Unveiling the 2016-17 Collection from Good Earth - SHAMBALA!

Good Earth, the Indian luxury lifestyle brand needs no introduction! A global brand, where authenticity in design and quality are the guiding principles in creating an eclectic range of products that elevate the ambiance of any space that they furnish. The design team at Good Earth churns out an annual themed collection that draws from the pool of inspiration that India is and also transcends geographical boundaries to bring back the rich cultural influence and stories of Asia. There is a conscious effort made by the iconic brand to focus on sustainability, the rich handicrafts and traditions of India and Asia and making these available to the global audience with a refined taste. This year’s design expedition takes us to a mythical paradise, a land hidden somewhere beyond the snow peaks of the Himalayas, a Buddhist pure land, the “Shambala”! 

The Good Earth Shambala Mandala! The Mandala is made up of the key motifs that essay the stories of the visual landscape of Shambala. The mandala itself will be featured on limited edition "Thangkas", textiles and the gorgeous packaging that accompanies any Good Earth purchase.    

To give you a jest of this magical kingdom, it has its reference in the ancient Buddhist, Hindu, Chinese and even Russian texts. Western explorers interpreted this into what we refer to today as Chinoiserie. On a more metaphorical level it translates to a space of Silence within oneself when the heart and intent is pure.

The 2016-17 collection titled “Shambala” (and rightly so), orbits around marrying Indian design with the exotic aura of this legendary paradise. Taking cues from the painterly landscape of this mystical kingdom (that is pristine in every which way), the Shambala collection mirrors motifs like pagodas, peonies, elephants with umbrellas, wild goose, cotton clouds and green rolling hills. The exotic motifs are animated with colors like regal jades, classic combination of blue & whites, deep-hued cinnabar and rich vintage gold to a joyous effect.

A visual of Shambala's landscape......

If you love tastefully done fusion decor, then this festive season give your home a Shambalaish vibe with Good Earth. Entertain family and friends with their exquisite range of fine china in blue and white or lounge in style with their cushions in lush fabrics of silk brocade, silk velvet and fine muslin enhanced through the textile crafts of hand-weaving, block printing, gold leaf stencils and silk embroidery. I’m sure you are fascinated with the Shambala collection and can’t wait to see it all. The collection will be available in all Good Earth stores and on the web-boutique from October 2016.

A sneak peak from the Shambala collection!

And do make sure you stick around for round 2 of more from this exquisite collection! 

(Image Courtesy: Good Earth)

Coppre's latest launch - “Kasba Tealight Trio”

I have blogged about Coppre earlier and this brand never seizes to amaze me! Quality, minimalist design style and incredible craftsmanship permeates every product that Coppre has to offer. Their newest launch this year being the “Kasba Tealight Trio”. The collection exemplifies the architectural heritage of Coppre’s headquartered city, Pune (India) and more so on "Kasba Peth – the bustling central market in Pune with its many bazaars and residential complexes." 

The delicate patterns on these metal tealights is a chic spin off on the abundance of architectural inspiration found in the buildings in and around Kasba Peth. Ornate relief carvings in the domes of 18th Century old temples, lace like configurations from balcony railings in the residential homes and iconic Jali designs that have their roots in Mughal architecture were each interpreted to a more modern day design and etched on metal transforming them into dainty tealights that cast the most pretty shadows when lit.  

What I really loved about these tealights is the actual physical design per se. Unlike other tealight holders, where lighting the tealight can be a task, this design is practical in use. The Kasba tealights have a removable stand that supports the actual tealight. Hence, you can light the candle by placing it on the candle support and then gently slide the tealight support right back in with ease.

What’s more, I found more than one use for these! When not in use as a votive holder, they work really well as a plant holder and a stationery holder too.

The Kasba Tealight Trio comes in a ready-to-gift box (as a set of 3), in shades of white and teal. With Valentine's Day just around the corner, these would be the perfect addition to create that romantic setting for the special loved one. So go ahead and choose your favorite combo. To place your order, click right here.

(Image Credit/Copyright: Collage - Coppre, 2,3,4 - Sruthi Singh) 

Auraz Design - Featured Brand

Meticulously handcrafted, genuine antique furniture is often hard to come by. You either inherit such treasures or look high and low till you hit the jackpot on one of those furniture scouring trips. But if you want the easy way out, let me introduce you to “Auraz Design - Antique looks for the modern soul.” Auraz Designs is a Bengaluru based online store where each and every piece is hand-picked and verified for authenticity. Auraz believes that the antiques furniture market in India is fairly disorganized and aims to simplify and improve the customer experience in the process of purchasing antiques. 

“We at Auraz, are reshaping consumer ideas about the design of modern spaces. We are passionate about experimental home decor by pairing antiques with modern accessories - helping us blend history and modernity. We are creating a one of a kind web experience which reflects this unique combination.”

If the trill of the hunt for that one standout piece is wearing you out, may I suggest you check out Auraz’s collection. As we know, the best dressed homes mix styles, eras and personality to get that va-va-voom look.

You may connect with them via their Facebook page, Etsy store or their website at aurazdesign.com. Won’t you agree when I say that owning a piece of history just got easy! Auraz has a flash sale that runs till the end of the month:) 

(Image Credit/Copyright: Auraz Design. The images may not be reproduced without the prior written permission of the owner) 

Creating Feature Walls

Looking for ways to bring the wow factor to your lair? It can be as simple as creating a feature wall. These are especially great if you are looking to create a design plan that is high impact without overwhelming the space. Some paint, wall paper, stencils and a creative mind can take your wall from boring to brilliant without you breaking your bank. I’ve rounded up a few of my favorite feature walls for inspiration.

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If you are color courageous, then creating feature walls is child's play. Pick bold hues to bring contrast to the room. One has to understand the difference between bringing contrast to a room through colors versus just playing with opposing colors. If you ask me, inky blue hues or colors inspired by the night sky like, in the image above is all the rage these days. Once you have the base color finalized, layer it with your collection of art and artifacts. It's a great way to add personality to your space. 

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Wall papers are another great option to add visual interest. For instance this whimsical floral wall paper sings a happy spring tune to me! 

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For a more eclectic vibe, try intricately patterned wall papers.   The punchy patterns, complementary colors and other design elements in the room truly make this space a drama galore.

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If wall papers are not a budget friendly option, then a little elbow grease and a stencil can come to your rescue. Choose stencil patterns carefully to bring the required look to the space. Use floral for a country vibe, geometric for modern or an African Tribal mud cloth pattern for a global vibe!

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This one is the impressive imposter as I like to call it! All it takes is a freshly painted wall and Sharpie. Yes, you read that right. A designer wall paper look can be whipped out with a Sharpie provided you have time, patience and the willingness to put in the required amount of elbow grease. Don't you think the end result is so worth it? Head over to Vintage Revivals for a tutorial. 

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If none of the above have got your attention, don't fret. Removable Adhesive Wall Patterns are a cost-effective, less permanent alternative to paint and wallpaper. Peel, stick and you are done!

Was that inspiration enough to get you to tackle that feature wall project this weekend? I hope so. As for me, I'm going to be tackling my mudroom walls this weekend. Will keep you'll in the loop about how it turned out......

Images used in the post have been given due credit.

Eat-in Central! (My Kitchen tour)

The definition of the word "kitchen" has evolved with the modern day needs and lifestyle. It has matured into a versatile space that functions as the epi-center of the family’s activities. It’s not only a place where family and friends gather to cook, share, connect and eat but also serves as a mirror, reflecting how families live today. 

Day’s activities are planned here, bills get paid, homework gets done, playtime and crafting happens here and happy delicious memories get created along with a big batch of fresh chocolate-chip cookies. My kitchen is no different! It is constantly bustling with activity and works hard to nourish my family's mind, body and soul. 

While looking to buy a new home, one of the requirements on our list of must-haves was an open floor plan kitchen with an abundance of sunlight flooding the space. We loved the fact that this kitchen had all this and more. It was beautifully integrated with the sunroom and the informal dining. An advantage when your entertaining and need to keep a watchful eye on the playful eight-year- old mischief-maker.

Informal dining room

Sunroom

Since the building was in its nascent stage, we were lucky enough to work with the builder and get exactly what we wanted. And that means we got to choose the options such as the cabinets, counter tops, appliance and flooring. We kept things simple and went for warm wood tones, dark granite for the counter-tops and a light colored back splash to brighten things up. When it came to the decision about floors, we finalized on hard wood floors for visual continuity and to keep things cohesive with the rest of the space. Boy am I glad! Firstly, it is great in winter as it’s not as cold on the feet as the tile floors. Second, it adds an instant factor of warmth and looks great!

We made sure of the fact that the areas for prepping, cooking, cleanup as well as storage flowed gracefully from one to the other i.e. keeping in sync with the "work triangle" rule. The island being the visual centerpiece, double duty’s as my prep surface, on-the-go breakfast stop and a welcoming perch for family and friends with the addition of the vintage style metal bar stools. 

With the basics in place, we then tackled the fun part - accessorizing the kitchen. As fun as it is I personally think that decorating a kitchen is one of the most difficult tasks. I first started with narrowing down on the colors to use in the space. Since it is an open floor plan, we had to pick our color cues from the sunroom and informal dining space. That way, color is the unifying factor that seamlessly blends the different zones. Shades of orange, green and a touch of teal make their presence felt in the kitchen.  

Sharing a few tips and tricks that I used for accessorizing my kitchen:

• Display a few favorite pieces from your collection of colorful tea cups, crockery and cookware.
• A touch of whimsy is never out of place like the teapot shaped chalk board. I love writing happy messages on it or for letting my hubby know what teabags we have in stock:)  

• Put your favorite cook books out where you can see them. When in doubt what to serve for dinner next time, you know help is within arms reach.
• Colorful Indian spice boxes are not only functional but also help bring in color and pattern to the kitchen decor. 

• Flowers and potted herbs/plants help bring the place alive. 
• Use nature’s bounty such as seasonal fruits and vegetables to your advantage. 

• Floor Runners that echo the color scheme can not only add texture but have the added benefit of swapping them out often as per seasons or moods and creating a whole new look every single time.
• Bring in inexpensive artwork like this "Put the Kettle On" print that I scored at a yard sale. 
• Use bright and cheerful kitchen/dish towels (Drying off dishes is a task that cannot be avoided, so why not do it in style?).
• Make creative use of patterns to add an element of visual appeal - shop for teacups, tea storage containers, spice boxes etc that mimic the color scheme of your kitchen with interesting pattern-play on them.
• DIY skills can also come to your rescue. For instance, take the ceramic containers with a few indoor plants adorning my window sill. Simple Oradd ceramic plant pots from IKEA, were jazzed up with some chevron patterned scrap booking paper and modge-podge to match the chevron pattern on my rug. 

Another important factor to make your kitchen work efficiently is "Organisation". It is imperative that you have all your things organized. Here is a peek into my not so large pantry. However, I make it work as I have everything that I need labelled and use color coded storage containers and baskets to help me stay on track.   

Finally, I can safely claim that I’ve tackled the three main elements of kitchen design being function, efficiency and style with panache. I'd love to hear what you have to say, so don't forget to drop me a line....

You have a great day and stay inspired! 

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

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