Console Tables - wish list!

As I mentioned in an earlier post, we have started the hunt for a console table. I had this vision in my head since ages about having a console table in the entry way in my house. And finally in our current apartment (even though its not ours - but is a rental) there is the kind of space where a console table would look great.

So S and I did go out and look at a few tables last weekend. Liked a few and it got me thinking - If I had the choice what sort of console table would I really really want to have? Here are a few that got me drooling!

I want a console table with a mirror, absolutely! Mirrors make the room bigger and brighter and pretty too! So this one was an easy favourite -

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I also have this bias towards semi circular or half consoles like the one below. I like the little bit of detailing on this and the fact that it has a lower slab - more opportunity to keep and show stuff!

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This one is simple, clean and the colour is deep and choclaty - love that!

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This one is from Pottery Barn. It is elegant and restrained. Love the green plant in the white holder. Isn't that so fresh and beautiful?

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This one has got some storage too but what I love most about it is the small lamps on the console. The right lighting can do so much to your room and mood.

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Well lets see what I finally end up with. I hope I find what I like or like what I find :)
Happy Thursday - Friday is almost here!!

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Weekend Wrap Up

This weekend was my first at home in the New Year and after my vacation. So it was all about sorting, cleaning and organizing. I also gave my house the what-does-it-need look and I noticed that I need to add more masks to my collection.
I recently started collecting masks - fascinated by the variety of art forms and cultural influences in masks and inspired by some fellow bloggers. I already have 3 in my collection, they are on different walls right now, but I plan to put them up on one wall when the collection grows bigger.

My existing collection -
The one on the left is from Indonesia. It is a wooden mask and is etched and painted. The black one on the right is a Bastar tribal handicraft from Chhattisgarh. It is wrought iron painted black.
S and N even have names for these - The wooden one is "Samba uncle" and the black one is "Basanti aunty" (aunty because she wears earrings).

 

And my latest addition is this pair from Arunachal Pradesh. These are hand carved wooden masks. They are supposed to be Samba uncle and Basanti aunty's babies. Their names are Kalia and Bhedia - don't ask me why! I wasn't part of the christening ceremony.

This time on vacation one of my aunts - a very smart, independent and loving person and a favourite of mine had us over for lunch. I saw these masks at her place and these or something similar are next on my list!

Love the golden yellow bronzish finish on these ganesha masks/wall hangings. And the terracotta ones below are eye catching too!  

We also started hunting for console tables. More on that later!! Happy Monday!!

This is my entry to Patty's Weekend Wrap Up 14! Check out what other people were doing over the weekend!

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N the pirate!

This is my entry to Artsy Craftsy Jan 2011 over at Mindful Meanderings.

N's playschool had a fancy dress show as part of their Christmas celebrations. This was his 1st time in a fancy dress apart from the Halloweens N has been part of while we were in the US.

A pirate is what I thought of - easy to do and a different look. So the basic dress was a pant with the ends tucked into his socks to make them look like polo pants. The shirt was tucked into the pant and a kamarband or broad belt was wrapped around the waist.

I added a moustache and a mole on his face with a black marker. A bandana on his head and an eye patch completed the look. The eye patch was cut out of silver paper glued onto a black chart paper (chart paper can be of any colour). I added a string from a face mask to the eye patch so that it could be worn over the eye.

This is what N looked like that day -

A closer look -

And to my pleasure N went up on stage and shouted out "I'm a pirate. Want a ride anyone?" without being self-conscious at all.

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Renovation - Sofa

My mom has this old sofa which has been in the family for a very long time. Its been passed on from one generation to another.
Over the years the chocolate brown cover had faded to a dull and patchy brown. I decided to give the sofa a make over and hence bring a change to her living room.

This is how the sofa looked like before the makeover. It is a 3 + 2 seater and had arm rests on ends. I decided to get the arm rests from the 2 single seaters removed, this would make them look less bulky. Unfortunately, I couldn't get a picture with the arm rests. But at least you can see the before picture.
I love the intricately carved cupboard next to the sofa - have been eyeing it for quite some time now ;) This is also a family antique.

The 3 seater before the change - 

In the picture below - The cream fabric with a self design that I used to replace the plain brown. I checked a couple of high-end stores including Seasons for fabric but everything was so pricey (Rs 650 to 700 per metre). And I needed about 11 metres. Finally a shop in the local furniture market had this beautiful fabric at just Rs 220 per metre. Great deal I tell you and this is exactly what I was looking for.

The 3 seater is all done! Doesn't this look so royal and elegant? I love it!

The single seaters minus the arm rests.

And the best part is that the new look compliments the rest of the furniture in mom's living room perfectly. We even got 2 slip covers of the same fabric for the cushions on the Kashmiri settee (can be seen in the picture below on the left)

I loved doing this project. It was fun and am very pleased with the outcome.
What do you think?

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House to Home

S and I recently came back from the US where we were for the last 6 and 4 years respectively. We landed in India and moved to namma Bengaluru after a short attend-weddings-at-home stint. S had come down to B'lore 2 weeks before N and I landed and zeroed in on a place to rent. I had no clue and no choice but to trust S' judgement and choice. And it did turn out to be great :)
The apartment we are currently in is a new construction ( I love that part) with beautiful mini-green-areas, well maintained lawns & colourful flowers. Oh yes there are walkways, a play area for the kiddies, swimming pool, lawn tennis and badminton courts, a clubhouse, gym and sauna among the other things thrown in by the builders to charm people.
We are in a rented place. And are swinging between the decision to buy vs not-buy in Bangalore. But that doesn't stop me from dreaming!!
:)
So I go around window shopping for all the stuff that would be in my dream house. If all that furniture and home decor found their way into my dream house it would resemble a storage place rather than home. Will update this space soon with all the stuff I would love to have some day.

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Busy...

Life has been crazy busy with so much happening and its fun! 
An exhibition happened last weekend and one more is coming up this weekend. New friendships have been formed, family re-unions are waiting in the wings.
Oh and burger loving fans - there is the Legendary Burger Festival going on at Hard Rock Cafe! I am going to try that soon.

The holiday season is almost here and I can feel the carols in the air!

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N saw a huge christmas tree in Leela Palace and he has been asking for one ever since. He has also been singing "Jingle bhell Jingle bhell" and "Rudholf the redd nosed deindeer" much to our amusement.

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Perfect!!

There are some days when everything goes just as planned. Today was one of those days - just perfect! :)
It was a foggy, grey winter morning today. The ones where you feel like being bundled up on the couch or day-bed near the window with a hot cuppa coffee - something like this -

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N was supposed to go to school early starting today. That would give me more time and flexibility to work. So off he was and I caught up on work - had the cup of coffee I was yearning for too. No lovely-by-the-window couch though :( 
Managed to finish some work and a lot of other stuff too! N came back - unperturbed by the extra 2 hours at school - he seemed happy rather. Had his lunch and dozed off to sleep.

I hope this lasts ... well even if it doesn't there are good days like today always.

BTW, I am looking forward to the OWC Christmas Bazaar on Sat, Dec 4th here in Bangalore.
Check out the Red River blog here for details.

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