Reduce,Reuse,Recycle

So much is always said about conservation of our resources,or rather wastage of resources.
Well.. we may not always be in a position to set everything right but why not start at our level?

For a start my mom - (The source of my inspiration, for all things beautiful) suggested a unique way.what do you do with your old clothes that remain stunning even after years of wear.Giveaway to someone needy or may be they remain in your cupboard for old time sake.How about reusing them or using them to make another beautiful something...hmmm,  my mom has beautifully used some old duppatas to make bedsheets, table runners and covers. She has used the APPLIQUE technique in embroidery for making these covers and besheets


Table cover








Bedsheet




Greeting card made using fabric pieces and buttons

Sending cheers your way!

Flowers spread happiness.
Here is a post to make you smile and brighten up your day!

AA LIVING

When I first recieved a mail from Preetam Chandok of AA Living,I was curious to know more about it.Well it turned out that,AA Living is a Home Interior Store located in Napean sea road in Mumbai.

After I went through their website and the write-up Mr.Chandok had included,I was sure that I have an intresting find in the form of a design store.well check out for yourself,you will find many of the products appealing.No doubt that their client list is impressive to say the least.

But I intend to write about their in house kiddie stuff that caught my fancy and one that I truly liked.Their kids range is from BIBZY.

FOOTBALL BOOKENDS

Bookends make fantastic gifts, and encourage your child to put their books back when they are finished. The A to Z bookends and Football bookends add style and organization to a child’s bookshelf. These are handcrafted and hand-painted.







ANIMAL WALL HOOKS

Funky animal wall hooks from BIBZY are fun and decorative and are ideal for nurseries or playrooms. The Panda, Giraffe and Lion wooden wall hooks stand out in bright colours and are sturdy enough for hanging clothes and bags



WOODEN CHAIRS

These antique finish chairs are handcrafted, hand painted and meet all safety standards. Each animal chair is cute and endearing to a little one. These are suitable for children up to the age of 6.







FRAMES
Memories are important to everyone; children especially love to hear about what they were like when they were babies or things they did when they were little. These picture frames make an excellent gift for kids or parents and come in colourful themes.




For more information contact them at:
Rajul Apartments, 9 Harkness Road , Nepean Sea Road,
Opp Gold’s Gym, Mumbai–6
Ph: (022) 23683985 / (022) 23681569
Email: info@aa-living.com Website: www.aa-living.com

Open from Monday to Saturday, 10:30 am - 7:30 pm

A makeover story

A unique experience

Hey guys am so excited!!
Got a makeover done at my home by ASIAN PAINTS.Many of you may be aware of the "SURPRISE YOUR SPOUSE" campaign launched by Asian Paints for their Royale play brand. Am sure you would have seen Saif Ali khan ad where he is a part of a makeover process.
Bad luck,couldn't meet him though!
when I saw this ad,I thought it was time to give a real surprise to my husband and a makeover surprise adds such a fun element to the whole concept.

BEFORE

The plain wall


well it all started with fixing "the day" for the makeover.I chose a working day so that my hubby is away for the better part of the day.Finalised the combing texture and Mango as the base coat,Glowing rust as the top coat.
I chose this shade keeping in mind the rest of the decor.The idea was that the wall is highlighted at the same time it should blend in with the other decor element which is almost beige and orange in my home.ROYALE PLAY has a variety of shades and textures to chose from,actually you are spoilt for choice here.

I chose a wall which is the most highlighted in our house so that after the makeover it gets a more enhanced look.

Asian paints were there at my place by 10 am on the chosen day.They began working first by masking certain areas so as to make sure that there is no mess in other areas.Then they had to scrape the wall to smoothen it.Thereafter applied the base coat Mango,we joked that it looks as yummy as aamras.


Applying base coat-Mango


After the first coat



After an hour or so after the first coat dried it was time for the final coat.

Top coat-Glowing Rust



Making patterns on the wall-Texture-Combing

This was the most interesting.one guy applied the glowing rust where as the other guy used this combing tool to create the design and the required effect.
Lo and Behold! by 4p.m we were done.It was quick and mess free.

Final look

Now the wait was for my husband for whom we were taking all the pain.I had this butterfly feeling in my stomach.But all is well that ends well.He was surprised to no end that I could do something of this sort behind his back.

The Royale wall



The wall looks beautiful.
It really lends a character of its own and stands out.
I had a lovely experience.

You can watch the youtube video on
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OwQ44lFDydo

Happy Sankranti and Pongal-o-pongal

Happy Sankranti to one and all.



India being an agricultural country, harvest season is celebrated throughout our country with great enthusiasm and fervour.
It may have different names but the festival is a celebration of the farmers, their lands and cows and signifies the harvest season.In Maharashtra it is the Makar Sankranti.




open the lid to taste the pongal

In Tamilnadu Pongal wherein 'Pongal' a prasadam (made with rice and jaggery) also with the same name is made to overflow from an earthen pot with the intention that the year ahead also overflows with peace and happiness.
so lets say together Pongal-o-Pongal.

Home decor tips- Living room

For the second part in this series of home decor tips, let me invite you inside the living area

Lets step into the hall,drawing room or living room whatever you may choose to call it.
An intresting piece of information about drawing room is that the name is derived from the sixteenth-century term "withdrawing room" and "withdrawing chamber," A withdrawing room was a room to which the owner of the house, his wife, or a distinguished guest who was occupying one of the main apartments in the house could "withdraw" for more privacy.
Until the mid-twentieth century, after a dinner the ladies of a dinner party would withdraw to the drawing room, leaving the gentlemen at table, where the cloth was removed. After an interval of conversation, the gentlemen would rejoin the ladies in the drawing room.
Certain points to keep in mind before you do up your living room.
1.Always keep the area in mind. keep it clutter free.
only include those that will make the room look larger.

2.Straight line furniture goes a long way in achieving this.
3.The frames that you hang on the walls should be at eye level.
4.you can make a room look larger by using mirrors and glass.
5.Include pieces that you truly admire and not because it is seen everywhere.
6.Living room ideally should be a zone where you relax and therefore comfortability should be a priority.
7.If you prefer Indian sitting throw cushions look wonderful.
8.vibrant rugs,carpets,mats in pretty prints can be added to achieve a colourful room.
9.Try creating a focal point.
10.keep the decor changing at regular intervals by playing around with your furniture.fresh flowers,drawings by your kids can all add that personal touch in your home.
11.If its a living cum dining area,keep the dining table small.
12.Adequate lighting brightens up the space.If natural lighting is limited there is a variety of artificial lighting available in the market.This will make the room warm and inviting.
13.One can go in for light colours on the walls and for the upholestry so that the accessory chosen can be brighter.
14.white and cream looks serene but when interspersed with florals,the room will look magical.
15.let your room always be colour co-ordinated.

some pics from my sister's living room









Keep watching this space for more pics on living room.

Home decor tips- entrance or foyer area

So...A year almost coming to an end.How do you intend to welcome 2011?
With a big bang of HAPPINESS,LAUGHTER and of course a clean,pleasant and a stunning HOME.
Starting this week I plan to dedicate a separate post to each and every room in a house.Hope you will enjoy this house tour.

where do we start?

Right at the entrance of the house.The entrance to any home can give a wonderful insight to the people residing inside.

what do we do to enhance the outer portion of our home? In a place like Mumbai people live in flats and they are deprived of a garden or a courtyard in front of their homes.But a rangoli or a flower arrangement can work wonders.

A beautiful peacock rangoli to welcome your guests at the entrance.
(My neighbour's creation)



some floating flowers..



Rangoli design made by my mother(with rice paste),some flowers ,and a diya or a candle...





Step inside for a beautiful interior and into a wonderful 2011!

Happy New Year