Color Inspiration for Diwali 2017

With Dusshera out of the way, Diwali is next on the cards. My absolute favorite festival of all!!! But this year my spirits are dampened with all that is going on around us in our world. Hurricane, earthquake, shootout massacres....So much pain, despair and destruction. My family and I decided to refrain from over indulging this festive season and instead donate to a much needed cause.      

I feel blessed and grateful for all that I have in my life. Like always, I wanted to make it extra special for my family this festival season. On the decor front, rather than going out and buying things thoughtlessly,  I decided to make do with whatever I have and give it a few new twists. New color combinations, different placements and a whole lot of love have been the key ingredients in my festive vignettes this time.

Coming up first is a vignette with my pooja basket as the center piece. "My Lady with the Lamp" is always an integral part of my Diwali decor so I had to include her in this vignette. I usually don't like doing too much brass in one vignette. Instead, I like playing with a lot of different textures. But come Diwali time, "Brass Overload" is a must I say! So without a moment's hesitation, I filled a brass kaalash with flowers from my very own garden, a little height play for visual interest and cushions and diyas in coordinating color schemes to complete the look!  

And another shot, before we move from one end of the bold and brightly colored spectrum to a very neutral colored vignette in shimmering shades of gold and white!

As you can tell, I took this challenge way too seriously !!! Yup those are almost dried roses. But they were so pretty, they inspired me to work on this lovely color combination of gold, white and brown. Not a very TECD color formula but hey, if you've been with TECD long enough, you know, I almost always push the creative boundary. And this time, like I said, the challenge was to work with whatever I had!!! I mean seriously, I think it looks classy doesn't it! A winning color combination I say! 

The point of this entire post was to share that you don't need a whole lot to create a festive ambiance.  Even a bunch of withering roses can be made to look festive. A little creativity and an eye for beauty is all you need. Also make sure you take the time to pay it forward in someway this festive season. Along with lighting up a Diya, also make the effort to light up someone's face with a smile with your kind/thoughtful gesture! 

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

Hints of Spring Pastels!

Can you smell it in the air? That intoxicating and indescribable fresh spring scent…..

The harsh winter, ruthlessly drained the landscape of all the color but spring is working overtime in my part of the world to restore and repaint nature’s canvas. I love the changes this season brings with it…..

• The frozen ground thaws and fresh shafts of grass begin to push through the soil to kiss the sun; 
• The tinges of sweet fragrance and buttery radiance of daffodils together mixed with other spring pastels that breathe back life into the dreary winter gardens;
• The musical orchestra of birds tweeting and chirping with the first morning rays of the sun;
• Warmer, brighter and longer days that invite you to get your dose of Vitamin D;
• Gardens centers becoming a bevy of activity and those garden pliers and shovels find themselves back in action;
• Toe nails get painted and the boots get ditched for open toed flirty sandals;
• Long lines that stretch at the car wash and you waiting impatiently to rediscover your car’s true paint color under all that winter grit and 
• The April showers that make chai time that much more fun! I love it all!

Here are a few frames of the subtle touches of spring at home. I love pairing this soft, pastel, feminine hue with the luster of brass. 

When you find fallen flowers on your long walks, what do you do? Bring them home and float them.....

A new tea cup with those cherry blossom motifs, seemed like the perfect way to ring in spring…..

If you don’t see me here too often at the TECD blog, it only mean that I’m out there taking in all that there is to enjoy of this wonderful season:) I truly believe that if it wasn't for winter and the absence of it all, I may not be so receptive to all the wonderful changes that is happening around me……. 

Don't you think, floating a few Cherry Blossoms in a brass urli is a wonderful way to bring in a touch of spring to your decor? 

Happy Spring!

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

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

Decorating Creatively

The star of my post today is the modest mortar and pestle or the "Sil Batta" (in Hindi). Wait ! I promise you it is going to be a decor related post. But first, let us revisit how the (now disappearing) sil batta was an indispensable tool in the traditional Indian kitchen. It was predominantly used to prepare fresh spice mixes for cooking. I remember my nani using a sil batta to make masalas for curries. She preferred the sil batta to the electric mixer and grinder as the natural oils and the flavor essences that are contained in the herbs or spices were kept intact. She explained to me that by choosing the convenience of an electric grinder, one was not only compromising on the aroma but also the taste as the herbs and spices tend to get over heated with the grinder blades being operated at high speeds. So no surprises there why nani's food is so sought after and cannot be replicated.

A couple of days ago, a brand new mortar and pestle, replaced my old stainless steel mortar. I did not have the heart to throw the old one away and came up with this idea of using it as a vase! Anyone who has been a reader of TECD long enough knows of my infatuation with flowers and finding unconventional containers as vases to house them. I have two different versions to share with you'll - the first one, an antique brass mortar in a traditional ethnic setting and the second, a stainless steel mortar in a more eclectic-modern  setting.

A bunch of red roses packed tightly into the antique brass mortar look stunning ! To complete this vignette, I've paired a Green Aventurine Natural Stone Ganesha statue with a Ravi Varma's " Yashoda & Krishna" oleograph. A couple of bead malas ( like the rudraksha, lotus seeds and the sandal wood), I picked up from a street vendor in Malleshwaram (Bangalore) add textural charm to the vignette.

For this vignette, I have a cluster of deep maroon colored mums tucked into my stainless steel mortar. Then I went ahead and paired it with my favorite Buddha. When you actually think of it, teal and maroon seems like a dubious combination. But I like the looks of it. What say ? 

No matter which style you choose, the bottom line is, be creative and make the things you've got, work for you !

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

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

Glitzing it up for Diwali (Festive decor Ideas)

Diwali is all about the hypnotic dancing flames, the sweet fragrance of - flowers, scented candles and incense sticks, the luxurious feel of silk cushions, the sound of laughter and crackers and the melt in your mouth motichoor laddoos and kaju katli !!! While decorating for Diwali, you will be deluged by dozens of decisions. The choices you make on some of these details can make or break the look you are intending to achieve. Here are some simple tricks and tips to  help you create the festive ambiance and entice all your 5 senses this Diwali season.

Pick Your Color Palette: 

Choose a color palette to work with as it simplifies the need to analyse what you already have and what you need to include in your Diwali shopping list. An intuitive decision maker, this year I'm inspired by the traditional Indian color combination of red and gold. This classic combination is not only festive but can also be effortlessly adopted throughout the home with a few building blocks like fresh flowers, textiles and a few brass decor accessories.Diwali is the one festive occasion that cajoles me to boost the glimmer and shimmer quotient without any limitations. With my love for the golden patina of brass, Diwali is personally the most revered of all festivals, as I get an opportunity to shine my brass, decorate with flowers and light up as many lamps and candles to create an ambiance that's bathed in a golden glow.

Flower Power:

I've said it earlier and I say it again, "You cannot go wrong with flowers". I love to weave the beauty and magic of fresh flowers into my festive decor. The classic floating flower arrangement is something that I include year after year but always find ways of adding a fresh twist to the display. This time I've chosen an antique brass thali to serve as my container to float a bunch of flaming red Gerberas. Making her appearance again this year is my prized heirloom piece, "My Lady with the Lamp". Placing her in the center of the thali, no denying that she looks majestic when lit. 

Another simple arrangement of Carnations with their irregular edges vivifies this corner of my living room. I restrain from using conventional vases and look for innovative container to display my flowers. This time, I've used an antique tea pot to house the carnations that have subtle hints of red that tie it in with the designated color palette.

Gather similar items to make an Impact :

For this Diwali vignette, I've rounded up my brass Ganesha statues and have placed them at various height to keep the eye moving and keep things interesting.

To add color to this vignette, a small urli is used to float few Magenta New Guinea Impatiens from the garden. Remember, a little color can add a lot of drama !!!

Colored glass tea light holders are a must.........I love how the gently flickering flames create an ethereal mirage of warm hues. Keeping the color palette in mind, a collection of colored glass votive  holders in warm tints are en massed on a brass vintage tray to pack in a wallop of punch to my decor. And what's wonderful is that they can be easily moved around to light up any corner that you choose to.

It's all in the Details: 

Using scented candles is a great option for setting a festive mood and making your house feel like home. You also want to sort through your collection of CD's or create a playlist before hand, so as to have your choice of music ready for the evening of Diwali. As the wax melts and the fragrance engulfs the air and the mellifluous notes of the sitar from a Hindustani music piece reverberates through the home, it sure feels festive in every sense of the word. 

Mix old with the new : 

This has always been my mantra to decorate. Work with what you got and only splurge when you need to. If your like me and are lighting up to the idea of using lanterns this festive season, do check out World Market. I found mine as seen in the picture above at World Market and have paired it with antique brass kundas (the brass containers belonged to my grand mom) with single stems of Dahlias tucked into them. 

The one decor accent that you cannot have too much of this festive season are candles. I'm convinced that my home looks its best when bathed in the soft forgiving glow of the candles. I wanted a low lying console to create another festive display and went with the idea of using books and a wooden ledge to create one. Taking the center stage of this display, my wooden Ganesha and a row of votive holders alternated with flowers, looks stunning. 
  
Experiment with Textures for Dimension : 

Consider integrating a medley of textures found in natural elements like wood or jute, the shimmer and worn patina of metals,  the opulence of silk or the distinctive reflective luster of glass. Orchestrating different textures not only adds the much needed dimension and movement to a space but also makes it feel complete.    

Here a potted plant, a brass Ganesha Statue and a mother of pearl votive holder are placed on a DIY tray to create a festive oasis. 

When the formal dining is not dressed for the Diwali banquet, a beautiful handcrafted Kutch shisha work wall hanging now serving as a table runner, shimmers in the glow of black metal candle holders from Crate and Barrel.

Smart Entertaining : 

Indian festivals are incomplete without our spread of glorious food and playing the perfect host to our friends and family. Find innovative ways to serve mithai and other savory snacks so that after party clean up becomes easy on you. One such tip for entertaining that I use is Doubling up Cupcake liners to serve starters and other mini party snacks.

I do hope this post has been resourceful and inspirational in helping you create a festive ambiance this Diwali. With these simple tips and tricks you can be the perfect host/hostess and celebrate Diwali in style !!!

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

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

Ganesh Chaturthi Wishes (2014)

Warm wishes to my wonderful readers on the eve of Ganesh Chaturthi !!! May this festive season bring to you happiness, contentment, health and prosperity.

Ganeshji looks on....... as the Diya works it's magic 

A festive glow...........

I'd like to take this opportunity to welcome the new members of TECD on Facebook and thank each and everyone of you who has been so supportive and encouraging of all that I share on my blog. My blog and me have a lot instore for you, so stay connected......Coming up next is the much anticipated home tour.........

Images: Clicked by SPG (my better half). 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.