On another note...

 

It definitely isn't!

A nasty nasty stomach bug has caught hold of me and I am sick like a dog! While the antibiotics work their 'magic' (magic at the pace of a 90 year old snail, is more like it!), I have been asked to mope and whine recuperate at home for the next few weeks, eat (ahem) sensibly and generally take it very very easy. This ridiculous bug has already caused us to cancel a trip this week to one of our favorite places in the hills, and as you can imagine, it is taking me a lot of effort and deep breathing to keep the language of this post civil. :/ 

While I whine and mope, and recuperate, I'll need to be away from work and blogging and internet and the other good things in life for sometime. I do plan to sneak in a post or two in between, dash off a few responses, when possible, to the lovely emails, and just stop by facebook and gaze lovingly at you - my dear dear readers (umm...or not. Why does it sound creepy?); but net net as they say, I'll be on and off the radar till the time I start gaining an upper hand over this *^%$# bug!

So don't fret if you don't hear back from me for sometime, OK? You know I am engaged in a battle of strength and will with a scum of a bug. You guys, you take care of yourselves, and keep dropping in to share a joke or two (laughter being the best medicine and all that), or to bad mouth the bug, or well, just to say hello! :)

Much love!

   [Fabulous Illustration by HoppiPoppi. Via]

Welcome to Keya's world!

One of my favorite e-friends, with one of my favorite homes, moved homes recently. As she set up her new home, we begin to chat about how I haven't done a kids room specific post yet (!), and I rued the fact that it has been very very hard for me to find kid's rooms inspired by India, that I also like. She jumped like a ninja saviour (in my imagination), and hinted that I just might like her daughter - Keya's room. Boy, that was an understatement of the month! I adored Keya's room so much that not only did I pester her to write a post for 'An Indian Summer' on how she did up the room, I also decided to ditch the guest bedroom when I visit Richa, and sleep in this room! That rug would also do, Keya. Thank you! :)

Handing over to Richa now:

The ‘look’ for Keya’s room came quite easily after I found the vintage blue armoire at a ‘Going-out-of-business’ sale.  Not so much distressed as falling apart, it had me at the color.  “It’s my will that is holding it up!”  I often joke when guests look nervous around it. In my defence, I’d like to say that its slim shelves are just the right size for storing paperbacks. Plus, it had in it the added attraction for me to use blue for a girl’s room :)

 

It was deliberate design to surround Keya with happy colors and with things that would enrich her imagination. Take the sumptuously-designed scroll book by artist Pulak Biswas, for instance, from Tara Books (next to the window). It unfurls to a six-foot wall hanging and in its design aesthetic reflects just the sort of unconventional thinking that I hope will inspire Keya when she creates with her own hands. The other piece of art (behind the bed) is a batik by artist Heidi Lange  that was gifted to me by my brother. Keya’s growing quantities of books are a source of both color and decorative inspiration as is her handmade art and other personal treasures. 

 

When it came to furniture, I didn’t want invest in any piece that would begin to look ‘kiddish’ in a few years.  The bed was bought keeping that in mind. A few other pieces of furniture that were lying around were simply re-purposed and brought into Keya’s room. Like the small wooden stool from West Africa that works as her side table. The chakki stool (it used to be our coffee table) is the perfect height to play board games on while sitting on the rug. The ladder is one of those fun extras, making the space just that bit more inspired and interesting. The green chair (from the garden section of a furniture store) delivers a punch of color. Those who have seen my home here on An Indian Summer, will know that I am not tonally restrained ;-). 

Luckily, when it came to designing her sleeping space, Keya’s own aesthetic is more shabby chic than Disney! The vintage, recycled saree throws that are showing up, with their folksy hues are, I think, just the perfect thing for a girls’ bed. They mix and match so well with just about any ditsy print pillows you can find! Given that the room itself is pretty plain with no fun architectural elements, I am happy with this very individual look. There is a little bit of old mixed with some new, and the space is relaxed enough for Keya and her friends to have good times but not so over-designed that there won’t be room to accommodate her changing interests.  

R, thanks and hugs once again for inviting us over to your beautiful abode! :)

Just in case you missed it, here is a tour of Richa's home.

[All images: Richa Kapoor and An Indian Summer]

Jade Jagger and India

I first saw Jade Jagger's Goa beach home on Idha Lindhag's portfolio and immediately fell for it's very Indian, rustic, bohemian vibe. Jade has been in news recently in India as she, partnering with her design firm,  is designing the interiors for high end luxury apartments by the Lodha Group in Bombay. She also recently launched her beach boutique at Ashwen beach, North Goa, from where she retails her new jewelry line and clothes collection.

 

 

Another India connection to look out for is Jade's collaboration with Indiska, the iconic indophile chain of stores based in Norway, Sweden and Finland. Inspired by India, this collection will be launched in May 2012, with all the promotional material being shot in Goa.

[All Images: Indha Lindhag and Indiska. Creatives for the post: An Indian Summer]

I'll see you later this week, with a tour of a lovely young girl's room, in one of my favorite homes!

I'll post early next week folks! Am sick :(

Come and say hello to me on facebook meanwhile :)

Martyn Lawrence-Bullard Design

Martyn Lawrence-Bullard Designs, an award winning LA based design firm, has had me ooh aahing over their rich luxurious designs, inspired by India, Morocco and Central Asia. I can't get past the gorgeous textiles used in the homes designed by the firm! When I do get past the textiles, I am arrested by the lovely furniture and their handpicked accessories. Putting all these elements together, while some rooms have too much going on for them, some rooms are just the perfect balance of colors, textures and fabrics. Tell me, which ones do you like the best?

 

 

[All images: Martyn Lawrence-Bullard Design]

Welcoming new sponsor "Aniika"!

I am very happy to announce one of my favorite online stores as the new sponsor for An Indian Summer! Meghana (one of the co-founders of the store) and I have been in touch since the time the store was just an idea, and I have following it's birth and growth keenly. Aniika is an excellent source for buying handcrafted products from upcoming designers in India. While Aniika currently ships only to the US, it is gearing up to start shipping to other international locations soon.

See my earlier picks from Aniika here and here!

Click right here or on the lovely graphic on the right side bar to start shopping!

{P.S: If you too would like to advertise your business or service on An Indian Summer, shoot me an email and I'll send across the options to you!}

 

Jaya Ibrahim

Jaya Ibrahim, son of a Javanese princess and a diplomat father, is one of the foremost interior designer in Indonesia. Jaya's designs and work proudly display his Indonesian traditions and heritage, as well his exposure to the best in design in the western world. Read more about Jaya here and take a look at his many luxury hospitality projects. A few images from his elegantly designed home right here!

[All images: Jaya Ibrahim]

Fenton and Fenton

I love these beautifully styled rooms from Lucy and Emma Fenton's delightful store and retail space in Australia. Fenton and Fenton is filled with bohemian picks from around the world, including India. Take a look at their range of products there and my pick from their photo shoots right here!

[All images: Fenton and Fenton]

P.S: Hope you have hopped over here and here and left a cheery little hello to enter the giveaway? Just two days left before the winners are announced!