Nush Designs

Colorful ideas for Entertaining all year long

2009-10-19T14:15:00.004-04:00

The Holiday season is nearing and you guys must be so excited about the prospect of receiving gifts and shopping for the perfect presents.

This year, I am focussing more on the entertaining aspect. I was looking around for some table-setting ideas and came across quite a few interesting images as attached below:

#1 Starting off with my favorite home store: ZARA HOME

Ethnic Table Set-up from Zara Home. Who said you need to match everything?

I love the use of different colors for the wine glasses and the dinner plates.

Simple Country Table setting from Zara Home. Clean and Neutral. Love the transparent dining chairs.

All White Table Setup from Zara Home. This might not look too festive, but I like the elegant & sophisticated look of this setting. Perfect for a small cozy dinner party with your friends and family.

#2 Moving on to Table settings by Rebecca Thuss

A special spotlight: Rebecca Thuss worked for Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia for 10 years. She was a Style Director of Martha Stewart Weddings magazine when she received many awards for her outstanding eye for style and creativity. Rebecca is now part of ThusFarrell, a multidisciplinary photography and graphic design firm that she founded with her husband. For more info, Click HERE

I totally adore her table settings. Here are some:

#3 Misc:

Blue and White Table setting by Carolyne Roehm

From House Beautiful

Purple is "in" this year. Love the dark purple red collection here.

#4 nuevo-estilo - My another fav magazine from Spain.

Entertain throughout the year:

These table set ups are mucho cute? so atractivo :)

What do you think? Which one do you like the best?

Happy Diwali

2009-10-17T21:08:00.005-04:00

People all over the world celebrate various festivities throughout the year. For me, Diwali is the funnest of all. Diwali was celebrated by Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists and Jains all over the world today. Diwali means 'rows of lighted lamps', and the celebration is often referred to as the Festival of Lights

I miss being in India especially during this time. I miss bursting fire crackers on the streets, taking part in the festive celebrations, exchanging sweets with the neighbors, decorating and lighting the house with "diyas" (candles) and just simply spending time with the family cracking jokes and having fun.

Happy Diwali Everyone.

P.S: The above pic is taken from my small celebration at home here in NYC, Nothing fancy :)

Guggenheim's Design It Shelter Competition

2009-09-19T16:31:00.006-04:00

Happy Weekend you guys. I have been away from the blogosphere for a while now & I am sure I must have missed out on all the upcoming trends in the design world. How do you guys keep up with your work, family, activities, school and blogging?? Kudos to you all for being so focussed and efficient.

Today's post is about my submission to the Guggenheim's Design It Shelter Competition.

Most of you must have known about the competition, and for the readers who don't , sometime back in June, Guggenheim and Google kicked off the "Design It Shelter" competition.

"a global competition that will challenge users to design a simple shelter in 3D with Google SketchUp, give it a geographic location using Google Earth, and share it by uploading to the Google 3D Warehouse." --google press

Although my submission was disqualified due to the image size, I felt it was a great experience. I also learnt a lesson: stop being a last minuter :) I submitted my entry at 5.00PM (the closing time on the last day of the submission) in a hurry without realizing that the image size was way too big. Also I pretty much didn't know how to use sketch-up and completed my model in less than 3 days time. I knew I wasn't going to win this competition due to my lack of knowledge & experience, but still wanted to take part and be a part of the design community.

Sketch-up is a great tool. You can do so many things three dimensionally, and it is completely free. If you have never tried using sketch-up, give it a shot.

I designed a shelter (interior space: 10' X 10') for a female highest ranking karateka who is undergoing a vigorous training to be the next grand master. The location I chose was near Bali, Indonesia.

Here are my images:

Back View of the Shelter

Side View

Front View

Interior

I used natural materials such as bamboos & wooden flooring in a natural setting. Inspired by Japanese designs, I used shoji screens and low-lying furniture.

What do you guys think? Do you like/dislike my concept and implementation?

Public voting is now open and please cast your vote for the best shelter It model HERE

2009-07-25T00:53:00.017-04:00

My friend, Kathy took these photographs at an Upstate New York Retreat Center. I wanted to share them with you guys. Happy weekend and Enjoy.

I love this pic. So tranquil and serene.

The post lamp outside an accommodation looks lovely.

Another lighting fixture - An indoor hanging sconce.

I am not really sure what this is, but I love the metallic basket. It could be used as a side table.

Don't you think so?

A hindu goddess. Love the magnificent craftsmanship.

Pretty stained glass birds.

And finally, I love this pic a lot. The green and red on top of that white plate setting looks gorgeous.

Thanks Kathy for taking these wonderful photographs :)

Happy Weekend.

2009-07-11T00:01:00.002-04:00

Have a great weekend guys.

This Speranza lounge chair from Inmod is really cool & is on sale for $211.00

BazaarTwits

2009-07-03T15:58:00.004-04:00

Hey guys,
I have been so busy the last couple of months working with my husband in launching Bazaartwits.
Please check out http://bazaartwits.com
It is a twitter based web site that lets you post, share, search and tweet deals. Do let us know how we can improve, as we would love to hear your feedback.

Spread the word peeps.

Thanks.

Magnetic storage solutions

2009-06-18T00:27:00.004-04:00

Do you rent an apartment? Does your landlord restrict you from drilling anything into the walls? Do you have a tiny space? If yes, I can totally understand your frustration.
Storage and Organization can be a big hurdle in small spaces.
Have you ever thought about getting Magnetic products?

check out some perfect magnetic storage solutions:

q-man magnet from CB2

Don't you love this cute guy? The bright orange adds a fun look as well. You can buy more than one and attach them together in different forms. Use it as a hook or for holding objects in the refrigerator.

Price: $9.99

Products from The Container Store

Magnetic mesh bins for $6.99

Mini spot on Magnetic Hooks for $9.99

Products from Organize-it-Online.com

York Magnetic Clips for $6.99

Bendini Flexible Magnetic Organizer for $6.99

Magnetic Stainless Towel Bar for $15.99

Happy Weekend.

2009-06-12T21:48:00.012-04:00

This weekend is going to be gorgeous. I miss the Summer. It is June, and we still have to carry a light jacket. When exactly are we going to feel the hot summer? I am so done with the rainy gray days. The weather was awesome today and I felt like gardening. Wouldn't it be nice to bring in some natural garden theme to your home??

Here is something for y'all:

stickers from Nuevo-Estillo

CLICK HERE for the English Translation

Have a wonderful weekend.

Entryway-Inspirations.

2009-05-23T13:37:00.007-04:00

I have been looking for a way to organize my non-existent entry-way. My apartment has no separate foyer area. The door leads directly into the main living room. On the left, there is an open kitchen with the side of the refrigerator facing the living area, then comes the washing/drying area, and then the bathroom. So, I am left with not a whole lot of options. The only place where I could put my entry-way table is next to the entrance door on the right wall, where I also have the media cabinet and a book-shelf. So, space is an issue. I am thinking of using two baskets, one for storing hats & bags, and the other one for shoes. I would also be installing magnetic hooks on the door (luckily we have a steel door) for hanging coats, umbrellas, keys etc, and a magnetic letter holder.

Here are some of my inspiration pics:

From Zara Home ( my favorite home store). Although, this is a bathroom, I think I can use the same concept of utilizing the basket under a table for my entry-way area. Love the mirror as well.

I think I got this image from a DIY magazine ( I am not exactly sure about the source). Love the DIY shoe rack made from Tin crates.

From Living Etc.

Here, I don't see any specific storage area for the shoes. I'm not sure in a virtually no separate entry-way, how laying down the shoes on the floor would work. However, I love the table, the fresh flowers on the table top, the umbrella and the hat holder.

Have a good weekend.

Yello!

2009-05-20T23:55:00.001-04:00

A big Yello to everyone! It has been a while since I visited this blog kingdom. I hope I haven't missed out on anything big! I am in this funky mood right now. I want to post something that is totally random, and doesn't fall under any particular category.

So here are the questions:

1) Anything exciting happening at your end?

2) Did anything weird happen this week?

My weird story:

Today, around 6.00PM, I was walking down the street to get to my apartment, and out of no where this guy started screaming and yelling at people. I kept my distance to avoid him. Around 8.00sh, I again went out to grab a chai latte from Starbucks, and the same dude was still walking up and down the aisle, cursing and screaming away. It was kind of scary. The pedestrians gave him a really weird look. I even noticed, some teenagers were laughing and making fun of him. At first, like others I thought he was a total weirdo, but then, I felt someone must have pushed him too much. Maybe he was a war-vet or something. I kept pondering how everything in life happens for a reason. Maybe it was his bad Karma or maybe it was just something else? I don't know. I decided not to think too much and ended up watching a funny movie. Now, I am ready to hit the sack.

Shadows : Random Pic of the NIGHT, taken by me.

good night.

Eclectic Interior design -- Japanese and Western Fusion

2009-05-07T11:57:00.014-04:00

I have always been drawn by the simple straight lines of Japanese designs. The incorporation of natural materials are highly significant in designing the Interiors. Japanese believe in using less, and emphasize more on the practical use of everyday objects.

I asked myself, apart from the straight lines, what pulls me closer to the Japanese designs?
I came up with this list:

1) Low lying furniture
2) Superior esthetic qualities of the finished product
3) Muted and Neutral color Palettes
4) Remarkable hand crafting and wood working skills (Most furniture don't require screws)
5) Presence of their traditional cultural elements.

I recently moved to a new apartment, and I am planning on going with an eclectic Japanese/western decor for my bedroom.
Here are some Japanese interior settings that are worth looking at:

The Cabinet by Noriko Sawayama.

Noriko's philosophy is to create an unique and creative space by combining the Japanese traditional elements to the western interior setting.

I love this Cabinet. The Lotus floral pattern painted on top of the contrasting black cabinet is stunning. Lighting is provided inside for displaying beautiful objects.

Interior setting by Noriko.

The above cabinet is placed at the front wall. Noriko provides comfortable and simplistic furniture.

Mantra bed by FEG

Adhering to Feng Shui principles, Mauro Bertame created this low lying platform bed. The soft contoured Canopy extending from the back is so elegant.
Available at : Europe By NET

Bora Bora by Mazzali

The four wooden slats make up this bed. The cylindrical piece in the middle can be moved around. It can be used as a headboard for bed or as a backrest for sofa.

Available at Europe by NET

Contemporary bedding by Haiku Designs

Love this as I can see some color.

I am not sure where I found these two images, but I love the simple arrangement of the bedroom furniture.

A touch of green works really nice in this setting.

Sunday Pic

2009-04-26T10:34:00.003-04:00

Have a Nice and Warm Sunday

My Apartment Pics

2009-04-23T16:57:00.001-04:00

As promised, I am attaching some pics of my Sunny & Airy UWS brownstone apartment. I am going to miss this place.

Enjoy!

View of my living Room.

I love the Bay windows. We have huge south facing windows that let in lots and lots of light.

Living Room: Sofa

I shop a lot from West Elm, CB2, & Pottery Barn. The sofa, glass coffee table and the geometrical neutral rug were purchased from West elm. The Dining bar table in the previous pic is from CB2.

I selected Neutral colors for the furniture and walls. I was not allowed to paint the walls.

I brought in the bright colors (blue and orange) by using decorative pillows. I made these pillow covers from my old saris. I chose the blue and orange accent colors from my painting (shown below).

Painting:

We picked it up from a street fair in the Upper West Side, last summer. We both loved the bold colors.

Some Artifacts & Accessories from around the World.

First and Second: Evil Eye Mini Carpet Wall hanging From Turkey

Third: Cute key holder from Sienna, Italy.

Some More: From my Kitchen Area:

First: Ganesha, "The Indian god for removing obstacles". Nine difference spices are used to create this magnificent art work!

Second: A small display area in my Kitchen. (A square clock is super imposed on top of an Octagonal shaped container that holds various Indian condiments such as Pepper corns & Lentils.

Metallic figurines:

These figurines are made from metals such as silver, copper etc.

The peacock incense holder is my fav.

Serenity Now !

Small water fountain on top of an Asian inspired Table. A peaceful and serene corner decor!

Street View:

These brownstones are beautiful.

Spring is in the Air

2009-04-21T22:00:00.001-04:00

Spring is Fresh, Spring is Clean, Spring is Exuberant, Spring is Energizing and Spring is one of the best seasons of all.

Since I will moving out by the end of this month, I have already started looking for inspiration pics. I want to bring in the freshness and liveliness of Spring into my apartment. So, I am thinking about this color combo for my bedroom:

White, Green, and some pink accents along with Neutrals (hues of Brown and Gray)

Here are some of my inspiration pics:

Spring blossoms at Central Park

From Living Etc: Nature inspired bedroom

Living Etc: Indian vibe.

The above two pics are from the Royal Interior Design website

Nuevo estilo

Any comments or suggestions?

Real Estate Prices Finally Dropping in Manhattan??

2009-04-13T10:41:00.011-04:00

I just read an article, "Making a Comeback" in NY times. The article talks about how finally the real estate prices have fallen down in the NYC area.

I remember we were looking for a place to buy sometime back in 2007 when the real-estate prices went through the roof. The studios were going for 500K. It was a joke. Seriously, these studios were not even big. They were approximately 400-450 square feet in total. We even decided to buy a really teeny studio apartment in Greenwich Village. Luckily, we didn't have enough money for the 10% down-payment. First the condo board agreed to take 5% down, and later rejected our application, asking us to put 10% down. I even had a loan approved, covering 95% of the Property price.

God was kind to us. If we would have bought that condo, We probably had to go through foreclosure. Sometimes not having a lot of money could be a blessing.

Here are some studios that are going for less or around 250k now. (Yes 250K, I get a feeling in 2 years time, the prices might plummet even further)

$265,000 155 East 49th Street.

Not bad. The kitchen occupies the entire wall on the left. If you are big on cooking, You would definitely need some serious air purifiers and don't forget the candles. Even the non fragrant candles can take away the smells from cooking.

$249,000 235 West 102nd Street

I like the setup of this studio. Looks very spacious although it is small. Not too sunny. That is a drawback.

305 East 83rd Street, left, is on the market for $269,000. 160 East 91st Street, right, is for sale for $199,000.

What do you guys think? What are your predictions of the Real-Estate Prices in Manhattan?

Oh, forgot to mention, I will be moving out of my really sweet and beautiful one bedroom apartment in UWS to Queens due to financial problems. I am going to miss my apartment so much. I will be posting some pics of my apartment soon. It is sunny, centrally located next to the central park, and it is a well maintained brownstone apartment.

I am so sad to leave this place, but hey life takes you on different paths, and you just have to come up with the best solution that would work for you.

If you guys (shout out to all my fellow New-Yorkers) are looking for an apt. in the city, lemme know. I am hosting an open-house starting tomorrow. Available May 1st.

Pierre Bonnard

2009-04-04T23:42:00.001-04:00

I haven't been blogging for quite sometime now. There has been so much drama going on in my life. Oh well, life still goes on.

I went to the MET yesterday and visited the exhibition on the Late Interiors of Pierre Bonnard. The exhibition focussed entirely on the late interiors. What I loved the most was the way Pierre brought in life in these paintings. Most paintings were playful and brought in joy while quite a few conveyed a deep emotional sentiment.

Although cameras were not allowed in this section, I managed to take some shots. Here are some of his work:

Flowers on the Mantelpiece at Le Cannet, 1927

Work Table, 1926/1937

If you look closely, you can see a dog and a cat on top of the sofa behind the work table.

The dog looks well rested. Pretty nice life! Don't you think so?

Basket of Fruit: Oranges and Persimmons, ca. 1940

I love the complementary colors used in this painting. Very bright and cheerful.

Table in Front of the Window,

I wish I could be right there. Love the scenic view from the window.

In the Bathroom,

The muted blue and pink works so well together. A very calm and relaxing place indeed.

Have a good weekend everyone. So long.

Shade in the Summer?

2009-03-25T10:14:00.016-04:00

I love spending time outside my apartment especially when the weather is nice. However, I am prone to unbearable headaches. So overexposure to sun can be a big hurdle for me.

As summer is approaching, now is a good time to start looking for deals on outdoor furniture.

I have put together a list of available furniture options especially for people like me, who would perhaps prefer to be in a shade.

Here you go

Frou Frou Parasol with Base

Coran Shop

$3995.00

Fringes are hung from the round top of this Parasol instantly creating a fabulous glam piece.

Single Sun Shade

INMOD

$899.00

I love this very unique umbrella. The shade is made of sunbrella canvas. Impress your friends and family by installing this classic deco style Sun Shade.

MainSail Umbrella

CB2

$399.00

Ahh.. I am a huge cb2 fan. This modern umbrella is lovely.

Looks like a huge Lamp. Don't you think so? Price is pretty decent as well.

Palmetto All Weather Wicker Egg Chair

Pottery Barn

$1299.00

The egg chair can seat up to 2. Very comfortable and looks Chic.

Chesapeake changing cabana

Pottery Barn

$299.99

An ultimate pool side accessory from pottery barn. Cabanas are supposedly a changing area. I would use it as a napping area :)

New Wave

Outdoor Hammock by Royal Botania

Featured in Trendir

It seems the Canopy blocks around 85% of sunlight.

It definitely is very elegant and futuristic.

Low cost Shade featured in Apartment Therapy

Shade Sails

This Synthetic Knit fabric blocks 90% of the sun's rays. Easy to carry and Store.

A piece of advice from me, when you head out, carry a light-weight umbrella, wear a sunglass and a cap to protect yourself from the Sun. Oh, don't forget to apply sunblock lotion to keep your skin flawless.

Happy Summer to All!

MoMA Finds

2009-03-20T18:00:00.003-04:00

I was thinking of visiting the Museum of Modern Art (a.k.a. MoMA) this weekend and decided to check out their online store. MoMA offers some really cool and unique products designed and produced by the world class designers/architects/artisans.

Here are the selected few items from my shopping bag.

Coonley Playhouse Bookmark

Frank Lloyd Wright

$18.00

This bookmark is a reproduction of the Frank Lloyd Wright's leaded glass windows designed for the Avery Coonley Playhouse and for the Imperial Hotel, Tokyo
The combination of the various geometrical shapes along with the inclusion of the bright colors works harmoniously together.
I love the attached gold tassel.

Toro Tissue Ring

Scott Christensen, 2003
$20.00

If you are sick and tired of the plain old kleenex cardboard boxes, use this innovative tissue holder. All you have to do is remove the tissues and place the ring on top of the stack of tissues.

Tower of Clips

Barbara Flanagan, 2007
$38.00

This is a perfect addition to your office. Create a display out of your office mess!
Holds paper, clips, photos, keys etc.
Designed by Barbara Flanagan for MoMA.

Cable Turtle

Cleverline Design Group, 1998
$20.00

Product Description from the MoMA Store:
"The Cable Turtle conceals up to 36” of excess cords and wires, and is ideal for telephone and electrical cords, iPod chargers, speakers, and more. Set of two."

X-Shaped Rubber Bands

$5.00

Aren't these cool?

Off-The-Wall Hooks

Yve Thelermont,

David Hupton, 2007
$25.00

I love these Bold and geometrical hooks.
Why not be creative and come up with some funky wall arrangements huh??

Have a wonderful weekend.

Ciao

Metallic Mesh Designs

2009-03-17T11:30:00.004-04:00

Metals are used widely in almost all the Industries. The Malleable (meaning: It could be hammered down into thin strips) quality of the metal contributes to its predominance over other materials.

In the Design world, Metallic furniture are often used in a clean and minimalist style setting. Metals have this shimmery aesthetic quality, which when alone or combined with other materials, could produce an incredible fascinating end-product. Apart from using Metals as a part of furniture, Architectural and Design companies have started producing fabrics, lighting, and flooring materials from different metallic sources.

I love Metals. I use it everyday in the form of jewelry, shoes etc. I especially like the Mesh patterns of the Metallic objects.

Here are some:

(1) Metallic Drapery from Whiting & Davis

These striking and glamorous tall curtains made of Metallic mesh by Whiting & Davis are so chic and uber cool. It is an Urbanite's dream come true drapery. If I was residing in a loft or an industrial like building, this chic drapery would be my absolute buy!

These draperies are super freakin flam!

(2) Zafir Gold Mesh 15-Light Halogen Pendant Chandelier
Euro StyleLighting
Price: $949.91

This chandelier is stunning. If you would like to add an unique as well as an elegant accent to your home, this is it for you.
The shade has a delicate tissue paper like design. Fifteen lights shine through the gold mesh giving it a gracious look.

(3) Bertoia Diamond Lounge Chair
Designed by Harry Bertoia
Available at Knoll

I love the delicate interwoven metallic back of this chair. It looks very lightweight, airy and would be a great addition to a contemporary interior space.

(4) Gold Mesh Sofa by Russell Woodard.
Similar pieces can be found at 1stdibbs.com

(5) Ellie Shoes Women's 609-LIZ 6" Stiletto Heel Mule w/2" platform and Metallic Mesh
From Amazon.com
Price: $56.88

I love this Pump. If you want the center of attention, or would like to make a statement, wear this pump, it will not let you down :)

Mondrian Craze

2009-03-13T11:59:00.014-04:00

Piet Mondrian is one of my all time favorite artist. He produced art using simple, geometrical blocks based on a grid system utilizing the three primary colors, RED, BLUE, and YELLOW with black and white lines. The simplicity is what drives me closer to his art.

Designers have always been and will continue to get inspired by Mondrian. The most famous design movement, called the 'De Stijl' (Meaning The style in Dutch) used Mondrian's artistic elements. The movement was founded by architect and painter Theo van Deosburg in 1917 in Leiden. Other founders of the group included the sculptor Vantongerloo, architect JJP Oud, designer Rietveld, and the painter Mondrian.

Following are some of the Mondrian inspired pieces/design elements.

Mondrian Knit dress from Saks

On Sale: Price: $596.90

Still a lil expensive for me :(

Windows Vase by Chiasso

Price: $58.00

Affordable for me! Yay :)

It could be positioned in three ways. I love the modern and contemporary look of this Vase.

CHROMIFOCUS by Euroflues

This is a wall installed fireplace that acts as an art piece when closed using the three Mondrian Inspired sliding doors.

Mondrian Drum Pendant by Oggetti Luce

Lumens

Price: $1070.00

This piece is handmade in Germany.

By Al & Jo: Mondrian inspired Classic Piet Cabinet Collection

CB2's Mondrian Media Console.

$299.00

I love this CB2's media cabinet. It looks so light and airy.

Decker Large Shelf from Overstock

$549.99

Although, the three primary colors are not used in this shelf, I see some Mondrian's inspiration in this piece.

DIY: Floor Pillow.

2009-03-12T17:58:00.008-04:00

Yesterday, I wrote a post about floor pillows, and today I made my own from scratch. It is completely free. I took the cotton from my old pillows & I had some fabric samples lying around in my craft's bin. I used two different fabrics, ( a patterned fabric that you can see below, and a dark brown fabric for the bottom part), the cotton from the pillow and with the help of my new fav device, the sewing machine, came up with this Result.

Any Critics?? Any jurors who would like to give me an honest verdict? Thanks.

Decorating with Floor cushions/pillows

2009-03-10T10:47:00.012-04:00

I face a big dilemma in coming up with seating arrangements when it comes to inviting people over to my really teeny Manhattan apartment. Till now, I haven't been able to invite more than five friends at a time. I know I can squeeze in up-to ten people in my living room. The major problem is the lack of furniture. It is so expensive, and I seriously don't have much money to spare at this moment. So, I am thinking, how can I create an interior setting for entertaining up to 10? Voila, The answer is by purchasing Floor Cushions.

Floor Cushions have been widely used in Asian and African interior settings. These cushions are easy to transport, inexpensive, and when not in use, can be stacked up in a corner. Floor cushions are a great way to spruce up a room. You can choose bright colors, varied patterns to create an exotic look or go with a plain muted down cotton, silk, or linen fabric for a simple & sophisticated look. The decoration option is up to you.

Here are some Floor Cushions I would like to purchase sometime in the future:

Floor Pillows/Cushions from Zara Home

Platabanda floor cushion

Price: 45.90 Euros.

100% Cotton. Perfect for a Modern look.

Party Floor Cushion

Price: 45.90 Euros.

This Velvety cushion adds a luxurious look to any space.

Stripes Floor Cushion

Price: 45.90 Euros.

I love this. It is made up of 100% silk. Very elegant and sophisticated.

Floor Cushion from EQ3

Ebba Floor Pillow for $22.99

This is perfect for my budget. Pretty affordable. Don't you think?

Floor Cushions from Wrapables:

16" by 16" Hanami Floor Cushion for $17.99

Add a little bit of Japanese decor to your room.

Floor Cushions from West Elm

26 sq " Water Hyacinth Floor Pillows for $39.99

The best deal for the buck. It is on sale. The original price was $99.99

I have included the most affordable products. If you are willing to spend a little more, check out Anthropologie and Urban Outfitters.

Hope you guys liked my selection. Any suggestions??

Reduce, Reuse and Renovate.

2009-03-06T11:25:00.011-05:00

"Carbon Neutral on a Shoestring," an article published in 'The NY Times' under the Home and Garden section is so inspiring. Petz Scholtus, a 28 year old product designer from Luxumbourg, retrofitted her 18th-century apartment in Barcelona as a green machine. She wanted to create a complete Green Home using inexpensive materials adhering to the three fundamental R’s of environmentalism: reduce, reuse, recycle.
The Article is a must-read.

Here are some photos from the Slideshow:

Bidon Lamps:

She constructed her own handmade bidon lamps. (bidón = jerry can or container;) She picked up a few from the streets, and fitted them with compact fluorescent bulbs and PVC-free wiring.
The DIY instructions can be found in her blog: Click Here

Magazine Holder:

She added castors to the antique drawers found on the street.

Compost for her Herb Garden:

"On the terrace, worms quietly gnaw through her kitchen scraps, making compost for her herb garden." -- NY Times

A planter made from an old tire

Storage Containers:

These Collapsible felt storage containers are called Stuff Bumps.
They are are made from recycled wool and card stock.

Carbon Free Moving

Ms. Scholtus used the truck-bike to move her furniture. Luckily she had none at that point of time.

I am so inspired by her going green motives. We all can do a little to save our environment. Start off by getting rid of plastics when you shop, do groceries etc. Take your own shopping bag. Try to recycle. I feel stricter laws should be enacted for recycling in the United States.
We all are responsible for making our Earth a better livable place for our future generation.

Any Thoughts??

Mirror Mirror Everywhere

2009-03-03T11:28:00.006-05:00

Mirrors have been used as a decorative object throughout our history. Interior designers also use mirrors to make a room appear larger. By placing the mirror in a light reflected area, you can create various luminary illusions. Mirrors are now used largely in furniture and Accessories.

Here are some Mirrored objects:

Mirrored bookcase by Phillippe Starck From coscablog

Two in One: It can be used as a Mirror or as a bookcase.

Mirrored Tiles featured in ElleDecor.

I love the sparkling reflections created by the light.

From Toneli Designs

BABYKAKE by Karim Rashid.

This is a wall leaning mirror with two areas on both the sides for storage. The storage is hidden by using a graceful looking door. I like the Mirror with the two angular Red doors a lot.

Appendispeechi by D'Urbino - Lomazzi

Belly Dance by Giovanni Tommaso Gratton

First: It is a double sided mirror used to hang any thing like Keys, umbrellas, coats etc. Second: Mirrors are knitted using metal support. This has a dual use as well. The mirror when hung from the ceiling is used as a room divider, Or can be hung on a wall.

Mirrored Furniture by Horchow

Autumn Mirrored Chest Circles Mirrored Cabinets

The Autumn Chest is handcrafted and hand-painted. Mirror Veneer applique on both the furniture makes any room look glamorous.

Double Fassane Mirror Radiator
By Acova

This is my Fav. A radiator and a mirror ensemble. Would you have imagined that?? Pretty awesome huh? This fantastic radiator can be used in the foyer and bathroom.

Description taken from Trendir:

"The Double Fassane Mirror Radiator has five full-length flattened heating-tubes to maximise the heat output. Framed between these tubes is a 180 x 29 cm mirror. In foyers and bathrooms a full-length mirror is a necessity, allowing you that last quick check before you rush out the door."

Finally, the video embedded below is from the Cologne Design Festival, 2009 posted at Core 77. Here, Nils Wodzak of Konzept Design presents his product, a Mirror Ironing Board.
A Mirror, Ironing Board, and a Cupboard: Three utilitarian functions combined in One product. Bravo Nils. What a wonderful product. It is perfect for small living spaces.

Happy Weekend

2009-02-28T09:57:00.006-05:00

Have a good weekend everyone.

Blossom chair from Anthropologie.

Isn't it cool?

Bench Styles

2009-02-25T12:04:00.002-05:00

Yesterday morning, I was walking across the Central Park. The weather was dreadful, cold and windy. As I rushed back to get home soon, I noticed this cute little doggy taking a nap in an isolated bench. It was such a delight. I felt so serene and peaceful. I love benches. I know it is such an ordinary object, yet it could be fun, artsy, simple, sophisticated and functional.

Taken from Nuevo Estilo. The colorful green pillow on top of the plain wrought Iron bench looks pretty chic. I like the clean and simple lines of the wooden seat.

Tree Trunk Bench From Vividvormgeving.

This is a perfect example of exhibiting the artistic elements involved in crafting this piece. A simple wooden trunk is used, with bronze chair back attached to the back of the log. Pretty easy DIY stuff.

El Filósofo (the philosopher) bench designed by Alfredo Häberli from BD Barcelona design.

Alfredo designed this bench, inspired by a person who needs some quiet and visual calm, but never wants to be alone, because he needs to chat.

Pretty cool isn't it?

An upholstered indoor bench from Domino by lili diallo.

This simple bench gets dressed by adding a vibrant throw, and colorful decorative pillows.

Another indoor bench substitute from Domino. The intricate detailed carvings are handcrafted in India.

These pairs are decorative as well as practical for seating, and storage. A perfect addition to your bedroom decor.

Any thoughts??

Mood for something Indian!

2009-02-20T11:54:00.016-05:00

I am in the mood for something Indian today. I made my traditional morning cup of chai with cardamom and ginger, and parantas for breakfast. (Parantas are flatbread stuffed with potatoes, onions, spinach or any thing you would like to add).

Well, besides food, I am also in the mood for writing a post on Indian decor. My fav blogger, anindiansummer recently posted some Images from Nuevo Estilo (a magazine based out of Spain). I totally fell in love with the sophisticated, and exotic designs.

Ah...I love the dress.

The chaise, the hand crafted wardrobe, the Red and White Checkered floor and the stationary arched back wall works very well together.

The hand made embroidery work is lovely.

A closer look at the chaise and the wardrobe.

A fusion of contemporary and Indian Home Collections by Portico.

Very contemporary indeed. Love the blues.

100 % cotton table napkins from Fab India

Pillow and bed linens from Fab India.

I love the products from Fab India. Most linens are made up of 100% pure cotton. Now you can shop online as well.

I would like to thank anIndiansummer once again for my inspiration. She has got some great products to offer in her bazaar.

Boomerang Key holder

2009-02-18T23:27:00.008-05:00

Have you guys ever thrown a boomerang? I remember throwing something similar to a boomerang when I was a kid. Today, out of the blue, I decided to make a boomerang key holder. Here are some pictures:

I used the following materials: Indian fabric, gold ribbons, and guess what a metal hanger.

Do let me know if you guys like my product?

I might put it up for Sale on Etsy

DIY - Medicine Box

2009-02-17T15:30:00.018-05:00

Life cannot be taken for granted. This weekend, my dad was hospitalized. He underwent an open heart surgery. Thank god, his surgery went off well. I am very close to my dad, and I was taken aback and felt helpless when I heard the news from my sister. I wish I could've been near him in India. That moment made me realize that life is too short & I am going to try my best to be healthy, happy & spend more time with my family.

My dad is doing fine. He will be discharged after 10 days. Besides sending him a get well card, I wanted to make something special. I came up with a hand-made medicine box. It is pretty easy to construct, and here are the steps:

Step # 1:

I took my spare Iphone Box and took out all the materials. The only two things we need are the transparent lid with the hole, and the bottom box. You can of-course substitute the Iphone box with a cardboard box of your choice.

Step # 2:

Measure the sides (length, width and the depth).

Step # 3:

Now, we need a mat knife and a mat board. Cut out a rectangle (subtract 1/2" (length and depth) from the above measurements). This will be used as the main divider.

Cut three smaller rectangles/squares that we will use to slide between the walls of the box and the divider.

Step # 4:

Choose a fabric and wrap the box using the selected fabric.I used a non poisonous/non lead based glue and paint.

Step # 5:

Now place the cut and colored rectangular mat pieces inside the box. I have made five divisions.

Step # 6:

Cut a small fabric to cover the box since the lid we will be using has a small hole in the center.

Step # 7:

Slide and Place the transparent lid on top of the box.

Step # 8:

Voila, here we have our final hand made medicine box.

The best part of this box is the transparent lid. You can write notes using a marker, and can wash it off. Instead of a medicine box, you can also use this as a jewelry box or for storing any accessories.

What do you think?

Happy Valentine's day!

2009-02-13T00:47:00.001-05:00

Valentine's Day is not meant to be celebrated just for lovers. Whether you are single, in a relationship, or married, each one of us can celebrate this day in our own special way. When I was single, I used to invite my friends and family over for a nice dinner followed by a movie.

Now, I am married & a little broke. I need to come up with something a lil more cost effective.

I started by penning down the things my husband likes, and here is the list:

1) Girardelli's Dark chocolate

2) A movie buff

3) Loves to Eat

4) Encourages my creative pursuits

5) Loves to spend time with me outdoors.

Ok, so I am thinking this is easy, I can definitely come up with something that will not cost me a huge fortune. This is how I am planning on spending my special day tomorrow

1) Bake a Cake at home

This is going to be my first time baking a chocolate cake. Any ideas?? Please send me some recipes if you have any.

We had this Cake in Bellagio, Italy. This was our first vacation together after getting married. We loved it. It tasted so YUMMM!

2) Pick up a Romantic Comedy movie, preferably something that was shot in France or Italy. We recently watched "Priceless" and I loved it. I felt like going to the French Riviera the very same day. I am thinking of renting "The Roman Holiday" Any movie buff out there?? Is this a good movie? I would like to hear your reviews, besides going to Rotten tomatoes, and other movie review sites.

3) Cook a Nice Dinner --Maybe something Italian to go with the movie. & buy Chianti

Again, we had this Salad at the same restaurant in Bellagio. SO Fresh and Refreshing.

That is my hubby having an Italian Beer at Roma.

This is Me, Moi, waiting for the main course to arrive.

I am so glad, I am looking at these photographs now. I have a good idea of what to cook now, Bruschetta, salad, and Pasta & buy some nice Chianti Vino Russo.

4) create a greeting card at home from scratch.

5) I was thinking of taking a stroll in the Central Park tomorrow. The weather is not cooperating though!

Maybe Ice Skating at the AMNH?? I heard the admission tickets are pretty cheap (10 dollars/person including the rentals) & there is a coupon as well ( 2 for 1 valentine's special offer)

Whatever your plans are, Wishing you guys a very happy valentine's day. Enjoy and don't be Sad. Spend time with your loved ones, family or just simply enjoy the quality time spending with yourself.

I have a lot to do, clean, cook, etc etc. Ciao.

I heart 'Red' Kitchens.

2009-02-12T11:05:00.019-05:00

Do you guys watch the HGTV's 'House Hunter International' TV show? I recently watched this episode on Sao Paulo Search in Brazil. Vinnie (the house hunter) was living with his sister for 5 years & was looking to buy a new one bedroom condo. He finally finds a condo of his choice and decides to renovate the entire flat. I fell in love with his kitchen. He used red tiles, state of the art stainless steel appliances, and white cabinets.

After seeing that show, I developed a new taste of using 'Red' in the Kitchen. In my family, we always hung out in the kitchen. It is the heart of our home. Red can instantly increase the energy level & works well in a social gathering space. Red can be used as an accent or as a primary color in the Kitchen.

This small Kitchen was featured in Marie Claire Maison. I love the Red cabinets juxtaposed against the White background.

From Sunset Magazine. Love the Red and Orange Backsplash tiles. The bright geometric tiles work very well with the stainless steel appliances, the black countertops, and the light oak cabinets.

This is my fav. The above pic was featured in the Arch Digest, designed by Ted Turner. The kitchen design is based on a historical Spanish colonial homes of Mexico. I love the red and white decorative tile work.

The above kitchen is designed by MICHELE ALLMAN, featured in House Beautiful.
Here, Red is used as an Accent color. The toile draperies, the pillow cushions, the knobs on the oven/gas range (check the 1st pic), and the window treatments are accentuated with Red accessories. The Vaughan's Pagoda red tole lantern hanging from the ceiling looks classy. This French styled kitchen looks so sophisticated, soft, elegant and inviting.

The Beauty of Mosaics

2009-02-06T13:31:00.000-05:00

Last week, I had taken couple of my friends out for shopping in Soho (Lower Manhattan). While we were walking down the cobbled alleys, I came across this beautiful Mosaic store. I just took a peek from outside, as my friends insisted on going to some boutique shop. That night, I came home and searched online for all the Mosaic Stores in Soho & I believe I was taking a peek at the "SICIS, The Art Factory" showroom.

Have you guys been to their showroom? I am definitely going to pay a visit over this weekend.

The following collages contain different Mosaic designs from their Website.

Click on the Image for a blown up version of the collage.

I love the floral design, the shimmery look and the marble mosaic flooring. Check out the figurines at the upper right hand corner! Love the bling bling.

Collage -2

The gold leaf mosaic is made up of glass (Lower Left Corner). The silver marble bathtub is elegantly placed in front of the Turquoise floral Wall mosaic. (Upper Right Corner)

Ah.. I would love to have this wall mosaic and the tub in my bathroom. The entire collection evokes a Royal feeling.

Apart from the SICIS, Art Factory, I liked the designs by UK based companies such as Zenith and Surface; Iris Ceramica, an Italian based company & US based Architectural Ceramics.

Here are some of the Mosaics designed by the above companies:

Kitchen Design by Iris Ceramica

Bathroom Designs by Iris Ceramica

Love the Blue and White combination.

Kid's Corner by Surface:

I feel that SICIS' products are hip, glamorous and uber-cool. I totally loved the bling bling, the marble flooring and the unique craftsmanship.

Do you think Mosaics are "In" this Year? Any thoughts??

Blogger Tag --Balinese House in a Jungle

2009-02-04T10:20:00.004-05:00

My friend, AliciaBDesigns just tagged me. There is something called a blogger tag, where a blogger will pick the "FOURTH PIC" from his/her image gallery and tag "FOUR" people to do the same.

Well, My fourth pic was this beautiful jungle house in Bali. I loved the way the house was so organic, and brought the nature inside.

I am tagging the following four bloggers:

Can't wait to see what happens with this blogger tagging thingey !

Design and Architecture of Frank Gehry's IAC building in NYC

2009-01-30T11:16:00.021-05:00

My hubby works in the IAC building located at Chelsea, New York City. This December, I had been to his company's holiday party that took place in the building's lobby. After a couple of glasses of alcohol and socializing with his colleagues, I decided to venture out and check the design and architecture of this unique building.

The IAC (InterActiveCorp) building was built and completed in 2007 by Frank Gehry, a renowned Architect who built Guggenheim in Bilbao, Spain. What distinguishes this building from the others, is the way it is shaped. Unlike other office buildings, IAC is not based on a rectangular geometric skeletal structure. When viewed from the North, the building looks like a glowing Yacht sailing towards the Hudson River. The Motif of "Yacht" was Barry Diller's idea. (The CEO of IAC)

The building is entirely made of glass. The White exterior is achieved by using custom designed frits.

According to an article published in Guardian News:

"Frits are small white enamel dots that are silk-screened onto the glass below waist-height and above head-height, leaving an eye-level band of clear glass for untrammelled views"

Building at Night. Looks like a huge glowing "A line" pleated skirt to me.

Building Interiors:

The Lobby: I love the curvilinear seating. The video walls on the left are supposedly the largest in the world.

The Cubicles

The cubicles were custom built and allow the light to pass through each and every work station. The nine-color palette blends warm and cool hues.

Finally, the Restrooms

Love this Bathroom. So colorful.

Some critics claim that Frank Gehry's IAC Project is no where comparable to his earlier accomplishments such as the Guggenheim in Spain, and the Walt Disney Concert Hall in Disney, LA.

I do agree with their stance, but at the same time, I also feel that Gehry has done a phenomenal job considering that this is an "Office building" and he had to abide by his Client's viewpoint.

Any comments? Are you a big fan of Frank Gehry? If so, how do you think he could have changed the construction & design of this building?