Lamp decor

Hi there, so tomorrow is Ganesh Chaturthi and here I am with a post on decorating your lamps before placing them in your Ganesha decorations.

Do not place your lamps directly on the floor or any other surface.  Instead follow these simple and easy ways to highlight the lamps.

1st way...

Draw a kolam or a rangoli. You can always use stencils which are easily available in the markets too. Enhance the outline with flowers and then place the lamp at the centre.

2nd way...

Take a banana leaf and cut a round piece, larger in diameter than your lamp. Place this underneath the lamp and encircle it with marigolds . Greens and orange make for a interesting combination.

3rd way...

Surround your lamp With petals of different colours just like a onam pookalam. You can make this floral rangoli according to the size of the lamp. This enhances the look of the lamp.

Try these ideas and let me know. Though am doing this for Ganesha chaturthi, you can always try these ways for the festival of lights, Deepavali 🪔🪔🪔

The Diwali vibe

How do you create the vibe of any festival at home? Rituals and food to a large extent help us, no doubt. But certain decorative elements are synonymous with festivals and as we all know Diwali is nothing without lamps!!! So, just get on with it.

All kinds of lamps, big or small, brass, silver, metal and our mitti k diye...sab ko chance do!!

It will be an absolute visual treat to see your home well lit on this auspicious day.

Sharing with you many such arrangements from our home from the years gone by.

A simple arrangement on our side table with a peacock lamp inside a uruli and flowers.

This one with silverware. Please, do not keep your silverware locked inside the safety of your locker.  Use them atleast on special occasions.  The fragrance of rajnigandha and the light from the lamps create an interesting tablescape.

Now for some more ...

Just plain T lights, flowers and rangoli...

Mitti k diye as a table centerpiece 

Table arrangement 

Pooja room 

At the entrance 

Candle with food laid on the table is perfect Diwali set up

Now, I leave it upto you to tell me, which one you find the most attractive or the one that screams Diwali.🙃

Shall soon share this year's Diwali decor with you. Till then scroll through my instagram feed here.

www.instagram.com/sajavatdecorblog

A traditional home in the heart of Vijayawada

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!

Deepams from Sapna's home

Lights,lamps diyas, flowers, colours, rangoli, brass, silver, glitter and sparkles are all that creates the festive ambiance on Diwali nite. Today, we are about to visit Sapna's abode and have a look at her Diwali vignettes.. Come, join me on a virtual tour to her place!

Lights that illuminate all corners ...

love the shadow play

The conch lamp is an unique one..different arrangements but it brings life to each one!

At the entrance...

Cute little stuffed elephants that carry  lights on their head.The market these days are flooded with all kinds of lights but the ones that appeals to us, at the first glance comes home. Isn't it?

These were some corners of Sapna's home.How are you bringing that festive cheer into your homes? Any special tips that you would like to share, write to me dear people!Would love to hear from you. Meanwhile do check out my pinterest board and instagram account for all updates and news from sajavat.

Diwali vignettes

Diwali is one of the most celebrated festival in our country. I know most households would have started with their customary annual cleaning, done with their shopping for clothes and gifts and the lady of the Home would have put their thinking caps on as to what sweets and savouries should be made! Now, as we entertain family and friends during Diwali we would like our cosy nests to be decked up too!

Sometimes it is more or less a challenge to give a different and unique look each year. I have put up some vignettes around home which is a little special than those on regular days.
Rangoli or kolam, flowers, garlands, brass & silver artifacts are stuff that goes with the spirit of festival of lights.

Have a look at these arrangements and with a slight twist you can create your own look for the year!

 The humble rangoli frame in a new avatar:

The rangoli making frame is so useful to design pretty and colourful artwork on floor. As in my case, I have used it as a tray to hold my diyas. I have styled my dining table ( which sure is where all the action happens!) with a colourful runner, gathered all the pretty brass and earthen diyas and arranged on the frame. Use battery operated T lights or the regular T lights on these diyas so that there is no hassle of cleaning up either! Now off you go ! The dining table with all the lip smacking traditional goodies is all bright and lit up!!
Believe me it will be a novel idea... Try it out...


Decorating with deities:

The duo of Ganesha and Lakshmi are worshiped on Deepavali, so it only makes sense that you dedicate portions of your home to invoke their blessings.
If you observe the above vignette it includes idols, sticker kolam, metal balls of light and a coconut candle. The coconut candle holder is an interesting and an easy DIY.
As you break the coconut into half and use the fruit in your cooking,scrape out all the residual from the shell.Now you can fill each half with wax (in molten form) which is easily available in market.Place a wick inside the wax before it sets. There you have a coconut shell Diya. Isn't that unique?

A closer view of the coconut shell lamp...I have placed some rose petals inside and drawn a simple pattern on the outside to enhance it.

DIY's are fun because it indicates your level of involvement.

Add silver for the festive touch:

Diwali is also about  bling, sparkle and glitter.Do not hide your silverware in your wardrobe. Time to bring them out.
Remove the accumulated tarnish on the silverware, arrange them together and you have a pretty vignette.
I don't light up all my silver lamps since they cant hold enough oil but they are just too beautiful not to be used!This is my alternate use of all these pretty stuff. I display them on these special days and feel blessed!

Did you like the look of my home on Diwali this year? I hope you do! Share your home with sajavat and its readers. I will be happy to feature them on my blog.
Have a safe and happy time with your near and dear ones!

Shubh Deepavali !!!

Lamps from Baaya designs for the festive ocassion

Lamps are most unique to the festival of Diwali. In my last few posts, I gave you some ideas to brighten your Diwali decor with some Do-It -Yourself lamps.Now for those of you who are looking to buy some brass lamps here is the latest from Baaya Designs.They are just the type to give you the very traditional feel.

So why wait? Here is their latest collection...

The lantern made with a rustic and antique finish which gives out a vibrant feel to your space. The word Netra inspired because the shape of the lantern depicts of a human eye.

I have always loved Moroccan lights.The base and frame of Moroccan candle lantern are dark coloured metal.  The metal has been perforated to create a stunning effect when the candle is lit inside. The lantern has a handle which can be used to hang the lantern or carry it. Ideal for indoor or outdoor use as the candle is enclosed within the lantern.

To create a serene and peaceful environment at home go for these Buddha lights. The lanterns feature intricate cutouts forming an image of Buddha. The lanterns have a unique finish that is sure to complement most any decor and they make a lovely gift.

Lotus pond t light which can be used as a decor item which showcases its beauty when lit up with a tlight. The structure of the lotus plant gives it a additional beauty for your indoor lighting decor.

Leather foldable lamp with artistic images of lord Ram. Images are created in a very colorful way so that when the lamp is lit up it gives out out a lighting which is very colorful and different from others.

A splendid collection.For more details you can always get in touch with them here.

 Baaya design studio and also through their Facebook page.