Home Tour- New Age India!

We are switching gears! After our virtual vacation to the Pacific Northwest, we are heading to Gurgaon, India's real estate Mecca, for a home tour!

A sun dappled living room in merry colors!

Some of you are probably already familiar with our home owner today because she is also a blogger!

Meet Shalini Pereira of All Things Nice blog!

On her blog, Shalini writes…. "Hi there! Here's a little about me and my blog... I'm an Interior Designer and Architectural consultant by profession and run my own design firm, SPDA. Besides design, I am passionate about cooking, reading, traveling and writing. In my spare time I like to read or cook up a storm! When I'm not doing either, I like to blog about design, my experiences as a designer or my experiments in the kitchen. I call my blog All Things Nice, because, well it’s basically about everything I think is nice!"

I frequent Shalini's blog often. I like her blog. It is an easy read and she always has good literature  accompanying her pictures. I also like how she draws attention to the architectural details in her home decor posts and I feel like I always learn something. The other day, I thought to myself  "I wonder what her home looks like" and I wrote to her rather impulsively. And I am so glad I did because Shalini very graciously agreed to feature her beautiful home on Aalayam.

A pair of adorable elephants take centerstage on her coffee table- Shalini shares my love of elephants!

Shalini and her husband Abhishek live in a gorgeous home. When I saw the pictures, the immediate term that popped in my head was "New-Age India" and I am sticking with that. I think eclectic is so overrated, anyway! With a lot of ingenuity and diligence, they've converted their rental into a cozy and welcoming nest. In the main living/dining area, pops of vibrant hues merrily share the space with lighter shades and the whole ensemble is anchored together by a sublime olive green. It is a perfect retreat to spend a sunny Gurgaon afternoon.
 

A room that speaks for itself!!

 Dressed in white and teal, the bedroom exudes a calming feel- just what the doctor ordered after a hard day's work! 

Serenity is the mantra!

Shalini's professional acumen is evident in her harmonious use of interesting artwork, quirky curios and ethnic elements all in the same space for a cohesive pulled-together look! I love it!

 A modern space  + traditional Indian elements + chic western touches = New-Age India!  I think Shalini and Abhishek have nailed this look to a tee! Don't you think? 
Shalini and Abhishek's home is also a great lesson in creating a statement look with minimal but cleverly selected  colors and accessories!  

Form meets function in this stylish space!

Now, over to Shalini as she tells us more about how she has put a personal stamp on her place..

1) What makes your home "your home"?
 
I try and surround myself with things I love, or that have some special significance to me. So, my home is full of knick knacks that I have collected over the years, it may be a small curio that I picked up while traveling, or a picture that marks an important moment in my family’s life. I’d like to think of my home as a happy place, where people are always welcome and I think that’s reflected in the use of colors, artwork and odd knick knacks.

2) Does the decor in your home fit the bill for any one particular style - if so, what drove you to that style?
 
Firstly, we live in a rented apartment so it didn’t give us too much freedom in terms of really making it our own. If given the chance, there are several things I would change, such as the flooring- I would lay wooden floor boards over the dated marble flooring. Also the electrical fittings are not my favorite. But given the constraints, I am very happy with what we have done with the place, although it is still a work in progress. I don’t think that it fits perfectly into any particular style. I could only try and describe it as eclectic, with a little touch of the contemporary, a little Indian, but mostly a casual, happy place with a laid back feel.

Another view and equally beautiful!

3) Who calls the design shots in your home?
 
I’m an interior designer and my husband is a management consultant who is also one of the least artistic people I know. In fact he thinks grey, beige, brown and cream are all the same! So I guess I call all the design shots. But both of us have contributed to the home with small D.I .Y projects. For example, my husband and I painted the green walls in the house over a weekend. Our next project is painting our dining table chairs which we intend to paint in different colors.

4) How does your personal decor style influence your work professionally?
My personal decor style is very different from the homes I design for my clients. My home is casual and laid back, whereas most of my clients expect luxury, contemporary interiors that fit in with their lifestyle. I think my home will always be a work in progress, because it tells the story of our lives.

The aged look on the side board/buffet adds interest and drama!

5) What are your favorite places to shop for your home?
I don’t really have a particular place, but I do like FabIndia, Delhi Haat, Good Earth, Apartment 9. But I also get a lot of things from flea markets, craft fairs and local antique stores. 

6) Where do you draw your online inspirations from - any favorite resources that you can share?
I love Architectural Digest, Elle Decor, We Heart It, Home Trends Magazine, Archdaily to name just a few.

Home is where the heart is!

I love featuring home tours on Aalayam. I think real life home owners have such great insight into the home making process - it really allows you to put things in perspective. 

 Home is where the heart is, after all!

Thank you Shalini and Abhishek for sharing your charming home with us and the readers of Aalayam.
Also, a special mention- Shalini's sister-in-law Ujwala Menon for capturing their home beautifully through her lens and making this photo tour possible. You can check out more of her work here.

And you can always find Shalini here!

Cheers!
Deepa

p.s: Supriya is back next week, yay!  And  psst psst, we have three decor posts lined up....