A Tour of Rosie's Retreat Homestay (Lakeside)

With sweeping views of man-made Lake Pachola, this Airbnb homestay is a hallmark of individuality and ethnic style done right! Rosie's Retreat Homestay (Lakeside) blends beautifully into Udaipur's architectural backdrop with emphasis being on a place of escape and relaxation.This quaint two story apartment is owned by Rosie Cornwallis and is filled with architectural niches and arches, tribal treasures, art and antiques creating what I call "spirited interiors".

Let's start with a tour of the breath-taking master bedroom.....A carved stone jharokha not only serves to enhance the architectural quotient of the home but it also serves as one of a kind headboard. 

Image waking up in this bed with magical views of the beautiful lake! Do take note of the small spinning windows at the side of the bed for late night lake viewing. It doesn't get any more romantic than this, does it? 

Wooden beams decorating the ceiling and flat woven kilims on the floor bring warmth and character to this beautiful living room dressed with furniture in rustic wood tones.

Adorning this corner is a 1920's English chest-of-drawers with the Brijbasi prints of the Hindu Gods serving as art.

Drooling over this handpainted Jodhpur almari and the rustic bedroom door that leads to the breakfast courtyard.

More door love!

The alfresco breakfast nook located just off the bedroom seems like the perfect spot to enjoy some mouth watering parathas smeared with butter before one heads out to take in all that Udaipur (also known as "The Venice of the East") has to offer. Potted plants, granite carvings and a village carving of Mira guarding the doorway are simple touches that bring about a huge impact.

The house is fitted with an expansive private terrace complete with diwan style seating and a sigdi (firepit)  for some serious lounging.

And finally a view of the scenic sunsets from the terrace with the Amet Haveli and Leela Palace in the background. Now who wouldn't want a piece of this?

Images: Airbnb

Color Inspiration for a Cheery Summer Tablescape

When my family and I are entertaining and have a huge gathering of people, we try and keep things simple by serving food the buffet style. But any chance to organize a formal sit down dinner and no one gets as excited as me. I love setting the table and playing the good hostess. But that being said, I like tablescapes that look like a lot of effort went into creating them but the actual down time to create them is minimal. Today, I'm sharing a few frames of one such dinner party that we hosted recently. 

I opted for a color combination of pinks and ochers. With a salmon colored brocaded tablecloth as the base, peach colored roses mixed in with the wild mustard growing in my back yard and some dried lavender (sprays I had dried from the last season) seemed to make a pretty mix. Little bouquets of this combination in brass and copper antique containers were scattered through out the table. 

Since it was a dinner party, some pretty flickering frames would be a wonderful addition to the scene. Colored glass votive holders in shades of pink and yellow tie in the color scheme together.

I almost always try to use what I have and mix things up. You've seen most of these pieces as part of my other tablescapes like here and here. By getting a little creative and adventurous when it comes to color, you can get a whole new look every single time! 

You'll have an awesome day and don't forget to stop by the wonderful gallery of Studio Coppre's Instagram. I'm guest-gramming for Coppre this week and would love to see you there!

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

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

A Fresh Perspective on Your Possessions

When familiarity starts to breed monotony, it's time to move things around the house. Why you ask?? Just so that the eye is redirected and you have a new perspective on an otherwise old furniture or decor accessory that you own. It's important to bring about subtle changes and tweak the interiors to keep in-sync with our changing temperaments, maturing taste and of course the changing seasons.

From time to time, I give into the temptation to shop around my own home - redecorating at no cost (not surprised why my husband loves this concept:). Digging into my stash of accessories, I pull out pieces that I haven't seen in a while. Or if I have a particular color scheme in mind, I gather things from around the home that would complete the look that I intended to create. Today, I found my wooden Nandi calling out to me. Instantaneously, I knew I wanted to go in for the traditional combination of red and green. It has been my absolute favorite for as long as I can remember. Maybe it's because I associate it with one of the earliest images that I've swaddled away in my memory, of my mom looking stunning in a red and green Kanchi sari.

I brought out my red paisley cushion cover, a handwoven grass tray and an abstract painting that I created a while ago (random colors painted on a canvas and then pulled an old comb through it to create texture). The painting formed the perfect backdrop for the Nandi and all the colors were pulled together perfectly.

I was totally digging the way this Vignette turned out and the new dimension it added to my living room. In my rule book of decoration, my home is never considered definitively complete. I always see potential to make it work better. Cause once a place is considered downright complete, it kills the fervor of a decor enthusiast like me. What do you say ????

 Have a fabulous day !!!

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

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

A pinch of Indian Tradition - Kumkum containers

Today the spot light is on my collection of antique Indian Kumkum containers. For those of you not familiar with the word Kumkum - it's a powder used to make the decorative mark (also referred to as bindi in Hindi) that adorns the Indian woman's forehead. It has it's history rooted in a 5000 year old Indian tradition. Kumkum carries with it a plethora of connotations. It's said to have religious and spiritual significance, serves as a means to preserve the energy of the human body, and in the ancient days was an unspoken raconteur of a woman's married status. When it comes to the choice of color for a bindi, red dominates. Red embodies love and power (shakti) that women so rightfully exemplify.

Kumkum containers used by my mom sit pretty on my coffee table.

For me, kumkum is a word synonymous with my mom. She has been known to sport a relatively BIG bindi for as long as I can remember. The bindi only brought out her gorgeous Indian features. She is one of the very few women who I know, can carry a big bindi so effortlessly.

I remember when mom used to walk in every morning into her bedroom after her bath, I'd run and make myself comfortable on the bed so that I could watch her put on her bindi. She'd patiently open the various brass kumkum containers that sat pretty on her vanity. A pinch of the right shade of kumkum would be chosen to match her sari or salwar. She'd then make a perfect circle with her index finger, the size of a one rupee coin. The colored bindi was a wonderful contrast to her kohl lined eyes. Gently dusting off the kumkum powder that had made it's way onto the bridge of her delicately shaped nose, mom would glance at me and wait for a nod that signaled approval. I'd beam back at her and wonder if I could ever do justice to wearing a bindi in a similar manner...... 

The peacock detail in all the containers tie them together beautifully.

With time, the brass containers were replaced by newage decorative boxes that were gifted by my sister and me to mom for her kumkum collection. The antique brass kumkum containers then found their way to mom's coffee table as decor accessories and currently sit pretty on my very own coffee table here in the US.

One of my own finds from a street vendor back in India.

Finally, here's a picture of my mom so that nothing is left to your imagination. 

I will always treasure these gorgeous containers that constantly remind me of the most beautiful woman I know.........

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

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

Dip Into It !!!! (An Inkling on My Antique Inkwells)

I like accessories that tell a tale or two or have traces of time on them. I do not like to merely fill the room, but to decorate with pieces that reflect the personality of the people who live there. Clearly you can tell we love antiques and everything vintage.    

I have been lucky to own two antique Indian inkwells that are rare and make interesting pieces of decor to display. The round ink well was sourced by my dad from a flea market in India. The other dancing lady was what my husband and I found on one of our scouting trips back home.These gorgeous inkwells are made of brass and the dancing lady is unique, cause her torso forms the lid for the inkwell.

I love to group a collection together as it makes a big impact.

Think outside the box -  a metal pale used as a vase

I always like to know a little something about the beautiful pieces that I surround my self with. So some digging revealed that archaeological evidence exists that metallic ink-pots were introduced in the subcontinent by the Greeks and the Sakas (ancient tribe of Iranian origin) imitated them in terracotta. (Source: The Encyclopedia of Indian Archaeology edited by Amalananda Ghosh ). And then the 1880's saw the desertion of the inkwells with the invention of the first practical fountain pen. Some where along the way, these scarce and abandoned pieces turned from trash to treasure.

Antiques make interesting conversation pieces

This time my inkwells have been paired with the Purple Thistle. It is a common wildflower found here in Virginia at this time of the year. As interesting as they look these pretty flowers have spiky stems and leaves. I did have some... Oh... Agh... Ouch... moments in the process of trying to get them. Once dry, they turn white producing dandelion like seeds. On a breezy day the seeds look like a millions dandelions have been let loose.

The distressed metallic purple pail, I found at Target for a $1 and now it’s turned into a vase for a charming display. I placed a votive candle holder inside the pail to hold the water for the flowers. I even found a blue pail and could not resist it. I'll come with something for that. The possibilities are endless, let the creativity get the better of you. Have a great weekend!!! 

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

"My" Lady with the Lamp

I hope you guys had a wonderful weekend. It was a busy, fun filled weekend for my family. We had friends from India visiting us. There was a whole load of catching up to do as we were meeting after 5 long years. My 6 year old was super excited to have company.

Now coming to “Lady with the Lamp”. I’m NOT talking about the famous Indian painting by S.L.Haldankar. Unfortunately for S.L.Haldankar, this oil painting is sadly mistaken to be that of the renowned painter Raja Ravi Verma. What I love about this painting is the realistic style and the intricate details (the luminescent glow).Take one look at the painting below and you’ll know what I’m talking about.

Lady with the Lamp by S.L. Haldankar

I was referring to the brass Paavai Vilakku( as referred to in Tamil). It’s an oil lamp in the form of a lady holding a vessel with her palms. The Paavai Vilakku (the taller lady in the picture) is an heirloom piece that belonged to my great grandmother. The lamp is more than a hundred years old. It’s one of my prized possessions. On my vacation to India last summer, my mom was very generous and I soon had her lady with the lamp accompany me back to Virginia.

"MY " Lady with the Lamp

This form of lamp is said to be initiated by Roman settlers in south India. As time went by the artisans adapted them to suit the Indian needs and creative desires.

Don't be afraid to mix the old with the new

In the picture above the lady looks comfortable in her new setting for the evening paired with a carved wooden candle stand (from India) and a ceramic red jug (from Home Goods) holding Black-eyed Susan (best known wild flower). The name Black-eyed Susan comes from an Old English poem of the post-Elizabethan era entitled simply, “Black-Eyed Susan,” written by John Gay, 1685-1732.

Here is a close up of my collection of these charming ladies as they adorn my coffee table every single day.

Isn't this a wonderful way to enjoy a few minutes of "me time” on a summer evening on the deck ? 

Image 2,3,4 are clicked by Sruthi Singh.

(These images are the property of Sruthi Singh and are subject to copyright. Please do not use without prior written permission.)

Image 1 via blog.orangecarton.com