head this way to the family room which is the hang out zone for the family. Much like the other rooms in the house, the family room too has an open layout, abundance of natural light and high ceilings . Neutral shades are spiced up with splashes of orange and green. The collage of paintings on the wall is priceless as they are done by various members from Anjali's family.  

 Another view of the family room. 

Quoting Anjali on what the word "home" means to her, " A place that you are happy to come to at the end of a long day. That was something my husband and I prioritized in every home we lived in. We were willing to compromise on other expenses but we felt it was important to have a home we were proud of and enjoyed since we spend so much time in it. Even today I constantly look at my home and sometimes I feel like it’s a dream – I can’t believe I live here!" 

The kitchen is Anjali's favorite space in the house. Utilitarian in every respect yet spiffy enough to entertain when friends drop in for dinner. "This is a room that I got to design – I picked out the cabinets, the island, the granite, the tile…everything! At the same time I was able to put in personal touches like a book shelf for my cookbook collection, a custom rack to show off my Le Creuset pots and a pin board made entirely of corks from the wines we had consumed. I truly enjoy cooking so I was also able optimize the layout of the appliances to make it easy to chop, cook and clean-up in one corner."

And finally a look at their daughter's (Isha) room. Isha had two specific requests while decorating her room. One that it should reflect her Indian heritage and two, by no means she wanted it to be girly. So they choose a color scheme of blue accented with orange. Block-print style bedding and Indian accents from Good Earth and Pier One pull the room together for a youthful vibe.

I'd like to conclude this feature by thanking the Mehrotras for letting us tour their beautifully decorated private abode that embodies everything the family so earnestly values - aesthetics, heritage, global culture, art and ingenuity. I wish them with only the best things that life has to offer!

(Image Credit: Anjali Mehrotra, The images may NOT be copied /used for commercial or non-commercial purposes without the prior written permission from Anjali Mehrotra and TECD)

Ethnic-Bohemian Symphony (Home Tour)

Today, we travel all the way to Edmonton, Alberta in Canada to tour the beautiful home of Shivangi and Naren. Shivangi currently juggles a full time job as an Inventory Management Associate and a CPA, while Naren works in the mental health field. Both trained Bharatanatyam dancers and actively involved in various Indian cultural activities, they also share a passion for home decorating. The couple describes their style of decorating as “Ethnic-Bohemian, with a touch of contemporary”. This style of decorating marries traditional ethnic art, pots of lush greens, rich jewel tones with an abundance of flickering mood light.

Let's start with this charming zen corner. One of the very first purchases that made it to the Shivangi's list of must-haves, this Buddha statue from Pier1 was love at first sight. Shivangi says, "In fact, I saw this piece in the store, way before we had bought our home. But the moment I laid eyes on it, I knew it would have a very special place in my home. To make the most of the corner space, we used wall decals to create a Bodhi tree effect." Apart from Pier1, Art&Light, GoodEarth, Fabindia, Chumbak and Harabu House feature in the couple's list of favorite decor stores.

 The brass Nataraja Statue was a thoughtful gift from a loved one. It sits pretty on the TV console echoing the couple's love for dance. 

Shivangi declares the living room as their favorite haunt to lounge and relax,"Every single piece of furniture and decor was purchased after much deliberation. We took our time to decorate our first home together and didn't rush to fill up the empty spaces."

Shivangi's collection of decor accessories revolves around brass figurines and elephants and horses of various sizes and materials. Clockwise from top-right: The brass tonga was also a gift from a loved one. The brass vilakkus are heirloom treasures passed down to Shivangi from her mother-in-law. Extreme-left : The Ambari Elephant from Mysore was a parting gift from one of Naren's dance students. 

Quoting Shivangi,"Naren and I really enjoy decorating our place with souvenirs from our vacations, gifts from dear ones, and various memorabilia. I feel like it adds more personality and charm to a home, especially when each article has a story to tell. When you live in country like Canada, where 75% of the year is spent in -20 degrees weather, you're left with no other option but to bring the outside indoors. I try to achieve this by owning lots of house plants (much to my husband's dismay), and incorporating fresh flowers every now and then."

Artifacts from Sri Lanka too add to the decor drama at home. Tapestries depicting Kandyan dancers grace the walls of the formal dining room. Another decor favorite seems to be the masks from Sri Lanka, "Naren and I had a layover at the Colombo airport en-route to Maldives for our honeymoon. We made the most of our time by checking out the handicraft stores run by the Sri Lankan government. We were told that each of these masks have a different meaning. The larger mask that hangs in our living room is said to banish enemies and invite friendships, so apt for our new home."

The couple's South Indian roots are reflected in their kitchen menu that features filter coffee, masala dosa and elaichi kufi for dessert.

The master bedroom is a calming retreat done up in shades of taupe and azule with shades of white as a highlight hue. More candles and fresh potted plants complete the look.  

Thank you Shivangi and Naren for reaching out to TECD and letting us tour your beautiful abode. We wish you all the very best!

(Image Credit: Shivangi and Naren, Please do NOT use the images without the prior written permission of the home owners)