The last post of the year and let me make it a good one! This post is after my own heart. It is a home tour from Vijayawada and is the abode of Asha Kiran.
To begin with, let me tell you, the home is built without any help from interior designers or architects. Asha had her home conceptualized in her mind in a certain manner and she went ahead with it and it has turned out perfect!
When it comes to decor, Asha is a traditionalist! Here she lives with her hubby, two daughters and a cute fur-ball!
Traditional Indian homes are synonymous with a veranda and large open spaces, sit outs in the front, art work on floors and walls and you find all of that here! So far, I have come across homes that are a marriage of traditional with the modern but this home is purely Indian in all sense. I know, am doing a lot of build-up but Asha's home deserves this and more! So, let me just get started...
This is the entrance and notice how it stands out against the high-rise at the backdrop.
As you enter...
Flower beds, the concrete sit out and Ahh! how can you miss these grand pillars...
Look at the Tulsi' maadam' or the pedestal on which the Tulsi is placed! Indians have always considered Tulsi as divine and worshiped the plant due to its intense medicinal properties. And you can spot a niche on the yellow pedestal. This is with the intention of lighting a lamp there!
In olden times, they would build these niches in the wall near the entry door for lighting lamps.The lady of the house would light them during evenings and that used to lend such a warm and calming effect! This entryway opens a bag of memories for me. For,ages ago when modernism hadn't caught up with our villages, the houses used to be adorned similarly!The ornate carvings on the wooden door and the painted threshold are just signs of more beauty awaiting you inside!
The threshold has painted motifs of elephants, kalash and lotuses ,all signifying auspiciousness and prosperity.
Now, as we step inside, you can make out the interiors styled with wood and brass. Asha's kitchen is a treasure trove of brass utensils.She says, she is very much fond of these sparkling beauties. Her favourite places for buying these antiques are Indian Antique Quest, an online destination for authentic antiques, flea markets, Lepakshi exhibitions and the old markets of Vijayawada.
I still have vivid memory of my granny's old home which had such doors that opened half way from top, served the purpose of knowing who knocked without really letting them inside!
This is the traditional version of our modern day safety doors. Isn't it?
The wooden bench like trunk that you see in the above pic serves well as a storage and a sit-out.
Being a brass lover, all those utensils make my heart, skip a beat!
Asha loves to decorate her home with flowers and that can be seen in the following images
This is her prayer room..
Asha tells me, its been 5 yrs since they constructed this home and to me it doesn't look more than a day old!
The lotus incense holder creates the right drama at the entrance and of course you cannot miss the sweet bundle of fur-balls who makes his appearance in more than one frame!
Now, a much needed tip for all brass lovers shared by Asha...
The Original beauty and glow of brass vintage items comes after cleaning with Pitambari powder and swiping it with a dry cloth.The most important step is to then keep them under sunlight.This step is a must to get the best glow. I wish this tip will be useful for all brass lovers.
Let me end the post with an image that left an everlasting impression on me...
I hope you loved this home tour. I felt so happy presenting it to you folks.
As we usher in Christmas and New year, I wish the best for all my readers.We shall meet again in 2018 with more styling tips and more importantly with posts that shall warm our hearts and bring happiness forever!
