Home Tour: Kapila Banerjee

I am so glad to share that
3D readers across the globe are reaching out to me to showcase their one of a kind, reflection of their own personalities, filled with memories and stunning homes on my blog Design Decor & Disha. I already have four more home tours lined up for the next two months one from Canada, one from London, one from Mumbai and one from the city I am living in. And I have decided to feature two home tours in a month. Are you excited!! Here's what I have in my bag today. Enjoy!!

Today's home tour is special because it's from my hometown Indore, where I spent my youth and formative years of life. The city built by queen Ahilya Bai Holkar is known for its architectural splendours, mouth-watering culinary delights and also known as the birth land of vocal Gharana of Indian classical music, Indore Gharana. I can talk endlessly about Indore but then we have a beautiful home to talk about today, so just sit back and relax and enjoy this home tour.

This beautiful abode is owned by Kapila and Sonal Banerjee, a couple who is equally enthusiastic about home decor as we are all here at 3D. Kapila is a multifaceted lady who not only has a keen interest in home decorating but also paints very well. Most of the paintings in her home are done by herself. Decor in this home is a beautiful collision of Indian and international cultures. Let's take a tour of this home as Kapila describes her style, talks about her passion and lot more.

Describe your home in just a few words:

Kapila: Bright, vibrant, colourful with life�s nostalgic journey till date.

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Whether it's an apartment or an independent house:

Kapila: It�s an apartment having 2 floors. 

It's area:

Kapila: Our current house is a 1900 sqft having 3 rooms and an independent terrace to ourselves.

Tell us about yourself, your family and location:

Kapila: Proud & blessed mother of twin daughters. Have lived my early childhood at Indore, back during the college days I had very passionate interest in trying my hands at interior designing which led me learning basic through the formal diploma in interior designing. While I could not pursue it as a profession but the interest continued right from the time when I did the d�cor of my parental house to my own house after marriage. Being happily married to Sonal for nearly 13 years and counting, we have been moving places due to work demands of Sonal from Indore at the start point or marriage and subsequently to Gwalior,Mumbai,and Kolkata within India before going on an overseas trip with livestock and baggage to Kenya, Africa for about 4 years. 

Though I have returned back with kids to Indore where we have our own house, Sonal continued his overseas stint and works at Yangon, Myanmar. By the way, I worked for more than a decade in various corporate organisations before taking sabbatical due to motherhood taking precedence over work. I am a strong believer of a woman being independent and yet continue to be playing multiple roles as we have been doing for years. Motherhood has given a new meaning to me and which like everyone I have always cherished. 

Both I and Sonal have always liked and cherished Indore as a city with middle-class values & vibrancy, weather and its ever changing development landscape. We shall eventually build our own house from the first brick to the d�cor and guess who shall be in command of our future project ��..

Well, no prizes for guessing, we all know it already and we love how you decorate. Tells us about your decorating style:

Kapila: Playing with colours, artefacts in both vintage & contemporary style and furniture have been the central theme of all my d�cor. I love fresh plants and flowers all around. 

I have also tried to carry reminiscence of key d�cor items from each city where I have lived since my marriage so that the d�cor also has a reflection of my journeys in life till date. 

The Buddha in the above picture is from Yangon and peacocks from Bangkok street shopping. The wooden box is from Masai Mara Kenya.

Where do you get the inspiration from:

Kapila: My biggest inspiration was in being self-creative in my parents� house and with Sonal after marriage. Our marital life started with a bare minimum, almost an empty house having just a simple mattresses. Time never stopped since then and both of us have also not stopped our common passion for house collectibles. My daughters aged 8 have also developed a taste for d�cor of their own room in specific style and a sense of appreciation for any new d�cor or changes in the house. My close friend Hemal too has also been instrumental in inspiring me in my efforts. 

Which is your favourite spot in your home and why:

Kapila: The family room where I spend most of my time with kids and my extended family. Day bed corner is the most comforting zone in the house with natural light and fresh air from the adjoining balcony.

What are your hobbies:

Kapila: Home d�cor, painting, full-time rearing of my daughters, and finally to be a hopeful small time home d�cor entrepreneur in the time ahead. 

Please give your valuable advice to d�cor enthusiast 3D readers:

Kapila: Try new things with earthenware d�cor, be updated on trends, use fresh plants and flowers and finally it�s not about the size but about the space utility. 

I loved each nook and corner of this tastefully done up home and I am inspired to make some changes in my home too. What about you dear readers, how do you find this home and which one is your favorite room/decor accessory. If you wish to see more of her home check out Kapila's Instagram feed and Pinterest account.
For more such beautiful home tours click here.

See you all soon with a blog on monsoon decor. Stay Tuned!!

P.S. All the images in this article are provided by Kapila Banerjee and subject to copyright. Please do not copy or use them without written permission from Kapila Banerjee. Thank you!

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Home Tour: Parul Chaturvedi

Delhi is known for the fact that it bridges two different worlds, 

it is a quintessential blend of historical past and effervescent present. Today's guest on my blog hails from Delhi and it goes without saying that her home is a true reflection of this beautiful city, a home that encapsulates old and new in an incredible way. Parul Chaturvedi, a multifaceted person and fauji's wife takes pride in saying that "my home is a reflection of my creativity." I met this wonderful lady virtually and with our mutual love for all things design, decor & DIY we instantly became friends. In Parul's own words, "Having married to an Army Officer, I shift cities every two years and have been staying in different types of government houses. I�ve always been very passionate about my home and interiors. Shifting houses frequently though challenging but made me more creative by experimenting at new spaces."

Let's tour this urban desi home of Parul and Manish Chaturvedi and know some wonderful tips and tricks on giving your home an urban desi feel from Parul herself. 

3D: What's your decorating style or a theme that you find yourself gravitate towards?

Parul: My decor style is Urban Desi which is an amalgamation of Modern styling with an ethnic. I keep my style simple and clutter free since I can�t change the basic structure of the house and the wall colour. I change the curtains,rugs and cushions to give a new feel to the place.

3D: You are a multi-talented lady. Please tell us something about the Ganesha painting collage that is now adorning your foyer.

Parul: I have always been a devout follower of Lord Ganesha. I am an avid collector of Lord Ganesha in all forms and he adorns all corners of my Home. I like to see him in all forms so I have painted singing and dancing Ganeshas.

3D: Where do you get the inspiration from.

Parul: My mother has been my inspiration. Right from childhood she inculcated in me and my sisters, a design sensibility and a habit of maintaining the home, be it a habit of gardening, painting or keeping the entire house decorated.

3D: You have a great sense of styling. Please share some tips with us.

Parul: My furniture is basically light as I have not invested in heavy furniture due to frequent shifting.My d�cor keeps changing though basic style remains the same, small items keep moving places. I am extremely fond of plants and maintain green space wherever possible.I truly believe that "Home is where the heart is". Your home reflects your personality.

Some tips that I follow are -

- Keep the stuff minimum and clutter free.

- Keep changing the runners, rugs, cushion covers, curtains as per the seasons and festivals to maintain the freshness.

- Keep changing coffee table decor and corners/pockets of your home to give a new look. 

- Maintain greenery by keeping indoor plants. Fresh flowers are essential, they give an immediate face-lift to your home. 

- Go in for monthly cleaning. Buy only what you can maintain.

3D: Paintings in your home are quite pleasing to the senses. How do you select them and is there any particular destination from where you get most of your delightful home accents.

Parul: There is no particular shop or place that I can mention here. Since I am a fauji's wife, we live a transient life. I keep collecting things from different parts of the country which I feel will gel well in my home decor. My d�cor pieces are the collection of various places we have stayed/visited across the country. I like traditional items with modern furnishings to keep the balance. 

3D: Which is the favorite corner of your home where you love to hang out?

Parul: The balcony is my favorite corner. My hubby refers to it as our own private "Lovers Point", where we enjoy our daily morning tea as it makes us feel close to mother nature.

Now who wouldn't love to have daily morning tea with better half that too in a personal and such beautiful lovers point!!

3D: You have a cornucopia of artifacts. Be it brass, wood, silver or crystal, you have them all. What do you keep in mind when you pick them, bring them home and give them a place where they look the most enticing.

Parul: Mix and match is my decor style. I am a compulsive buyer and whenever I travel I am on the lookout for the traditional handicraft from that place which is eye catching. At times, I buy things first and then figure out where to place them in my home.

I have an obsession for metal, especially brass.

Take a look at her astonishing collection of brass......

an impressive collection of wooden figurines...

a breathtaking collection of crystal artifacts...

and stunning collection of glassware!! 

3D: We loved having you here on 3D. Do you have something to say to my dear readers.

Parul: Creating a beautiful home is not about buying fancy items but it is about creating memories of every house we stayed. I am blessed to have a house with plenty of sunshine and space. I truly believe in the saying �Home is where the heart is�. 

She has a keen eye for details and pockets of her home reflects the same. Who could have thought that ceramics, copper, wood and steel can create such a beautiful vignette.

An intricately carved wooden crockery cabinet in her dining is a show stealer. It can enhance the look of any space with great ease. Seen here are eye-pleasing tablescape and vignette created by Parul in below image. 

I am sure that after taking a tour of Parul's heavenly adobe you are craving for more. No worries!! I have more for you. You haven't seen Parul's garden yet and I promise you wouldn't be disappointed as her garden is dreamlike and can be given a term of "fairy garden". For a dose of more such eye candy images of beautiful homes click here.

I hope you must have enjoyed this home tour and our conversation as well. Coming up next is an interview with rising star in the interior design industry. Stay tuned!!

            

          

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Get Home Ready For Festivities

The festival season has begun. 

The first day of Chaitra month or Gudi Padwa marks the beginning of the new year according to lunar Hindu calendar, also known as Ugadi, Yugadi, Navreh, Cheti Chand and Samvatsar Padvo in other states. Each festival in India is primarily associated either with the transition of seasons or harvesting of crops and every celebration begins with house cleaning and decorating. How busy people may be but they take the time out to do all the cleaning before the commencement of the festivities. Why not! a clean home is a pivotal part of all the festivities.

Now that Chaitra Navratri is just around the corner let's talk about some house cleaning and decorating. During this festive season let your surroundings speak about your personality. Here are some tips and tricks to get the home ready for festivals:

Declutter:

Decluttering the place can make your home look spacious, clean, organized and full of positive energy. It is said that the things that are no longer in use and are broken or in a bad shape create a negative energy in and around the house. I agree with this statement wholeheartedly as hoarded junk not only takes up all the space but also make your home look cluttered and unorganized and this, in turn, affects your stress level.

Get rid of the clutter and make free space to move around easily. Once decluttered your space now needs some serious cleaning. So put on the gloves and let's make your space shine and sparkle. 

Clean:

Cleanliness is godliness. I love to see every nook and corner of my home shining and sparkling. No cobwebs, no dust, no spots and stains, no stinky smell in washrooms/toilets, no grease on the cabinet doors and chimney and no cockroaches in the kitchen that's how a home must be kept.

Cleaning the kitchen may seem the daunting task but I would suggest always start from the kitchen and from the right side of the stove and then go clockwise around the kitchen. Clean the stove and chimney in the last. This will ensure that you wouldn't be spreading dirt, grime and grease everywhere. 

Kitchen sink contains even more bacteria than a toilet seat and I always make sure that I disinfect, clean with mild soap, hydrogen peroxide and vinegar and buff my stainless steel sink after each dish wash. For buffing take a few drops of mineral oil on a soft cloth and wipe the sink and tape to make them sparkle. This prevents the growth of mold and calcium buildup.  

Now clean all the cabinet doors and handles using mild soap on a sponge and wipe them clean with a damp cloth. In the same way, you can clean all your kitchen appliances. Clean the stove and chimney in the last using detergent and scrubber.

Take special care of bathrooms. It's better to wipe the floor, walls, faucet and shower after each shower to prevent the water stains and calcium buildup. If you can't do it everyday then try to do it once in a week. You can rub few drops of lemon oil on glass shower doors once or twice in a month to make it look clean and shiny all the time. Wash the shower curtains once in a month to remove mold and mildews. To clean the toilet bowl put a teaspoon full of a drink that contains citric acid (drinks that have tangy taste) in the bowl and leave it for few minutes and then flush .
For all the other rooms, start from the ceiling and work your way down. Remove all the cobwebs, clean fans and light fixtures using a damp cloth (make sure you have turned off the power), clean all the windows and doors, dust all the furniture, clean the glass surfaces using a microfiber cloth and in the last mop the floor. There you have it, a neat, clean and sparkling my kind of home. 

Decorate:

After decluttering and cleaning the home, dress it up beautifully. Change the curtains, cushions and rug to give a completely new look to your home. If you wish to use old ones then give a nice wash and then use them.
Create a festive ambiance by placing some metal or wood figurines and surround them with fresh flowers, tealights/votives and candles to make the place look divine.

Add greenery by bringing in some indoor plants and place them in a place where they sit most comfortably. Add festive cheer by drawing rangoli at the entrance and placing an uruli full of flowers floating in it. Put on the soft lights to create a warm and welcoming ambiance.

I think I have shared all the important tips here and hope you will be creating the most beautiful, clean and welcoming home for the festivities. In case, you haven't checked my Insta account yet here is a link for you (Click Here) to get a daily dose of all things beautiful!!
Happy Decorating!!

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Home Tour: Ruma Ghosh

Many of my readers wanted me to showcase beautiful ethnic Indian homes in my blog. 
So today I am showcasing a very beautiful eclectic home of Ruma Ghosh. You must have seen an image of this home earlier in my Youtube video: Yeh Mera Ghar. Now let's take a tour of this soulful home without any delay. 

In Ruma's own words...

"At present, we live in a 5000sq ft penthouse in Greater Noida. 
I guess people from the North-east have some aesthetic DNA, and I am no different. I say so because if you travel through the states of North-east you will find very few houses which do not have flower plants lining their front. You will find blood red begonias growing out of rusted tins & jars yet placed beautifully in front of a thatched house. Its a common sight to see local forest orchids hanging out of trees or stumps of a tree adorning houses in quaint little villages of Nagaland, Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya and Assam to name a few". 

Below is the image of her living room. The painting in the background depicts The Pushkar Mela done by her friend, Sagarika Sen.

Colorful cushions set the perfect backdrop for turquoise Buddha in her living room that exudes serenity. The combination of warm and cool colors make for an interesting ambiance. 

Now take a look at another side of her living room. Beautifully carved wooden chest and magnificent Ganesha statue near foyer add perfect ethnic Indian touch, emanates prosperity and auspiciousness and make an inviting and eye-pleasing display. 

Large sliding doors offer ample daylight and fresh air through out the day. Cubical sofa with attention grabbing cushions make a beautiful statement piece. 

"I get inspiration from all sorts of things, it could be a distressed old wooden bench a queer looking pot or a beautiful plant. To me it is immaterial whether I am living in a rented accommodation or a place of my own, the house which shelters me and my family of three boys and a wonderful husband from wind, rain and scorching sun has to be loved and taken care of. Decorating my home is my way of saying " I love you Home".

A very beautiful collection of brasswares certainly adds the lot of character and speaks volume about Ruma's aesthetic sense.

In below image vintage "Time" Magazines' cover page covers the wall in the dining room, photo frame kept near table lamp was a DIY project by one of my sons. I immortalized it by putting a toddler snap of my husband, Arnab & the painting in the last is a wedding gift from a very dear friend, a painter who is quite a household name in Singapore now. This is one of her initial paintings when she had just started.

Her love for paintings and framed pictures is clearly visible in all these images. Some more gallery walls.

"Born amidst the pristine green and gentle rolling hills of a tea garden I guess my first vision through the windows of our bungalow was of the well manicured and lovingly laid garden of my mother. Those days furniture were minimalist mostly consists of cane and other beautiful woods procured locally. However, even without the designer furniture,at a glance everything around us was balanced and beautiful. I guess that laid the foundation of my love for decorating home".

"Flowers that I have grown at different point of time".

Marriage boosted this feeling as my hubby Arnab is blessed with a keen sense of art and does a neat job of painting and fixing a lot of my stuff at home. As luck would have we had to shift home many a time and together we have always ended up creating a new look for all the places that we have lived in. I guess that too helped in coming up with new ideas.

Below is a picture collage of this year's Diwali celebration.

I am totally in love with her decor style and beautifully done up home. What about you dear readers, what do you think of this beautiful home...tell me...I am all ears :) I hope you enjoyed this home tour as much as I did.

For more such beautiful pictures, decor tips and DIY ideas follow me on Instagram (click here)

Stay tuned and I will be showing you something very special. Have a wonderful weekend ahead!!

P.S. All the images are provided by Ruma Ghosh and subject to copyright. Please do not copy any picture without her permission.

Design Decor & Disha: An Indian Decor Blog

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