A Splash of Color- Its Holi!

By now I'm sure you've guessed that I love everything that's contemporary and modern. And very often a lot of contemporary spaces tend to use a lot of neutrals- whites, beiges and greys. But there can also be splashes of color! 

What I love most about contemporary design is that it is an incredible blank canvas for adding stuff as you grow into a space, be it a vintage pendant lamp or an antique chest of drawers or a bright color on a wall or two.

So in the spirit of Holi (which was yesterday) I thought I'd do a post that celebrates color in contemporary spaces. Enjoy!

Love this azure blue door... really welcomes you in

Colorful accessorizing! from Smart Home Architecture

Some more colorful accessorizing 

Interesting and colorful art and accessories 

Love the funky upholstery on this antique chair - image from Home Bunch

Image from Home Bunch

Love the way this lime green couch and rug compliment the

 white walls and the interesting artwork- image from The Design Files

White, grey and black is such a classic combination and the 

splashes of bright red in the artwork and accessories make this 

space so interesting- image from AD, India

[I have credited wherever possible. If I've missed you out, please drop me a line and I'll be happy to add it in]

Tribute to Ludwig Mies Van Der Rohe

Tomorrow, March 27th, is Ludwig Mies Van Der Rohe’s 127th birthday. He trained as a master stonemason under his father, and never formally studied architecture, but went on to become one of the most influential architects and designers of the modern era. He also coined the phrase, “Less is more”, a mantra for so many architects and designers the world over. As a tribute, I wanted to share some of his most famous works with you.

Barcelona-Pavilion-1929

Neue Nationalgalerie, Berlin

Illinois Institute of Technology's College of Architecture

Martin Luther King Library

Farnsworth House

Barcelona Chair & Stool

Barcelona Day Bed

Shalini Ganguli's Fabulous Lounge Area

So here goes guys, as promised, the first of many more to come in the brand new My Space, My Style Section of All Things Nice. I can't tell you how excited I am about this!

This amazing space belongs to fellow blogger Shalini Ganguli of Done The Shalini Way. The main feature of this lounge area is the wall of frames or as Shalini likes to call it, her "wall of fame". Totally dig the way these simple and elegant white frames, having black and white images of iconic figures in entertainment, complement the grey sofa and those black and white striped cushions. Really cool idea!

[Images courtesy - Shalini Ganguli]

My Picks

The black and white striped rug... I think it adds a great Art Deco feel that really lends a sense of class and style to the room.

The extra large floor cushions.

The touches of pastel pinks in the cushions- they are a brilliant foil to all the black and white and shades of grey.

So that's a wrap of the first installment of My Space, My Style. Would love to know that you think of Shalini's space and I hope you will check out her cool blog Done The Shalini Way.

Please keep mailing in images of your spaces to allthingsnice.shalinipereira@gmail.com  and remember, they need to be fabulous! That's the only condition :)

The Beaumount House

The other day I was scouring Pinterest, since I had some time on my hands, and I came across this house that just seemed to pop out of the screen of my laptop, because of the way it uses one of my favorite materials- exposed concrete! The first image that I saw of this house was of its double height living room, and it was love at first site- I had to take a closer look. 

Located in a mixed use neighbourhood in Canada, The Beaumount House is designed by Henri Cleinge. To be honest, while I thought the exterior design of the house was ok, I was not 'wowed' by it. But the interiors are a whole other story. Bathed in shafts of filtered sunlight, that seem to dance across the stately exposed concrete walls and polished concrete floors, the interiors of this house are a dream!

The house subtly explores the play of volumes from within and the beautiful relationship that wood and concrete can have when used with balance and sensitivity. I simply love the interplay between, the softness of the simple walnut cabinetry and cedar ceilings, and the hard austereness of uncompromising concrete.

Take a look! 

[All images- I Like Architecture]

Bookshelves for all those books!

“Reading is the sole means by which we slip, involuntarily, often helplessly, into another’s skin, another’s voice, another’s soul.” 

– Joyce Carol Oates

I have to confess that as a little girl I hated to read and no amount of cajoling by my parents could get me to read a book! But one day, when I was about 8, I picked up a book, all on my own, probably out of sheer boredom, and started reading it and I never looked back. Today, reading is my escape, my way of unwinding and a means to inspire myself- give me a good book and a good cuppa tea and I’m happy!

To be honest, I am a self confessed book addict. I can’t stop myself from buying them. Our book collection at home is slowly out growing the space on our bookshelves- which leads me to realize that in our new place (we’ve recently bought a new home which is under construction) we will need lots and lots of bookshelves! Wall to wall bookshelves, piled high with my books and little knick knacks that I have collected over the years. I have even started collecting images to inspire me once I start working on the interiors of our new place.

Here are a few of them. Tell me what you think!

Color coordinated books!

Bright and airy with a casual sophistication

Colorful grid of shelves

Eclectic clutter

Tropical inspired

Retro charm

Books can always brighten up a dull passage!

Make a loft or mezzanine into a reading space... love it!

[I have credited wherever possible. If I've missed you out, please drop me a line and I'll be happy to add it in]

Pioneering Women In Design

Today being Women's Day, I started thinking about the women who were and are pioneers and trail blazers in the field of design, be it architecture, interiors, furniture or fashion design. Since I'm always looking for an excuse for a list, I got right down to it. Design has always been and still is, to an extent, a very male dominated industry and these strong women, with equally strong determination, have forged the way ahead. I think their spirit of adventure and irreverence continue to make it a little easier for the rest of us women in design!

Eileen Gray

Irish architect and designer, Eileen Gray, was an important but often overlooked contributor to the modernist movement. Although overshadowed by Le Corbusier and her male counterparts during much of her career, she is credited as being a pioneer for women in the field of architecture and furniture design, inspiring several Art Deco and Bauhaus architects and designers. Her adjustable-height side table is an icon of 1920s design. Today she is considered one of the most influential modern designers.

Ray Eames 

Ray Eames was an American artist, designer, and filmmaker who, together with her husband Charles, formed the team of Charles and Ray Eames. Together, they are credited with several classic, iconic designs of the 20th century in the field of architecture and furniture design.

Coco Chanel

French fashion designer and founder of the Chanel brand, Coco Chanel was the only fashion designer to appear on Time magazine's list of the 100 most influential people of the 20th century. Famous for the ‘little black dress’, she, along with Paul Poiret, is credited with popularizing sportive, casual chic as the feminine standard in the post-World War I era. She is a pioneer of women’s fashion as well as a pioneer for women in the design industry.

Gae Aulenti

She was the Italian architect of the Musée d'Orsay in Paris and a prolific furniture, lighting and set designer, Aulenti was one of the few women working in architecture and design in postwar Italy.  She is credited for designing showrooms for Fiat and Olivetti as well as sets for La Scala, the opera house in Milan.

Zaha Hadid

The first woman architect who ever won the Pritzker Architecture prize- the Nobel Peace Prize of Architecture, British-Iraqi architect is considered one of the most famous female architects today. Some of her well known projects include the Phaeno Science Center in Wolfsburg , MAXXI: National Museum of 21st Century Art in Rome and the BMW Central Building in Leipzig.

My Space, My Style on All Things Nice

So guys I’m sort of tired of going on and on about things I like and what I like about them, and so instead, I would love to see what turns you on when it comes to design and decor. So I want to introduce something which I call...

My Style, My Space- a way you guys can share your sense of style with each other.

I’ve been toying with this idea for sometime now, but have been terrified that I wouldn’t get any responses and would end up looking really stupid! But an email from fellow blogger, Shalini Ganguli of Done The Shalini Way, gave me the final push to go ahead with it.

So I'm inviting all of you who are totally obsessed with style and decor to join in! All the details are below. I’m keeping my fingers crossed for a great response!

My Space, My Style

Step 1: Click an image or two of a space in your home that you love- it can be a living or dining room, a bedroom or a study.

Step 2: Email me the images along with some text that includes your thoughts behind the space and any other important details

There are no conditions except that the space needs to be designed or styled by you and it needs to be fabulous! Who knows your spaces may be showcased in All Things Nice!

One warning though- this is not a competition so if you’re doing this in the hope of a goody bag coming your way, you’ll be disappointed. 

But, this is a great way to turn the spotlight on your individual style and a great way for all of us to get to know each other better and share ideas. So come on, get clicking and send in those images!

Cher's Indian Inspired LA Home

I fell upon this article, featuring Cher’s LA home, on the Architectural Digest website while trolling the net for inspiration during a recent bout of designer’s block. 

When I think of Cher, I think of Gothic extravagance, a lot of black, deep scarlet and purples- a lot of over-the-top craziness. So I was rather surprised to see her beautiful home designed by interior designer Martyn Lawrence-Bullard. 

Cher’s brief, in her own words, were “something ethnic, spicy and romantic” and Martyn delivers exactly that, but in muted tones of creams, ivories, whites and buttery beiges.

This apartment really does have an Indian flavor, but with an underlying sense of contemporary finesse. There is a sense of extravagance, but it is so well balanced by the neutral color palette. 

Enjoy!

My picks...

The center table in the living room whose design is inspired from the humble Indian charpoy or manjaa

The antique platform bed framed by an ornately carved wall paneling that hold large mirrors within its fluted arches.

Cher’s bathroom, with its stone tub that sits proudly in the center of the room, is one that even Cleopatra would be proud of.

[All images courtesy Architectural Digest]