Aalayam goes overseas!

Aalayam was honored recently with an invitation to get featured in a blog called "Tickled by Inspirations". 

A blog, in the author's words:

"that has a bit of everything for everyone as its got a global feel to it, a mix of ethnicity, traditional and contemporary. A blog that focuses on creative people around the world who share their experiences and inspirations. 

A self discovery and a visual treat!!" 

http://tickledbyinspirations.blogspot.com/

I had a great time sharing pictures from my home for Tickled by Inspirations' Home Tour section. This gorgeous blog is hosted and owned by Rachel Eapen.  When asked to describe herself and her blogging journey, Rachel says 

" I am currently based in Muscat, a HR and finance management professional by profession. I have worked in a leading corporation in Bangalore for a couple of years. Now I am a stay at home mom, a passionate blogger, an occasional freelance writer and currently experimenting with acrylic art.

I have always been passionate about arts and it's different forms. I have been obsessed with design, décor, interiors, art, food and photography. I needed a platform to document my passion and that’s how my blog was born. “Tickled by Inspirations” is my little visual blog and diary of ideas, thoughts and creativity and everything that inspires us to be creative. 

It’s also a platform where different artists, crafters, designers and entrepreneurs can showcase their work"

Rachel's blog is a visual treat, do check it out when you have a chance. Rachel and Tickled by Inspirations is also on Facebook. Here are the details.

http://tickledbyinspirations.blogspot.com/

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Tickled-by-Inspirations/195521827227620

And finally, a sneak peek into, and the link to the actual home tour itself. Enjoy!!! 

http://tickledbyinspirations.blogspot.com/2015/04/house-of-month-supriya-from-aalayam.html

Thank you Rachel for taking Aalayam all the way to Muscat, and to  your audiences. Now come on Aalayam, lets show Rachel and her blog some bloggin' love!!

A cozy, and conversational corner - Supriya's home!

Because I always say 

" Color is synonymous with inspiration to me. I derive my joie de vivre everyday looking at a palette of vibrant colors in my living space - whether on the walls, on the bookshelf or on kitschy cushions thrown around all my rooms! "

Love,

Supriya

Bringing India Home!

It is often rare to find a friendship that transcends decades of life’s milestones …that shares common aspirations and passions…and forges such a strong bond, that two people seem like parts of the same whole. It is one such friendship that led me to this Home Tour! The story of the friendship of Rashmi and Sushma.

Rashmi wrote to me from Hong Kong one day - “Suppi..the Aalayam feature on Sridevi’s house was awesome! That gave me an idea..I have a friend in Texas, who has just bought and done up her house beautifully…painstakingly collected pieces. I was wondering if her home could be featured on your blog?”. 

And my answer to Rashmi was a resounding Yes!!! Not only was I humbled at her feedback about Aalayam, I considered it a privilege to bring to our readers a poignant story about two friends who have grown up together, and are sharing their everyday lives with such zing, color and passion, even though separated by tens of thousands of miles!

Rashmi even wrote a blurb about Sushma’s home –

"Madhurageethe" in Austin, Texas, is a beautiful home named after Ramesh's and Sushma's loving mothers respectively. It is a haven built in 2012. Sushma likes to keep things simple, elegant, functional and Indian. The living/family room is their favorite place to hang out in their home. A touch of easy-to -maintain greenery sprinkled around the home keeps Sushma’s green thumb satisfied and adds a live energy to every room. Warm and vibrant colors are her type and she loves to keep moving things around in her home, cushion covers change to brighten up the room according to the season. These pictures were taken in Fall of last year, as you can probably see from the light streaming into her rooms!”

Thank you Rashmi, for introducing Aalayam to Madhurageethe. Maybe we can tempt you to share pictures of the corners from your home on Aalayam sometime. That is what Aalayam is all about, sharing glimpses of real people, their spaces and their inspirations. And this story touched our heart.

Let’s hear from the home owners themselves..about how they have brought INDIA home!

We (Ramesh and Sushma) are basically hard core 'Bangaloreans'-Simple and Cosmopolitan. Yet we are very 'Indian' in whatever we do-be it our way of life, the food we eat and the home we live in :)

We moved to Austin in 2007 and lived in an apartment till 2011. We eventually fell in love with the City and wanted to buy our home here, simply because it was so culturally close to the Bangalore we LOVE. Then began our home search…we looked for about 6 months to find the right kind of a house, not too big, not too small and not “over the top”. After a couple of compromises, we eventually settled for this one. We were lucky to have at least a couple of things the 'Karnataka' way-we did a traditional 'Bhoomi Puje' or the ground breaking ceremony, and then when the house was built and ready, we did our own private 'Gruhapravesha' :). Private because, the 'Muhurtha' fell on a working day when all of our dear friends were at work !! The priest doubled as our photographer :) which was actually interesting because he was clicking pictures from our mobile phone as and when he was saying the 'mantras'- amusing nevertheless!!

Since we knew we would move in after Christmas 2011, I began looking at all the Thanksgiving sales and the Christmas clearance stuff. We got some very nice buys from World Market (the lovely daybed, coffee table, dining chairs) and they were kind enough to store it in their warehouse till our house was ready. So, like a true Indian, I am very proud to say that I managed to shop on a budget and yes stick to it :) Like this dining table - The dining table is from a local Indian design store in Austin and so is the 'Sandooku' atop the table. The table is made of mango wood and encases an old door from rural India. I keep 'adike' and 'saunf' in the 'Sandooku'.

This absolutely stunning 'Buddha' was the first housewarming gift I got from my best buddy-Rashmi. She got it custom made from a local artist in Hong Kong and it arrived via UPS just days before my house warming. It beautifully adorns the entrance to the master bed room.. :) I love it !!!!

I did majority of the furniture shopping here, in the USA, however, I was looking at some accessories for the house. Although I did find some at Pier One and of course World Market, I really wanted some stuff from back home. So, we went to India in the summer of 2011 and I spent all of my 3 weeks-SHOPPING :) 

Hopping from one emporium to another, from one exhibition to another with my in-laws and my mom in tow…we had to just soak up all the time together!!!! The trip was extremely tiring but I found such nice pieces-like the beautiful Saraswathi statue, the endearing 'Kalamkari-Krishna', the crisp 'Kora' painting…Colorful, cottony bedspreads from 'Desi', those beautiful trinkets….aww want to go back again right now-Sigh :)

This is the Kalamkari- Kalinga Mardhana. I am still hunting for that perfect color on the wall which would highlight this beautiful piece of art. I picked this up from India at one of the exhibitions...

This Kathakali painting that I got as a housewarming present from my darling Brother in Bangalore...

It has been about a year now in our new house. Its 'Austin-TX' outside my front door but inside the house-It screams INDIA :)

All, I can now say is..Way to go Sushma and Ramesh!! You have truly brought INDIA home! Thank you for letting us into your home and your heart.

Love,

Supriya

"Indian"izing your living space!

Do you often ponder how to add a touch of "India" to your living space? Do you miss the rich colors, the deep textures, and the vibrant accessories that create a melody in your heart..whenever you browse through the aisles of World Market or Ten Thousand Villages? Symbols so reminiscent of the iridiscent diversity of Indian decor? Then..I am one of your kind.

Here's a visual journey..a traverse through my living room which I have "Indian"ized. A touch of grandeur to give me and my family a taste of India as I walk in the door everyday...

Start with the statement piece - it could be a vintage statue that you found at a thrift store that captures the colors you love, or a intricate carved center table you discovered on craigslist that you refurbished and polished.

Group similar pieces together. Find unconventional ways to display artifacts. Capture the essence of colors, themes and contrasts. Is Red your favorite color? Does the vibrancy of the hue remind you of paprika and warm spicy curry? Then pick bold red accessories, statues, idols, flower pots - group them together and create a vignette.

Don't forget the softscaping! Pillows and fabric based accessories add texture - that creates the visual interest in any living space. Texture instantly transforms your space from blah to having chutzpah! With internationalization of markets, you will be surprised to find how affordably you can decorate your space with the flavor of India.

And..the piece de resistance! The seating. Your options are virtually unlimited. The key is to think out of the box. I personally do not like couches. Low seetees, rattan furniture and quirky looking chairs (read Ikea and World Market) work great if you want to add that touch of whimsy to your living space, while on a budget. 

I do love the structure and the texture these outdoor seating chairs and ottomans bring to my living room. Add some tailored cushion covers custom-made in your current favorite color, and ambient lighting, and there! all of a sudden - you have your very own piece of desi nirvana that no one else has! 

Enjoy your living space. You deserve the joy it will bring you.

Love,

Supriya