The Colors of the Monsoon

I have been very irregular with my posts lately. I have a good reason, but I need to get back to blogging regularly. I miss it so! Today I've managed to squeeze out some time- Adhi is napping, all is quiet and I can hear myself think! Today I post on decor. Much, much over due, I know! What can I say. Time is now a precious commodity that is in very short supply for me now that my dd is on the scene and blogging has become near impossible. Just the other day I was trying to get some drawings done for a deadline I had the next day. The dd just had to climb up on my lap and 'supervise' what I was doing. I turned my head for like two seconds and she had somehow managed to delete an entire cadd drawing!

Having a toddler who seems quite determined to 'understand the workings of a camera', figure out death defying ways to climb onto the couch when no one is looking and, one who waits for a chance for the fridge door to open so she can pull stuff out, means our house looks very different to what it did a few months ago. And working on nice little vignettes of the apartment is practically impossible! I have a term for it- Life before Adhi :) Don't get me wrong, I love my dd, but an angel she is NOT! But I do miss being able to create cute little corners of prettiness and then spend a few hours taking pictures. Most of all, I miss sharing my ideas with you guys!

But, as luck would have it, I was looking through old pictures and realised I have a stash of images which I had shot for a magazine a few months ago. It was supposed to be for a Spring issue, got delayed to a Monsoon issue, and then never really happened for some reason or the other. So now I can just share these images with you. I hope you like! I do think this set is so in keeping with the weather we've been having the last few days. I hope they remind you of the rain and the cool breeze that comes with it, and the smell of wet earth that is heavenly and sweet. Enjoy!

More soon, I hope :)

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

Inspirations for Adhi's Room

Now that Adhi has entered our lives, we are slowly trying to make her room into a happy, colorful and fun place. I was really inspired by these pictures and got some ideas about what to do in Adhi's room. I came across the West Village Apartment of Ariane Goldman and her family on Cup of Jo and just loved the way this designer has done up her daughter's bedroom. 

Don't you just love this bed. I'm sure Adhi would, when she's bigger. 

Right now she loves leaping onto pillows and cushions and 

reminds me of a little frog.

Now this is something I'm definitely going to fix up in Adhi's 

room as soon as she is older

Love the idea of a 'can do' list that kids can maintain. What fun it 

would be to give yourself a star each time you reach a new milestone

I'm going to be on the lookout for some nice, big wicker baskets 

for her all her toys

[All images from Cup of Jo]

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.

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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]

Some End of Week Prettiness

I've had just about enough of the horrible weather we have been experiencing here in Gurgaon. So I'm off to Goa tomorrow. I plan to lie on the beach all day, listen to lots of  Bob Marley, sip ice cold Kingfisher beer and hog friend fish and prawn curry :) Jealous?

But before I head off, and since it's almost the end of the week (more like wishful thinking), let's have some prettiness on the blog. I can never get enough of pretty pictures, can you? These are a few I stumbled upon, more bookshelf love, some consoles and some spaces that I adore . 

Enjoy my lovelies... 

My love of wall to wall bookshelves continues...

And I can never get enough of consoles...

A healthy dose of Indian Inspiration...

I have one post left to do, so I will see you guys tomorrow and then it's adios! from me...

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Artist James Powditch Creates a Home Within a Warehouse

I haven't done one of these home tours in a while. Just haven't come across anything that floored me until this. I stumbled upon the lovely home of artist James Powditch, created, as only an artist can, and my jaw dropped in wonderment. Only an artist can create a space as eclectic and visually stunning as this. He has set up his distinctive home almost entirely within the footprint of a 320 square metre warehouse. 

What do I love about this home? EVERYTHING! From the concrete walls and floors, the paint stained wooden floor boards, the eclectic mix of mid-century modern, vintage and contemporary furniture, to the way the light floods into the space from the large door that opens into a courtyard. The cherry on the cake is the incredible collection of artwork adorning the walls! The house itself has a feel of a colorful canvas that seems to have been done effortlessly in a moment of inspiration. Oh! how I wish I could curl up with a nice book on that lovely blue couch and while away a quiet afternoon... 

Hope you enjoy this as much as I have... for all the details about this beautiful and stunning home you can visit The Design Files.

[All images from The Design Files]

Our Little Green Wall of Frames- Part II

A while back I had done a post about our tiny entrance foyer which I had livened up with a splash of crisp apple green and some art work. It was, if you remember, a work in progress. There have been a few additions since then, a few colorful wooden masks that I picked up from Sri Lanka and a nice modern looking wooden ledge that I picked up from Pepperfry. 

The ledge is something that I've always wanted, mainly so I could keep a bowl there to deposit my keys (I'm always losing them, much to the exasperation of the hubs). I came across exactly what I was looking for on the Pepperfry website, was happy to see it was within my budget, and placed the order just before Diwali. It arrived after a little wait, and I excitedly got my carpenter to fix it up. 

What I like about Pepperfry is that they have quite a variety of choice in terms of styles ranging from modern and funky to colonial as well as traditional. The one I decided on was a simple, clean-lined design that seemed ideal for our rather cramped entrance. I also didn't want something too traditional looking because of those traditional brass lamps. I didn't want things becoming too ethnic. 

The ledge is the perfect addition to our green wall of frames. Finally I have a place for those keys! Ever since it was fixed up, I've been playing around with different combinations and arrangements... of course the hubs looks on, rolling his eyes and shaking his head in amusement, but even he admits that it's so much better than before:) 

Still a little more art to be added, but it's getting there :)

There's my cute little Fijian Kava or yaqona bowl in which 

I keep my keys

A wooden toy rickshaw I picked up in Sri Lanka

Tea lights and flowers add a nice welcoming touch to the entrance, 

which earlier was very unwelcoming :)

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

'Tis the Season...

Christmas is my favorite time of the year... I'm sure you've heard me say this every year :) Don't know what it is about this time of the year, but I start getting a warm, excited feeling in the pit of my stomach when the Christmas season starts. So many things to do... lists to make and things to tick off said lists :) It's a planner's dream, especially if she also happens to have a mild case of OCD :) 

The carols have started playing btw, and the house is starting to smell like Christmas because of all the sweet making:) Now if it would only start getting colder! Winter seems to have stalled in Gurgaon and that's not helping with the Christmas spirit :)

Today I started slowly setting the house in order (it's been in a bit of a mess lately)and sorting through the decorations. In the middle of putting up a few decorations, I got a little distracted :) 

Are your decorations up? Or are still waiting to be bitten by the X'Mas bug?

To get everyone in the mood for my favorite time of the year, I thought I'd trying something interesting. Starting from today, I'm going to try and post one Christmassy vignette a day on the All Things Nice Facebook page... nothing too fancy, just using stuff that's probably lying around to create a Christmas themed arrangement. If you don't want to miss any of these ideas, hop on over to the All Things Nice Facebook page, hit like and make sure the notifications are turned on... that way you you won't miss any updates :) 

More soon... 

[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]