An Indian Summer

Tuesday, April 29

That Warm Fuzzy Feeling

That warm fuzzy feeling you get when you look at interiors and rooms that remind you of something from your childhood. The feeling of coziness, the feeling of simplicity, the desire to put your feet up and feel at home. Decor, that is casual, and not pretentious. Furniture that is well worn and not designer. Handpicked and handmade objects rather than objet d'art. Soft and familiar furnishings with your personal favorite cushions and favorite throws. Rooms that remind you of your grandparent's home and the summer holidays spent there. THAT warm fuzzy feeling, is what I have today, and these rooms made me nostalgic.

Oft read books with bunch of flowers picked from the garden

Ah! The 'diwan' (day bed)...must have in Indian homes.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/alliemount/

Fresh bakes on the dining table

The various craft projects, that were proudly displayed by our grandparents :)

I love the simplicity of this dining table. And the gorgeous wood floor.

Perfect for lounging with a book and a jug of chilled lemonde

Nope, no coasters needed for this table. Perfect for a lazy evening with a bunch of friends

Sigh. The elegance of this simple bed frame.

Sunday mornings in unkempt bed are the best :). Oh, and read the DIY for this lamp shade here

Isn't that chair a flea market shopper's dream come true?

Cozy bedside

The verandah

Crochet Wall hanging - so reminds me of the 70's and the 80's!

Love how the colors of the portrait and the blanket complement each other

Indoor plants...a must have from the time when I was growing up :)

I guess all this nostalgia is because May is right around the corner, and May used to mean summer holidays. Hot summer afternoons, spent inside cool home, reading books and poring over the odd interior design magazine. Good ol' days!

Oh, talking about interior design magazine, do hop over to Priya's curated magazine to read what I have to say about stuff like blogging and all. Such important things I say, really. And if you don't want to read that (how could you not want to, I don't understand), do take a look at the rest of the magazine. It's the perfect accompaniment to a tall glass of iced tea!

[Images from: 1, 2, 3, 4]

Tuesday, April 22

I slept in spring..

..and woke up in summer!

Just a poetic way to say
OMG! It's hot and summers are here!
When did this happen!
What was I doing?
Was I sleeping?

If you still don't believe me, just go through this post, ok? And listen to the playlist I put together for you. I was browsing through El Mueble, and I was drawn, like a bee to a flower, to summer-ish decor. You know, all light and white, and pinks and blues, and flowers and glass, and oh all that grass! Grass of the green-growing-under-your-feet kind. Maybe of the other kind too. Just maybe. Who can say. It's summertime folks! :)

Listen to Summer

An all time favorite this one

From my younger, much younger days...Richard Marx, folks!

And if we are talking of my younger days, how can we forget Bryan Adams?

And finally, Summer Breeze

Now?
Now do you feel summer-ish? :)

[All Images: E lMueble]

Wednesday, April 16

Say Yes To

No-Mad!

No-Mad and I go way back. I still remember my conversations with Valerie and Anuj, about this splendid creative idea and vision they had, and I have been waiting with bated breath for the launch of this vision, the lifestyle brand: No-Mad. The wait has been worth it's while - No-Mad showcases, yet again, Valerie's brilliance as a designer and Anuj's enthusiasm as a creative entrepreneur. No-Mad products are quirky, they are contemporary, colorful and bright, elegant yet exuding a sense of comfort & familiarity. I can see the attention to design detail and the high standard of production quality from the images, and can't wait to feel that fine fabric and trace the intricate embroidery in person.

The driving force behind the products at No-Mad is India. India and it's culture, it's day to day objects, how people interact with these objects. Valerie has brought in an interesting viewpoint - creating products that are quintessentially Indian in nature, but using design inspiration from outside; Morocco specifically for the current collection of Red and Black. That's the reason why Valerie and Anuj like to call No-Mad, 97% Indian, with 3% (more or less :)) influence from outside India. Read more about their creative journey together right here.

With current collection of products ranging from pillow covers to bags, to poufs and 'moodas', specially formulated incense and candles, No-Mad is getting ready to launch a new color and more product lines. All products are shipped world wide and are available via No-Mad's online store.

I already have my favorites wishlisted and as expected, the list runs long! It has to be for where else can we find the brilliance from India and Morocco together? No-Mad has hit the nail on the head with it's design philosophy and products. I am eagerly looking forward to what next the team at No-Mad conjures up!

Shop at No-Mad right here, and tell us what you love. :)

[Copyright - All Images: No-Mad. Creative storyboarding: An Indian Summer]

Tuesday, April 1

Visual Therapy

You know what it feels like when you lie down, and cover your eyes with soft cotton wool, soaked in cool rose water? You feel the coolness seep in, your breathing becomes calmer, your mind pauses it's constant chatter and gently, you relax. That's exactly what I feel when I soak in visual imagery. The calmness and aesthetics of beautiful images, speak and do more than words can, many a times.

So, after a tumultuous January, an unexpected February, a frenetic yet fun March, I decided to spend this first day of April, indulging in some visual therapy. I don't have a story to tell, a post to write or a message to convey. Just some 'cool' image collages I made, to inspire me, and to inspire you.

Oh, and what is relaxation without music?

Listen to this, as you stroll through the rest of the post

It's my current favorite piece of music to listen to :)