Flights of Fancy

"What's tickling your decor bone these days?"

You may ask me.

Even if you don't ask,

I have to tell you!

Here is what has caught my fancy these days...

Am on the look out for unusual headboards..

Distressed furniture...

Use of (empty) bird cages in decor...

And summery inspiration for outdoor living...

How about you? What are you fancying these days?

[Image source from top> weheartit.com/mebhavs<: sfgirlbybay.blogspot.com, tumblr, decor8blog.blogspot.com, flickr.comphotos27350418@N072786654219, londonsouthernbelle.typepad.com, tinypic.comview.phppic=wk4t2x, tinypic.comview.phppic=2ngzi8p, shoptalkbuzz.blogspot.com]

Out you go!

Why sit inside when I can as well sit outside?

I know I know

Not the most logical statement

But you will also say this

if you had outdoor sitting options like

These!

Lookie! A ready chess game! Imagine the two chess players sitting on the chairs and then running back to the table to make their move on the chess board, then going back and sitting again on the chairs, and then running back to make their next move...and so on and so forth. How entertaining! ;)

Moodha and chiks. The quintessential Indian chair and blinds.

I have been on lookout for lime colored cushions. And a personal sea while I am at it

This reminds me of childhood summer vacations and Enid Blyton!

Aren't the simplest of things sometimes the most elegant?

I ask you to guard the fort, and here you are having a cuppa chai (tea)!

Green Blue Orange. Incase you couldn't identify the colors above. I am the ever helpful blogger!

Gujrati Jhoola (swing). Imagine sitting here during rains!

And finally a quiet corner to repose at dusk..

[Image courtesy: Pro Corbis, All Posters]

Who needs walls...

...when you can have a tent!

Specially tents as luxurious as these!

Be the queen (or a king) on a summer evening

Relaxing, wining and dining in exotic tents

That are inspired by the grandeur and opulence of Indian royalty

[And don't forget to invite me!]

Available at RajTentClub and WhiteCanvasTents

The art of shade

Something that caught my eye today...gorgeous metal pergolas from Parasoleil. I am fascinated with the interplay of sun and shade, and a pergola covered with a flower vine just calls me to come and stand underneath...or better, sit and spend some time there!
These images remind me of Robyn, who always brings lovely sun drenched images of gardens to us on her blog...

And, a pergola can be magical in the night too...

[image from firestonehp]

I wanna fall from the stars...

Straight into your arms..

All I want is a room somewhere....

umm...maybe not!

If you notice the 'I want to be here' image on the left

You would know what is catching my fancy this week

Just give me a bed and a piece of sky

and some million stars to gaze at..

That's what I want...

Sunrise on my pillow?


And this is from where the above view has been viewed!


Sometimes, I get cheetahs for company as I count sheep
(and I think: do the cheetahs have vested interest in counting sheep with me?)


Never far away from the gentle lap of ocean to nudge me into slumber..


With cheetahs, you might get mosquitoes too! Not a problem... dreamy mosquito nets solve all my outdoor sleeping problems!


Ah! I spy a hut behind just in case it rains!


3/4th of a cave...works for this cave woman!

Nothing.

Nothing at all between that absolutely personal and peaceful conversations I sometimes need to have with the über architect who resides amongst the stars...

I, I feel you

Hope you comprehend

[Stars by Simply Red]

[Images in order from top: 1st two are from Loisaba, Kenya; Wolwedans, Nambia; Voyages lizard island, Australia; Wolwedans again; Tarkuni, South Africa; Kagga Kamma, South Africa; Wolwedans]

Can some one please...

... get me my glass of wine?

How I wish to laze in the sun under the shade of wisteria

Home Portfolio

Inside Out

If I were a flower, I would most likely be a sunflower since I always turn towards sunlight. I am like a cat who finds one spot of sunshine and huddles into that spot and moves as the spot of light moves. At work, my team now knows to leave the chair facing the window for me in a meeting room. My husband calls our home a 'glass' home given the number of french windows we have in our home.

Does this tell you something? If not, then the following images that I adore, will give you a Big clue! :-)

Images from Architectural Digest and Elle Decor

Sigh! As much as I love beautiful interiors, I also adore scenic outdoors. My ideal design is the one which achieves a perfect synergy of both.

How about you? Do you prefer open vistas from your windows or the cosy curtained look for your home?

Now, where have I seen this before...

...in my grandmom's kitchen!

Not the fountain of course, but the copper bowls :-) I am impressed by such an innovative use of a day to day utility item - though yes, we don't really use such dinnerware/utensils any more.

These mini fountains are from Gaiam (pronounced "guy-um") who specialize in 'green living products and natural home decor'. The good thing about these fountains is that apart from looking awesome, they run on solar energy!

DIY: Taking a first cut at how something similar could be built at home:

- Gather or buy copper bowls as shown in the pic. If not easily available at home, you would be able to find these in old city markets

- Get a stand (iron stands would also do) shaped the way you would like to place the bowls. Such stands are easily available at the plant nursery (planter holder), or can be designed by you and created by the local ironsmith

- For the fountain effect, ie. overflow of water from one bowl to another, decide whether you want the bowls to have a spout, or you want the water to 'overflow' (possible when you place bowls in order of small to large to hold the overflow), or you want to water to seep through (drill holes)

- Placement: Near an existing water source. Ideally in the garden or terrace that already has a water tap and drainage. I am not a big fan of placing miniature fountains inside the house - I think that looks tacky :-

- Now the interesting part: Making the fountain operational!!

I will try and take a stab at this one ;-D ...

I guess at the most basic, you will need a thin water hose. Attach it to the base of the top bowl in a way that its not visible (try camouflaging with plants, or route it through a cooper pipe). Now, the simplest way that I can think of is that whenever you want to run the fountain, open the tap (at the desired flow level), and close the tap when you want to shut it off! :-D

But if you want to keep the fountain running, you need more engineering and equipment like a pump and connection to electricity (or as with Gaiam, solar panel to power the pump). This is a good time to catch hold of your husband/brother/father/handyman, and before I get accused of being sexist, catch hold of Anyone who knows how to hook all this up!

- Additional feature: If there is enough space, and placement looks good, you can add in a nice wind chime which will chim and chime when the water flows! (something like this should go with the look)

The one key thing would be to make sure that the water used is being recycled - use it to water the garden, or Mr/Ms. Handyperson can fix it up in a way that the water is being recycled for the fountain itself

This post is inspired by my favorite aunt who has lately been thinking of DIYing a fountain in her garden and has been discussing some very interesting ideas with me :)