Thursday, March 24, 2011

Colour Therapy

Hi! I am still recovering from the onslaught of colours since Holi last week-end. Though I myself am no great practitioner of it now,I enjoy watching others from my balcony. Also it is fun to watch small boys splashing in the sea next to my home to wash off their colours. I do have many fond memories of childhood and youth, associated with this festival of colour! And am immensely enjoying pictures, especially of young nephews and nieces, put up on facebook, covered in all hues of the nature! It also reminds me as to how my husband and I had also encouraged and helped our daughter, when she was a child, to fill balloons with coloured water, as she prepared for the D-day!!  

I am sure many of you had appreciated Janelle's vibrant home in my last post. So in continuation of the celebration of colour, I present some more colourful room ideas…



A fresh but unusual green living room
 
A bold Turquoise

A bright yellow

A green kitchen
A romantic pink




 
Red cabinet showcasing blue cermaics

A soothing lavender for sweet dreams

A bathroom in navy blue

A warm foyer welcomes the guests

A room in scarlet



Friends, I will be away for a fortnight.See you after that! Meanwhile, be happy and colourful!

Images courtesy: House Beautiful, redonline.co.uk,nehomemag.com, Apartment Therapy.

Thursday, March 17, 2011

Riot of colours

Hi friends, Holi-- the festival of colours and romance is just round the corner. Considered to be one of the major festivals of India, Holi is celebrated by applying colours and offering sweets to one another. Janelle's vibrant studio apartment below is just apt for this post.

Holi has several mythological and social significance. Of the several mythological stories associated with it, the most popular is that of Krishna, his consort Radha and his other admirers Gopikas or Gopinis.  


Krishna playing Holi with Radha and Gopinis


      In many parts of northern India, Raasleela, a dance form depicting life and romantic episodes of Lord Krishna, is performed on this occasion. According to myths, Radha had fair complexion while Krishna was dark. One day He asked his mother, Yashoda, why He was dark and Radha was fair. His mother jokingly asked Him to take some colour and apply it on Radha’s face to darken her as well. Krishna then approached Radha quietly and applied the colour on her face. It is believed that since then, playing with colours on the day of Holi became a tradition. It is also considered a romantic occasion for young lovers.
     On this day, several temples are decorated with flowers and lights and idols of Krishna and Radha are placed on swings while singers sing folk songs associated with Holi and play with colours and flowers. Many Bollywood films have also romanticised the festival. There are thousands of songs on the theme of love-relationship between Radha and Krishna, which are sung during Holi.

     Holi also signifies friendship and brotherhood as people visit one another on this day to play with colours.

 Basant Utsav in Shantiniketan
      Popularly known as Vasantotsav, this festival, celebrated in Spring every year, attracts thousands of tourists in Shantiniketan, the abode of poet and Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore. Here the festival is celebrated in a dignified manner -- not only with colours but also through dance, music and chanting of hymns while it is more boisterous in most other parts of India. The month of Phagun marks the advent of spring and ripening of crops in Northern India. It is considered a season of romance and excitement, folk songs and dances. 

      So to signify this energetic festival, I felt that it would be ideal to show you Janelle's brilliant and iridescent Washington DC home-- full of colours.

Cheerful entrance sets the mood

Vibrant Living-dining area

Green chairs take their cue from the green kitchen

        This apartment will show you how several shades can co-exist in a harmonius manner and can even heighten the aesthetics. Her house was among the five finalists from the US in the BEHR Room for Color Contest.

Riot of colours

 "Go big. Go bold. Commit, but be sure to take the time to test drive colors", advices Janelle.

  



Very posh purple bedroom

Walk-in closet


"Aspiring color comrades, I suggest you never fear, do your homework, and wear sunglasses if ya need to!" this is Janelle's parting shot. 

That is the idea behind Holi as well. So enjoy the weekend. Happy Holi to you all!! May all the hues of nature touch your life and make it colourful. Do remember to leave a comment!! 



Holi images courtesy The Hindu, www.4to40.com

Janelle apartment images via Apartment Therapy


Thursday, March 10, 2011

My End Table

This week I will unveil a corner of my living room. I have acquired a new coffee table, so my earlier coffee table now serves as my end table where I keep our phone and other knick-knacks... Have a look and feel free to leave your comments -- I would love to hear from you!!!




  
Beaded pen holder
 
Semi-precious stone carving



A glass sea horse in front of the plate


Framed silk painting done by me
 
Miniature wooden shoes from Russia on the wall



Thursday, March 3, 2011

Sweet Dreams

They entertain us. They grab our eyeballs wherever they go. We try to emulate them. We follow them. They invade various realms of our lives through magazines, televisions and the internet. And we encroach upon their privacy in public.

       But most of the time, they are out of the reach of the common man. They are designers, architects, artists ....-- all enjoying celebrity status in their own fields.

      Most of the times, they are braving the flashlights, smiling at shutterbugs, setting trends.....

    But away from the humdrum, how do these stars spend their quiet moments?

Bedroom of Fashion Czarina Donatella Versace

Bedroom of Grey's Anatomy star Ellen Pompeo

Simple bedroom of Actor Meg Ryan

Bedroom of Fashion Designer Josie Natori

Eclectic Bedroom of Fashion Designer Roberto Cavalli

Africa-influenced bedroom of a journalist-designer

Bedroom of Actress Alexandra Wentworth

 Pictures courtesy Elle Decor