A makeover story ~ Sumathi

Another unique makeover story to share with you today.... 

Over to Sumathi ~

We just moved to this new home 4 months back .. Few rooms/walls in my house are yet to be furnished/done and would like to do that in slow-evolving phase rather than impulse finish-do…. I love to decorate and rearrange things in my house. I don't really like to fill too many things(photos/paintings) and minimal/functional would be my choice....

 

Living room - I have kept “Orange” theme which happens to be my favorite color

Uruli filled with flowers bloomed in my garden really do charge me up …I feel everyone should experience the pleasure/joy of  growing atleast one plant/tree and delight that u get when they bloom/grow..

My home is not definitely “picture-perfect” always as u get to see in magazines/sites and have been used to clutter which my 2 boys make (including me). I can’t sleep without chanting my heavy daily dose of “clean-up …clean-up….Cllllllllllean up “  mantra to my boys !!!

I like the little jharoka on this wall... What do you like??

... and if you've got a makeover to share... email me on coloursdekor@gmail.com 

Store Finds

I'm taking you to Bangalore today.... to visit IndyaKaleidoscope

and this is what Preethi has to say.... 

A few years ago, travelling to different parts of the country on official assignments gave me tremendous insight into the rich culture of India. The love of traditional Indian handicrafts led me to the door steps of many artisans, who with little or no formal education,seemed to understand and create crafts that were in perfect harmony with nature.

A strong urge to leave behind the rat race and find a more meaningful life, gave birth to an idea - IndyaKaleidoscope. It took a while for the entire idea to shape up, research to back it up, a lot of soul searching and finally Indyakaleidoscope(IK) was registered in July 2011. Today, exactly three years from being just an idea, IK is working with seven different craft groups and two individual artisans and is providing them with a marketing face.

Our commitment is not only to our artisans, but also to our customers. Our motto is to make Indian handicrafts popular in every Indian home and make it available at an affordable price. The journey of Indyakaleidoscope has been made possible by the unshakable support of customers, friends and family. We hope to reach out to more craft communities and in the process fill a lot of homes with the joy of Indian crafts.

I welcome you to be a part of the IndyaKaleidoscope journey and experience.

... and here are a few things from the store.... that I want to bring home.... *smiles*...

And since... reds, oranges, Buddhas, peacocks... are my favourite... Can you see why I love this store so much... *smiles*...

Visit Indya Kaleidoscope and tell me what you think... *smiles*

The Weekly Story ~ wk 94

I'm taking you on a tour of my weekend *smiles*... Weekends are always special in my home... and no matter how messy my home looks all week long... it always turns into a magical place over the weekend.... and here are few images of my gorgeous weekend...

a closer look.... lamp on the dholak (drums)... and a fat candle from IKEA... 

this candle is my new favourite... *smiles*

and another whimsical lamp *smiles* 

... oh a few candles... to make you feel welcome as you enter...

Friday was concert night... we watched Bikram Ghosh performing live at DUCTAC, thanks to Emirates NBD Classics... and the night was truly magical... 

here is a special glimpse for you...

And then to top it all.... I had a little feature in the Khaleej Times ~ Inspired Living Magazine... 

Come on now... tell me what were you upto this weekend? Be inspired... join the fun at... 'The Weekly Story' linky party ~ open from Monday through Wednesday every week..  ...

1. Do a post on your blog, about ANYTHING! and it can really be anything – example – a fun recipe you tried out, a craft project, a DIY, a table top, a few candles, coffee with friends or a good book or a movie review… The list is endless… just about ANYTHING… and anything about YOU !! *smiles* ... It can also be 'anything pretty' ...
2. Original photographs only... No images from other websites or magazines please!! This is about YOU.
3. Link back to my blog.... only as a courtesy, so we have more people joining the party.
4. Copy the 'permalink' from your post (not the link to the front page of your blog).
5. Add your 'permalink' to the 'inlinkz' at the bottom of this post.
6. Click the link before you. Don’t forget to comment and if you like the blog, please follow!!

Any questions, email me on torresp27@hotmail.com.

Please note, you DO NOT have to be a follower of my blog to join the party.. I'd love to see you here!!

Please grab the Colours Dekor 'The Weekly Story' button!!

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Home Tour ~ Ash ~ Part 2

So you've seen part one of Ash's gorgeous home... and you've probably visited her at Everyday is a Miracle... Now I'm showing you more... before that.... here is what Ash says about her home... *smiles*

My home - the place I always find my way back to - away from the busy world.  I am personally very choosy about how I do up my home.  Everytime I think of buying things – it invariably ends up being Indian, much to the agony of my growing kids who want the rooms to look ultra modern.  So this time when we moved home, I was happy to let them have their way as long as I have the living room all for myself to be done up with ethnic Indian décor.

I have tried to do my interiors with any which way it brings in positive energy, be it the things I buy for the house, the colors I add on the walls or drapes or even the music I play at home.

a few random corners.... kept as stunning as ever....

What do you think of this little corner? Stunning isnt it?

And Ash displays one of her paintings on the stairs leading to the bedrooms.... 

Now I'm showing you some of her lovely greens.... 

.... And here is a little more about Ash & her gorgeous home.... 

Since I was born in Kerala and raised in Bangalore,  most of the stuff I pick are from the south of India and would have a small connection to what I have grown up with, like playing with the manjadikurus in the Srikrishna temple at Gurvayur, the mallipus and rangoon creeper in my garden, the brass para used as a plant pot, the carved wooden panels, hanging brass lamps on carved wooden brackets.  My father was in the antique arts’ line of business so any impressive art or art products that get my second look land up home.  The antique painting next to the railway clock is from one of my father’s collections.  I also developed a keen interest in painting over the years and I must say I am impatient with my work so my ideas on the canvas need to complete within a day.  You can view some of my paintings here http://myhome-ash.blogspot.com/p/paints.html

More Kerala influence are those framed mohiniyattam dance photos of my daughter and the mural art on the wall brought all the way from Trivandrum.  My collection of the Malgudi days tele-series revives my growing up years and my latest interest in spirituality has brought in some classy music series.  I am also very fond of cooking so food shows and cook books form a part of my collections.  I also have rosemary, basil, curry leaves and mint herbs growing in my garden with lime and fig trees as well.  Not to miss the malli-pu or jasmine plants which adds fragrance in my backyard.  My latest passion is the Rangoon creeper plant growing in my garden which again has a special connection to my yester years.

My home is not completely done as yet..the next thing on my mind is getting those family pictures on the wall..once I do that I hope to write a post about it in my blog.

A clock and a temperature clock.... gifted by her brother... 

And here is where... she entertains... and has some awesome... time with her family and friends... 

So what do you think of her lovely home?? 

Home Tour ~ Ash

And.... its time for a Home Tour... It took me soooooooooooooooo long to go through pictures of this gorgeous home for you.... I'm sharing this in two posts... 

Welcome to Ash's house in Dubai... She blogs at Everyday is a Miracle... She is inspired to be... and I am inspired looking at her stunning new home... 

This is the entrance to her nest... Everything is put together with a great attention to detail... The colour palette is perfect, neutral, earthy... and her home has a very spiritual feel to it...  

On the living room wall is her prized mural painting... 

and below... her finger painting on canvas... 'blurry candle flames'.... 

a stunning view of her coffee table.... 

and more elements on her tables... 

a lovely corner with a dash of yellow... The curtains look stunning here... 

The below prayer wheel fom her travel to Nepal and manjadikurus from Gurvayur on the urli... So much of detail.. isn't it??

Another corner... with lovely bamboos... 

Do you want to see more?? I bet you do.... Watch out for part two of her gorgeous home & garden... *smiles*... 

Giveaway & the weekly story ~ wk 93

Coming back from holidays is such a good time for a give-away... Isn't it?

Craftsia is giving away two lucky winners 

~ gift vouchers worth Rs. 1500 ~

and its open to ALL!!

So here is the deal....

1. Bloggers ~ Please do a blog post on your blog with 'your favourite picks' from Craftsia (any three items). Please link back to Colours Dekor and Craftsia and use the banner below. The giveaway is open till 24th Sept.

2. Non Bloggers ~ Please leave me a comment with 'your favourite picks'. Please don't forget to put your name.

So here are my favourite picks *smiles*

Meenakari Trays

Masti Khor Sharpeners

Note pad

If you like what you see at Craftsia, please follow their facebook page.

and if you like what you see on Colours Dekor, go on and share the love...

        

Winners will be announced on 24th Sept, so what are you waiting for... 

hop on to Craftsia and prepare your 'favourite picks'

Oh.. and please do grab the Craftsia banner as well..

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now... just as any other Monday... come join in the Weekly Story *smiles*