The Oriental Charmer (Home Tour)

The Gandhi's have assiduously forged an exquisite home in Ho Chi Minh City (Vietnam) where refined Oriental collections are elegantly edited against a serene backdrop rendered in shades of neutrals. The off white color scheme is prudently punctuated with gleeful splashes of fuchsia keeping things fresh and cheerful. The young and dynamic couple who own this impressive home are Manisha Gandhi, the founder/owner of the online furniture boutique "Oriental Living Company" and Nikhil Gandhi, a banker by profession. They share this gorgeous three storied home with their two lovely daughters...The couple's keen eye for beauty, charm and the unique is evident in every room of the sunlight flooded residence.Talking about what a home means to her, Manisha says, "My home is my haven and it radiates warmth, happiness and tranquility. However, a well put together space in not only aesthetically pleasing but it also has to be functional – which is the essence of every home we have lived in."

By combining subtle Eastern design influences with urban functionality needs, the young couple has created refined interiors for a family-friendly home. A large, ivory tone sectional with clean lines and modern sensibility makes for plentiful seating in the spacious living room. Generously sprinkled with fuchsia colored pillows, the happy shade offers delight to the eyes and helps break up the neutral color palette. A contemporary style coffee table houses the couple's beloved collection of books and prized accessories. Fuchsia colored blooms in a woven bamboo basket brings a touch of the outdoors in and livens things up. With subtropical weather year round, wooden floors are kept bare except for a hand woven, block-print Kalamkari style rug that echoes the happy accent color. The couple's exquisite collection spans a time frame of 8 years, Manisha says,"We started collecting pieces for our house since we were married, almost 8 years ago, to make it what it is now. We love shopping for our house...it’s a bottomless pot. But we ensure to take our time and bring home only those pieces that we absolutely love."

With the presence of innumerable windows in the room, creating wall displays is a decorating dilemma Manisha shares. However, the one wall that they had, they decided to go big and bold by incorporating a statement piece to adorn it. After scouting around for a while, Manisha and Nikhil, both decided on this Vietnamese gold lacquer painting by Vietnam's most well known artist Bui Van Hung. 

(This wooden sculpture depicting a temple procession was procured from Ubud in BALI. It was love at first sight says Manisha.)

Having lived in Hong Kong before their move to Vietnam, the relocation has given their imagination room to roam. With a lot more space at their disposal, the couple loves the airy and open floor plan of this gorgeous house, "The move has been liberating given that Hong Kong had such small living spaces, with Vietnam not having a space issue."

(Cushions from Good Earth and Goods of Desire (GOD) - HK dress up the neutral couch.)

When it comes to  deciding on furnishings for the home,  Manisha shares that it is almost always a joint decision. But there have been situations where issues concerning aesthetic beauty were involved and she has had the last word ! I now know why fuchsia seems to be the dominating accent color;) But I do love the subtle use of such a bold color. It does not say girly or feminine in any way! It just screams sophistication ! 

This decoratively crafted, standing Buddha in Mandalay style was a travel find from Thailand. The statue draws one in to take a closer look at the intricate pleats on the robe, encrusted with multiple colored glass stones that glisten in the sun light streaming in through the huge windows embracing the living room. Manisha shares that the Buddha´s slender right hand displays the Abhaya Mudra, a symbolic gesture of fearlessness and granting protection, one of the many reasons why this Buddha was brought home.

Every time Manisha looks at the Buddha he not only restores a sense of calm in her but also brings a smile to her face. Why a smile you ask? Well here is the story, "It was quite a tedious process to ship the Buddha from Thailand to Vietnam. So we decided to carry it along with us on the flight:) Yes, that was quite an experience. And the Buddha wouldn't fit into a taxi on our rides from and to the airport (with all our luggage and us), so we took a tuk tuk. So it was us with the Buddha in a tuk tuk :)" Now that is what I mean by every piece in your home should have a story to tell!

In the living room a pair of antique Horseshoe Ming Style Chairs in a warm teak tone, look at ease with the modern day sectional and hold the underlying theme together. I personally, love the simple curves and perfect proportions of the Ming Style chairs!

Manisha and her family love to travel and make it a point to pick up something from everywhere they visit. And it is not just a  pocket size souvenir that they are referring to. Most of the solid furniture pieces in the home is from  their travels to Hong Kong, China and the great Mekong !

A trio of hand made Iznik pottery from Turkey in shades of blue, turquoise, red and green, graces a wall in the formal dining room. On a closer look the pottery depicts stories of  nature's bounty and the iconic Whirling Dervishers.  Situated at the foot of the display is a mini Chinese trunk exhibiting a pair of the terracotta replicas of the famous "Terracotta Warriors". An intricately carved metal vase holds carnations in shades of red and pink to echo the accent color used in the decor.  

The couple love entertaining and wanted to keep the overall style in the formal dining space in sync with the living room. Furniture in dark tones with an accent color in a deeper shade keeps things looking cohesive.   

A beautifully decked dining table, awaits its dinner guests !

I was curious to know if Manisha  had been tempted to keep certain pieces for her home, from the ones that she sources for her store - The Oriental Living ? To which she answers, "Yes, I've been tempted a number of times. The Ming style chairs, a red lacquer TV cabinet, a Ming style sideboard and a red lacquer chest are here gracing my home on account of those temptations!"  

Comfort and functionality were the key considerations while furnishing the lounging room/entertainment room. The result is a no fuss, snug and kid friendly space where the family gets together at the end of the day to relax, unwind and watch their favorite TV show before retiring for the day.

The TV cabinet is one of the many pieces that Manisha was tempted to keep for herself from the Oriental Living Furniture line!

This is the couple's private retreat. The space is an ideal mix of sophistication, serenity and sensible design. The grand bed frame steals the show in the master bedroom. It took them a while to find the right furniture for their master suite. But when they came across this four poster bed, they had no doubt, it was what they were looking for! Textiles from Good Earth and framed posters from India Circus complete the simple yet elegant room for a restful night's sleep. 

(Manisha's  ingenuity is seen here as she uses sheer curtains from the Good Earth line to create an illusion of a canopy bed adding to the dreamy and romantic feel of the space.)  

If you adore Manisha's decorating style and would like to replicate similar vibes for your home, here is her design mantra,"Simplicity is the key element. When spaces are clutter free, there is a lot that can be done. Also given our Indian-ness, we love color. We add color in smaller items, like cushions, bed spreads, table mats and runners. Most important of all, make sure you invest in good furniture like you would invest in jewelry. Before buying, do consider your future needs as well . As this an investment that would last a lifetime!" 

With that we come to end of  yet another wonderful home tour. I hope you enjoyed taking in all the Oriental beauty and charm that exudes from this intimate space that Manisha and  Nikhil have lovingly put together. I'd like to thank the couple for being so gracious and letting us into their beautiful home! Wishing them health, happiness and peace.


As for you'll my favorite peeps, drop me line and let me know if you enjoyed our oversea's home tour this month. Watch this space for more on Oriental design inspiration coming up this month!
Have a wonderful day!

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

Images are the property of Manisha Gandhi and subject to copyright.

Spotlight on Lai's latest collection - "Kinner Kailash"

Lai’s latest collection “ Kinner Kailash” draws inspiration from the the land of natural abundance “Himachal Pradesh”. Diving deep into this fascinating northern state in India, Puja Bhargava (owner/creative head - Lai) takes her cues from the unique arts, crafts and culture that are an intrinsic part of the Himachali life! References to exquisite artistry of the Chamba rumal embroidery, distinctive geometric patterned 'Kinnauri and Spiti shawls” and the Kangra Painting depicting poetic sentiments, are beautifully woven into the anatomy of every piece in this limited edition collection. This intricately crafted silver line, has a contemporary flair mixed in with the right amount of boho charm to appeal to the wild side of every sophisticated urban woman.

Puja’s association with Himachal Pradesh dates back to her student years at the prestigious NIFT institute. Revisiting the memorable time that she spent in Himachal Pradesh she shares,"Himachal is one of my most favorite states in India and I've not only visited it as tourist but I also spent a month there as a NIFT student for my Craft Documentation project. Years later I did a Kinnauri shawl revival project for the Textiles Ministry during which I made multiple trips to Kinnaur.....I'd like to think Himachal likes me keeps calling me back!" 

Puja's attention to detail and her ability to interpret cultural inspiration for the modern day woman is exemplary. Talking indepth about her inspiration for this collection she says,"This collection our rendition of tribal Himachali designs (with a bit of Multani influence thrown in- an indicative of their ancient Silk Route connect). It is intended to resemble something you might stumble upon in an antique shop in Chamba- just more fun! We've kept the look oxidized & injected eye-catching enamel colors- making these designs both a beautiful accessory and a covetable find.Conveying the topic of travel, urban nomadic lifestyle and one of a kind finds, Kinner Kailash offers a range of necklaces, earrings, rings & bangles. Something to suit every taste, we think!”

The splendor of the tarnished patina of Oxidized Silver is sagaciously balanced with the hand painted vibrant enamel detailing, making the Kinner Kailash collection a temptation to say the least. This is handcrafted in Jaipur by expert artisans using time honored techniques with centuries-old craftsmanship and quality. Indulge the woman in you and make sure you get yours today before this 'made upon order' collection is sold out! Lai ships worldwide from Delhi and California. To browse the entire collection, click here.

Image courtesy: Lai

My Evolving Home!

Recently, I came across a quote that said, "You have decor OCD if.......your house is a constant work in progress". My home "IS" a constant work in progress and I’m not shy to admit the fact. But to term it as OCD would be an exaggeration. I’d like to use the phrase “a progressive approach” instead, what say? Today, let's take a walk down memory lane and see how my home and decor style have evolved with time. 

The different phases in our lives has impacted the kind of homes that my family and I have lived in and the decor style that we have adopted to suit our lifestyles in each phase. We have gone from pegging our style as ethnic Indian, eclectic modern to global eclectic. My husband and I set up our "first home" together in Bangalore (India). The excitement and anticipation of  building our new home together was indescribable. Little by little, bit by bit we started putting the pieces together like a jig saw puzzle to create a home that would reflect "us"! My husband and I are both born and brought up in South India and adore the arts and crafts of India, so it was but natural that we were drawn to ethnic Indian decor. Wooden carvings, Tanjore paintings (from our travels), brass artifacts (our own finds as well as those inherited from our families) and colorful Indian textiles came together to create a space that exuded authenticity and was a creative fusion of our heritage. However, within a year of setting up this place, we had to uproot and move thousands of miles away, with job opportunities taking us overseas (USA).

(A peek at a few corner's of our very first home in Bangalore (India - 2003). These pics were taken 8 months after we had moved into this home! (I scanned hard copies of the pictures I had and hence please forgive the quality of the images.))

In a new country (USA), we were excited about the opportunities that lay ahead of us. As a working couple, "condo style living" located in the heart of down town, was ideal for us. We'd finish work and most evenings were spent exploring the new place or indulging in one of the many restaurants that lined the down town patch. Like most first timers who come to this country and end up at IKEA to shop for furniture, we were no exception. The modern, affordable furniture from IKEA seemed ideal as we were unsure  of how things would play off with time and if we had to move back to India, it would not be a big deal to get rid of the furniture. But living in a home without personality was not for us. Discovering new decor stores and lifestyle brands on weekends, we found pieces that we had fallen head over heels in love with and brought them home. Within no time, we saw a theme evolve organically - we realised we had a collection of Oriental themed decor and decided on an eclectic modern Zen vibe for the space. 

(Our condo - Functional pieces, nutty colors and Asian decor accents, create a relaxed eclectic modern living space (2009))

Next came "the home for the baby" phase. We had kept the decor minimal knowing fully well that we were ready and wanted to start a family soon. So when the happy day came, it was easy to store away all the breakable decor and other things that could be a potential hazard for the baby. We child-proofed the space and made room for the baby's crib, play pen and all.....With  a baby in the house, toys started to take over the place in no time. We focused on finding creative ways to store my son's toys in an attempt to make the place look a little less like the "Target" toy section:)

Once the baby phase was over and our little fella had stabilized on his feet and had found ways to entertain himself with his toys and not our decor accessories, we started bringing out the stuff that we had stored away one at a time. With a firm "NO", we were able to get our little guy to understand that it was NOT OK to play with our stuff:) And finally we decided, it was about time to settle down in a place we can call our own and plunged into buying "our forever home".

This is our current home:) A collection of 15 years - things that we absolutely love and truly adore ! A style that is globally eclectic with a strong Indian undertone to it. 

It’s been 4 years since we moved into our existing home. The one thing that my husband and I were sure of while decorating this space was adopting an adventurous style. A style that would blend our Indian roots, travel finds and our personalities as a family. The first and foremost thing we ensured was to have our collections from India brought here. Then we scouted around for the perfect new furniture that met the functionality and style attributes. Next we combined new with the old - this was our biggest challenge! Every weekend, we’d try and move things around until every piece had its place of importance and worked harmoniously in the space. We totally love how everything came together:) 

With our son all grown up and 8 years old now, my husband and I have had a little more time to spare and focus on developing our hobbies and interests, this past year. We have successfully integrated the requirements for these into our existing design layout:

My blog adda and studio! Having a dedicated work space to blog and paint, helps me focus on my task at hand and not loose momentum.

We incorporated a pool table in our basement for my husband! We as a family seem to enjoy this on game nights. Being an indoor sport it comes to our rescue in the cold winter months when its frightfully cold outside and all outdoor activities come to a stand still:) 

As time goes by, I know we will have to deal with the other phases - be it the empty nest syndrome or maybe down sizing to a retirement home where all the rooms are on the same floor ( I know my knees will thank me)! 

My family and I,  have "LEARNT " from experiencing life, "EVOLVED" and "GROWN"..... and so has our home. And this is how it should, as we strongly believe that our home is truly an extension of us......We love our home and look forward to coming back to it every evening. The process of rotating things from storage to keep things looking fresh,  adding a seasonal twist to the ambiance or discovering a new piece to add to the family's collection is something that we enjoy thoroughly and will continue to do so......  

I'd love to hear about your home decorating experiences and what you have to say about a home being an evolving space. So don't forget to drop me a line here or on my FB page.

Wishing you a wonderful week ahead!

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

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

The French Connection of a Desi Boutique Hotel (Featuring Scarlette)

If you haven't heard of the boutique homestay "Scarlette", located in Safdarjung Enclave, (New Delhi), well then it's time you take a tour of this charming place. 

A creative mix of all white walls, fresh white linen, a well curated collection of Indian vintage frames, furniture acquired from Rajasthan and a cozy fire place woven into the design and decor of this Kothi-esque place, gives it the Indo-French vibe! The B&B is run by Pauline Bijvoet, a business school graduate from France who came to India and fell head over heels in with what the country had to offer. Now juggling between working as a production agent for fashion brands and running Scarlette, she is here to stay.  

Scarlette has four rooms that you can choose from, each sporting a distinct personality. They have also widened their service net by acquiring two additional service apartments. Their cafe serves coffee, baked goodies and an indulgent breakfast to start the day off on the right note. Though the place targets budget travelers from France and other European destinations, the intimate yet casual ambiance makes it an ideal weekend getaway for local Delhiites. Their coffee shop with a relaxed vibe, is the perfect place to unwind with a favorite book. If you would rather enjoy lounging outdoors, their terrace seating area has some beautiful fuchsia bougainvilleas creating an exotic look with its overgrown branches. To see more of this charming place click here.

Image Copyright/Credit : Scartlette

Happy Women's Day !

Happy Women's Day to all the women folk out there!!! 

This picture is more than a bunch of  pretty tulips and the crackling fire - to me the tulips are symbolic of the gentle nature and breathtaking beauty of every woman and the fire is figuratively speaking her inner zeal, passion and emotional intensity with which she nurtures, protects, heals, loves and gives with all her heart. Know that you are strong, beautiful, intelligent, sexy, inspiring, invincible - or to put it simply "INCREDIBLE IN EVERY WAY" ! 

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

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

Rang Bhi Rangi Holi !

Whether you’re celebrating Holi to ring in the advent of spring or are rejoicing the victory of good over evil, believe in keeping traditions alive or just plan on letting loose and having fun with family and friends. Whatever may be your reason, I wish you a happy, vibrant and safe Holi with your loved ones!

Sharing a few clicks of the festival of color from the TECD casa:) 

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

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

Monday Morning Bliss and a Run-through of what's in store for the month of March !

On a cold wintry Monday morning, sunlight streaming in through the huge windows lining the breakfast nook, the aroma of freshly baked cinnamon pumpkin muffins escaping the oven and tempting one to devour the freshly baked goodies even before they can cool :) And a steaming hot cup of freshly brewed tea to accompany them! It doesn't get any better than this, does it?

 

Now for a little run-through of what's in store this month. At TECD, I like serving up a medley of  inspirational posts. I kick off the month with a colorful Holi post as captured through my lens. Among other things this month, the spot light is on oriental decor. I share my resource guide to shop for the best and most authentic of zen and Asian inspired decor. In the home tour segment, we are traveling all the way to Vietnam to tour a beautiful-beautiful home:) I'm so excited  about this feature, I can hardly wait to share this with you!

If that does not satiate your thirst and you want more, well I have more. How about a tour of a quaint boutique hotel and a look at how my decor style and home has evolved over the years? So what say, are you ready to roll with me ?

I just love how everything else in the picture has a silhouette feel and only the amber liquid is highlighted.

How about another cup before I sign off for today and head out to tackle the day's "to-do" list?

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

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