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)

An Intimate space as fresh as the Spring Greens

Today's bedroom in focus is a beacon of visual simplicity. Balancing the abundance of white and neutral shades in this bedroom are the pops of cobalt blue and cheerful fuchsia. With no dearth of windows and a view of the trees at all times, the light from the window bounces off the whites in the room making it bright even on a sunless day. This gorgeous room is put together by Pratiksha Tandon, an Architect and Interior designer, currently living in the bay area. Here's what Pratiksha had to share about her design aesthetics, "My design aesthetic has evolved over the years from living in different parts of north India then travelling to the east coast and now finally the west. Having lived in apartments throughout, I realized the value of having limited functional pieces of furniture which are versatile in their use. I personally like bright, clutter free spaces. I believe one can make any space beautiful by using things one already owns without indulging in expensive decor pieces, with a little bit of creativity and an eye for good composition. In addition to that I love layering different colors, textures, prints and fabrics in my styling."

Simple clean lines and a clutter free organised space allows the eye to travel unimpeded, bringing an instant calm and serenity that every private sanctuary should explicitly communicate.

As you can gather, Pratiksha believes in the art of mixing. Be it textures, colors or patterns she has a way with them. For the current bedding, she has effortlessly managed to intermix pieces from 3 different bedsets! A wicker basket from a thrift store finds a cosy spot on the nightstand as a plant holder. A few books and other tchotchkes complete this functional yet personality filled corner.

I'm not surprised when Pratiksha tells me that her favorite spot in the house has to be this little reading nook. Propped up with cushions in blues and whites, this corner allows one to be insync with the outdoors despite being comfortably seated inside.  

A bunch of very healthy succulent cuttings from a generous neighbor adorn the empty planters and vases. Prathiksha says, "I cannot imagine a home without plants. They infuse a space with so much life." I couldn't agree with her more.

With that we come to the end of this no fuss private sanctuary. Hope you took away some cues to see how you could infuse aesthetic charm and visual interest in an all neutral intimate space. Thank you Prathiksha for sharing your decorating tips and a slice of your haven with us on TECD. Should you wish to follow along with her on her decorating journey, connect with Prathiksha on Instagram.

(Image Credit/Copyright: Pratiksha Tandon. The images may not be used for commercial or non-commercial use without the prior written permission of  Pratiksha Tandon & TECD.)

Soft Landing (Featuring Freedom Tree)

If you follow me on Instagram you would know that I am very excited about my collaboration with Freedom Tree. Each of their products packs in so much. Energetic colors and strong print direction pump up the personality quotient of their products while their carefully selected materials and thoughtful design process unites great quality with authentic style. Their claim of "stimulating the freedom to have fun" is genuine. Freedom Tree’s incredibly stylish cushion covers truly made me leave my inhibitions behind and allowed the bohème in me to takeover. Damask Rose cushion cover from their latest collection aligns perfectly with the upcoming spring season. Feathery friends and floral patterns instantly bring the outdoors in. The Damask Rose cushion cover together with the solid kaki colored cushion made its way to our guest bedroom.

Decided to bring in more greenery and print, different materials and textures and top it off with some fun accessories. Result being a dowdy space was transformed into a mini-retreat in no time. (FYI – wall art is actually a plate charger and a woven tray.)

A close up of the fun prints and details!

Next, was the pretty blush pink silk cushion cover with the delicate red embroidery. The unusual color combination really got my creative juices flowing. I decided to design a whole room around this one. Added a lamp, a metal vase from Jaipur, books with spines in a coordinating hues, votive holders and Moroccan tea glasses and a touch of shine and shimmer through brass. 

The vintage brass Surahi is a cherished gift that a dear colleague/friend brought back from his homeland Azerbaijan.

For those of you who like exploring color options, experimenting with mixing and less matching and take delight in expressing yourself through your home, Freedom Tree is the answer to your décor queries. They also have a beautiful range of tableware, décor accessories, soft furnishings and furniture. A lot of their furniture pieces lean towards the mid-century modern style. However, they have recently launched a boho-licious collection with ornate carvings and all. The Bari bed  being a favorite!To browse their website or make an online purchase, click here.

(Image Credit/Copyright: Sruthi Singh. The images may not be used for commercial or non-commercial use without the prior written permission of  TECD.)

An Inextricable Indian connection (Living room tour of Sangita Pillai)

Recently I chanced upon Sangita Pillai's fabulous home via her Instagram gallery and immediately knew, I had to share it with my readers. So I reached out to her and what do you know! She obliged despite her very busy travel schedule. An engineer by education and an artist by passion, Sangita's intricate creations narrate her ability to combine her Indian influence with her global exposure. Sangita's penchant for color and experimentation is also mirrored in her beautiful home in Singapore. The home effuses a fantastic balance of color, aesthetics, inextricable Indian connection and captivating personal style. In Sangita's own words, "My decor style is a mix of the traditional with contemporary and a touch of eclectic. I love adding pops of color through my artwork and my furnishings." 

Potted plants, brass artifacts, hand-embellished and other curated artworks, compelling pops of color and eye catching patterns together with tons of natural light makes this space a dream. The neutral backdrop is the best contrast for the darker tones in the room. Everything is so seamlessly integrated into this warm and family friendly place.....It makes me wanna jump right through the screen and hang out here for a while......... 

The Ganesha artwork displayed in the niche was a gift from a loved one. But the other framed art along side the Ganesha are Sangita's own creation. She tells me that recycling and up cycling things to make art is another one of her areas of expertise. Would you believe me if I told you that the trio of artwork was made by recycling magazine pages?? Make sure to hop over to her very vibrant Instagram gallery where she shares her art and very unique DIY projects. Her IG gallery is truly a testament of her creativity, tremendous patience and artistic vision.

Here's a close up of the details of the artwork just for you. 

(Decor Tip: Sangita's home is a fine example of how wall art should be hung at eye level.)

If you've been eyeing those henna inspired paisley cushion covers, they are designed by none other than our uber-talented Sangita herself. Should you want one for your home, Sangita retails these along with many other fun and vibrant products at Society6. Please click here to purchase or to see her entire collection. 

Thank you so much Sangita for sharing your beautiful home and art with my readers. We wish you the very best!

(Image Credit/Copyright : Sangita Pillai. The images may NOT be used for commercial or non-commercial purposes without the prior written permission of Sangita Pillai and TECD.)

Project Riwaayat by VB Design Studio - A nod to Color, Culture and Craftsmanship (Take a Tour)

Jaipur based Architecture and Interior Design firm, "VB Design Studio" has garnered a lot of attention lately for their newest project  - “Riwaayat” (translating to mean traditions). Lead Architect and Founder of VB Design Studio, Vipin Bakiwala (an alumni of MBM Engineering College, Jodhpur) is known to create spaces that are a true reflection of the Inhabitants’ soul. Assisting him in his various projects, is a seasoned design team comprising of young & enthusiastic architects, designers, artists and artisans. VB Design Studio was engaged by Mr. Ankit Chitlangiya (owner of Sapphire Fashions) to bring Project Riwaayat to life. Mr. Ankit Chitlangiya's business involves exporting traditional hand-block printed apparels and accessories [beach wear, tunics, bags, scarves, etc.] to a huge clientele across Europe. The buyers frequent his factory to discuss business and he was in dire need of a dedicated space to display his creations as well as provide a luxurious shopping and business experience for his clients. He strongly believed that bringing Vipin on board would bring vision, professional flair and a keen sense of style to this project. Without a doubt, Vipin's uncompromising commitment to detail from concept to completion, has created a space that is like none other!   

Located on the third floor of Mr. Ankit's factory, Project Riwaayat is a 3100 sq. ft. display space that encompasses two entrance lobbies, a sprawling display & discussion area, landscape, water body and four mockup areas- master bedroom, kid’s bedroom, lounge & dining. The project spanned a period of 24 months with VB Design Studio taking on Architecture, Interior Design and Product to create a style and culturally conscious space. From the very outset the team strove to seamlessly integrate the clients’ needs and design expectation with their own expertise in exploring and experimenting with different trends and materials with the objective of creating expressive and timeless designs. "The design language and vocabulary of the space celebrates the Rajasthani architecture, its many influences (mainly Mughal and Moroccan) and the art of block printing which was materialized authentically in both material and workmanship. The architectural inspirations expressed on modern lines such as ceilings with gardana, jaali, paan patta plaster moldings, lipai, mehraab (arches), chhatri (domes) and bageecha (mughal garden) give the space its key identity. Traditional portrayal of motifs of flora and fauna, are conspicuous throughout the space in art forms, wallpapers and upholstery. The space carries contemporary expressions of the traditional art & craft techniques- weaving with jute threads on khaat’, swarna patra work (gold leafing), arayesh work and hand crafted blue pottery tiles."

Starting off with the entrance to the lobby which is done in shades of sunset pink. Wall paper from Sabyasachi's collection adorns the ceiling and in-house designed iron lights dot the space along with intricate ‘jaali' partitions that mirror the old Rajasthani havelis. As you can see, there is a strong color play in almost all sections of Riwayaat. What's even more wonderful is that the design team did not stick to the age old adage of carrying a particular color family through out the space to make things cohesive. Infact, every room and every work area has been thoughtfully given boundaries via color, pattern and texture play.

The foyer entrance is imposing and makes for a great first impression with its Mughal inspired  cusped arch entrance (also known as the ‘Darwaza'). The ceiling with its sixteen domes representing a ‘Chhatri’ makes for maximum impact. Each dome is fitted with a custom made fabric light fixture brightening up the space with a welcoming glow.  Once through the doorway, the hand crafted wooden floor, earthy tone of the village inspired ‘Lipai’ (mud plastered wall) and a wide display unit with a movable assortment of the hand blocks talks of the teams effort to make a cultural point at every step of the way.  

The lounging area facing the fountain, addresses both needs - recreation for the buyers as well as a place to congregate and discuss business. Furnishing the space is a set of in-house designed sofa and coffee table. The rectangular table with intricate bone inlay work was sourced from Jodhpur and adds more visual drama. As for the fountain spouts, they are carved out of Jaisalmer yellow stone and Blue lapis stone. Birds sculpted from fiber and clay add life to it (look close, you'll see it). 

A set of twelve antique columns sourced from Jodhpur, of varying styles placed over the stretch of the Mughal inspired landscaped area & fountain, appeal to the panoramic vision of the viewer.

All eight chairs of the dining area are custom made and hand woven by the skilled local weavers based on the product design provided by VB Design Studio. However the icing on the cake is the ‘shamiyana’ ceiling in the dining room, making the dining experience a majestic affair!  

View of the dining and lounging area from a different angle.

Since, there are so many innovative and unorthodox design elements implemented in this project, I was more than interested in learning about the thought process and challenges that the team encountered in executing this project, "The 3,100 sq ft open space had abundance of sunlight and huge potential. It came to us as a blank canvas which called to bring out wildness of our imagination and think from a different and deeper perspective this time. After a series of day and night brainstorming, research, visiting villages, meeting craftsmen, learning about the methods like Arayash (fresco painting), lipai (mud like plastered walls), traditional khaat weaving, and so forth, we presented an entirely new experience to our client.  

The space lacked the palatial proportions so the design was at the risk of becoming obtuse. Also, there was a time, when we started playing with so many colors that it became difficult to find a symphony amidst them. But with deliberation, forethought, artists’ and client’s support, trial and error and experimentation with aesthetics, we were able to achieve the state of the art sophistication possessed by the royal spaces of Rajasthan." 

VB Design team went all out to try and incorporate different wall treatments to keep the interiors looking fresh and interesting. The image to the right shows the inclusion of Indechine Promenade Wallpaper from Good Earth. This acts as the perfect backdrop for a collection of photographs from the client’s factory that are a token of gratitude to the workers and their skill. (Love how the plain white matting has been switched for a sunflower hue to make a bold statement!) To the left of the collage is another wonderful wall treatment. This is the result of traditional ‘Arayash’ work that was done by master craftsmen.

The display area on the left is the biggest that stretches the full width of the space. 

Display units with apparels stand close to the longer walls with changing rooms and storage strategically placed at the far end.

Mockups for the Bedroom and the Kiddos area are on display between the Entrance foyer and the landscape area. Softer hues dominate the kid's area with the client's product's being stylishly displayed without competing with the interiors.

The wall behind the bedroom mock-up is an interpretation of the decorative walls and facades of the many palaces that dot the historic city of Jaipur.

To achieve a VB Design Studio style vibe in your space, remember to follow these principal design mantras that they swear by: 

"~ A SPACE SHOULD BE THE REFLECTION OF THE INHABITANT. LISTENING AND OBSERVING THE PATRONS CAREFULLY TAKES YOU A LONG WAY. 

~ A DESIGN THAT EVOKES HAPPINESS AND UPLIFTMENT IN THOUGHTS IS A SUCCESSFUL DESIGN. 

~ WE DON’T BELIEVE IN FOLLOWING TRENDS BLINDLY, WE AIM FOR SOULFUL AND TIMELESS." 

More Stunning displays from Riwaayat!!!

A close up of  some of the custom pieces that were designed unique to the client. My absolute favorite being the woven chairs.  

VB Design Studio undertakes a wide spectrum of work ranging from Architecture, Interior Design, Product Design, Art Consultancy (in collaboration with Sunividh Art to provide customized solutions & creative consultancy on various art forms, sculptures, paintings and artifacts), Project Management Consultancy and Turnkey Projects. The company currently takes on onsite projects all across the country. For professional design advice and project collaborations, please email VB Design Studio team at info@vbds.in or call them at +91 141 272 9345/ +91 99291 08501 . You could also connect with them at their website, Facebook, Instagram and other social media handles on their page. They are also on Houzz, do check them out! 

(Image Copyright/Credit : VB DEsign Studio. The images may not be copied or reproduced for commercial or non-commercial purpose without the prior written permission from VB Design Studio and TECD.)

Festive decor ideas from SMS Trading Company

My fellow desi-decor addicts in my part of the world,  if you are looking to switch things up a bit this festive season, I've rounded up some of my latest favorites from SMS Trading Company (yes, we've already toured their furniture gallery and Arti's home). Arti has a new loot of wooden musical Ganeshas and sculptures, carved wooden panels, ornate mirrors, wall art, pooja cabinets and the much sought after, signature collection of hand carved teak wood furniture. She recently shot these images exclusively for my TECD readers. Apart from lending that special desi touch to your home, some of these pieces would also make wonderful and very thoughtful gifts! So go on and shop your heart out. What's even better is that my TECD readers get 15% off with the code TECDSMS15, valid through October 9th, 2017. To see more of her collection, please click here. Also make sure to follow them on FB and Instagram. For an in house appointment, please write to Arti at arti@smstradingcompany.com or call her at +1 (678) 445-3756 (Landline). (SMS Trading ships only within North America.) 

(Incase you missed part 1 and 2 of the feature, please click here and here to see it all). Happy festive shopping !!

(Image Copyright/Credit : SMS Trading Company Inc. The images may not be copied or reproduced for commercial or non-commercial purpose without the prior written permission from SMS Trading Company Inc. and TECD.)