Artist feature and a home tour - "Traditional Indian with a dash of Kitsch"

Welcome to another year of inspiring posts! It is a new year and we are hitting the ground running! That’s right! 

An intricate brass Ganesha lamp  from Arthi's treasured brass collection.

We kick off 2015 with an artist feature and a home tour. Let me introduce you to an artist whose influence has touched the lives of many. She is known for her vivacious smile, her mesmerizing energy and her penchant for story telling!

 Story telling is an art, one that relies on the power of communication to translate words into artistic visual images that can then send the listener on a journey to an imaginary world. And our artist today is an amazing storyteller.  Story telling is only a part of her identity. She is also a mother, a full time corporate employee, a volunteer, an author of two children’s books and a blogger! I have never met her but I am thoroughly inspired by her tenacity! It is an honor and a privilege to host the amazing Arthi Anand Navaneeth on Aalayam today. Her story is beyond impressive and she was gracious enough to invite us into her beautiful home.  

Hints of orange play peekaboo with the warmer earth tones.

We love telling the story of people who make a difference and inspire us with their commitment to a cause as much as we love showcasing beautiful homes. So, to be able to do both in one post is always a bonus! Arthi is an eloquent conversationalist and I was blown away by her answers to my questions. The clarity and simplicity with which she spoke evoked an unmoored joy in me. I hope you too find our exchange engaging.

The striking architectural details, warm wood tones and an open floor plan accented by ambient lighting

We have showcased several homes on Aalayam already and you know that we love telling the story of passionate homeowners who decorate with confidence.  The homes featured on Aalayam define  the home owners' personality and what they treasure. Arthi’s home is another classic example of that philosophy. Pay attention dear readers, every corner of this home has been lovinlgy nurtured and filled with things that Arthi and her family treasure. The end result- an innately nourishing space with remarkable visual appeal!

Arthi’s Chennai home was featured in detail in Times Of India Property Times. Deccan Chronicle Bangalore focused on Arthi and Navaneeth’s mask and kettle collection and other bloggers have featured Arthi’s beautiful home in the past.

I am proud to tell Arthi and Navaneeth’s home story - the Aalayam way! 

Below is our conversation on home and décor and her story-telling platform (Art’s Tales) with Arthi’s insights on soulful decorating and pursuing one's dreams. It is a new year and we are all full of aspirations for personal and professional development. I hope that Arthi’s work will inspire you to reinvent yourself and follow your heart's desires!

 Who is Arthi Anand?

A typical working woman of today- a daughter and mother of two, wife to one, friend to some, foe to none (hopefully), Interested in music, dance, food, travel, craft and home décor.

During the week, I am a marketing professional with a fragrance MNC and on weekends I turn into a storyteller for kids.

Art’s Tales with Arthi Anand was born out of my interest in picture books and organizing get-togethers for my own kids.

The artist at work..

I am known as Art among closer friends (especially the blog ones) and hence the name Art’s Tales.

When my first picture book (Tulika’s “Have you seen this?”) was launched, the promotional events acted as a catalyst to my growing desire to narrate stories to a larger audience.

I had attended a workshop by Jeeva in my Chennai days, I drew on that learning. The wonderful Saffron Tree where I review books along with a lot of other contributors is a ready resource for multi cultural stories.

Not sure when but what began as volunteer work with slum kids, turned into an avocation. I still ensure I do at least a couple of volunteer sessions (largely with cancer patients at Kidwai Hospital and the slum children in Ejjipura)

So many stories waiting to be told....

To have people value what you do and pay for attending your session is gratifying. I have been a part of Bookalore, Bangalore Lit Fest, Conservation Express, Neralu, Soul Santhe, Kitsch Mandi, Hamleys and Krispy Kreme. This is apart from the sessions that happen in schools, libraries and across activity centers – all usually on Saturdays.

Family and a couple of friends were very encouraging and after two years, I also launched Art’s Tales on Facebook. The page is a year old now! I try and share interesting book links and crafts when I can.

Arts Tales sessions are interactive and informative without being moralistic. They are a mix of song, dance and story peppered with trivia and questions ideal for the 4- 10 yr. old group. Though parents are known to have been as engaged as kids, I close most sessions with a theme related craft ranging from up cycling to origami to even food art.

Art's Tales FB page is where you can keep yourself updated on the upcoming events and also book information

There is no dearth of stories or storytellers. I am thankful for where I am today. But when I ready to give up corporate life, I hope Art’s Tales can travel places literally- so that I can share and listen to stories there!

Merry little teapots- another of Arthi's favorite collections!

 What makes your home "your home"?  Does the decor in your home fit the bill for any one particular style - if so, what drove you to that style? Who calls the design shots in your home?   

Just yesterday I asked a visitor whether our house was traditional or modern. He felt it was a traditional look provided by a modern mind. I am still interpreting it!

Our family and their warmth, our memories and our hopes for the future translate in to our home.  It reflects our love for handicrafts and handloom, our travels including where we stayed.  We are fairly organized, fairly neat, fairly arty and fairly well travelled. Our home has always represented us and we believe no decorators or professionals can capture that.

More hints of rust and orange

So yes, it may seem a bit too lived in and look like a mish mash of styles but it tries to be “Indian with a dash of kitschy drama" and stories from our (and our friends’) travels.

Vintage collectibles showcased lovingly

I am the collector and the curator (a skill that needs further honing!) while the rest of the family does their bit to keep things in order. My father is extremely handy around the house and helps execute ideas on lighting and placement and more. My hubby and mom are the cleanliness buffs. I inherit my love for Indian crafts and fabric from my mother.  My girls, though young, help clean up their room once playtime is done. They contribute a lot to the festive décor with art and craft!

What are your favorite places to shop for your home? Are you budget savvy or would you rather own pieces that truly strike a chord with you even if they are expensive?  

Arthi fondly included a picture of these rattan stools (20 yrs old and from Bangladesh! she said)

I like going to the local markets and santhes when we travel. The closer one gets to the artist the more authentic it is.

Art/ craft is difficult to put a price to. Sometimes if you value it enough, you pay up. And sometimes low priced items fit in beautifully.

If I had to name shopping haunts, Dastkar, Santhes, 100 hands, Ambara, Asmara and Tribes in Bangalore, Khadi in Chennai, are good bets for curios. Of course there are online options too now- Jaypore, itokri and so on.

Blind Love worked well for blinds and Dakshini, Zen and Be Vintage are good for furniture.

It is good to always be on the lookout and pick up whenever something catches your fancy, your budget and a corner at home.

Where do you draw your inspirations from - stores, blogs, magazines?

If the curio fits one of the various collections at home or is quirky in some way and affordable, I get it.

I do recall browsing for a unique book shelf though when we moved to this home and that is how the Yin Yan shelf came about. We were fortunate to find a good carpenter to do it for us.

More treasures from their collection displayed with panache

Home decorating is an arduous process – one that takes patience and a keen eye. What advice would you like to impart to our readers that want to create a cohesive, magazine like look without professional help? 

Don’t go for a magazine look or any other person’s home.  

Home has to reflect you and your family. Let your home be a mix of aesthetic and comfort. 

Keep it clean and put things back in place.

Keep wardrobes closed and odd and ends inside.

Keep one wardrobe rack/ draw free in every room for super duper spring clean to use when you have unexpected visitors and then do remember to clean it out once they are gone!!

Bathrooms need to be dry, real flowers are always welcome

Decide and stick to your color scheme within a room, experiment with accents, be bold and change placement for a change………..

De-clutter is something I could advice if I learned it myself!

What’s next for your beautiful home? 

Some seating in wood embellished with old ceramic tiles, but first I need space!!

How does your home decor style incorporate the needs of your two beautiful girls? 
Every room has some floor space, where they are encouraged to work / play. The hall is large and obstruction free. They have a small study area in the balcony, which is enclosed and their room has lots of storage for their ever growing collection of books and toys. The girls donate and clean out toys and clothes every now and then. This really helps. Art work is displayed on the fridge or on their room doors and changed as needed. The girls are involved in décor and crafts during all festivals so that they feel ownership towards the same.

You are big on collecting items - what kind of things do you collect? And what drives you to them? When do you say enough? How do you manage to keep your house so impeccably clutter free despite owning a cornucopia of beautiful objects- any tips on storage and display?

Ganeshas, masks, kettles, quirky small brass/ metal antiques, Indian folk art, bedspreads… oh too many for the limited space we have. If you think our home is clutter free, then open the wardrobes and lofts and you will know!!

And there you have it, my rendezvous with the bubbly Arthi Anand.  She calls it “Traditional Indian with a dash of kitsch” and I say, “Punctuated with personality”. It is a labor of love and the home is as exuberant as the home owner! Thank you Arthi and Navaneeth for sharing your beautiful home with all of us. Thank you for joining us on this home tour. Please leave your comments and questions for Arthi. Tell us if you are inspired by this space. Our home owners, who graciously share their homes with all of us, would love to hear from you.

To find out more about Art's Tales - stop by her Facebook page

Cheers!

~Deepa

P.S: All photos belong to the homeowner and Art's Tales. Please do not use without permission.

Home tour- A food blogger's shabby chic abode!

Hello!

When it rains, it pours! Literally and figuratively.  Today is the 18th consecutive day of rains in my neck of the woods, I kid you not!
I am not complaining though. The incessant rains remind me of the Indian monsoon. The pitter patter of rain drops, the smell of the rain kissed earth, a warm cup of adrak chai on a rainy afternoon -ah, monsoon memories come flooding back as I write this.

Talking about monsoon - I am going to take you today to tour the home of Sia, the wonder woman behind my favorite food blog Monsoon Spice!  

A Cook's nook!

Yes, it's pouring home tours and today we bring you yet another visual inspiration with a candid and heartfelt write-up, this time from the home owner herself.

I love her blog and I have my reasons why. I love the way her blog is set up. It is easy to navigate.  I can find recipes by vegetables, by ingredients, by meal, by type of dish, you name it! It is not always that I plan ahead,  find a recipe first and then go shopping. I do the reverse …often! I realize I am down to my last set of vegetables and want to find a quick recipe that I can probably toss the assorted medley of left over vegetables into and Sia's blog is great for that. I can click down to cabbage or carrots and an amazing host of recipes and pictures pop up. Just what I need!  I love her recipes - simple, no fuss, authentic recipes that always yield a fresh tasting home cooked meal!  I also love the affable aura that her posts carry - she writes from her heart and you can tell. 
Sia's Monsoon Spice is a fabulous food blog. Period!

I pestered Sia and asked her to see if I could feature her kitchen. I was curious to see where all her gastronomic delights are created, her work space, if you will. I was going to do a feature post on the "Cook's nook"   I knew she was super busy - being a mom (to her adorable boy Paarth), having a full time day job and a passion that requires considerable investment of time and energy is no walk in the park. Ask me how I know!  And yet, I emailed her, keeping my fingers crossed.  She was amazing - she sent me a ton of pictures of her entire home, a great write -up and enthusiastically responded telling me she was in! 

And so, without much further ado, I present to you Sia and Krish's adorable shabby chic nest in Yorkshire, England.

The moors of Yorkshire

Talking about her home, work-life balance and her food blog,  Sia writes....

"There is no  particular  decor theme running through our home.  Eclectic with a  touch of shabby chic would rightfully define our style. Our home is warm, inviting, relaxing, and comfortable and has a lived-in feel to it ! When we brought this house at the end of 2009, we envisioned adding bright colors to the plain magnolia walls.  But life took an entirely different course when I became pregnant with my child! And now, 3 years later, we have grown to love what few others may label as dull or boring! Our magnolia walls  brighten our home even on a typical dull and grey England day!  At night with the corner lamps switched on and with candles  flickering, the room transforms into a tranquil space and seems  perfect to unwind after a busy day at work!

The sun filters into Sia's living room filling it with light and warmth!

Light colored walls  allows me to experiment with brighter shades via soft furnishings, wall décor and a few select knick knacks. I love freshly cut flowers and indoor plants  and I believe they make the room look fresh, bright and cheerful. 

With one hyper active toddler on my toes, we have stopped buying things for the house on an impulse. We have tried to keep the décor simple and clutter free to allow for a kid friendly decor scheme.
The living room décor has splashes of copper, gold and orange for a cozy colorful ambience. The Buddha sculpture on the side table is our first purchase for the house and we absolutely love it! 

Tenderly placed knick knacks add personality to this cozy corner. I spy auto rickshaw!

The little study room houses my pride and joy, my book collection and on  the walls you will find  amateur watercolor prints made by me during pre-pregnancy days. It is here, in our small India corner, sitting on low seating/diwaan I write most of my blog posts surrounded by memories of home!

Paarth has an adorable space of his own.Winnie, the pooh waits in antiicipation for a playmate.

 My little ones play room wears a cheery air with his favorite animals on the wall. We spend many happy hours here coloring, reading, cuddling and creating beautiful memories!
The master bedroom is a sea of calmness with white, duck egg blue and sea blue color scheme defining this shabby chic space.

A mobile adds a pop of color to this shabby chic bedroom

The kitchen décor is very simple with bright glossy white cabinets and integrated appliances. We  brought in color creatively via accents such as  floor mats, rug, wall décors, chalk boards and fresh fruits and flowers to take away the sterile look!  Since we do not have much storage option in the kitchen, we brought a stand-alone white glossy cabinet from Ikea which holds most of my large kitchen utensils and cookware. 
 

Books, pots, spice jars and more get stacked into neat piles and add visual interest.

The cookbooks you see on the top of the cabinets are mostly gifts from my friends and also the review copies sent to me by cookbook authors. I love to flip through the pages of glossy cookbooks from time to time to draw inspiration for my food blog, but my most treasured cookbook is a handwritten, decade old book with turmeric stains and dog eared pages given by my mother that has precious recipes from my ma and grandma’s kitchen! 

And this is where the magic happens! The magic of monsoon spice!

, I wear many hats in my day to day life.  During the day I am a full-time  IT professional in a very exciting organization and I am a part-time food blogger and photographer by night. I am also a  full-time daughter/wife/friend/sister/mother, voracious reader, doodler, curry plant killer, nature and adventure sports lover, tree hugger, bon vivant, bathroom singer.! 

A girl after my own heart! Chunky beads make a great fashion statement!

Like this wasn't enough I also believe in living life to the fullest and believe in making everyday moments count.  I make sure that I don’t mix my professional life with my personal one and  never bring my office work  home as I want to give my family my undivided attention. I cook simple food during weekdays that take little time to cook and yet do not compromise on taste! Thankfully both my hubby and son loves simple south Indian fare and are not fussy eaters like me!  Planning our meals and a little prep work  helps a lot in weekday cooking. I cook the lentils and prepare the vegetables on weekends and freeze them in a freezer to be used during the weekdays. I also want to acknowledge my husband for pitching in with his share of work and that helps tremendously allowing me more time for my personal interests such as the blog. 

Kitchen magnets that speak for the homeowners sense of humor!

It takes around 3-5 hours of food blogger’s time for every individual blog post, from cooking, plating, photographing, editing the photographs, writing and finally publishing the recipe.  And that's just the tip of the iceberg! I often get questions from my readers and one thing that pops up every now and then is how I manage home, office, family and kid and still find time to blog?! Well, the answer is very simple. If you love something and are really passionate about it, you will somehow find time for it! 

You can find the recipe here!

Every person needs a space/place of their own where they can be creative and let the artist in them shine. Before I used to blog with the sole intention of keeping a little online journal of all the recipes I learnt from my mom and grandma. And after a year or so, I began blogging for others as my blog got recognition and picked up more traffic around the globe! But now I blog for the simple joy and pleasure I get from it without expecting anything in return! May be this is the reason why I still enjoy food blogging even after 6.5+ years of blogging! :) Only tip I have for any aspiring bloggers is do it for  the fun and joy it provides and not for any tangible benefits! i believe that when you put your heart and soul into your passion, you will strike chord with like minded individuals!"

What an absolutely adorable home! Everything in its place and a place for everything. There is a touch of romance and that's what makes this home Shabby Chic!

Romance + whimsy = shabby chic!

Love it! Do you? We would love to hear your feedback.

Thank you Sia and Krish for sharing your darling shabby chic home with all of us.

Be sure to visit Sia at Monsoon Spice as she unveils the magic of spices and dishes out one yummy recipe after another!  I am cooking my way through Sia's recipes already and you can join in the fun too..

Next up - a  2 part feature on a jewellery artist  and her gorgeous home. She is the force behind the Karmasuthra brand and I can't wait to meet her myself!  Join us right here!

Cheers!
Deepa