Fall Friday with Sweet Paul

Fridays are lovely but fall Fridays are the best! I am enjoying the cool weather. I am sharing some beautiful inspiration from the always-gorgeous Sweet Paul magazine. I love the care they take with the articles and after I read it, I always come away with a feeling that this is the good life: living well, eating well and sharing with friends and family. 

Visit the Sweet Paul website here. Have a great weekend!

All images from the Fall issue of Sweet Paul magazine. 

Schumacher Fabrics and Wallpaper

I am sharing some beautiful inspiration courtesy of the Schumacher Fall 2011 collection. It is inspired by antique textiles from all over the world. If you are a fabric lover, this will make you drool..

The Agra silk weave.

They also have a wallpaper collection inspired by the block prints of Jaipur.

 I have a thing for block prints and whenever you take this extremely beautiful Eastern tradition and give it that slight Western edge, it becomes a timeless classic and universal in it's appeal. Visit Schumacher here. 


All images from Schumacher. 

How to make chocolate

How to make chocolate..

I am so trying this! The recipe for making chocolate from Yvette Van Boven, author of Home Made. Found on the Etsy blog here. 
Photography by Oof Verschuren.

Bold, dark and beautiful

I sometimes think I would have to liked to be an interior stylist because of all the decor opportunities such a profession offers. Imagine creating beautiful settings day after day! It will definitely be a solution to my perennial dilemma of wanting to try new interior design styles in my home every week. Like these lush fig-colored walls and the vivid Josef Frank- style prints....

Images from House to Home (UK)'s Homes and Garden. Photography by Simon Bevan. 

Get Red-y

I love how with the approaching cooler season, reds start popping up everywhere in interior design. Just look at this picture from a home featured in Residence (Sweden) and tell me what's not to love about it. It's got everything I want.. Books, check. A window with a view of a forest, check. Red kilim rug, check (absolute necessity). I can bring my own cup of chai.  

See this beautiful modern home here. Photography by Elisabeth Toll. 

Navaratri 2011

It is the start of the Navaratri season and we are up to our ears in dolls!  I thought we could have our own virtual display here on the blog. If you would like, you may email me pictures of the favorite dolls from your collection (preferably a daylight picture/no flash) and I will put it up as a Navaratri postcard. Email me here. 

Wishing all of you a wonderful festive season!

Country Living

I didn't get a chance to look through my latest issue of Country Living until today morning and what do I see? A collector's home with accents of a lovely shade of olive green- it is the perfect foil for the vibrant reds and brings a masculine vibe to the room.

I have a weakness for red rugs and if you add cobalt blue to the mix, I am in love, forever! 

Since I tend to prefer cream walls and for the color to come from the decor accessories, I don't know if I would choose this suzani on the bed though its gorgeous but again, I think its a great way to create a more masculine bedroom.  What do you say?

All images from the October issue of Country Living magazine. You can see the entire house here. Photography by Bjorn Wallander whose amazing portfolio can be found here.

Decorator's Showhouse in the Atlanta Homes and Lifestyles mag

Global style and exquisite layering of colors, patterns and fabrics in the Decorator's Showhouse featured in the Atlanta Homes and Lifestyles magazine! The entire house oozes luxe appeal and pays homage to the power of  rich fabrics. 

See the entire house here. 


Images from the Atlanta Homes and Lifestyle magazine.

Words to live your life by..

Just wanted to have these words stare back at me- they are my thoughts for today.

All found on Pinterest.

 (I don't know the original sources. Let me know if you do.)

In case you need reminding..

I love everything in the store What Nikki Made, but especially this card and these cushions. 

Bliss is dunking a crisp Bourbon biscuit in a hot cup of chai! Have a great week, my friends!

DIY Ottoman

I saw this DIY project on Better Homes and Gardens and I thought how cool and easy it looked. (For an all-thumbs person like me, the second part is the most important!) I love how the suzani's central medallion is perfect for the round ottoman.

Find the instructions here. Image credit: Better Homes and Gardens.

Hello Serenity, Goodbye Stress!

I haven't been able to post the last few days thanks to a hideously busy schedule. But after some changes and much streamlining, blogging should hitherto continue uninterrupted! So, welcome back! I want to start off the coming week with this serene, stone-walled house in Mallorca, Spain. 

Because there aren't  too many tchochkes and stuff, the home looks low-maintenance yet warm and welcoming. (I had like to come back to this right after my long commute from Berkeley! )

I really like the sunny yellow sari quilt. Is it your kind of place?

 It was featured in Barcelona, Spain- based Interiores magazine. 

Greg Elms Photography

I saw these photographs by Greg Elms and I experienced one of those moments when your heart slows down a little to a gentle thud.. thud and then speeds up and you are filled with exhilaration and joy at how beautiful life can be...

The colors and composition of this picture in particular is very appropriate for this time of the year- fall and the festival of dolls that many south Indians celebrate. These pictures are taken at Il Convento, Marittima, Italy - a beautiful bed and breakfast/hotel run by a British couple. 

All pictures taken by Greg Elms. You can visit his gorgeous portfolio here. Link via the always amazing Desire to Inspire.

Svenskt Tenn

This morning I am looking at all the wonderful inspiration on Svenskt Tenn. I have a thing for pretty vignettes and tablescapes and these rich collections are just what I like to see...

Love that pewter lion! Doesn't surrounding yourself with beauty make you feel happy? 

Visit Svenskt Tenn here.

Le Attiser Linens Giveaway Winner

The winner of $75 gift card from Le Attiser Linens is Sharkara@SensitiveCreations. Congratulations! Sharkara, please email Le Attiser at Attiserlinens@gmail.com with your selections. Thanks everyone for taking part!

OUATT in India Today

I was asked to share my design style for the festive season on India Today's Home section- it's in the latest issue. I am in awesome company- Chandan of Girl about Home, Sundeep of Designwali and Bhavna of An Indian Summer!

Thanks, Kripa!

The Global Home

 There are two things that I am constantly obsessing over - gorgeous fabrics and gorgeous fabrics in the global home. The global home is filled with beautiful things that tell stories of lives well lived, of people that consider themselves citizens of the world. (I have written more on this here.)

All signs (okay, pictures) point to the direction of this trend- the global home is chic, elegant and filled with the most sensuous fabrics. Have you noticed how the color, the print and texture of the fabric can instantly set the mood of any room?  Here is some inspiration to sway you or maybe even sweep you off your feet...

Image credits: 1. House to Home (UK); 2. and 3. Nuevo Estilo; 4. West Elm Jute Rug; 5. Jamie Young for Nieman Marcus 

PS. I haven't forgotten about the giveaway- will announce the winner later today. Cheers!

Navaratri Chronicles: Party favors

Confession: It's 10 days to the start of Navaratri season and I haven't started any preparations. Have you? I have been looking for DIY and budget friendly ideas that also don't require me to be an art and craft goddess to get the job done. One of the simplest ones I have come across are these pretty and elegant stamped bags. 

Simple, understated and elegant. The How- to is at Martha Stewart Weddings.  Once you have the bags ready, fill them with these BEAUTIFUL mini soaps from Roses09 on Etsy...

Now, all you have to do is invite me..


Image credits: 1. Once Upon A Tea Time; 2. Martha Stewart Weddings; 3 and 4. Roses09 on Etsy.