1st Give away! What's your Fab 1?

I’m super excited as I write this post...my hands are actually shaking and I can't seem to type fast enough! 

It’s the first ever give away 
on All Things Nice! Yay! 

This month I'm running a competition on the blog. I'm hoping that you guys are going to be as excited about it as I am...

What's it all about? Well, remember the Fab Five Series that ran through December- February? You know, the one where your favorite design bloggers did guest posts on their top 5 decor must haves. Well it was a really popular series and I got a lot of positive feedback from it. And it sort of gave me the inspiration for this competition.

So after seeing all the eye candy that made up the Fab Five Series, I hope you were inspired, and now, it’s your turn! 

All you have to do is click images in the form of 2-3 vignettes of your absolute no. 1 decor must have. Make it pretty & bold and make sure it represents you! Along with these images send in a brief 2-3 sentence text describing why this decor 'must have' is something you cannot live without. 

Whichever amazing reader sends in the best, the most fabulous image, is the winner! It’s that simple. So get your creative juices flowing, pull out your cameras and start clicking.

Here is the reward... a beautiful blue 'Lotus Tray'

This beautiful decoupage tray is designed & handmade by Molly, the brain behind Delhi based Design5 Studio, who is sponsoring this give away. I think it would absolutely wonderful on a dresser or a coffee table...

This small, boutique style design studio specializes in making handmade wooden decoupage home decor products, under the label Design5. Molly takes items that others may consider to be junk and creates products that she considers 'whimsical and fun.' In Molly’s own words, “My designed products reflect my belief that a good design touches you, tickles you and at times, hopefully, even leaves you amazed.” All of Design5’s products are handmade by Molly herself! So every piece is unique and made with great care. You can find out more about Molly & her label Design5 here. 

Please send in all your images by 31^st March. I will be announcing the winner by 15^th April. Get clicking guys!

Email me  your images and text to allthingsnice.shalinipereira@gmail.com.  The winner and their image will also be featured on All Things Nice!

Design Bloggers Fab 5- Installment V

I'm sure this post is going to brighten up everyone's day... Today the very talented Sruthi Singh of The East Coast Desi shares her Fab 5 list with us. Sruthi has shared some lovely images of her home with us and I'm sure we are all going to be inspired by her vision, as well as her thought process when styling her home. Hope you enjoy!

ACCESSORIES THAT TALK: Accessorizing a home should be more than just selecting a piece from the gamut of common catalog offerings. Personally an accessory to be able to make the cut, has to either talk TO ME or talk ABOUT ME. Every piece I own is surrounded by a veritable tale of passion, travel or cherished memories. One look at my place and you'll know I'm proud of my Indian roots, love travelling and simply adore the heirloom pieces that I've been lucky enough to inherit and make it a part of my daily life. 

TEXTURAL DIALOGUE: The tactile quality of textures tend to bring with them a sense of depth and dimension to a space. Incorporating tarnished and burnished surfaces of aged metals, patina of weathered wood or the replicating pattern of woven textiles and rugs only work together to create a refuge that's warm and inviting. 

VIBRANT PATTERN PLAY: Patterns in bold and vibrant colors are a must have. Coming from India there are so many textiles and patterns to experiment with. I prefer to have bigger pieces of furniture in neutral shades and spruce them up with pillows, throws or bedding in bright hues. It's the quickest and an inexpensive way to give a room a fresh look for every season.

 NATURAL ELEMENTS: Bringing in natural elements to play is important to me. From tucking in the branches of yellow ocher leaves or stalks of flowers in a vase, arranging fruits in a woven basket or adding a potted plant to a vignette, it's all about making an effort to bring the organic and natural quality indoors too. 

  

FOLLOW YOUR HEART, NOT THE TRENDS: Your home is your haven where you retire every single day with the assurance that you are nurtured, rejuvenated and discover and reflect on what’s really important. To be able to possess this quality, comfort and function is priority. But remember to integrate your individual style and sprinkle it with generous doses of your personality even if it does not fit a style or a trend. Let your heart dictate your home and not the trends for, “Home is where the heart is."

I want to thank Sruthi for her contribution to Fab 5. Loved these images and love the calming quality of her home. I particularly like the way she has created a home that is contemporary, but still maintains a very Indian feel. Her juxtaposition of Indian craft and artifacts with modern elements is so inspiring.

Images:Clicked by Sruthi Singh. Please do not use without prior written permission. Images are the property of Sruthi Singh and subject to copyright.

Design Bloggers Fab 5- Installment IV

What a hectic few days the past week has been. I've been working on designing a house in Baroda and have been slaving away working on the 3-d model. Issues with my back, which is still not 100%, made sitting up and working for long periods more difficult. The hubby has also been busy with work, in fact I've barely seen him this week. But thankfully the weekend is almost here I'm looking forward to a nice relaxing one (fingers & toes crossed).

Seeing as its Friday and I thought today would be the perfect day for this post... hopefully it will give us all some inspiration and we can while away the weekend dreaming about all the stuff we want to do for our own places. I was actually supper super happy when Anu Varma of My Dream Canvas agreed to be part of the Design Bloggers Fab 5 series on All Things Nice. I love visiting her blog and enjoy her posts immensely. So let me stop going on and on and let Anu tell you in her own words about her Fab 5.

When Shalini invited me to her lovely blog to participate in the Blogger's Fab Five , I thought in my head that It should not be a problem :)  However, when I got down to it, I realized that  I really don't have the perfect 5 answers :) I shall try in this post to  explain what  "home" is for me  and the things that inspire me!

My Roots : This is perhaps the single most important element in my home. Decorating my home has been an emotional journey. Moving thousands of miles away from home was hard. I slowly nurtured the idea of making my new home feel like the place where I grew up.  Maybe it is my way of trying to reduce the physical distance between me and my roots. My home has my stamp on it and yet I am delighted to have a piece of my childhood with me :-) I feel happy, safe and secure with things around me that have meaning for my family.  

Flowers : they add instant cheer, charm and happiness to any space. For me it is not about a bouquet of flowers but just a few stems here and there make me smile :)

Textiles : I have a weakness for textiles from around the world. I love the colors and textures and enjoy changing my cushions :) While one can't make big changes around the house. Changing pillows and cushions can change your decor instantly without it being a major expense!

I know I have cheated and missed out on two more elements. Instead I wish to share a few thoughts about home, decor and design. So please do humor me :)  Modern, Eclectic, Traditional, Global, Contemporary are all tags given to different design styles and perhaps our homes. However, in my opinion authenticity is the most treasured tag. Appreciate the beauty around you but be the person you naturally are. Find the beauty and the desire to create within "YOU".

I feel a sense of happiness and belonging when I step into my home and I wish the same for you :-)

As part of the My Dream Canvas journey I have also created a little online store. Whenever, I get the chance, I go treasure hunting........ whether I'm halfway around the world or just around the corner from home :) I love a good find........ and thus began the Shop at My Dream Canvas. The shop hosts a collection of unique home decor items handpicked by me for you. I would love for you to drop by :)

Thank you Shalini !

I want to say a very big thank you to Anu for her amazing images that have an almost dream-like quality about them. I feel inspired, and I'm sure that all of you guys are will be as well.

If you've missed the earlier installments of Fab 5 you can catch up on what you've missed here, here and here. And stay tuned next week because Fab 5 will be back with Sruthi Singh of East Coast Desi.

Have a great weekend everyone!

Design Blogger's Fab Five for the Home- Installment III

After a very long break, I'm back with the 3rd installment of Design Blogger's Fab Five. Today we are getting a peek into the lovely home of Dr Lakshmi Arvind of Celebrations Decor. 

I love Lakshmi’s guest post for this installment of Design Blogger’s Fab Five. Not only because her images are so amazing, but because she has gone about thinking about her home in a very different way. Her Fab Five list is very abstract, in fact its more about the 5 fundamental ideas around which she has moulded her home. Although abstract, you can feel a clarity of thought when you see her ideas in the form of images and I’m sure they will inspire you in decorating your homes!

Enjoy!

 Refreshing colors add a touch of warmth and liveliness to any space and reflect your personality. I love rustic colors because they give me a sense of tranquillity and security.

 I believe in keeping it simple and I love a home that is uncomplicated. One can derive a sense of clarity and peace.

Connections with the past that add a sense of grace, charm and comfort and for me, form a big part of my design psyche.

The texture of different elements like wood, metal, cane as well as fabrics add a sense of depth and interest to a space.

 Elements of nature could be anything from dried pods and leaves in a bowl to fresh flowers to floating bougainvilleas.

Thanks Lakshmi for sharing your thoughts and for the divine images!

Design Blogger's Fab Five for the Home - Installment II

I promised you more soon, and here it is! The 2nd installment of the new series, Design Blogger's Fab Five, on All Things Nice. I have another treat for you today with Deepa, one half of the amazing duo that are behind another one of my favorite blogs, Aalayam. Today Deepa is sharing her top five must have things in her home(in this case six, since she cheated and managed to sneak in an extra one).  

I'll let Deepa elaborate in her own words...Enjoy!

And I mean the right kind! Lighting can truly make or break a room. I am a huge sucker for soft, diffuse lighting that sets the perfect stage for soulful music and quiet conversations. Subtlety breeds coziness. Nothing compares to the timeless appeal of the warm glow of a well-lit room!

Our home is bathed in many vivid shades and we like to believe that’s what makes our home unforgettable! We were not always committed to color but now it’s a décor must -have. It is an easy and affordable way to breathe life into what you already own. A few brush strokes and a painted wall can do wonders to a room and one’s mood and so we have colored it crazy!

My little one’s first teddy bear, a variegated pen stand made by an artisan in   Chennapatna – little accessories of colossal emotional worth are sprinkled throughout our home for a personalized connotation. 

Nothing is more pertinent than artwork when it comes to adding the finishing touches to home décor. Our collection has been creatively curated over many years. Friends who are aware of our love for art have contributed treasured pieces to our assemblage and we cherish these one-of-a kind handmade pieces profoundly.

And I am talking furniture! You can never go wrong by investing in furniture pieces that are enduring, functionally sound and aesthetically appealing.

We live by this tenet. We often share our home with friends and family and strive to create a memorable experience through a harmonious medley of ingredients –food, flowers, music, lights but fundamentally through love and laughter!

I want to say a huge thanks to Deepa for agreeing to be a part of this series- for sharing her thoughts and for the totally fab visual inspiration! THANK YOU!!!

[All Images courtesy Deepa & Aalayam]

Design Blogger's Fab Five for the Home - Installment I

If you're anything like me, then your mind is always buzzing with decor ideas. You know, stuff you want to do to your home & how you can make it your personal stamp. And for inspiration I'm sure we all go through dozens of magazines, websites and decor blogs (some that we follow almost religiously) in an insatiable search for more and more eye candy- more ideas for the home. All the while we make mental notes, lists of things we want for our homes- you know lists of 'must haves'.  

Well I thought why not find out about some of our favorite decor bloggers 'must have' items- about the things that they love obsessively and absolutely cannot do without in their homes. So throughout out December I'm going to be doing a series called Design Blogger's Fab Five, which is going to give you a glimpse into the top Five things that some of the best just can't do without.

I am super excited to be kicking off this series with a guest post by one of the best bloggers out there... the lovely and totally amazing Bhavna Bhatnagar of An Indian Summer. Here's her Fab Five, and her thoughts behind them...

I love making lists. And if the list has to do with one of my favourite areas – home and décor, well, this was a fun list to put together. So here are the five things that I cannot do without at my home:

I like to think of myself as a sunflower. Not because of any other reason, but because I tend to move wherever the sun is. Our home gets brilliant sunlight through the large french windows and a skylight on top. I love the play of light within the home, in different seasons.

Nothing lifts up a room more than some bunches of fresh flowers! I am not too fond of prissy flower arrangements; I like my flowers wild, and fragrant.

Our home reflects our interest and our travels. Whether it’s the art, or little knick knacks, or tableware – I love to display the things which have a memory or a little attached to it.

And more books! Each nook and corner and table and shelf of our home has books. I de-clutter my home as each season turns, but find it hard to give away even one of the books.

My personal favourite décor accessory and/or spoiler, fuzz ball and/or arm scratcher, personal cuteoverload and/or personal madness in house – whichever way you look at, a pet (for me a cat) is the best ‘thing’ to have in a home, after your family :)

Thank you Bhavna for letting me rope you into being a part of this series- for sharing your thoughts and for the absolutely amazing images that are so inspiring! 

[All images- Bhavna Bhatnagar]