Today's Frontier Girl – Fashion savvy, style focused and one who follows her true calling!

Ruchika and Sarvpreet  enjoy a stroll by the beach - hand in hand!

Welcome back and today I am shining the spotlight on yet another frontier girl as she shares her story of balancing work and home. I am sure this elusive topic resonates (quite loudly) with the majority of us. I am taking you to Columbus, OH to introduce you all to Dr. Sharma –a pediatric oncologist and a dear friend! 

Metropolitan columbus - a great midwest city with a bustling art scene and a fun entertainment district

Being a physician myself, I know that professional demands can be challenging at times. But over the years, I have learnt to roll with the punches and understood the critical importance of work-life balance. We all have this image of a perfect life that does not always reconcile with the realities and conflicting everyday demands and therefore certain necessary life skills have to be learnt. Trade offs and priorities being the big ones! 

I admire Ruchika. She is young, ambitious, fashionable, accomplished and an inspiration in her own right and she has a beautiful home!

She spends her days taking care of sick children and in her down time enjoys traveling and decorating her home and of course our countdown to a century would not be complete without a home tour and we could not have asked for a better home! Ruchika and her wonderful husband Sarvpreet graciously agreed to feature their contemporary style abode on Aalayam and I am excited to pull back the curtains and share this beautiful home with all of you!

In conversation with Ruchika

Ruchika on what drew her to Pediatrics – “I grew up in New Delhi, India and moved to the US for my residency training in pediatrics. I love taking care of children and always wanted to be a pediatrician. Currently I'm training to be a pediatric hematologist in Columbus, Ohio.” The path to becoming a physician is a long and arduous one and staying true to one’s calling takes an enormous amount of hard work and patience as well as a clear vision. Ruchika’s chosen profession is a testament to her commitment and passion for helping others.

Ruchika on balancing priorities – “Being a physician and (being married to a physician!) with a busy schedule presents several challenges to leading an active social life. I realized early on that a fulfilling personal life is super important to retain one’s sanity and to succeed professionally. I try to spend as much time as possible with my loved ones and try to stay engaged in activities that give me personal satisfaction. 

Knowing myself and having an honest conversation about things that I can and cannot handle and trimming my to do list to make room for some creative interests has always helped me keep my head above the water.”

Ruchika on her interest in home decor –“I have always liked pretty things and admire beauty! Growing up in a large metropolitan city my design aesthetic is modern contemporary. I love to watch home improvement TV shows and websites for inspiration. I have to say that my husband and I are both home décor enthusiasts.

 Collectively, we try to pick decor items that fit our personal style and design aesthetic. We live in a high-rise condo in downtown Columbus as the hustle and bustle of the city keeps us closer to home. We want our guest to feel comfortable and welcome in our home. 

We want them to get who we are as a couple; young and vibrant with a clean and modern design style and an eye for uniqueness.”

 Ruchika has successfully tapped into her personal interest and through a process of exploration and self-discovery created a contemporary chic nest for her and her husband. I love her home! In spirit, this home matches the young couple’s effervescence and exudes an inviting aura. I love how this charming little home, in the heart of downtown Columbus, stands tall in a fun and gorgeous color palette!

Ruchika on wearing multiple hats  “I believe as women we always wear many hats and try to take on a lot of responsibility. It is imperative for us to take out time for ourselves doing things that WE like to do to have a successful career as well as personal life and maintain equanimity when faced with a tsunami!” Wise words indeed!

Thank you Ruchika and Sarvpreet for letting us into your beautiful home!

There you have it – our 2 part series on today’s frontier girl. We chose to feature these two gorgeous (Ruchika and Sripriya), talented, hardworking, passionate, fashion and style savvy women. There is one simple lesson to be learned from their stories and that is to go after your heart’s desire! Often, we let our insecurities and self doubt bring us down but the stories of these young women is a simple reminder that doing what we like and doing it as well as we can is good enough! Hope you are inspired!

And next up is our 100^th! Yes, Aalayam is going to be a 100 posts old! We continue to grow, learn and be inspired ourselves and we are also learning not to get too comfortable or stay focused on any one area, as there is so much to explore. In our countdown to a century series we took some risks and moved away from our travel, décor and culinary posts for a little bit and focused on social media, photography, and fashion. I hope you have enjoyed this as much as we have bringing it to you. In our 100^th, I hope to capture the true spirit of Aalayam. Join me then!

The lounge in Ruchika's downtown high-rise.

Cheers!

Deepa

All pictures in this post belong to Ruchika and Sarvpreet and may not be used without permission. Ruchika’s home pictures were shot by UJ.

Home tour- Part Global, Part Wabi Sabi, Part Barefoot Living (Part 2)

Design is in the details!

Hello and I am back! Thank you for all your articulate feedback and wonderful comments about Kamini's home. Join me on this extended tour of her eloquently put together home where style and function reign supreme. Kamini believes in finding perfection in the imperfect and this falls in line with the Wabi Sabi style of the home but then again the overall decor of this home is not contained by any one style rather it is driven by the home owner's creative inner instincts -so, read on and be sure to be vowed, yet again! 

the spice box also tell the story of a discerning collector!

If you have missed part one, you should probably start there and get to know Kamini and her passion for creating a beautiful home first.

colorful cotton textiles spell COMFORT!

 I am in conversation with Kamini and I was curious to know if she believes in an egalitarian approach to home decorating and if in fact she let's her husband partake in the  decorating process.  After all, men are wired differently and not many want to indulge in decorating debates with their wives. So, I asked her who called the design shots in their home and here is her response-

sheers curtains extend a flirty welcome

 "Uh, I do. Ok let me rephrase that. I do, but my husband usually has something to add too. If its a color I want to paint a wall or a color of the sheets on the bed, then he just stays out of it. But when it comes to picking furniture, lighting, rugs etc we usually make the decision together. I’m the right brain which means my heart rules. He is the left brain and looks beyond just the aesthetics - maintenance, function, price and so on. And together we make the final decision" 

The lovely  Kamini and Raghavan with their adorable pets

Ah! the partnership approach, that's always a win-win!

"The heart of human excellence often begins to beat when you discover a pursuit that absorbs you, frees you, challenges you, and gives you a sense of meaning, joy and passion" - unknown
And Kamini has sired this passion for design and decor from her early days. She says,

"When I was a kid I used to rearrange my room all the time. I shared a room with my brother and probably made life hell for him...always moving things around, adding flowers, putting up pictures and so on. I loved flower arranging, setting the table, moving furniture around and so on, so my love for design has always been there. 

interesting vignettes add dimension to her rooms

The first thing that strikes me when I look at the images of her home is the timeless appeal. Everything flows in harmony! Clearly, she didn't just stop at one home decor store, load up her cart, come home and arrange everything in one afternoon and yet everything ebbs and flows so well. I asked her about her shopping philosophy. I wanted to know if she is budget savvy or if she is the kind of shopper that would rather have the few things she likes even if it costs a pretty penny (I do that sometimes!). And her response? 

 
"Never. I never buy outrageously expensive stuff. My favorite places in Seattle are Pier 1 Imports, Cost Plus World Market and Z Gallerie. I go to outlet stores like TJ Maxx and Home Goods which usually have great deals, and I watch out for sales at some of my other favorite places which are usually more pricey. My favorite online stores are Viva Terra and Wisteria. Pricey, but I get great deals on clearance"

Kamini's magic wand and intuition at work again!

And then I  asked her to share her favorite online resources for inspiration with our readers and this is what she said -
" I have a weakness for design coffee table books and I spend hours, literally hours, browsing through them and getting ideas. Magazines are my next source of inspiration - usually House Beautiful and Elle Decor. I loved Casa Viva when I was in India. Blogs and websites are also great, but I don’t spend too much time looking online. Catalogs from Pottery Barn, Room and Board, Viva Terra and West Elm are also fun to browse through. 

To me, a good home should be a true reflection of the owners personalities and their inner state of mind. In that sense, home  decorating is an evolving process and I don't necessarily mean keeping up with design trends but rather letting your home reflect your collective life experiences as well as your day to day moods.She agrees. 
"No, home decoration is never a done deal. In fact as I write, I am rearranging things. I move things around, replace artwork with others inside ('coz I don’t have room for all), in summer I go for a lighter, breezier look, more flowers in vases, sheer curtains etc.I move furniture around a lot. I’ve stopped shopping for big ticket items like furniture because I don’t need any more, and small accessories - 'coz I have too many of those. But I do look out for sales and deals on textiles, cushions, linens, coffee table books. Those are things I can shuffle around. You won’t believe how a room can get a total makeover just with different textiles and cushions! 

And I am a paint addict. I can paint a room at the drop of a hat. Again - with paint you get a big bang for a small buck! Like I said I hate clutter, and I just don’t have room to store a lot of stuff, so its easy to reconcile myself with not shopping a lot. I have a lot of baskets in the house - to store kitchen linens in the pantry, to store those darn coffee table books :-), to store cushions and blankets. They look lovely and are so functional. My two weaknesses are rugs and pottery, both of which I have enough and am not even looking to add more. So I stick to window shopping which is also a lot of fun.

master bedroom - a  magical medley of gray and orange

Personally, I don't have much of green thumb at all. Although I love the idea of adding a little greenery to my indoor landscape, I am afraid and have not taken the plunge so far ! I have toyed with the idea of creating an intricate cactus garden just to add a little sculptural interest but  have not mustered the courage yet. So, I am always envious of homeowners who can successfully incorporate house plants into their decor. Kamini and I talked about indoor greenery and here are her thought

I do not claim to have a green thumb, so I stick to “easy to take care of” plants. Pothos (money plant), peace lily, (spathyphylum), orchids (yes, they are easy to maintain), lucky bamboo....these are some of the easiest to look after. Herbs on the kitchen window sill are easy and pretty. 

And finally, we hobbled on to a subject that we are both fond of - artwork. Home owners often find it difficult to navigate the world of art and I believe that figuring out one's personal taste in artwork takes patience and persistence. Curating art work is a time consuming and a daunting process but well worth the effort. Truly, nothing is more pertinent than artwork when it comes to customizing your home décor. 

A well-curated art collection is a great way to allow your home décor to speak for your personality.  But remember - there is really no right or wrong way.  Building your personal art collection is a creative process that takes a sense of appreciation, and a lot of intuition. Kamini talked about incorporating amateur art work into home decor. By adding personal art work Kamini has ensured that their home is unique. Her custom art work tells the story of what truly inspires her - eastern heritage and earthy colors . Sentimental displays on her wall generate a sensory appeal that immediately draws the viewer in! 

And that was my interview with the lovely Kamini Raghavan!

Her home sizzles with style! It is a  treasure chest of heirloom antiquities and tells the story of a discerning collector. It is a transitional space that allows her to seamlessly combine her eastern roots and her western design sensibilities. I give her astute intuition for color and aesthetics a big thumbs up!

But what I will take away the most from this feature is the fact that she is an absolutely positive influence! Her blog was a portrayal of her varied interests and the depth of her personality and she inspired many through her blog  (including me) and it was my great pleasure to get to know her!  Thank you Kamini and Raghavan for sharing your lovely home with the Aalayam family!

Here is another look at the irrepressibly spirited Kamini as she answers some fun questions for me. The thoughtfully curated corners of her home reflect her vivacious and positive personality! Thank you kamini for allowing me to trace your home making voyage on Aalayam- it was a pleasure!

Cheers!
~Deepa

P.S: All the images in this post belong to our homeowner kamini Raghavan. Please do not use without permission!

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....

Color Love

Supriya and I are color connoisseurs. No, we don't keep track of runway trends or designer predictions for hot home decor colors  but we are  inherently enthusiastic about color and we have both incorporated color in our homes with confidence and today's post is all about that.

A colorful vignette from Supriya's home

But first, the winner of our giveaway  - I know, you've all been waiting excitedly and so have we..

Congratulations Preety - you are the winner of Aalayam's first giveaway!!!!  

Preety, please email us your mailing address to aalayaminspiration@gmail.com so we can work on mailing your gorgeous tray. Congratulations again Preety!

And once again, thank you to all the participants for making this giveaway that much more exciting!

Now back to our post on weaving color into your life and space…Please head over to Nayana's Cherish Dream Live to read the rest of this post!.

Nayana is an Indian home decor blogger from New jersey and we love her blog and her motto. She writes for Cherish Dream Live and believes "It's all about Cherishing yesterday, dreaming about tomorrow and living for today" We teamed up with Nayana and we are guest authoring at her blog today.

What you will find at Nayana's is some great DIY features, good photography and more that will make you want to visit her blog repeatedly.

A colorful vignetter from Deepa's backyard!

Hope you enjoy this post on Color love!

And as always, we would love to hear your feedback. Leave us a comment sharing your thoughtsand opinions.  We are also interested in knowing if there are any special topics you would like us to feature on Aalayam. Please write to us!

Cheers!
~ Deepa and Supriya