Some Gorgeous Contemporary Lamps

I've realised that I haven't done one of my 'lists' in quite some time and whiling trying to decide the subject matter for said list, I noticed that I've been doing a lot of pinning of pendant lights on Pinterest lately. So I guess a list of my favorite pendant lights it is! Aside from the obvious mood lighting that they provide, a well designed pendant light is a fabulous way to inject a certain style and character in a home. And there are some great designs out there in different styles and materials- basically something for everybody :)

Most of these are beautiful contemporary designs that are closer to the minimal style, but one or two are a little retro/vintage/industrial. A beautifully designed lamp can have such an impact on a space and I love that designers are really experimenting with the materials they are using in their creations.

Hope you like my list. It's not in any order...

1. I love, love, LOVE these hand-blown glass lamps by Niche Modern Lighting. This particular design have such a sensuous feel and their exposed filaments give them a very modern, timeless appeal. These would look stunning as a group over a huge, linear dining table. Definitely on my 'Someday Maybe' list. For me, this lamp is probably a close second behind the And Pendant lamp (see 8), although the Dan Yeffet lamp (see 5) is very close too!

2. Now these organically shaped wooden lamps by Caroll Street Woodworkers, a Toronto based studio. I think they would look so awesome in a minimal interior, you know, white walls, black slate floors and these lamps along with a very modern credenza and maybe an oversized framed B&W photograph? hmm...

3. I think these lamps by Heer Mandel are quirky, contemporary and very interesting. The geometric wooden frame houses the bulb within. Love the simplicity of the design.  I picture these lamps above a light wood table and against a background of white, exposed brick walls. 

4. These lamps by Lambert & Fils Studio are another one of my favorites. They are contemporary and very sophisticated and so simple. 

5.  This beautifully crafted piece is from Dan Yeffet for French company, Collection Particuliere. The lamp is made from marble and brass. I can just imagine a row of these beauties above a dining table. The perfect addition to a contemporary home.

6. Etch Shade Brass lamp by Tom Dixon is a contemporary lamp inspired by geodesic structures. A cluster of these in a grand staircase area would look pretty awesome I think! This is the perfect lamp to add a touch of opulence and luxury while still keeping it modern.

7. The Coco Pendant is a handcrafted lamp made from turned Victorian ash timber and powdercoated spun aluminium shade. The contrast between the wood and the powdercoated aluminum shade is so subtle and I love the lamp's sensual shape. 

8.  The last lamp on my list is my absolute favorite! It's called the And Pendant Light by Bentu Design. I love this lamp because of its minimal simplicity and because I love all things concrete :) It's a study in how two contrasting materials like bamboo and concrete can look so incredible when used together. Another one that is right on top of my 'Someday maybe' list :) 

Hope you enjoyed this list guys. Have a great weekend! For any of you in Delhi, NCR who are always looking out for great finds for your home, drop into the Windmill Design Festival at Ayanagar Village, Delhi. I not going to miss it :) More details here.

[1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8]

India Design ID 2015 Round Up

The Last last two weeks have been a dream for those of us who love art, design and culture. First the India Art Fair, followed by the India Design ID and its satellite events and then the I Haat Delhi festival over the weekend. As you can imagine, it was quite an eventful week!

A lot of crazy deadlines meant that I couldn't attend any of the satellite events I had planned to during Design ID week. I did however manage to squeeze out a day to attend the Exhibition and Symposium on Friday. Big shout out to Vani Ganesh of Perfect Relations, who arranged a pass for me for the symposium. BV Doshi was to attend and speak on the day I went, but sadly he cancelled last minute :(

ID Symposium

The main Exhibition Pavilion included a lot of established names like Valaya Home, Casa Pop by Raseel Gujral, Sarita Handa, Apartment 9 and The Charcoal Project. This exhibition area focused mostly on decor and home styling, while the Design Pavilion focused on Indian Designers & Design and included names like Neeru Kumar, Godrej Design Lab, ThePurpleTurtles and EDIDA 2014 winners. 

Some of the stalls and booths were beautifully set up and I have included images of these. Others, I felt tried to crowd too much in and it was impossible to navigate through. One big issue I had was that a few design booths and stalls didn't allow visitors to take photographs. Come on guys, we are giving you free promotion! Besides that, if having your designs copied is an issue, take a leaf out of Coco Chanel's philosophy. For her, copying was the greatest compliment you could give her besides the free publicity. Besides, she had the confidence in her product to know that even if it was copied, it would never be the same as the real thing. And if having your products photographed is still such an issue, please put up a sign stating very clearly that photography of your stall is not permitted! I saw a lot of visitors and students trying to take pictures only to be scolded. I believe this platform is one based on the idea of promoting design and sharing ideas and this attitude is the very antithesis of that idea.

This was the set up by Krea and I absolutely love their contemporary furniture that has a mid-century modern feel. They have some beautifully designed chairs and benches- a couple of pieces that have gone on my 'someday maybe' list :) Their flagship store is in Sultanpur, on MG Road and I am planning a visit soon.

I totally fell for this black wall of distressed antique frames. Cool how they work so well together in spite being different shapes, sizes and shades. Something to ponder on maybe? 

Cute and eclectic as always, Nur's display was fun, playful and very whimsical, which pretty much sums up their range of products. I liked their colorful rugs and doormats and their quirky cushion covers.

Saw these cute and colorful seats, part of the Retyrement Plan range of occasional furniture by Anu Tandon Viera for Godrej Design Lab. They are made from discarded tyres and colorful ropes. That pouffe/table is so going on my wishlist :)

The AKFD design booth was another set up that I loved. The minimal grey backdrop was the perfect foil for their contemporary designs that offer a fresh take on traditional Indian crafts. My favorites were their Lamp designs. 

The Neeru Kumar design booth has some truly beautiful textiles for the home ranging from cushion covers and rugs to framed wall hangings. It was delightful speaking with Neeru, a pioneer who has made a huge impact on the Indian Textile scene. 

Look who I bumped into! My senior from IED, Hardik Gandhi, who is the founder of DesignGandhi, India. He and his colleague, Ritika Nanda of Mother Gone Mad Design Studio displayed their works in furniture and custom lighting in this booth.

'When ideas crystallize- ThePurpleTurtles

The Trends Pavilion included installations of designers interpretations of color and color trends forecasting. There were a few interesting installations, but honestly, and at the risk of sounding very stupid, I found this pavilion the least visitor friendly. This is why... 

When I visited, all I saw were various installations where it was obvious a certain color or set of colors were being used. However, I think to properly explain this to visitors, there needs to be a few people at each installation who are knowledgeable about color and can explain these trends to the visitors. 

Secondly I think it would be nice to also have a few color themed collage-like displays (moodboards?), kind of like the ones you see in decor magazines. I think this is also a really great method of conveying color and colors that are trending. 

This is just my own little opinion, and I'm the first to admit I'm no expert here.

Finally, the outdoors spaces also had various installations by designers like Martand khosla, Mukul Goyal and Alex Davis. Now here is where I was a little disappointed. I really felt like the outdoor spaces should have been utilised more. What I would love to see more of are bigger and bolder installations that have a sense of scale. Things like an installation that could also be a kids play area- where art and design meet the built environment. Otherwise it's just art for arts sake.

This installation was along the lines of what I was hoping for. Visitors could go in and experience it as well as its relation to the surroundings. But it was very small in terms of scale. 

This on the other hand was more of an arty sculpture, and while I liked it, and it was certainly interesting, I think it may have been more relevant in an art fair.

There were a number of F&B stalls as well, from Guppy by ai to Dunkin Donuts, Elma's brasserie and Coast Cafe, to name just a few. I really hope that next year (keeping in mind the lovely weather we have in February) more of the F&B stalls are outside. I love the idea of an outdoor food courtyard, a place where maybe kids can run around and people can chat. It would also give the food stalls more space for seating, something that became a bit of an issue during peak lunch hours at the Design ID. 

An incredibly refreshing raspberry soda from SodaBottleOpenerWala... 

all it needed was some vodka :)

Loved these chili tuna rolls from Guppy by ai, the tuna was fresh, the rolls were crispy on the outside and bursting with flavour. I wasn't too impressed with their chicken curry with sticky rice though.

An interesting installation in the F&B area of the Exhibition pavilion

This was the third installation of India Design ID but the first time I attended. I spent most of the day there, dividing my time between the Symposium and the Exhibition spaces, with a break for a delicious lunch which I enjoyed at the Guppy by Ai & SodaBottleOpenerWala stall. It was a great day that was enlightening and informative. The India Design ID is a great  way for designers and design enthusiasts to source  products for the  home and it is also an amazing way to interact with design icons and experts in the field.  The  events were very well  organised and  the exhibition  areas well  laid out. I'm looking forward to next years event.

[All images by Shalini Pereira. Please do not use without prior written permission]

India's Definitive Design Week is Almost Here

OK, so... we’ve had our fill of art, with the India Art Fair, an incredible 3 day event which ended last Sunday. Now it’s time to get our quota of design! The India Design ID 2015, India's most definitive design week, is just around the corner. It's scheduled to kick off from Feb 9^th and is a weeklong celebration of all things design, covering Architecture, Interiors, Product Design and more.  

The India Design ID has 3 main parts- Firstly, the exhibition, which starts next weekend, 13^th - 15^th Feb, which will involve, the exhibit areas where visitors can view the finest in home decoration and design. Secondly, the symposium, which will involve discussions and lectures by eminent designers. The third aspect of the India Design ID are the satellite events which involve events across the design districts of Delhi, areas known for their ‘hip’ design vibe.

All in all, this event is going to be a dream for all of us who love design and are interested in a dialogue and discussion on design, where it is and where it’s going. If you are planning to attend, you can find all the details on the India Design ID website.

I am going to be there, with an eyes open and ears to the ground to get a scoop on the latest trends and the latest happenings in the design world… hope I see you there! 

Oh and if this wasn't enough, the I Haat Delhi festival is also taking place on 14th & 15th Feb at the Garden of Five Senses. It's a festival that is bringing together Delhi's food, markets, music and art like and it sounds like a blast! 

3 Magical Days at Vivenda Dos Palhacos, Goa

There are some places where you go on holiday and you end up never wanting to leave! Vivenda Dos Palhacos, a quirky boutique hotel in the South of Goa (Majorda to be exact), was just this sort of place. A group of all school friends planned a reunion of sorts over the long weekend and this lovely hotel/B&B provided us with the perfect setting to catch up, unwind and reminisce about the good old days :) 

The hotel itself consists of a beautifully restored one hundred year old Portuguese Mansion and an old house with rammed earth walls (which have now been made into the main house) and a few old outhouses. The setting is a typical Goan village and it's quite an interesting feeling waking up to cocks crowing and also hearing the village church bells ringing in the evening. The setting reminded me so much of childhood family vacations in our ancestral home, now sadly sold off. 

The property is owned by brother-sister team, Simon and Charlotte Hayward, and they are the most amazing hosts. Charlotte has travelled all over India and she was always ready to help with suggestions on the best places to visit in Goa. 

Breakfast is a communal meal and all the guests sit together and share stories about their adventures and experience. This massive concrete table was where we were treated to the most amazing breakfast of fruit, cereals, fresh Goan pav, eggs, the most delicious banana pancakes and homemade preserves- I could go on and on. The staff is incredibly helpful and go out of their way to make you feel at home. My tip would be to enjoy breakfast and head out for lunch and dinner, although they do have a fixed dinner as well as an al a carte menu. If you do it eat, try their burgers and the chilli prawn salad and for dessert, their chocolate pots are to die for.

A great amount of thought and care was put into the styling of this hotel. It's Indian, but still modern and the owners tongue in cheek sense of humour is unmistakable throughout. The bar/reception is the hub of all activity and its here where you can book yourself in for a massage (done by the most amazing couple) or order yourself an evening cocktail (they do a great Gin and Tonic and Dry Martini).

If you are a bit of a romantic, a dreamer and have a quirky sense of humour, then Vivenda Dos Palhacos is for you. It's a place to go and forget about the hustle and bustle of city life and get a feel of life in a Goan Village, although quite a luxurious one. If you are however expecting 5 star luxury, sparkling clean floors and instant service, then its most definitely not. This is a sort of home away from home, and in true Goan fashion, things happen at a different pace. I absolutely loved my stay here. It's quite kid friendly too and is perfect for a group of friends holidaying together. A must visit in my books. 

[All images by Shalini Pereira, please do not use without prior written permission]

A Contemporary, Hip Cafe with a Rustic Soul

"Sweet dreams till sunbeams find you

Sweet dreams that leave all worries behind you

But in your dreams whatever they be

Dream a little dream of me"

Ever since I stepped into Caffe Tonino yesterday this verse from the Julie Gold song has been buzzing in my head. I think it's because I can imagine this restaurant in the morning with the gentle winter sun filtering in through the windows. An image that's as romantic and dreamy as this song. I don't know... or maybe it's because I can picture myself sitting here by myself, immersed in a book and listening to this song playing dreamily in the background...

It's rare that you get a chance to step into a restaurant that looks like one of those lovely restaurant interiors that that you wistfully look at on Pinterest. You know the ones I mean right? I end up pinning them up on boards titled 'dreamy spaces' or 'my kind of space', etc :) 

I was lucky enough yesterday, to visit the newly opened Caffe Tonino, in Connaught Place and was so blown away by the interiors. To say it was 'my kind of space' would be a complete understatement. It was almost as though someone had read my mind and created a space with so many elements that I love, from the white painted exposed brick walls, the chevron cement tiled flooring and bar, the parquet wooden floors and the vintage pendant lamps that cast a warm glow over the tables.

I was told that the interiors were conceptualised by owner Simran Sawhney. In fact it was a great pleasure talking with Simran about how she wanted to create a space for this restaurant, serving Italian cafe food with a slight continental influence. She explained that what she wanted was a hip and contemporary space, but still very rustic at heart. A space for the young Delhi crowd to chill over coffee or a drink and some good food. I think they have done a smashing job with this. 

Of course I enjoyed some great food while I was there as well and I'll be covering that in a later post that will be up soon. Till then take a look and enjoy the eye candy that is Caffe Tonino. 

[All images clicked by Shalini Pereira- Please do not use without prior written permission]

An 18th Century Villa, Lotus flowers, Heritage & History

We are back from our Sri Lankan Odyssey- 10 days, 6 towns, 3 provinces and I have to admit, by the end of it, I was sort of wanting to get back home :) But I fell in love with Sri Lanka- it's like a juxtaposition of Kerala and Goa, only much cleaner! And I have so much to share about all our experiences there, that I don't know where to start :)  

But the designer in me loves pretty things, so let me start with some eye candy- The Fort Printers Hotel, Galle. Galle fort is a 16th century Dutch fort and a beautiful example of colonial architecture. It's a living fort and a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site. It's quaint, beautiful and has made the list of 'my favourite places in the world' :) We stayed at The Fort Printers Hotel... it was love at first sight when I came across it on Agoda, and we stayed in a bunch of smaller guest houses, just so we could afford 2 nights here :) (it's a little pricey)

So often when we see a hotel on the net, the reality doesn't live up to the expectations... but in this case it surpassed them! By now you all know I love heritage architecture, and this place has been adapted so lovingly and sensitively by owners, husband and wife, Dorine and Shahzad, to create an amazing experience. See for yourself...

I really liked everything about our stay at the Fort Printers... the location, the building, the decor, the atmosphere, and the hospitality extended to guests... Owner Dorine personally takes guests around the hotel and escorts them to their rooms, all the while giving them a brief history of the hotel. She explained to us the difficulty in renovating an old building- the restrictions involved and the constant need for maintenance.

The food here is also really great. We had a lovely candlelit meal here one evening. I had the ceviche with avocado and mint and it was divine! So if you happen to visit Galle, at least drop in for a meal here. They also bake their own breads and we enjoyed these at breakfast with some delicious homemade mixed fruit jam... going to be trying to figure out the recipe... so major experiments going to be happening in the kitchen :)

The staff here is very friendly too. One evening we had a really fun chat with one of the guys who worked there. The Champions League was going on and we got down to talking about cricket. (everyone in Sri Lanka loves talking about cricket!) I mentioned that my favourite player was MSD and he excitedly told us that Dhoni is very popular in Sri Lanka... as is Virat Kholi, especially after the way he destroyed their bowling during the 2012 series :)

There are 3 buildings which make up the Fort Printers, two that adjoin one another and another across the street. The original printers building is done up in old world, colonial style, while the newer wings are very contemporary and Bawa-like in style. 

So even if you aren't staying here, visit and take a look around this lovely old building and the way it's been restored and revived :)

[All images by Shalini Pereira- please do not use without prior written permission]