Embracing Global Decor

Sharing some blog love today... (in time for Valentine's day)... and showing you my new find *smiles*... Here is where I spend a few hours in a day...

Aalayam...meaning “a place of residence” in Sanskrit, is a blog with a concoction of ideas and inspiration. Co-authored by Deepa & Supriya, who are not only passionate about living the good life, but love design, decor, travel, photography, good food... and so much more.. So hop on to Aalayam Inspiration... and don't forget to follow... and show some love.. *smiles*

Over to the ladies at Aalayam....

Hello! When Patricia invited us to do a guest post for Colours Dekor, Supriya and I wanted to work on something that the Colours Dekor readers would enjoy. We wanted the pictures to be colorful and visually inspiring. A write-up on our personal design diction seemed appropriate. Supriya and I definitely have a lot in common with regard to design preferences and I guess that's what drove us into a collaboration. If you already a reader of Aalayam  then you know that we both love incorporating world-wide design elements in our homes. Our styles can best be described by the umbrella term "Global design /universal appeal".

Deepa's home - coffee table

My home is a merry melange of elements from all over the world  anchored by Indian elements for a truly global flavor.  Treasures such as Tanjore paintings from the art emporiums of  Chennai, persian rugs with ornate patterns, and fenton hobnail glassware from American antique malls  work harmoniously  in my home lending an exotic appeal. My home boasts of global charm and combines unorthodox decor accessories, lots of color and a heavy dose of drama without compromising on user-friendliness. Here's a few corner's from my home that highlights my fondness for world decor.

Deepa's home -  Living Room

Deepa's home - Bookcase

Supriya's home incorporates global design elements that are not necessarily conformist! The palettes range from ornate Indian furniture with vibrant textural softscaping to irreverent Bohemian chotchkies combined with quirky antique chic! This decor scheme blends form and function, and works like a charm for moving stuff around based on mood and occasion. The featured snapshots of her living space epitomize her style philosophy "let the room speak for you!". 

Supriya's home  - Chess board

Supriya's home  - seating area

Supriya's home  - blue wall/reading nook

Do you like ornamenting your home with global finds? Do you like  celebrating world cultures through global knick knacks?  If so, take a look at this great article on TLC  - "Decorating with world flair" 

Thank you Patricia for the privilege ! Hope we have inspired you to create your own global palette.

Visit us at Aalayam for more from the world of design and decor.

Cheers!

Deepa and Supriya

Blog finds ~ What's Ur Home Story

I'm thrilled to have found 'What's Ur Home Story'... The blog is close to my heart and so many times when I read the posts, I feel as though... its me talking... so much in common!! I'm sure you'll love it too... go on and check 'What's Ur Home Story'... 

I am Vidya, a chemical engineer by training, a financial
analyst by profession, an artist by craft, and a decorator by passion. I obsess
over a great piece of home decor, art, and tastefully decorated homes.

 Whats Ur Home story started out as a way for me to
document everything décor related that I did at home; I’m sure my friends were
getting tired of all the FB updates.  As we have a new home, we have a
serious case of the “too new to change” syndrome. Everything I do can be easily
implemented in rentals, apartments, townhomes, or anywhere you do not want to
get into structural remodels.

I believe that structural features alone don’t define
character (yes they do help); it is more about the story the house has to tell,
about your family. In our home we tend to mix our Transitional style with our
Indian roots.

Our family of 4 fills it with the things we love, that
remind us of our culture and heritage, kids’ art work, trip
souvenirs…..everything thing that is close to our hearts. I strongly believe
that by falling back on something you love and the things that make you who you
are, you can add layers of character to your home.
 Whats Ur Home story is the story of how we are making our
house a home one chapter at a time.

I sure hope you'll pop into What's Ur Home Story.... and inspire one more blogger!! go on!!

Sparkles ~ Rama

Rama, needs no introduction to anyone who is regular at Colours Dekor. She blogs at 'Time, time, I have all the time...' and has shared pictures of her home, and her garden in earlier posts. I totally love her home.. and am sure you will too... 

Today, Rama, invites us home for Diwali ...

With flowers, diya, candles, rangolis, urlis, and prettiness everywhere... I am simply spell bound!!

I've save this as my favourite.. and will surely be trying out some of this next year..

Totally fell in love with this simple arrangement... *sigh*

Thank you Rama, for the awesome inspiration... We've got a lot to learn from you... *smiles*..

If you'd like to share your Diwali or Halloween pictures, email me at torresp27@hotmail.com... or simply email to say 'hello'... *smiles*



Hope you are joining the party too...

...An eventful 4th of July week ~Anu

...For the folks in the US, last week following the 4th of July long weekend is usually a holiday week with most people either travelling or just relaxing in their homes and spending time with their families & friends. On my end, it was a hectic but relaxing and quiet weekend, followed by an extremely eventful week with loads of stress, energies at an all time high and full of delightful surprises - some happy and some very mushy, and finally ended with a system global launch of a custom application that we have been working for the last 1.5 yrs...



A quiet 4th of july weekend at home meant 3 days at home with some time for work and essentially de-stress, de-clutter and work on an art project and my garden. No visiting and No entertaining...just relax and replenish my energies as we had a lot of the work ahead of us.The art project involved weaving my grandmother's and my mom's wedding sari into a tapestry - a tapestry of some beautiful memories, love and values passed on...a perfect opportunity for my mom and aunt to share some happy memories of their marraige and my aunt's first dekho of my uncearing a bengal silk saree and ...much loved stories...

And then admist all the work that goes into globally launching a system. I received a long awaited package from Dubai! Harshi of 'Harshi Creates' in Dubai is a close friend of mine and wanted to surprise her sister Charita (another close friend) with this gorgeous saree that she had meantioned 6 yearsago! for her 15th wedding anniversary. So the saree arrived in Dubai with a gorgeous card from their parents and younger sister and then handed over to Geeta Subbu of Paisely (Geeta's husband R is my collegue - what a small world, right!!) to R and finaly to K. We had K, another collegue bring the parcel to Atlanta. The very next day, I met Charita to give her the surprise...Yes Cheri as we call her was in a happy state of shock, went dewy eyed...when she saw the lovely card her parents had created for S and herself and the gorgeous saree. Yes and as you see in the pictures, she opened the saree on the sidewalk and draped it on herself..:-). There is something special about sisters and family and friends...when they remmeber all your likes, what you had said long time ago.. and send you these little things that express how much they love and care for you. Small gestures, a note, a hug, a phone call that speaks volumes...like my friend made me some dinner on thursday, as she thought I was too tired to cook...stuff that you will cherish forever...
And look at the loot that Harshi sent me from Dubai...:-) Stuff that I had asked Harshi to get me...As my friend Shruti said...when I saw the Pahadi beauties...my face glowed...all tiredness wiped off...and dont miss the darling earrings and the lovely turquoise bird...:-) It is so special, to have someone who understands your likes...
Sunday was special...as we went LIVE and I also had my aunt, cousin and friends visit...And since my aunt visited me straight from a gem show...I had to treat them with some Maharastrian Pohe, some Sabudana vadas and kesar shrikand and yes some masala Chai...Next time it will be Falooda as I want to use those tall Falooda spoons that my aunt got me...:-) Finally last nite, when I went to collect the mail at 11:30 PM, I found this brown packet in the mail box...Jaya, another friend had dropped this lovely note and a Ganesha...for good tidings and lots of luck...

Hasn't it been an eventful week?...Adios until next time...getting back to work

Guest post at CreationS

Have you seen my guest post at CreationS - The Essence of Arts ... featuring a few wall paintings... I'm still dreaming of painting lotus' on the wall.. *sigh*.. Only if I had two more hours in a day!!

CreationS is celebrating their first birthday... with this give away...

So go on and comment on her Birthday Post, for a chance to win... Dont forget to 'follow her' blog, as the paintings are simply gorgeous... and Rachana is super talented!!

Happy Birthday to you!!

home Shanthi home

Here is introducing Shanthi ~ and her new blog ‘Home Shanthi Home’….



I’m sure you’ve seen her beautiful contributions on my blog and other blogs… I’m going to miss your posts on my blog…. so so much.. Shanthi!!! But here.. is wishing you ‘happy blogging’… Shanthi is ‘close to my heart’ friend… so go on and follow her blog.. and inspire her to show you more of her talents and her gorgeous surroundings…



to me… ‘Home Shanthi Home’ is an extension of Colours Dekor…. Cant wait to see all your gorgeous posts… *hugs* Now… what are you waiting for?? Go on and check Home Shanthi Home… and don’t forget to follow… *smiles*

The Friday Mix ~ Sound Horn Please

Dont you just love Fridays at Colours Dekor?? Or am I pushing my luck.... *wink*.... I love Fridays... coz its the start to my weekends... A week of planning goes into the happenings of my Friday and Saturday... which lantern gets placed where... What new candle setup... I also eagerly wait for someone to blog swap with.... This week I'm blogging at Sound Horn Please.... Have you seen her blog?? Its a young, enthusiastic, for of zest and information.... blog!! I love all her posts.. and the information.. I love the fact that some posts are so so Indian... and so so Filmy or Bollywoodish... *smiles* So hop on to my new favourite blog.... Sound Horn Please... and dont forget to follow!!

Hello to all ardent Colours Dekor readers!! I am Divya and Sound Horn Please is my little space on the internet. As the point of this wonderful thread started by Patty, is to know the blogger and not just the blog better, I guess its time for some unmasking….

Name: Divya Rajan aka Sound Horn Please

Day time occupation: Management Consultant. I spend hours on the phone putting out fires, typing furiously on my smart phone or clacking away hunched over the keyboard.

Night time occupation: Blogger. Spend a few more hours hunched over the keyboard- but to make up for the greyness of my daytime hours… I blog, ogle at the eye candy uploaded by fellow bloggers and replenish my soul a little. Result: An ever burgeoning inspiration folder on my laptop and various moleskines scribbled with my DIY and ‘If I had a blank canvas….’ ideas stacked up on my night stand. I go to sleep a happier person J

Want to know more about my night time activities? Hop over to Sound Horn Please….

I believe anybody willing to kick off their shackles, needs encouragement, some PR and oodles of applause. So, I use SHP as a platform to showcase the work of young creative talent from India trying to make a go for it on their own…. Come meet artists, graphic designers, jewellery designers and even aSari designer selling their unique wares!

Living so far away from India means I love everything India- antique or retro. Blame it on nostalgia and home sickness, but a caricature of Rajanikanth on a mug tugs my heart strings right now ;)

And of course a little bit of me seeps in the form of DIYs and wares that catch my eye!

Patty, Thank you so much for giving me the opportunity to be on Colours Dekor- I’m really really honoured!

Also, a CSN Giveaway is on till Valentine’s Day at SHP- Come take a shot ;)

Here is wishing you a wonderful wonderful weekend!

A day thru' my Window - Shanthi

Huh!!!! We are still in the middle of the winter - I can’t complain though – after all the fun time in India and Hawaii. But ACTUALLY lived long enough (20 yrs) in Norway that I enjoy and look forward to the 4 SEASONS and the play of colors around me – else life could get too monotonous J . OK does that sound surreal! – Hey!!! then look at a day through my window. Oops !!! my camera was shivering at -9 degrees J.




I woke up to this beautiful romance with Chaand following me thru’ all my windows.

While all this is going on in the west , the eastern sky was busy putting up its first colors.

And on is a neighbors smoking pipe

A train meandering its way

All that rises has to set and so here we are again with the play of colors at the dusk. ( hmmmm…. Pity !!! was too busy to capture the sun set )

So folks do you agree that life in our part of the world is not that bad either J . Have a nice weekend !!!