Spotlight on Ikat and guest bedroom decor

So, did you enjoy reading Supriya's feature post on Bharatnatyam and touring Sridevi's home? I definitely did!  Today, we will turn our attention from the grace and grandeur of Bharatanatyam and an artist's passion to a global design trend with a spotlight feature on IKAT plus pictures from my home.

Ball stemmed lamp base paired with a mirrored nightstand adds glamor

I have been working on our guest bedroom and I am excited to share a few pictures with all of you.

If you a read a previous post on my design philosophy then you already know that my home is a potpourri of global design elements. The overall look for my home was not intentionally conceived and in fact it evolves as we go. I spend many weekend afternoons rearranging my favorite decor elements.  My home features our travel knick knacks, global fabrics, motifs I love and lots of color!  The end goal is to create a stylish space which reflects our persona.

I wanted to get our guest bed room ready for the summer months and have been chipping away slowly. Our current house has big windows framed in a beautiful oak letting in lots of sunshine. I knew I could take some risk with the choice of colors and I wanted to go bold. After scouting for some inspiration, I settled on a shade of tangerine. I know! There was something about the earthy appeal of orange which I figured would help me create an inviting space for my guests. After a little negotiating with the better half (design debates -I call them!) I settled on a searing hue called autumn enchantment. After all, I wanted to create a space that would wow my guests!

Design is in the details!

Who doesn't like a design challenge right? Mine was to work with a plain ole run-of- the- mill but perfectly functional sleigh bed that I have owned for years. I knew I didn't have wiggle room in my budget for a fancy new bed and so the old one stayed. I wasn't going to let that dampen my design dreams.  Thankfully, I had given away the old nightstands just prior to our big move from Texas last year and that allowed me to look for new furniture!

Mirrored furniture is all the rage and I had my heart set on them since they started trending. A pair of elegant  mirrored nightstands was a perfect little addition to the bedside. I think they are so gorgeous they even give my poor bed a facelift ! Mixing in new with the old was a great idea in this room, don't you think? And since I love mirrored furniture so much, I even bought the matching vanity. The reflective surfaces  work particularly well in a small space I think.

More mirrored elegance

The all white bedding was a cognizant effort to temper down the fiery incandescence of the wall color. The texture made up for what the bedding lacked in color and overall it lends a cordial warmth despite being achromatic.

Texture makes up for the lack of color!

With the accessories, my core philosophy was "less is more". I wanted to steer clear of a cluttered space and that meant I had to edit the final touches with a keen eye. Budget was yet another limiting factor and so I narrowed it to a few necessary pieces. I found a pair of architecturally impressive lamps at Pier 1. The shiny ball stemmed lamps add stunning detail to the visual palette. I must add that I was not too fond of the shades but I figured it was neutral enough plus the price was great!  

As much as I appreciate global decor, I find it very hard to deviate entirely  from Indian decor elements. I relate more to a space that in some way incorporates my ethnic roots. I brought in a little bit of India into this space via the Ikat art work, the Jali style mirror and the mosaic mirrored wall art.

I fell in love with the mirror the minute I laid my eyes on it. The intricacy of the lattice frame reminds me of the Jali windows in the Mughal buildings around India and it perfectly accents the orange wall.

Jali mirror- remniscent of Mughal lattice screens

Every room needs a splurge  and the mosaic mirrored wall art was just that. It was originally intended for another room in the house but it found its way to this room and I don't mind it at all!  The scroll motif screams India and I love it!

Lastly, the framed Ikat fabric above the bed is my favorite accessory in this room. Ikat is hot! Bold and eye-catching - this global motif is everywhere- dishes, pillows, wall paper, table mats, upholstery. In this room, I've used a small serving of this global design trend and yet it bestows big impact! The green in my framed Ikat fabric is a great accent color and pops against the white/orange backdrop.

Green ikat accents the orange/white pallete

Ikat  originates from Indonesian language and means "to tie"  and it refers to a fabric weaving style where the threads are tied together and dyed before weaving the fabric according to Wiki. Several countries across the globe have their own versions of the fabric. Indian versions include Pochampally from Andhra Pradesh and Patola from Gujarat. Ikat designs are the product of painstaking craftsmanship and have quickly topped the charts in home decor trends. I love incorporating art forms into home decor and we've already showcased terracotta, warli, and kalamkari in our spotlight series. The Ikat print shares the spotlight on Aalayam today for its versatility and vibrant energy!

While we are on the subject of bedrooms, I want to share this link to Roopa's bed room featured on Apartment Therapy. Previously, we had featured the rest of Roopa and Abhi's home on Aalayam. Remember their Zen Den and minimalist decor? Today we get  to see Roopa's zen bedroom which is selected as a finalist in the"My Bedroom retreat" contest! I would like to request Aalayam readers to please take a minute and cast a vote for her entry on Apartment therapy.

Thanks for joining us and I would love to hear what you have to say about my guest room. And do you love Ikat prints as much as I do?  Share your thoughts.
 

Cheers!
Deepa
p.s: All images are from my home and copyrighted. Please ask before using.

Diwali Inspirations - home decor ideas

Hinduism's biggest festival- the  festival of lights is almost here! Are you ready for Deepavali ? I am! 
 If you are not - no worries! I have some peachy ideas to get you going, so read on! 

A diwali vignette from my home. Pic credits: Uj, my better half

 Mom always celebrated Deepavali with much oomph!  Cleaning, cooking, shopping, decorating, religious worshipping - she went the whole nine yards, always! And so, with much fondness, I brought a montage of memories of firecrackers, clay oil lamps, new clothes, visiting relatives, home made sweets and my parents’ unique Diwali traditions to my married home and over the years I have created a tailored array of rituals to suit my own family.

Decorating my home for Diwali is a huge part of that tradition. A round or two of autumnal cleaning usually precedes the decorating. Rummaging through boxes of stored away Diwali décor items often yields re-usable items. A few new items are added each year but the design is always built around the core elements– lights, flowers, rangoli and thorans. I am very tradition-centric. For me the focus rests on light, divine blessings and good-will.

Another diwali depiction from my home. Brass urli from Overstock. Pic by Uj.

 I love the festive glow rendered by the dazzling brilliance of the tiny tea lights. There is something about a home filled with light – the cheeriness lets me reflect on all the blessings that life has bestowed upon us! I love the positive energy that the Diwali diyas radiate!And of course the symbolism of bedecking our homes with rows of light to mark the victory of good over bad is uniquely ours!

Lights :

Diwali shopping (!) and my quest for pretty tea light holders begins at least a month ahead of time. With so many options it is rather challenging to not get carried away. This year, I picked these beautiful sparkly tea light holders from Pier one and I will use them as my focal décor element.  The row of lights displayed on my intricate foyer table emanates an inviting aura - one that is hard to ignore!

Row of lights from my home. Pic credits: Uj, my better half

 But if you prefer the doctrinal earthen diyas, then here’s a couple of beautiful options. 

Earthen diyas paired with fresh flowers for an eye-catching arrangement! Pic credits: Uj, my better half

 I bought mine at the local Indian grocery store but if you are an online shopper then craftsvilla is a great resource!

Traditional terracotta lamps in bright festive colors. A corner form my home. Pic by Uj

 And if all else fails, there’s always the traditional silver or brass lamp! Silver lamps are a long-established feature of pooja rooms especially in South Indian households. Diwali is a great time to bring out these ancestral wares and  blend them into your decor.

The unfailing silver lamp! Photo by Uj, my better half

Thorans:

Thorans are a great way to ring in some festive cheer. Traditionally, thorans are used to dress an entryway but with a little out-of-the –box thinking you can find other ways to use these ethnic valances. In the past, I have used mine to decorate a pooja table or mantap for an instantaneous festive face-lift!

Mango leaf thoran and a mini-carnation wreath on my front door for understated festive elegance. Photo by Uj

 Flowers:
 If you can buy one thing and one thing only this festive season then the hands down winner is fresh flowers – bouquets, garlands, loose flowers or even a few petals can add a magical elegance to your décor. Float them in an urli, hang them on doorsteps, include them in your rangoli .....you can take your decorations to a whole new level with fresh flowers!

Fresh flowers in an urli, image from my home. Pic by Uj, my better half.

 Check out fancy florists and their multitude of options for fresh flower garlands. Excellent customer service, beautiful garlands and timely delivery made it a great shopping experience for me.  However, the pricey overnight shipping cost is a downer !

Image from my home. Garlands from Fancy Florist. Pic by Uj.

Rangoli:

Kolam or the unique folk art of drawing on the floors is a great way to decorate and invoke the Lord’s blessings. My inspiration for rangoli this year came from her website. These rhinestone (kundan) rangolis are drop dead gorgeous and of course I had to try my hand at it! I made smaller ones with  shiny card paper and stickable rhinestones. These work great as tealight mats, as wall art or as floor art! My piece de resistance, if you will...

Rhinestone rangoli: Inspiration from here, made by moi. Materials from Hobby Lobby. Photo by Uj,my better half

Now, if you are short on time then how about a simple no-fuss traditional rangoli border on a wooden platform or chowki? Let your native artistry come out! Consider adding some color to your rangoli for some extra energy!

Image from my home. Traditional rangoli on a wooden platform. The kalamkari rug from World market adds to the drama.

Gifts:  

Gifting has been a Diwali tradition for long. Dry fruits, home made sweets, diyas  - the options for gourmet gifts are plenty. Here is a great goody bag gift, if you are planning to host a Diwali party. I love these cute little colorful elephants! I ordered mine from here and they even came gift wrapped!

Image from my home. Pic credits: Uj, my better half

 I recommend that you bookmark this anyway, since these beautiful colorful elephants make a great gift no matter what the occasion!

And lastly, bring out those sparklers! Nothing says Diwali quite like the firecrackers. Every Diwali, memories of squabbling with my younger brother over the division of firecrackers into two equal piles, years ago, fills my heart with warm emotions! I am sure you all have your own fond Diwali memories as well..

Image from my home. pic credits:Uj

 So, dear reader, are you inspired yet?  I hope to  encourage you to have your best Diwali yet!
Do not let the monotony of every day life get in the way of  your celebration- after all Diwali is here only once every year....

Aalayam wishes  you all a beautiful Deepavali ! For more posts from this festive season - go here, here and here!

Cheers!

Deepa 

A gentle reminder that all images are copyrighted. Please do credit Aalayam and link back to us  if you use any images.  Usage of images without crediting is strictly prohitibed!