Spotlight on Contemporary Indian Design - the India Circus story and a giveaway!

So, what comes to mind when you think of Indian decor ? Vibrant colors, dark wood tones, ornate motifs, intricate details, handicrafts ? How about quirky, contemporary and chic accents with a hint of ethnic India?  Mixing functional decor elements with a global vibe and incorporating a touch of India is in! Modern design sensibility calls for a marriage of traditional and contemporary and the India Circus team has recognized and accomplished this with their gorgeous array of products.

In their own words, "India Circus seeks to curate the essence of life in India, and transcribe this loud and colorful experience into contemporary and sophisticated style. From luminescent lamps to totes a la mode, we have a lot to offer for various corners of your life! The vibrancy of the colors combined with the nuanced heritage of the designs makes each piece created at India Circus exceptional. All of our creations offer sophistication with a dash of 'Indian-ness,' without draining your wallets "

Home is where the heart is - a place where we grow roots and make memories! We call our homes a sanctuary and a haven. We add little touches to make this space our very own and invest a lot of thought and effort  in this process. At Aalayam, we like to bring you inspirations for your home and life  and today we shine the spotlight on India Circus as a tribute to contemporary Indian design.
 

Here is Supriya's take on the products offered by India Circus -

"Home accents or accessories are a cost effective and easy way to add color, whimsy and glamour to your living or working space. Like this wire stool for instance. What a fabulous way to add that touch of interest to a room! It is paired inventively with the block print magazine bin! Perfect for a serenity nook full of good reads! The stool is multi-functional too, need a spot to place your coffee mug? Just grab it close to you. Got one guest too many in your impromptu dinner party? Pull up the stool my friend!

When we lived in an apartment, I had my own studio which I used to freelance from. This was a nook  that I had decorated to my fancy, with quirky accessories that I had unearthed during my antiquing adventures or had picked up during my travels, much to my husband’s chagrin! Very like the exotic laptop sleeve and the rickshaw motif cushion covers showcased here! These accessories definitely would be sure-fire culture conversation starters with my clients!

Whenever I travel for work or for pleasure, I always incorporate some “India-inspired” accessories into my ensemble. Of course! Be it a vibrant clutch, a capricious tote, or even a funky umbrella. What better way to add my own personality into my outfit? After all, I cannot speak to everyone I meet, yet, I can communicate that I am a girl with some fierce opinions! Speaking of umbrellas, in my home, I have a caddy full of fun and vivacious umbrellas at the entryway. So, rain or shine, me and my guests are prepared to meet the quirks of nature!"

Supriya and I  have our favorites at India Circus. Make a trip to their online store.  We urge you. Who knows what you might find? There's many stops on this decorating journey, let India Circus be your next one!

Aalayam is 45 posts old! We are now a close - knit family of 104 and for this, we consider ourselves blessed! We wanted to pause and thank you for making this such a wonderful experience for Supriya and me. We teamed up with India Circus to host a giveaway - if it were up to us, we would send a little something to all of you but that is not be. However, one of you will take home this wonderful product that Supriya and I lovingly picked.

for more details on this gorgeous tray click here

This gorgeous tray with the crimson paisley motifs and the darling blue birds! Don't you love it?

To be eligible to win this gorgeous tray, pick an option, follow the steps and leave a comment on this post saying which option you selected. Remember, every option has two actions, that you MUST complete to win! 

Option 1 - "Join this site" (click the widget on the right of this site) to become a member of the Aalayam family and follow IndiaCircus on Facebook, leave a comment on IndiaCircus page picking your favorite IndiaCircus product

Option 2 - If you already are a member of Aalayam, refer Aalayam to your friends, so they can become members, and follow IndiaCircus on Facebook, leave a comment on IndiaCircus page picking your favorite IndiaCircus product

Option 3 - If you are a blogger, blog about this giveaway and leave us a link to your post and follow IndiaCircus on Facebook, leave a comment on IndiaCircus page picking your favorite IndiaCircus product

Don't forget to leave a comment on this post telling us which Option (1, 2 or 3) you chose, so we know you did what you had to do to win this gorgeous tray!!

For more details on this gorgeous tray click here

The giveaway is open to readers based in the United States and India till May 17th, 9 pm Eastern Time (US). If you live elsewhere, you can still enter provided you give us a shipping address in the United States or India (consider entering on behalf of a friend or family member) and the winner will be announced on the 24th.

And stay tuned for more India and more inspirations!

Cheers!
Deepa

p.s: All images are copyrighted by India Circus.

The Grand Aalayam Giveaway (an announcement)!.... and Floral Inspirations

Welcome to the weekend dear readers!!

Deepa and I have a fantastic surprise in store for you! We are planning something really awesome for next week for all of you and your friends! 

This poster gives you an inkling of what's to come, so wait with bated breath, there is a gorgeous, true blue Aalayam style giveaway waiting for you!

What do you need to do to be eligible for the grand giveaway, you ask? Well, stay tuned for next week's post to read about the eligibility criteria and to look at the exciting lineup of India Circus products we are showcasing. Think of it as mind pleasing eye candy and a chance to win a gorgeous prize!! I for one, cannot wait for next week...

Now, on to this week's post! For this post, Deepa and I worked together, so you will see corners and floral inspirations from both our homes, and scribbling from both our inkwells...so..here goes!

A gorgeous brass accent complements a jewel tone vase - Deepa's home. 

Have you stopped at the grocery store lately? The first thing you notice is the pretty blooms that are on display both inside and outside the store. The spring season is nature's tribute to life! And there's nothing like fresh flowers to infuse life and zing into your living space! Decorating with fresh flowers is probably one of the oldest and simplest universal home decorating techniques.  

Whether they are yellow flowers in a purple glass vase that compliment the yellow and purple jute braided pillows or tender coral roses that kiss the blue and white Moroccan vase in a zen bed room, flowers add elegance and glamor to your space!

A mood fix for sure - a zen reading nook - Supriya's home!

Fresh flowers are an instantaneous color and textural fix not to mention a mood fix! There is something undeniably blissful about a bunch of pretty flowers. Actually, there is something divine about the whole process of buying /picking flowers, cutting them, pairing them with the right vase, arranging them and finding a corner of your home that is perfect for those flowers - it is the simple things that bring you the most joy, after all!

A book basket, a lamp and a couch - A Serenity corner from Supriya's home!

Flowers are the most versatile decor accessories that blend in seamlessly with any decor style - ethnic Indian or rustic chic or casual country or simple elegance. 

You never go wrong with fresh flowers!

Speaking of rustic chic, look how effortless, the delicate coral roses look hobnobbing in a vintage watering can! 

Finding ways to reuse, recycle and refurbish jars, cans and containers of interesting shapes and sizes, not only is a green thing to do, it adds that element of drama and interest to any living room, study or bedroom! 

Flowers are a staple feature for all of our festive tablescapes . Deepa recommends going in for the abundance of a lush bouquet and at other times, settling for the striking form of a single stem. 

Either way, adding some blooms is a great budget friendly way to create visual interest! 

Deepa and I both like playing around with patterns, motifs and colors to create different vignettes in sprightly hues and bold patterns. 

 Home decorating is all about creating a space that inspires us to live our best life. 

Bohemian colors and patterns are married together harmoniously - Deepa's home

Flowers not only add beauty but also a live energy and vitality to the space. Fresh flowers make everyone happy! Pairing floral arrangements with accents that you already own is a simple and easy way to buff up a living space.  

Look how the dramatic black and white two -toned vignette or the mishmash of random colors and patterns thrown together is adding oomph to the decor! 

Who said Black is boring!  - A two toned vignette from Deepa's home!

Men, who are reading this post with your ladies, please remember, the staid tulips, or the cheerful zerbera daisies, the exotic lilies, the cheeky carnations, or even the dainty roses..all are sure fire ways of winning your ladies' affection, over and over again. And a redeeming way to a no girls allowed TV or golf weekend!!

Gorgeous tulips add drama to a modern family room - Supriya's home!

So, dear readers, we leave you with these floral inspirations for your living space and to brighten your day! And do not forget about the Grand Aalayam Giveaway next week!!! You deserve to win and we are rooting for you!

Love,
Supriya and Deepa!