Siam Sawadee (Featured Shop)

Today, I take you all the way to Chiang Mai in northern Thailand to feast your eyes on some unique and exotic Oriental artifacts. I've been asked many a time to refer a store that specializes in trading Oriental decor artifacts. And I think I have the answer for you:) "Siam Sawadee" is an online store that does just that and retails via Etsy. I personally think, they have the most beautiful, authentic and unique collection of Oriental artifacts. I reached out to Eve Naewmuang, the owner of Siam Sawadee to know more about this wonderful store. In an exclusive interview with TECD, Eve tells it all.....

TECD: Hello and welcome to TECD, Eve ! I love hearing about stories of how a particular brand was established. I personally feel that knowing all there is to know about a brand/store not only helps me relate better to the brand but also gives me the direction to make a conscious decision to support creative souls (like you) that are striving to further a cause or provide support to the communities they thrive in.  Tell us how Siam Sawadee came together?
Eve:"I started Siam Sawadee with my partner about 2 years ago. We are both avid travelers and love nothing more than collecting on our many adventures in and around south east Asia. One hot and dusty afternoon we stumbled across a border market town with so many treasures, instantly we decided that the world needed to see such beauty. Hence our motto "From the heart of Asia, to the heart of your home". We feel that usually people would not get to purchase such rare and unique items. So we find it exciting to give that opportunity to 'stumble' across a market from the comfort of your home. We decided to settle in Chiang Mai, as this is the epi-center of all things craft."

"Siam Sawadee" has an exotic feel to it and it simply translates to "Hello Thailand"! Siam is the old name for Thailand before the revolution about 100 years ago. Eve says she actually prefers the name Siam to Thailand as it sounds more romantic. So she incorporated Siam into the name as it's a throw back to an earlier time, much like the beautiful and exotic finds she sells at her store. And it goes without saying that Sawadee means "Hello" in Thai. 

TECD: What aspect of oriental decor are you drawn to?

Eve: "Oriental decor is not only about function and design but also heritage and culture. Our decor incorporates thousands of years of Asian artisans working to decorate the houses of Kings, nobles and lords of our lands. I love to have a bit of history in our home, makes me feel as important or at least as ostentatious as a royal. We like to offer that to our customers too."

TECD: We'd love for you to share with us your most unforgettable experience since starting the store?

Eve :"My most memorable item was of a 4 ft Burmese puppet called "Tossakan" from the fable 'Ramakien'. He was an eight armed "bad-guy" but my partner and I loved him dearly, he seemed to give us good luck. We had forgotten that he was listed so were heart broken when the Etsy "Ka-ching" was heard and realized we had sold him. The buyer though was over-joyed to find such a magnificent piece so we know he went to a good home."

Siam is a fair trade business and believes in giving back to the community.....Eve says, "As mentioned before, the items we sell will never be found at your local high street. We work with local artisans and crafts people who have had their skills handed down to them for generations. I don't think Bed, Bath & Beyond can claim the same lineage. Our work also supports the local communities with a massive boost to our local economy as we have now employed local people to help, not only the artists, but the logistics of wrapping 8ft wall panels, or carrying 20 items to the post office, we have a happy team at Siam Sawadee."

A round-up of some of my absolute favorites from the store:

Looking for ways to add a little color to your kitchen? These hand-painted decorative containers are traditionally used in Asian homes to store rice. How about Styling these on the counter tops along with a mint or coriander plant!

Siam Sawadee has over a 100 different rice baskets to choose from. The task of picking out a favorite one can be quite time consuming as each one of them has some splendid hand painted detailing in many hues to choose from!  

Another specialty of the store are these enormous Balinese Wood Wall Art ! These teak wood mandala like panels with their three dimensional intricate designs are sure to bring the exotic vibe to any space. Use it as wall art or prop it as a head board.

This grouping of Burmese monks is a perfect addition to your home or garden ! You can read more about my fascination with Burmese decor right here.

Burmese lacquerware...sigh! This intricately handcrafted container is a rust shade is the perfect accent to add to your coffee table. Either display it on its own or get a couple and start your own collection today !

Make sure you bookmark this wonderful store if you are looking to create a space with mixed influences. You could also connect with them via their FB page for regular updates. I would like to thank Eve for taking the time to share such wonderful stories with my TECD readers and wish her all the very best with Siam Sawadee!

Happy decorating and enjoy the rest of your weekend!

Images : Copyright/Credit or found on : Siam Sawadee 

Oriental Living Company (Featured Shop)

Oriental style furniture brings with it the balanced interplay of many elements - simplicity in design without sacrificing comfort, ingenuity of the artist's craftsmanship, distinct furniture lines carved from exotic hardwoods that are decorated with glossy lacquer finishes, detailed engravings and paintings…..All combined into an elegant whole adding character and personality to the room they adorn. If you've been on the lookout for authentic Oriental Furniture that can add to the aesthetic beauty of your home giving it a zen, well-traveled, eclectic vibe, your quest is over. Today we take a look at “Oriental Living Company” based out of India. 

Oriental Living is the newest online furniture boutique that brings exquisite, handcrafted antiques and reproductions of Oriental Furniture right to your finger tips. The lady and brain behind the label “Oriental Living” is Manisha Gandhi (We recently featured Manisha's beautiful home in the Real Homes, Real Designers segment. You may read more about the home tour right here). Having had the opportunity to travel and live in countries like Hong Kong and Vietnam and developing a deep erudition of the workings of the oriental decor and furniture industry, her love affair with oriental furniture has turned into a more long term commercial endeavor. 

TECD: Hello and welcome to TECD Manisha! Tell us a little about yourself and how your passion for furniture and design led you to  launch Oriental Living?

Manisha: “Thank you for having me on TECD, Sruthi. 

I was born and brought up in a culturally rich and diverse setting. I’m half Mallu, half Gujju, married into a MP family with two little girls. Like most B school graduates, I too aspired to be a part of the corporate world. The years I spent climbing the corporate ladder made me realize that it wasn’t meant for me. The gujju blood in me dragged me into being an entrepreneur. We were based out of Hong Kong when I started my sourcing firm. Being closer to China, I had the ability to source products for big retailers in India. Having worked with a lot of big brands and retail chains in India, I decided it was about time that I venture into the industry of furniture and design. Thus started the Oriental Living saga in 2007. Having been influenced by my parent’s love for colonial furniture, paintings and antiques, this seemed like the perfect undertaking for me to dip my hands into it as it had the best of both worlds that I love – decor&design and oriental furniture."

TECD: What is it about Oriental furniture that makes your heart tick ?

Manisha: “I think it is the clean lines, traditional methods of crafting, rich patinas and the ability to blend in with any setting...modern, traditional, neutral, highly colored...it looks great everywhere. It adds zen and harmony to the room it graces.” 

TECD: Tell us more about the range of Oriental furniture showcased at your boutique? 

Manisha: “Oriental Living features an amazing range of pieces. Some of which are the classic Horseshoe back chairs, colorful Chinese buffets, Ming dynasty style classic cabinets, blanket chests and antiques with carved iron hardware. The bulk of our antique furniture dates from the early 20th century, although some pieces are 18th & 19th century. A range of reproduction furniture is also available at Oriental Living.”

TECD: From what I've gathered, most of the pieces are originals that have been restored at your factory. Help us understand the process involved to make them market ready? 

Manisha: “Yes, most of these exquisite pieces are old and original and selected from different provinces in China, Mangolia and Tibet on the basis of their originality and patination. The process of restoration happens at our partner factory and our own warehouse located in India.” 

TECD : A word of parting advice for our women entrepreneurs who would like to take on a venture like yours?

Manisha: “My mother taught business management for over 30 years. So right from childhood, I was exposed to the word PRODUCT and understood how important it was to the business selling it. As an entrepreneur, I've learnt that if you like and believe in the product and love what you do, the product will sell.” 

And now for a special offer for the readers of "The East Coast Desi". A 10% discount is being offered on any of the pieces from the Oriental collection! All you have to do is mail Manisha at office@orientalliving.co.in  to avail the offer. Oriental Living ships free across Pan India ! For international shipping you may contact Oriental Living right here or connect via their FB page. 

Image Copy right/Credit : Oriental Living

A Spanish Abode with an Asian Soul (Home and Garden Tour)

With it's stucco walls, red roof tiles, patterned tile floors and spiral columns, the home of Juan Carlos Duperier and  Laurie Plessala Duperier is a creative collaboration of artful objects and covetable architecture. The home was designed from scratch by the Duperier couple incorporating Spanish architectural elements in an effort to showcase their cultural roots. Carlos says, "the process of designing your own home can be tremendously satisfying. You get to see an idea,style and a concept come alive." 

Carlos is a Madrid-born and bred, professional sportsman and was a professional soccer player in Spain and coached both in Spain and United States for most part of his life. Laurie was a business lawyer, and Vice-President and Associate General Counsel of a Fortune 10 company before the couple together, founded the "Duperier's Authentic Journeys". The company conducts extraordinary walking tour of the Camino de Santiago (in Spain) and promises an authentic experience of Spain itself. The couples work and their love for travel lead them to the United States, Hong Kong, Switzerland, Europe and Asia. Carlos goes on to explain how Spain and Asia (in particular) have had a strong influence on their design aesthetic in creating a place called home. Having fallen in love with the art, culture and people of Indonesia, the couple wanted to clone the feel of an exotic getaway right here, at home (US). A shipment (that took more than 3 months to arrive) laden with artifacts and statues that the couple had collected by scouring the local shops and markets during their sojourn in Indonesia, adds the Asian soul to this home.   

The impressive entrance enamors us with the innovative melange of Spanish and Asian elements. The bespoke Spanish colonial doors, sport the character marks of wrought-iron hardware and also combine Balinese style wooden carving at the crown.

A Pair of Spanish Revival style wall scones with verdigris finish and graceful brackets flank the main door. Balinese volcanic stone planters lend an exotic appeal to the entrance and helps integrate the Asian element with the Spanish architectural backdrop.

A view of the main door from the inside - the carved wooden panel creates an interesting play of light.

As we make our way in through the impressive entrance of the home, the interior space resonates with taste and style. Each room is a distinctive integration of art, architecture, function and comfort. An antique Chakki or the traditional mill stone from Indian subcontinent greets you at the entryway. The unconventional console table is a team mate of the Chakki. Originally used to clean grains before the grinding process in the Chakki, it's new pragmatic avatar is used to display an antique Chinese statue.

The entryway opens up to a cozy home office. Brightly colored Indian art and rugs, add visual appeal while the Buddha statue heads in every size, color and stone, ensure a serene ambiance and reinforce the owners love for Asian art and culture.

The formal living room, also functions as the family's music room. It doesn't come as a surprise that the Duperier couple are patrons of music and enjoy playing the guitar and piano at leisure. An antique Chinese rice storage basket called Dou is ingeniously transformed to serve as a coffee table with the simple addition of a glass top. At the far end of the room, an Indonesian Cabinet  serves as the perfect storage solution to house the family's collection of extra China.  

Bright unadorned windows flood the formal dining room with oodles of light. With no privacy issues to deal with, the couple loves the open uncluttered look. The star of the room is the dining table that seats a group of 10. Sourced from Indonesia, this beauty came along with the shipment. 

Visually enriching the niches in the formal dining room, are the Loro Blonyo statues (Clockwise from right). Loro Blonyo in Javanese literally means "two become one". The statues are a symbol of the God and Goddess of fertility in Javanese culture: Dewi (Goddess) Sri and God Sadono. The Javanese people believe these statues bestow happiness, fertility, good health and well-being to the family when made a part of the home.

More treasures from their globe trotting adventures :  

The Buddha feet, an antique said to have originally been found in Afghanistan was sourced by Carlos from New York.

The  facial expression of the kneeling Chinese statue, the painting titled Endless Path, the Tibetan singing bowl and the details on the cabinetry, not only tell a tale of a far off land but also remind us of the importance of intuitively seeking out things that have an association with our fondest memories and surrounding ourselves with these to make our homes, soulful spaces.

Finally, we make our way outdoors to the luxuriant garden generously sprinkled with volcanic stone statutes from Indonesia.. This 5 feet Balinese statute weighing more than 5000 pounds required some horsepower to get it where it stands majestically today.

The hand carved Balinese statues make every meandering corner of the garden a visual delight. The attention to detail on these carved pieces goes to show why the artistically driven folks did not settle for pieces coming off the assembly line.......

The home of Carlos and Laurie Duperier offers up imaginative and inspiring corners and throws spotlight on adopting the magpie tendency and seeking out things you love to live with. And finally, a note of Thanks to the wonderful couple for willingly sharing a few corners of their home with the readers of The East Coast Desi.

I hope you enjoyed the home and garden tour as much as I had fun working on bringing this to you !!! Stay happy and Inspired!!!

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

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

My Tryst with Burmese decor

While we are on the topic of Asian decor, I thought it would be in context to introduce my fascination with Burmese style of design. A late lunch at my favorite Burmese restaurant - A Taste of Burma (ATOB), gave me the opportunity to chat up leisurely with the lovely lady who runs the show at ATOB - Jona Davis. My family and I have been frequenting this restaurant for over 5 years now and it's an epicurean's delight. Authentic food and consistent taste served with an extra dose of hospitality is what leaves us begging for more..... 

On my recent visit to this place, I spotted some new additions to their decor. Jona had lugged back some distinctive Burmese decor from her recent travel to Burma. She was more than glad when I wanted to photograph it for my blog.

Burmese Lacquer ware tea pot

With my love for tea, it was no surprise that this lacquer ware tea pot appealed to my chai senses and it was the first one to be on the hot seat:) An antique, acquired by Jona's family and now hers is a prized possession. It's proudly displayed in the restaurant where Jona spends long hours and can enjoy it's beauty often.

The process of producing lacquer ware is an interplay of patience and collaboration. With most pieces taking upto a couple of months and the expertise of various artisans put to work at every step of the way, these pieces are more than a labor of love. Lac is the sap of an indigenous tree that is fashioned into these beautiful handicrafts by applying layer after layer to the core structure made of woven bamboo. The final stage is the one that puts the finishing touches on the object with the artisans engraving lines into the surface of the lacquer base and then, colored lacquer is applied to the lines, creating detailed embellishments such as scenery from every day life, figures, patterns, etc. 

Burmese lacquer ceremonial vessel (Hsun-ok)

The lacquer ware may be gilded and inlaid with glass creating an almost brass like effect as seen in this iconic Burmese lacquer pagoda shaped ceremonial vessel (Hsun-ok). It's used for presenting gifts of food as offerings to the Buddhist monasteries. It is a fascinating piece of handiwork and the intricate detailing is a work of art fit for a museum.

With my fascination for the Buddha and Asian decor, I was drooling over this set of wooden Buddhist monks. The aesthetics of Burmese design appeals to me as it's heavily influenced by it's neighboring countries like China and India to name a few and has it's deep rooted spiritual and religious references when it comes to art and architecture.

Love the patina on these Wooden Burmese monks

I wanted you'll to see how these beautiful Burmese decor elements have been incorporated into these Asian inspired living spaces. 

I hope you'll enjoyed the tryst with Burmese decor as much as I did. Have  a wonderful day and circle back with me for inspirational decor and fresh color palettes for the upcoming Ganesha Chathurthi celebration !!!

Images : (1,2,3 - Mine; 4,5 -Via; 6 -Via) 

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.