Indisputably Indian in Style (Home Tour)

June 5, 2018, 4:10 pm

≪ Previous: Distinguished Taste (Home Tour)

Our last feature here on Prakalyam Gallery was so well received, I couldn't wait to bring you more from Veshali's wonderful portfolio. A 1,184 sq. ft. apartment in Singapore, belonging to a lovely young couple, Chandrasekar Ganapathy Subramanian and Indhu Chandrasekar gets transformed at the hands of Veshali Visvanaath and receives the all Indian touch. Chandru is not only a cricket/sports buff but also has a discerning eye for antiques and Tanjore paintings. It is this love for the old world charm that drew him and his beautiful and talented Bharathnatyam dancer wife Indu to Veshali's Prakalyam Gallery. Within minutes of being introduced to each other they hit it off and it lead to the renovation and design of a beautiful home that is indisputably Indian in appeal.

The couple were very explicit about what they wanted to include in their design plan. The deliverables included - smart space planning, practical approach to design expression, personal style married to their Indian roots. Chandru being an ardent cricket fan wanted the decor to include his bats and other sports memorabilia. His love for vintage and the old world charm too had to be incorporated. Indhu on the other hand wanted color to be a huge part of their interiors. Not the easiest directives for any interior designer but Veshali being adept at making all of her client requests come true, made it all come together seamlessly. It took Veshali 5 months from conception to delivery. The on site renovation was done in 2 months but the prior planning took a huge chunk of the time (3 months) as Chandru was very detail specific and did not want any surprises or deviations during the course of the renovation.

The living room is an interesting space with a range of contrasting materials bringing in tactile and visual balance. Done up in shades of vermilion and gold together with attentively selected furniture pieces and decor accessories, the home is cozy with a strong interplay of refinement and traditional elegance.The dark wood tones of the furniture complement the well chosen colors beautifully. As for the seating options, they have a carved day bed that was commissioned from India by the clients. The design process however of the commissioned pieces was overseen by Veshali from Singalpore. In addition to the day bed, they have lots of low seating. The floor style seating was specifically requested by the homeowners for many a reason. Sitting on the floor gives a homely, intimate and nostalgic feel and syncs well with the ambiance of the house. Yoga too recommends sitting on the floor in padmasana thus maintaining a good posture and healthy lifestyle.

The TV console was made in Singapore by Veshali's team of carpenters. Treasured collections of the couple flank the TV on either side. On the left is a wooden plank with a silver scroll. Veshali tells me that this was presented during the 1952 England cricket tour of India at Kanpur. The scroll has a velvet cloth inside it with the scorecard for the day. On the other side is a ‘Vibuthi’ box (scared ash) in form of a Nandi. This was sourced from North Karnataka and is one of the many favorite pieces from Chandru's passion to collect antiques and vintage treasures. Next to it is a wooden panel from a temple car in south-India. The car is used to take religious processions on the streets. The vintage coffee table is a cradle that the couple acquired from India. Another piece of low seating is the swing plank that they decided to just rest on the floor to make the space look bigger rather than hanging it up and visually dividing the room.

Veshali talks more about the color choices made for this project, "Talking about the colors, this was the most challenging part about the project. Chandru wanted a classic look with creams but Indhu wanted to go bold with colors. She even wanted color on the ceiling! Chandru compromised on the color part and promised not to interfere as long as he got more cricket bats up on the wall! We managed to incorporate a different color in each room. A new experience for me as well but I love the way it turned out."

The photo gallery wall happens to be one of the first things that the couple had discussed with Veshali while expressing their requirements in the project. The wall has frames set genealogically, thus creating a family tree. The photos (and a painting) are all originals from both sides of the family, capturing the family history for nearly 200 years (Pre-World War 1 to Present Day). Here's what Chandru had to share about this aspect of the project, "A history buff, I believe in capturing family history and passing it over to the next generation. This is the ‘true’ inheritance we can leave for our kids."Veshali seconds that saying,"This was the main reason I took up the project as the nostalgia was too strong and I wanted to be a part in this journey." Absolutely love how Veshali has chosen the mint green wall to showcase the photographs. A subtle shade that's effective in enhancing the vintage feel of the space! (On a personal note, I can so relate to this color as the walls in my grandmother's old home too were of the same shade.)

The couple have an enviable collection of statues. Seen on the left is the Tripuranthakar (form of Siva which created the state of Tripura) and on the right is Ardhanareshwarar (Siva and Parvathi in same idol) sourced from Praklayam gallery. I believe both these are made from true Tanjore Chola style.

Apart form the photo-wall, another focal point is the Tanjore art wall. The theme for this wall was to have the couple's collection of Tanjore paintings with unique subjects displayed in one place to create an impactful exhibit. Some of them are inherited by the couple while the rest have been acquired for them by the gallery. Indhu being a bharatnatyam dancer, wanted to have a special spot for Nataraja. Veshali found a place of prominence for him by placing him right under the paintings. ON close observation, you will see that Paai or chattais (natural fiber woven mats) have been used here and below the coffee table as these are from Tamil Nadu and Veshali wanted to create the feeling of "close to home".

The formal dining table is clearly the most striking attribute of this space!!! The inlay dining table is made out of rosewood and was specifically commissioned by the client. The details of the inlay work talks of the grand Dussehra procession in Mysore. The presence of ‘Gandaberunda’ (symbol of Karnataka and Mysore) is prominent here. The chairs all have a king riding with two attendants on an elephant. There's an abundance of floral designs across the chair, with the foot supported by a playful elephant inlay on the sides.

Custom made handsome cabinetry spans the wall across the dining table making display and storage possible in one simple unit. The vintage pieces exhibited in the unit were especially sourced for the client from Prakalyam Gallery.

And finally we get to see Chandru's priced possession, his cricket bats framed and proudly displayed on the wall!

The Pooja room as you can tell has the divine vibes. This particular room took the longest to execute. Chandru and Indu had a lot of religious pictures and wanted a dedicated room for worship. Veshali wanted to create something different but wanted to keep the traditional feel of the space intact. The gallery wall gives the couple the option to expand their collection as and when they acquire a new piece.

Veshali decided to bring in the Kerala Kasavu saree for the sheers and used Indu's cotton sarees for the blinds. The golden sari border compliments the gold foil finish on the wall. The blinds are easy maintenance and the fabric choice adds the soft touch.

The stunning brass Elephant lamp had been in the family for years. Indhu being the 6th generation DIL in the family, inherited this beautiful treasure from her mom-in-law! Indhu makes sure that this diya is lit on all special occasions.

Here's what Veshali had to say summing up her deep contentment on working with this wonderful couple, "It was an awesome experience doing up the house . What makes me happy is that they message me and invite me for every family gathering and have given me the space of a family member. Design and details apart , I got new friends and family in this journey."

Thank you Veshali for sharing another gem from your portfolio. It's been such a pleasure interacting with you. Wishing you the very best in your creative venture. Should you have other projects too to share, you know we are all eyes and ears:)

(My Singapore readers, should you wish to visit Prakalyam, please make sure to book your appointment right here or call (+65) 9008 3979. And for those of you not in Singapore, Veshali is willing give online consulting a shot. Do write to Veshali at veshali@prakalyamgallery.com with your design dilemmas.)

(Photo Credits & Image Copyright: Veshali Visvanaath for Prakalyam Gallery; : The images may not be used for commercial or non-commercial use without the prior written permission of Veshali Visvanaath & TECD.)

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Paradise Found (Home Tour)

July 11, 2018, 3:35 pm

≫ Next: Preserving memories in a Restrained Maximalist Style

≪ Previous: Indisputably Indian in Style (Home Tour)

Today, we go all the way to Mumbai to tour a fashionably furnished home done up in a Contemporary-modern style but then sprinkled with just the right amount of Indian touches that readily identify the home owner’s Indian roots. The home of “Amritha Karnakar” (founder and principal architect at AKAD - Amritha Karnakar-architectural design) and her parents (late Dr. Sachin Karnakar and Vrinda Karnakar) is brimming with personality, class and an electric mix of styles. But more importantly, it is suggestive of an unhurried pace of living that balances an otherwise very demanding metro lifestyle.

While her parents love for antiques and nature set the tone for the design elements and color scheme in the home, it was Amritha’s professional acumen, her aptitude for close observation and global exposure that effortlessly brought the modern edge and architectural interest to the scene. Set on the 6th floor of an apartment with a terrace garden, the crux of the design plan sought to make the most of this wonderful space by blending the indoors with the outdoors.

The antique artifacts in the home not only talk of the homeowner’s love for timeless treasures but the collection also imparts an authentic vibe of the by gone era to an otherwise modern palette. Wooden carvings from the south of India and metal/brass work from Gujarat are thoughtfully placed to add visual drama and interest. The outdoors too are dotted with stone sculptures from Hampi, making it a captivating green sanctuary.

Amritha proudly shares, “Every plant big or small, each has been treated as our own baby. We have a mix of bonsais, cacti, orchids, a number of other flowering plants (like the Plumeria) to fruit bearing plants like chikoos and oranges!” A green oasis like this in the midst of an otherwise urban concrete landscape is sure to have a calming effect and drop those elevated blood pressure readings significantly!

Will let the images do the rest of the talking for me…..

Will be sharing more from the portfolio of Amritha Karnakar so watch this space for more. In the meantime should you wish to reach out to Amritha regarding your design challenges or a project at hand, please mail Amritha at amritha.karnakar@gmail.com or connect with her via her Instagram page or FB. Thank you Amritha for sharing your absolutely beautiful and tastefully done up home with my readers.

(Photo Credits & Image Copyright: Amritha Karnakar for AKAD; The images may not be used for commercial or non-commercial use without the prior written permission of Amritha Karnakar & TECD.)

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Preserving memories in a Restrained Maximalist Style

July 20, 2018, 12:07 pm

≫ Next: Settled in for a Lifetime (Home Tour)

≪ Previous: Paradise Found (Home Tour)

By eschewing traditional design rules and embracing only that which brings out their authentic personal style, the "Desor-Singh's" have created a beautiful home away from home in Melbourne, Australia. Their 3 1/2 year old home is a delightful melange of aesthetic collections, sentimental keepsakes, fun accessories, color and pattern in abundance and subtle desi touches to proudly display their bond with India. Neha and Kabir are both IT professionals and share their beautiful home with their 3 year old daughter, Mila. The couple met at the University 14 years ago and have been together since. It is their "poles apart personalities" that brought them together. But somehow these differences work very well together in creating an amazing home that encompasses their different styles and personalities. Neha tells me, "Kabir is quiet, an introvert and happy to stay at home with his family and his play station kinda guy. Whereas I am talkative, social and love to be out and about."

Rather than focusing on one style, the couple decided to decorate with memories and thus bring a slice of the past to a newer home. Result being a fun, functional, cozy, interesting and exuberant home with meaningful vignettes at every turn. In Neha's words, "We have tried to preserve a lot of old family memories and used them to add soul to the decor around the house. We've used a lot of older objects from our childhood homes in India to build a space that has an emotional connection and a sense of comfort. If I had to classify our style it I would say bohemian, eclectic and restrained maximalist. I say restrained because as usual Kabir and I had very different ideas when it came to decorating the house and he loved the clean minimalist look whereas I wanted to fill the house with plants and colors. Needless to say I won him over but he does keep me from going overboard!"

Neha's favorite feature is 'The Great wall of India'! She has effortlessly created an eye catching display by juxtaposing Indian touches in terms of wall art and little figurines. Almost all of the elements in this vignette have a sentimental connection. The vintage flat woven rug was handmade by a woman in Bikaner (Rajasthan) and belonged to Neha's mother. It was made when her mum was born, to be used later for her 'dowry'. The small painting of a woman in the doorway was done by Neha's mother during her degree in fine arts. The woven fan is a treasure that belonged to Kabir's father and is displayed with fond remembrance. The framed cross stitch embroidery was done decades ago by Kabir's mother, now gracing the walls of her son's home in another land.

To broaden the color palette, Neha decided to add a bunch of Turkish kilim pillows to the lounging room. She says they were a splurge that she never regrets buying them as they bring in that punch of color and pattern that she was looking for.

As you can tell there is a strong Bohemian influence in Neha's style. Here's more from Neha on why she's drawn to the Bohemian look, "It resonates very well with my idea of home. I think Indian homes have been doing bohemian decor before such a term even existed. The use of colorful dhurries, cane and wicker, decorative baskets, crocheted or knitted throws, vibrant art pieces, brass and copper, all these are integral to the boho style and have a been part of Indian homes forever. So it is no surprise that this style comes easy to me."

Neha is a huge fan of layering! She's more than adept when it comes to mixing and matching. She does this without overwhelming the space, making each item stand out in the happy decor compositions that she creates. Love how she has layered the phulkari throw on the couch with the Turkish pillows. Another treasured piece, the phulkari textile is around 25 years old and hand embroidered by artisans from Punjab. It was lovingly given to the young couple by Kabir's parents.

The main challenge that the couple faced in setting up base here in Australia was getting the right pieces that complemented their decor style. Neha explains, "It was difficult to find things that showcased our roots and our personal journey here in Australia. And shipping from India was not an option. We ended up getting a lot of the smaller pieces from India like family heirlooms, old toys, textiles, art and then blended them together with bigger pieces bought here, thrift store finds and some weekend DIY. With the bohemian style garnering popularity it has become a lot easier now to find such eclectic home wares anywhere in the world but it is not always kind on the pocket."

Another lovely corner in the living room is strategically sprinkled with more of the sentimental mementos that the couple own. The tall brass diya, Neha inherited from her Aunt. The stack of brass pots are from Kabir's parents' home. The wooden chess, a gift that Neha bought for Kabir from Simla during a university trip.

Neha has always had a thing for baskets! So she decided why not group all of her pieces in one place to create more visual impact. The colored baskets were ethically sourced from women in East Africa. These baskets are woven by hand using seagrass and sisal. The aztec patterned basket is from the Maati collective in Munsiari, India (Its made from bamboo by a local craftsman Nain Ram from Jaiti village in the mountains. The bamboo is then darkened using ash to create the pattern.) The other ones are lucky thrift store finds.

More from Neha on why decorating with memories is so important to them, "Our daughter was born here in Australia and we want her to be her own person without imposing or forcing our cultural and traditional beliefs on her. But we do want to share our memories with her while we build new ones together. So it was important to us to have a house full of objects old and new that we are emotionally connected to. It feels amazing to see my daughter playing with our old teddy bears or her grandmother's brass kitchen set. Using objects tied to our special memories as display items around the house makes them topics of conversation and interest for her. Plus we feel a sense of belonging, a sense of 'home'." I can so relate to all that she has to say!

Comfort and style combine in Kabir's den/gaming arena. Bookshleves to keep the clutter organised as well as provide a place to display their collection. A pop of color is integrated into this area through the Ikea Strandmon wing chair, framed Hayley Mitchell artwork and selective accessories. As is with any other corner in Neha's home, Greens are a must to pull the look together. Neha shares, "He loves his ps4 and it occupies a proud spot on the desk/shelf opposite the chair that I always conveniently crop out of this pic. Not sure if this was his idea of a man cave but I love it and he can have the garage if he doesn't like it;)" Now that's one chic and comfortable gaming space if you ask me!

A close up of Neha's collection of Hayley Mitchell artwork in the den area. Love how the Thanjavur Dancing Doll picks up all the colors from the artwork.

Neha is quite the DIY queen if you ask me. She recently undertook this mammoth stenciling job! Armed with Cutting Edge Stencils and some paint, she turned a blah cabinet into one that screams global style. The framed artwork is another of Neha's DIY projects. I personally think that's a brilliant idea to sneak in some color through the mat boards in the wall art.

Here's a quick rundown of the foolproof decor mantras that have worked for Neha:

~ "Bring the outdoors in by having greenery inside the house. Plants would work better than any expensive decor item while improving the quality of air by being a natural humidifier and freshener!

~ Use textiles. Cushions, throws, tapestries help you add color, texture and patterns to your space without burning a hole through your pocket.

~ Color coordinate but do not over do it. Build a flow by connecting the colors in the room and using a focal point. For example if use a yellow chair as the focal point like I have done in one of the rooms, make sure there is just enough yellow in other objects to make it look cohesive but also use other complementing or contrasting colors along with it."

When it came to setting up a play area for Mila, the couple decided to set it up right next to their main lounge area for easy supervision. By focusing on creating separate play zones and colorful work stations around the periphery of the room, the center opened up keeping the space open and airy for child's play. The adorable playhouse that you see was a DIY project by Neha! Cardboard boxes, paint and lots of art paper was employed to create the cubby house. No points for guessing, it is Mila's favorite spot. She escapes to her little retreat and is lost in there for hours together. Another favorite with Mila is the teepee tent. The blanket layering the floor by the teepee was made by Neha's grandmother when Neha was a baby. The cat painting on the cube shelves was done by Neha's mum while the 3 bears was handpainted by Neha herself.

Well preserved vintage Indian toys that belonged to Kabir's mother are now lovingly handed down to Mila. I am told that Mila cooks up a storm with these in her play kitchen!

With that we come to the end of our home tour. Wise parting words from Neha, "Don't try to make your home a catalogue home. Instead, use your individual style and fill it with things you love and cherish. Let your home tell a story of who you are. And it because of this that our home is a place that provides a sense of warmth, comfort and security, where we love coming back to at the end of the day, everyday."

Thank you Neha for inviting us to tour your fabulous home. We wish you and your wonderful family, the very best!

To stay connected with Neha and follow along her decor journey of #decoratingwithmemories, do join her on Instagram.

(Photo Credits & Image Copyright: Neha Desor. The images may not be used for commercial or non-commercial purpose without the prior written permission of Neha Desor & TECD.)

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Settled in for a Lifetime (Home Tour)

January 29, 2019, 7:07 pm

≫ Next: Easy Elegance (Home tour)

≪ Previous: Preserving memories in a Restrained Maximalist Style

I’ve always loved showcasing homes that are not forced to look good but have come together very organically over the years. And by that I mean a home that is not caught up in trends or imitating another's style but a home that has interesting layers of its own. Each layer replicating the personality, interests, style, aesthetics of its home owner and decoding the meaning of ever evolving perception of relaxed living. We have toured Hemangini’s rental pad earlier and now a year and a half later we get to take a tour of their very "own" piece of haven in Gurgaon.

Dr. Hemangini Hoskote is a Consultant Nutritionist with a Ph.D in Nutrition and Mr. Hoskote is a senior leader in Quality and Business Excellence. They share the home with their teenage son who is quite the decor enthusiast. He has had his fair share of influence when it comes to his home's design and style.

The Hoskote family wanted to embrace a design scheme that’s contemporary in style yet exudes warmth, elegance and simplicity. Infact, this design plan was advocated by none other than their teenage son. It seemed right in the context of the relatively modern apartment with high ceilings and a glass wall running through the entire one side of the apartment letting in abundance of sunlight for a bright and airy space.

The Living Room is furnished with pieces that have clean lines and a contemporary feel. A supporting cast of well edited accessories add the shot of color, pattern, texture, identity and make a cultural point with its design. But most importantly, I think they have cracked the code when it comes to the process of a home being relaxing visually, physically and mentally!

Brass tattoo markers (the two thin sticks displayed on the wall) were found at a local weekly market at Lake Inle, Myanmar. Another unique element added to the wall display is an antique carved wooden kavadi that the family found during their Chennai stay. It was recently refinished and proudly made part of the living room.The black throw is a Ladakhi shawl and the Ikat one is from Java, Indonesia. The turquoise silver and leather lamp is Moroccan.

As a family, the Hoskotes love traveling and photography. They seamlessly integrated their interests into the design of the home by displaying pictures from their travels in different corners of the home. Majority of photographs are grouped into simple frames that are propped on white ledges in the living room that blend into the wall creating an almost floating effect. Besides bringing back memories of fun times, these framed pictures are great conversation starters! Hemangini makes sure to update the pictures in the frame every now and then with the latest ones from their various vacations and globetrotting expeditions.

Here's what Hemangini had to say when asked about her decor style, "We have deliberately not followed any particular theme/style but primarily used a few hand-me-downs with travel finds. The thumb rule we follow is, one has to absolutely love it and it has to be 'hatke' (unusual/unique), before we buy it and bring it home. The apartment had white walls which are a perfect back drop for the colorful finds."

More from Hemangini, "We did not hire a 'contractor/decorator’ as we do not like the 'decorated' look with gypsum board ceilings though we had to go with the existing gypsum board ceiling in some parts of the apartment."

This corner has been personalized with wooden musician ladies that were picked from an antique store in Jew Town, Kochi, Kerala. The terracotta pieces are all from Goa, acquired over several visits from Potter's studios to antique stores. The Indonesian mirror was bought when the Hoskotes lived in Dubai. Accentuating the bench style seating are throw pillows that pick up the rust and terracotta hues from the gallery wall above.

One of the bedrooms was converted to serve as a media room. It's where the family spends most of their down time. Hemangini decided to have a collection of posters of their favorite movies framed to reinforce the theme and also clearly gives away that the family members are movie buffs!

The media room also serves as their library. With abundant display and storage space on the adjoining wall, books and other collectibles are neatly organised and provide a clutter free look. A diverse collection of musical instruments from Africa, Mauritius and Indonesia allows for a visual change of scene.

Lovely little corners are created using the family's collectibles and rightly shows the power of grouping things in varied heights and textures.The tribal Ganesha is from the Craft Museum, Delhi. On the console table along with the brass statue of Radha and Krishna are vases and porcelain fishes that were brought home from a pottery exhibition in Gurgaon. The pencil sketches featuring the horses were done by none other than Hemangini herself.

The dining area has an informal vibe and suits the family's relaxed style of hosting. The ta-da element in this space is the wall of masks. The collection was amassed from family vacations to North East India, Far East, Mauritius, Africa and so on.

A practical dining set works in tandem with the rest of the clean line vibe evident in the home. Clearly "comfort is everything" is a norm that takes charge with the decor in this home. Overlooking a balcony area, the doors are thrown open when entertaining on weekends or to enjoy those relaxed and laid back evenings after work.

Absolutely love the open kitchen-dining-living concept! Over to Hemangini for more as to why she prefers this concept, "It was a plan that I had always wanted in my dream home and am loving it. It’s so much more fun to chat with family n friends as one is rustling up a meal. And it works perfectly with our lifestyle. The cleanliness freak that I am, have to be a little more efficient in having the kitchen even more cleaner at all times! I opted for the open shelves as I wanted the kitchen to look light and airy. Upper kitchen cabinets would have made the kitchen look smaller n boxed in."

What a charming breakfast bar! I'd make excuses of having frequent hunger pangs just to enjoy this lovely nook, wouldn't you?

The Hoskotes were very clear from the onset that the maid's quarters would be converted to a home office for Hemangini. Hemangini shares, "This makeover did take the longest time and even though we had a relatively tight budget we didn't compromise on the look n feel of the office. In a space little over 100 sq feet,we managed to create a small, cosy office."

The walls of the office have SH Raza's prints and pencil sketches made by all members of the family.

The gallery wall in the Master Bedroom suite has a host of paintings and travel memories. The pencil sketches here too, are those done by the talented family members. The Copper n Gold art work, is a temple etching on rice paper, bought in Angkor Wat, Siem Reap, Cambodia.

More pretty corners from their Master bedroom. The easy chair is an heirloom piece that was handmade by Hemangini's grandfather-in-law! The console in the master bedroom has baskets from Bali, Thai wooden bust, Myanmar lacquer bowls and marble plate from Goa. Love how the old and the new have together so effortlessly in this space.

And finally we get a peek into their son's room. Done up in shades of deep blue, the textured wall was what the young man decided on all by himself. This room is everything a teenager would want - practical, comfortable, low-maintenance yet stylish, masculine and totally lit!

I hope you enjoyed the home tour as much as we loved sharing it with you. Things to take away from this home tour :

~ Skillful space planning,

~ Visualizing the function of the space before executing the design plan,

~ Include artwork to make the space feel more soulful and individualistic,
~ Mixing and layering the old and the new to create a classic vibe and

~ Visually linking the color scheme or decorating style of rooms that open onto one another.

Thank you Hemangini for trusting me yet again with your beautiful home to be showcased on TECD. We wish you and your beautiful family the very best!

(Image Credit: Hemangini Hoskote, do NOT use the image/images from the blog without prior written permission of the homeowner and TECD)

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Easy Elegance (Home tour)

April 7, 2019, 4:54 pm

≫ Next: Southern Exposure (Home Tour)

≪ Previous: Settled in for a Lifetime (Home Tour)

A home with a heart has the ability to "bouy life" and not weigh it down! When Veshali Visvanaath (founder, curator and interior designer at the Singapore based antiques and furniture store Prakalyam Gallery) was entrusted with the task of transforming and curating for Anusha and Vijay's Singapore based home, she did just that. Combining a deep knowledge of traditional and vintage Indian furniture and antiques as well as expertise in contemporary style, she realized the full potential of this beautiful 1,744 sq. ft. sun drenched apartment.

Veshali recollects how it all started and how she and her clients share the enthusiasm for vintage and old world charm,"Anusha and Vijay are such a lovely couple and we hit it off from day one. Anusha called me one afternoon to confirm if I undertook interior designing projects and told me that she had actually found me through your blog The East Coast Desi. So you Sruthi are a huge part for making this project happen. Anusha and Vijay are working professionals from Tamil Nadu and expats to Singapore. What enticed me even more was their ancestral home is Tanjore which is now a resort stay called "Svatma". This gave me a glimpse of the style that they were drawn to and I could align myself naturally with that style and deliver to them what they needed."

Encapsulating an intimate and balanced setting in the home, Veshali worked her magic yet again (This is the third time that I'm working with Veshali and every single time this lovely and uber talented lady amazes me with what she can do to a space!). There is no overdone element in the ambiance. Every aspect of the home is beautifully balanced - the traditional with the contemporary clean lines while the old and the new are married in unexpected ways!

The project took about 2 months to plan with 3 months of work on site. The most challenging aspect of the project was the square footage. But Veshali came through on this one and gave them ample storage, stylish and aesthetic features and a home perfectly mirroring the family's personalities, roots and interests.

The living room is the perfect stylish spot to kick your feet up at the end of the day and let the captivating ambiance rejuvenate you for another day.To invigorate the space which was primarily done up in neutral shades and dark wood tones, she chose hits of emeralds, mustards and ruby hues to offset the monotony.

The design for this space is brimming with a lot of South Indian influences and rightly so to showcase the roots of its homeowners. There's the one of a kind "Indo-Portuguese" settee from the late 1800's, the "Oonjal" or swing that was installed against all odds of space restrictions and innumerable meticulously selected artifacts and accessories that bring the convincingly traditional South Indian essence to the space injunction with the improbable mix of a contemporary vibe.

True to its Indian inspiration, the entryway whets ones appetite as to what’s in store. Here’s more from Veshali on putting this corner together, “The lady of the house has fine taste and is full of positive aura. Her quest for the beautiful pieces, made me hunt for pieces that I knew she would love. Every piece curated for her home has been a journey to remember. This corner in particular, the 3 orange frames, are mica art from the early 1900's and acquiring it for her, is something which brings a smile to the both of us.” In the frame: A Tamil Nadu Nellai or door frame converted to a mirror. The 3 mica 1910 Tanjore art. A beautiful RV artwork. And A vegetable painted Kerala dowry box.

Seen above is the beautiful custom made swing that adds the oonjal effect of traditional south Indian homes. Veshali shares,"Anusha was so clear in her vision and as a designer it gave me the clarity to carry out the look she wanted. In fact the swing was something which she really wanted as part of the design plan and we had to get it done for her. This was the fun and challenging part as we had to restrict the swinging effect and yet get the swing to play its part."

Another one of Veshali's distinguishing style is converting large brass pots into makeshift coffee tables or accent tables. I've seen this as part of her previous homes too and love how it adds so much omph to the space. Here's more on why she loves implementing this in her projects time and again, "I believe that our culture has such beautiful elements and pieces, I enjoy putting them together in daily life. I prefer pieces being used rather than just for display. In this project the proposal to use this beautiful vintage metal pot was willing accepted by Anusha to match a similar accent table created with one of Anusha's own heirloom brass plate ( as seen in one of the images of the living room)."

More of Anusha's Kerala connection can be seen in the display of the copper para with a traditional "coconut flowers" arrangement that is a part of various auspicious Kerala ceremonies.

The intricate details of the swing can be seen clearly in the image above. Veshali tells me that swings like these can be recreated on request. So if you like what you see, do reach out to Veshali to make this a part of your home.

The dining room is simple in form yet makes a grand impact because of the brilliant choices made by Veshali and her clients when it came to the accessorizing part. To overcome the space limitation, Veshali settled for the gantry effect to maximize storage and seating without overwhelming the space. The Pichwai art was originally used only as a reference point to present to the clients. But they loved it so much that it was specifically commissioned and it came out exactly the way Veshali had rendered it in her 3D.

A mix of bronze, brass and silver accessories are used to accentuate the gantry effect. The dining table, is a beautiful South Indian door that's converted to form the table top. I personally think it perfectly balances out the contemporary gantry as its backdrop.

All the cushion covers in striking color combinations were custom made with old kanjivaram sarees. And not any kanchi saree but those that belonged to Anusha's mom. A great way to repurpose and cherish precious things that belong to loved ones and an absolutely delightful outcome!

A troupe of pickle jars sit pretty on the dining table adding that final vintage touch to the dining space.

As you can tell that is the door to the pooja/ prayer room but it works more like a stand alone art object. In an effort to make each home personal, Veshali transformed an ordinary looking door that originally came with the apartment to a whole new level. She wanted to keep insync with the contemporary vibes evident in the rest of the home and hence only added cosmetic changes to the existing door. In addition to the stained glass panels and brass bells, she also went onto add Tanjore panels that she got custom made from India. These were then assembled in Singapore to create the grand and very unique door!

One look at this cozy nook and its apparent that the home owners are bibliophiles. That's one brilliant use of space! Functional yet design oriented and checks the box for the comfort factor. When I asked Veshali what was that one absolute favorite design element in this project, she had this to say,"Wow!! That is a tough choice as I personally loved the way every room turned out! But if I had to choose one, it would be the seating cum storage in the study.Credit for this goes to Anusha for inspiring new ideas to get this design done. We made use of the bay window and every available space to create storage for their huge collections of books that the home owners had amassed. But the one thing that we ha to ensure was that we never compromised on the brightness of the space. The design allowed us to achieve all that we wanted without compromising on the sunlight filtering in and keeping things bright. The couple are so happy with the space achieved!"

The master bedroom has a more of the contemporary vibes but Veshali brings in that touch of Indian with her choice of pattern play,"The space had to be defined in a way where it brings in a different tone and we decided to keep it simple yet very chic by going monochrome. Black was the chosen color and Anusha loved it. We finally settled on wall paper from Japan and patterned textiles to pull the look together. Love how the lights by the side of the bed and mirror complement the look."

A snap shot of the mirror that's working wonders to give a sense of added space. All the rooms boast of large-paned windows. Veshali design plan has put this to good use by creating window seats that can be used without obstructing the splendid view.

Like the rest of the home, Veshali kept it simple and classy in the couple's daughter's bedroom. Here too carefully chosen accessories with comfortable and functional furniture pieces were the key elements in design. Taking it a notch up is the choice of lovely patterns for the room.

If the above home was not proof enough as to how thorough Veshali is with what she does, then this will seal the deal as to why I say she's a perfectionist. Quoting Veshali, "Almost all the time my aim to take on the stress of the homeowners so that they get to enjoy the home making process. Their utmost satisfaction is what I aim for. In this case, it was to give my best cause Anusha had put so much of trust and faith in my work. The onus was on me to bring it all together. Always ensured that she liked and approved it all like a 100%. Never executed anything if it was a 98% for her. I would go back to the mood board to re-look if that was the case.This is a beautiful home of a very beautiful couple. I have enjoyed every bit and have lovely friends for life!"

My Singapore based readers, should you wish to visit Prakalyam, please make sure to book your appointment right here or call (+65) 9008 3979. And for those of you not in Singapore, Veshali does online consulting too. Do write to Veshali at veshali@prakalyamgallery.com with your design dilemmas.

Veshali thank you so much for choosing TECD yet again to showcase your amazing work. We wish you the very best in your creative endeavor and know you will be reaching new heights in the years to come!

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Southern Exposure (Home Tour)

October 6, 2019, 7:38 pm

≫ Next: Of old things and New (Home Tour)

≪ Previous: Easy Elegance (Home tour)

When homeowners Latha and Ganapathy began plans for renovating their 1,860 sq.ft. Singapore apartment, they had a clear vision of what they wanted to see in their finished home but found themselves inundated by the many possibilities. That's when they decided that they needed an expert on board. They turned to none other than Veshali Visvanaath of Prakalyam Gallery. Her expertise proved to be invaluable on the project as she's well versed with:
~ smart solutions for tight urban spaces,
~ flawlessly combining styles and
~ a resourceful person when it comes to presenting traditions in forward looking light.
The end result is a gracious and tastefully done up home that inspires and comforts.

Over to Veshali to know more about the turnkey project, "It was one of the most fun projects till date. To start with, Latha had an extensive collection of art and artifacts that she had amassed from the her various travels. She has a great eye and picks the most beautiful pieces. A friend of the gallery even before starting the project, I was aware of her aesthetics and keen sense of style. I really wanted to do justice to her collection. On the other hand Gana, is a very practical person and had very specific requirements that the home be vastu compatible and every thing have a dedicated space. Hence, began the journey of renovating their new home where I had to balance it all."

Though the couple have lived in different parts of the world, they have a strong affinity to Indian culture. As both Latha and Gana originally hail from Tamil Nadu so it was a no-brainer for Veshali to include strong South Indian elements into the design scheme.

Starting with the private lift lobby area of the home, Veshali has seamlessly integrated old pieces into the fresh design of the home. The addition of the majestic looking pillars was intentional to bring in the South Indian feel. The flooring had to be changed due to demolition of the lobby so this gave them an opportunity to introduce the checkered effect making for a very unique and grand first impression.

The living room is a delightful combination of the couple's large personal art collection, sentimental treasures from their travels and custom made furniture pieces as well as curated decor accessories from Prakalyam Gallery.

It's amazing how every piece has a place of importance and complements the scene without being distracting. Multiple seating options including the oonjal (or swing) aids in creating a bespoke space for respite from the stress of the daily grind.

The indigo wall is a brilliant explosion of color with the addition of the hand painted kolam strip at the top. The flawless fusion of the musical instrument (veena), masks and art makes for a very impressive gallery wall. (In the above image, notice how the Kerala kasavu has been used in the upholstery of the furniture piece.)

A closeup of the gallery wall with all its beautiful elements! It's wonderful how Veshali included the Veena so as to make the personal interest of Latha shine through. Latha is an avid music lover and is in the process of mastering the art of playing the Veena. She wanted it in a practical and convenient spot that would aid her in practicing regularly, so Veshali came up with this ingenious arrangement!

Absolutely love the colonial and period furniture pieces with its ornate spindles and curved lines. Well edited vignettes are scattered across the room along with bright pops of color incorporated by means of fabric choices, rugs and fresh flower arrangements in brass pots. All in all, a very charming setup with that inimitable Indian feel.

The Oonjal or swing makes its appearance yet again in Veshali's design scheme. To which she has to say, "I have to confess that it is not me but the homeowners who want it. Makes me wonder if they come to me only cos I have access to a wide variety of oonjal pieces at my disposal. On a more serious note, I love using them as well because they bring out the nostalgic element associated with them."

The floor to ceiling book shelf had to be custom made to house all the books and other curios that the couple own. It not only provides a glimpse into the couples interests and travel finds but also cleverly makes room for stylish storage.

The furniture, bronze artifacts, brass pots and lamps were curated from the gallery by Latha. She was spoiled for choice from the wide variety of curated artifacts from the gallery but managed to pick just a few favorites that fit right into her style.

What I find so interesting about this home is that every corner has so much to offer visually. The dark wood tones and bold color decor accessories are beautifully balanced with the neutral color on the walls and off white tiled floors. Another wonderful feature of the home is the large floor to ceiling windows lined on one side of the living room allowing for ample light to brighten up the space. Veshali kept the drapes in neutral tones too so to not overwhelm the space as the accent wall was already sporting a very bold color.

Veshali took care to see that she met the vaastu requirements of having the Pooja mandapam being stationed in this particular spot in the living room. She cleverly camouflaged it in this beautiful custom made cabinet that effortlessly blends into the rest of the living room decor. The doors of cabinet in a combination of ornate wooden carving with green colored glass peeking through.

Keeping it simple yet classy is Veshali's inherent style. The dining space reinforces this fact with its very functional yet good looking dining set in warm wood tones and bright mustard placements to contrast it beautifully.

If you thought a balcony lies beyond those white drapes of the living room you were wrong. To maximize livability space, they enclosed the balcony area to serve as an extension of the living room.

When entertaining, the doors are thrown open to make it one big space for their guests. The dark wood tones bring organic warmth to this space. Together with the well chosen accessories and furniture pieces like the Kerala mural art painting inspired table, the space is grand, elegant and inviting all at once.

Functionality is well-served in the master bedroom. There's nothing fussy about the furniture pieces in this space. It's simple clean lines all the way. Adding personality to the space is the bright shades of ocher and red. I think I can confidently say that the couple is never going to complain of Monday morning blues waking up in this bright and cheerful space.

With that we come to the end of the home tour. It's been a while since a home tour got me so excited!!!! I'm sure you are going to be here for a while taking it all in as there's so much decor inspiration to take away from this home tour.

And now for some parting words from Veshali, "I take this opportunity to thank Latha and Gana wholeheartedly for trusting me with their home. With months of planning and construction, the real pay off was the happy smiles on both their faces and when the compliments come so effortlessly. It is then that I step out of the house feeling content and knowing that I will be remembered happily by them every day. "

Thoughtful design and creative interior choices make this abode a private oasis for the couple. Thank you Veshali, Latha and Ganapathy for allowing me to share this beautiful space with my readers.

(My Singapore readers, should you wish to visit Prakalyam, please make sure to book your appointment right here or call (+65) 9008 3979. You may also write to Veshali at veshali@prakalyamgallery.com for design consultation.)

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Of old things and New (Home Tour)

November 13, 2019, 6:00 am

≫ Next: Color Pact ( Home Tour)

≪ Previous: Southern Exposure (Home Tour)

When you think of merging traditional charm of aged beauty with a modern lifestyle, comfort with elegantly designed functional pieces, practical space with a warm welcoming vibe, it may seem like an ambitious proposal. It's not the case for Veshali Visvanaath of Prakalyam Gallery. She yet again proves with the renovation of this Singapore family home that classic essentials of ethnically Indian style is her forte and the difference between good design and great design is attention to detail!

The resourceful and very talented Veshali relishes a good design challenge. She took charge of the renovation of Soundara Nayaki Vairavan (published author and art lover) and Mr V. Vairavan's 4,060 sq.ft. home with the essential mind set to incorporate the trove of furniture pieces and heirloom treasures that the couple had inherited to create an engaging space that is a repository of memories, history and their favorite things.

The homeowners originally hail from Chettinadu, Karaikudi. Veshali could instantly relate to their design ideology as she too shares the same roots. Even though the couple have lived in Singapore for a very long time, they couldn’t shake off the feeling of missing their home back in India. To recreate the familiarity that brought them so much peace and a sense of belonging, they decided to bring in certain authentic décor elements to play the part to create “a home away from home”.

A lot of the pieces seen in the home are ancestral/heirloom treasures that was stored in the couple’s Karaikudi home. As these pieces were not being used to their full potential, Veshali and the homeowners decided that it was only right to have them shipped to Singapore where they would be restored and duly incorporated into the interiors of the home to bring in the authentic South Indian old world charm. But first that meant Veshali had the intimidating task of scanning and sifting through hundreds of photographs to select the pieces that would not only work with the design plan she had in mind but also enhance and compliment the couple’s personality and lifestyle here in Singapore.

With her diverse knowledge and understanding of south Indian architecture and décor elements she had a well thought out design plan and executed it successfully. For instance, no Chettinadu home is complete without the pillars! So she got these semi-pillars made to be used as part of the TV wall feature.

The essence of Chettinadu was further endorsed by using Kandaangi fabric (the weave particular to the area) as curtains and cushions. The checkered fabric picks up the accent colors used on the walls like the ocher and rustic red. Care was taken to include the Burma Paai ( Burmese mat) as the area rug below the coffee table. Veshali tells me that this is something that is predominantly used even today in Karaikudi.

The gorgeous Tanjore painting titled Rasleela is what set the ball rolling for the entire makeover of the living and dining room. The owners of the home had acquired this painting about a year ago. But they just couldn’t get it to work in the old setting. That's when they reached out to Veshali to come to their rescue to give the interiors a facelift and make it all work cohesively. And she as always, worked her magic!!!!!

She also included elements like the kudam ( brass pots) that she's used as plant holders, the Manai ( tiled stool) used to elevate the height of decor elements in the room, the thottil (the cradle) used as a coffee table and the signature oonjal (that was custom made) to bring in the authentic vibe of a chettinadu home.

The brilliant looking chest box is a family treasure that is than 100 years old. The entire process of restoring it to it's original charm took them 3 weeks.

A close up of the wall with the chest box. Look at the details of that lock! Love this mustard wall and how it let's all the elements just pop against it.

The cushions were custom made to synthesis with the color palette. I love how they mimic the rangoli patterns and add another subtle touch of the South Indian vibe to the space.

To deck up the dining room walls, she went with the typical "Nadu veettu kolam" (popularly known as rangoli) which she used as art. In addition, brassware, vintage pickle jars, vintage spoon holder, brass kalasham, brass rice measuring containers etc. were brought in to accessorize the space.

Veshali chose to keep the color palette simple in the dining room so as to let the furniture pieces and other accessories shine through. Those beautiful thalis are perfect to serve up Chettinadu delicacies like the stringy Idiyappams, fried fish, classic chettinadu chicken, tangy Kuzhambu to mouth watering Paal Payasam!

With that we come to the end of another beautiful home tour from Prakalyam Gallery. Our take away from this home tour is:
~ how to use color to enhance the visual appeal,
~ One only needs a few beautiful pieces to make the simplest of spaces feel well appointed and
~ that something coming off an assembly line can never match up to the charm and elegance of vintage collectibles and antiques.

Thank you Veshali for entrusting me yet again with the task of show casing your amazing work. I'd also like to thank Soundara Nayaki Vairavan and Mr V. Vairavan for letting us take a virtual tour of their private abode. We wish you and your beautiful family the very best!

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Color Pact ( Home Tour)

March 25, 2020, 1:47 pm

≫ Next: A Fresh Take (Home Tour)

≪ Previous: Of old things and New (Home Tour)

It brings me so much joy to feature another beautiful home that is a potpourri of vivid colors and an unpredictable mix of furniture pieces and decor styles. Designed by my very talented friend and decor diva, Veshali Visvanaath of Prakalyam Gallery. This Singapore apartment (belonging to Sheetal and Jayesh) was not entirely a tabula rasa project. Reason being the clients wanted many of their furnishings and accessories to be reused as part of the new design plan. Veshali on the other hand admits that it would have been easy to work with a blank canvas but perhaps not as interesting and challenging. She had to decide how to manipulate the shapes, textures and colors of the things that they already had in inventory to get a balanced outcome that depicted the individual personality and style of the home owners and ensured that the design plan delivered a certain lifestyle that they would cherish for a long time to come.

Sheetal was certain that she wanted a happy space that was loaded with color and yet she had her doubts when it came to color being used on the walls of her home. But as we know, she was in great hands. Veshali listened very carefully to the client's briefing about what they had envisioned for their home. She decided that the best way to go about this was to use color in a restrained yet unexpected way. Turquoise, red and yellow were summoned to increase the color quotient in the design plan. She spruced up side boards, benches, cabinets, accent walls and textiles in the selected hues to punch things up.

Another trick that Veshali had up her sleeve was to use pattern to enliven the space. Especially due to the lack of elements of architectural interest in the home, she thought it would be visually interesting to bring in a stenciled effect. The end result, Mandala designs that have been placed so very aesthetically without creating a busy effect.

The achromatic backdrop not only brings about a bright and airy feel to the space but it also exaggerates the height of the room and works as the perfect backdrop for the bold and fun furniture pieces.

The beautiful coffee table was sourced from Prakalyam gallery while the ivory tufted couches and planters style chairs were purchased from a different vendor keeping in mind that the clients wanted a contemporary-eclectic style living room. The yellow bench was a lucky find from an online marketplace on FB. There are a few oriental touches like the turquoise cabinet (originally in a walnut stain was given a face lift to sport the turquoise color), Buddha painting and sculpture (belonging to the client).

There's also a hint of Rajasthani vibe to reflect Sheetal's roots - the "Jaipur City Palace gate" prints hung above the couch, blue jharokah and the wooden musicians. The jharokas and musicians adorned the balcony of the house earlier. Veshali felt that by moving them indoors, they would bring a lot more to the space. Just the right placement can do so much when it comes to interiors.

Loving how the space is playfully eclectic yet has a sophisticated mix of design styles! Only Veshali can effortlessly pull off something as challenging as this.

Another angle of the living room so you can fully appreciate the flow of space and how thoughtfully the placement of furniture has been considered to maximize the square footage while providing ample seating options.

The turquoise book cabinet was previously used as a prayer alter. Veshali got the doors of the cabinet removed, painted it in a shade to tie it in with the rest of the color scheme and used it to display the home owner's collection of books and curios. The ornamental doors were too beautiful to be discarded so she gave them a new lease of life as wall decor (can be seen in the vignette below).

Veshali shares with me that she was pleased that her clients were so trusting of her vision. The home owners' earlier coffee table has been relegated to be a side table to complete this vignette. A few wall plates, half stenciled mandalas and the intricately craved refinished wooden doors (now working full time as wall art) complete this beautiful composition. In her modest tone Veshali says,"I always say that a home is a reflection of the owners. I just help them achieve that reflection."

The client specifications for this project included a designated prayer room. Despite the space constraint, Veshali made this happen. Doors to the pooja room are fitted with little bells for an interesting ethnic touch.

As for the dining area, Veshali suggested that they go with low seating as the original dining table was taking up a lot of space and made the corner look heavy. Sheetal seemed to like this idea, so they cut the old table to fit into the new setting and got little stools to create a fun yet chic and functional causal seating.

A close up of the dining with the protagonist color palette, turquoise. The semi-circle mandala design and the suspended lights add such a nice touch to the space!

The TV/ entertainment room has splashes of yellow to tie it in with the adjoining living room space that's sectioned off by means of a sliding door (perfect solution to make more room when you have people over).

The opposite wall of the entertainment room is in the preferred neutral tone which sets off the bright colors in the room. It also shows off a collection of favorite family photographs, a perfect way to personalize the space.

The master bedroom echoes the simplicity seen in the rest of the home. Custom woodwork was undertaken to create a niche for the bed. The woodwork also hosts the side tables so that the home owners may conveniently place their belongings within arms reach. The dominant color being red in the room, it brings a deviation from the turquoise making for a bold look in this private retreat.

The daughter's bedroom is done up in shades of soft blue. Custom built shelves flank either side of the bed and provide organised storage. Above the bed, the letters spell "Ananyaa" giving the room the final personal touch.

I absolutely love the fact that this home tour was a departure from the very South Indian Style homes that we've seen Veshali design. It is casual, eclectic and brimming with color! Veshali take a bow for you have done it yet again - another home with a soul. If you too wish to have your home designed by Veshali, you may reach her at (+65) 9008 3979 or write to Veshali at veshali@prakalyamgallery.com for design consultation. Should you wish to visit the gallery, please make sure to book your appointment in advance. You could also connect with them via Facebook and Instagram.

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A Fresh Take (Home Tour)

May 7, 2020, 1:58 pm

≫ Next: Re-envisioning a place called Home (Home Tour)

≪ Previous: Color Pact ( Home Tour)

It is believed that there are three responses to a piece of design - yes, no, and wow! Our consistent reaction to Veshali's designs have always been : WOW! Each of her renovation and interior design projects always tell a heartwarming and authentic story. In this Singapore based apartment belonging to Prashanth Nair and Manorama Singh, Veshali yet again successfully translates "their" story through her design process. To give you a brief on the young couple - Prashanth is from Kerala while Manorama hails from Rajasthan. Veshali has incorporated subtle touches of both these Indian states throughout the 1,980 sq.ft. home without overwhelming the space. The end result being a home that creatively portrays the young couple's India connection while the finished look of the apartment has a decidedly modern feel. While it was a fun turn key project for Veshali, the 20 year old apartment came with a lot of challenges and guidelines. It not only required a lot of work in terms of changing the layout and the finishes but the most demanding client requirement was adhering to the rules of Vaastu Shastra. But Veshali worked closely with the homeowners and catered to every aspect to the extent that even the colors used on the walls were Vaastu friendly.

Veshali as we know is adept at giving small spaces a big presence with bold, uncompromising design elements that get noticed. The entryway is proof of this fact. A beautiful painting was commissioned by the couple from Mona Biswarupa Mohanty popularly known as Monnerisms. Together with the Asian 4 door lattice cabinet it creates a strong focal point. The shade of azule was chosen to fulfill vaastu requirements and is the perfect backdrop for the fascinating painting that symbolizes the beautiful couple and the welcoming hand gesture of Namaste. To balance it all, Veshali teamed it with a pattern rich rug that emulates the happy colors in the painting.

The living room combines timeless style and modern comforts. It is anchored by a beautiful Kerala mural that was commissioned by Veshali through her gallery. To create the perfectly paired look, she has pulled the colors from the painting onto the Rajasthani glass work cushion covers. (Design Tip: Find a great piece of art and then build your colors around it.)

The shade of poppy on the wall truly energises the space and balances the otherwise neutral setting. The oonjal (swing) that is so very significant with Veshali's south Indian decor style makes a comeback in this project. It is not only the couple's favorite spot to hang out but is a huge hit with family and friends when they come to visit. The TV unit is another find from Prakalyam Gallery. The other furniture pieces in the living room were sourced by the couple in consultation with Veshali. Notice how the Kerala lamp and the Rajasthani turbans are a salute to the home owners roots.

The coffee table was custom made by reusing the vintage doors from the home. Loving how stylishly livable this space is. By having off-white walls and a neutral floor, the details in the furniture and the colors used in the space, really stand out and can be better acknowledged for their dramatic dimensions.

As one can see, there are a lot of beautiful textures at play. The details of the oonjal can be better appreciated from this close up shot. Veshali excitedly adds, "The Oonjal has become synonmous with the gallery. It has been such a pleasure to see more and more homes in Singapore, incorporating the Oonjal. I am trying my best to avoid duplication of the designs and find myself experimenting to keep things fresh. This oonjal too was designed by yours truly to reuse a vintage panel as the back rest. I love how it has resulted in a contemporary feel to an ethnic piece." We couldn't agree more on how skillfully Veshali has elevated the look of the basic furniture piece with the beautiful details.

The grand doorway to the pooja/prayer room with the stained glass and intricate carvings was designed and fabricated by Veshali to match the original vintage doors of the house.

If there's one word that succinctly describes Veshali Visvanaath's decor style, it's "Desi-chic." We can see the dining room undoubtedly echoing this individual style. There's brilliant use of textures in this room. From the woven blinds to the woven cane chairs, it all adds visual dimension to the space. Here too we see subtle references to the couple's individual roots. The Kerala boat is customized to serve as the light fixture while the Rajasthani block prints are framed to serve as wall art. She has managed to keep the look simple, intimate, functional and sophisticated, all at the same time.

Another close up shot of this space from a different angel so that you can take in all the details. The framed art gracing the wall is a palla from a saree that belonged to Prashant's mother. What a beautiful way to personal a space and preserve a heirloom piece for generations to come!

This beautiful functional corner is a clever combination of the very authentic Kerala urli used as the sink and an ornate Asian mirror (that on first glance resembles like it was one picked from Rajasthan). The addition of the carved cabinets is cherry on the top.

The kitchen is definitely the zone where Veshali has pushed the boundary to include color and pattern. She tells me that Roma was always encouraging when it came to the use of bold colors. The use of printed tiles in a combination of ocher and chestnut hues makes the kitchen a lively and vibrant space like the rest of the home.

Veshali in unison with Roma, decided to use glass to connect the kitchen and the dining areas together. The use of glass keeps the visual appeal light and airy. As for the decor accessories, the traditional Indian pickle jars, the Kerala "para" (rice measuring container that is now used as a vase) and a few colorful ceramics (picked out by the couple from their travels) add the finishing touches to this space.

This home has this charming quality where one could stare at it for a long time and find something new to love with every glance! Quoting Veshali's as we come to end of this beautiful home tour, "This was yet another home that paved the way for a tremendous learning experience. As always, loved the journey in creating a vibrant home for a lively and ever enthusiastic couple."

If you too wish to have your home designed by Veshali, you may reach her at (+65) 9008 3979 or write to Veshali at veshali@prakalyamgallery.com for design consultation. Should you fancy to visit the gallery, please make sure to book your appointment in advance. You could also connect with them via Facebook and Instagram.

(Photo Credits & Image Copyright: Veshali Visvanaath for Prakalyam Gallery; The images may not be used for commercial or non-commercial use without the prior written permission of Veshali Visvanaath & TECD.)

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Re-envisioning a place called Home (Home Tour)

October 5, 2020, 6:50 pm

≫ Next: Thread Talk SG (Featured Artist/Store)

≪ Previous: A Fresh Take (Home Tour)

Veshali Visvanaath (founder, curator and interior designer at the Singapore based antiques and furniture store Prakalyam Gallery) has an impressive portfolio of expertly designed and executed, residential and commercial projects. The latest from her portfolio is the 3,229 sq.ft. apartment in Singapore belonging to the beautiful couple, Kavitha and Irving. While the strong Asian aesthetic of the interiors compliments the couple’s aptitude to absorb the best from the cultures they are exposed to, the home is also reflective of the homeowner’s roots. Kavitha is originally from the South of India while Irving is from Goa. Veshali beautifully sums it up by saying, “It is always a lovely experience to be able to work with 2 cultures under one roof and to bring out the beauty in diversity.”

Veshali tells me that Kavitha reached out to her after she had seen images of Veshali's other projects on TECD's Pinterest board. Hearing this gives me immense joy and brings so much satisfaction to what I do here on this blogging platform.

Moving onto the topic of challenges faced by Veshali in the renovation of this project. She shares that the issues to be dealt with were very different when compared to any of her other projects. First, the COVID pandemic took a toll on the project deadlines. She confides saying, “The planning was in full swing when COVID hit and the work was stopped mid-way. The lock-down happened and in the next 3 months, we had almost forgotten what we had discussed with the client. Getting back on track after lock-down was a struggle but we were determined to make things happen and got the project back on track and had it completed in no time.” Second, the homeowners were moving to the same layout, a few floors above in the same building. The couple already had an enormous collection of art and furniture pieces. Veshali’s initial brief stated that she assist them in giving the home a fresh look with the existing inventory on hand. Veshali got down to it by using the pieces in a totally different arrangement and decided to renovate the space accordingly.

When it came to the renovations, Veshali saw to it that the home had an airy and spacious look. The seamless transition between the living and the dining is evidence of this fact and it lets the eye wander unchallenged and take in the treasure trove of art and collectibles that the homeowners have so lovingly amassed over time.

The neutral backdrop perfectly counterbalances the jewel tones used in the design scheme. It's the colors along with the art that add so much character to this space.

An eye-catching cabinet with exquisite details anchors the space next to the couch. In addition to the collection of Buddha statues, different styles of painting and carved artifacts add the exclusive touches to the vignette.

The vintage cupboard with the Pichwai paintings is everything isn't it? But it didn't look anything like this when Veshali first set eyes on it. It was in great condition but uninteresting. So Veshali gave it a makeover and transformed it by adding the Pichwai paintings in each slot of the door. The result is a one-of-a-kind piece of furniture that is both fun and striking.

Along with upholstered seating options, I like how Veshali has casually introduced benches for seating. It makes things less formal and makes for a relaxed easy going vibe.

Another one of the bench style seating. This time its the versatile Charpai-look-alike bench that picks up the wheatish hues from the painting and the adjoining chair. The cushions and other accessories add the texture and color to the little nook.

This beautiful cabinet has been converted to serve as the prayer alter table. Statues of Ganesha and Hanuman along with a vintage painting of Mother Mary, all harmoniously occupy their rightful places at the alter.

Another bright and functional corner with more seating and art.

The couple has many unique pieces of furniture and art in their covetous collection. The ‘Howdah’ chair or sometimes called the ‘Elephant chair’ is one such elegant and refined piece. The adjoining bookcase lined with a collection of books beckons one to stay awhile and enjoy a good read.

I've always admired Veshali's mastery at mixing colors and textures. You can see it first hand here as she beautifully brings this tablescape to life with a mix of bright colors, ceramics and touches of fresh marigold.

More incredible furniture, art and color on display in the transition hallway of the dining room. Fiery reds and intense blues definitely makes for a striking combination in this space.

When one thinks of Goa, apart from the sea and the sand, its the bright and vivid colors as seen in Goa's Fontainhas Latin Quarter that comes to mind. Veshali decided to include these bold and vibrant hues to emphasize Irving's Goa association. The couple were a little apprehensive about this but nonetheless, Veshali was adamant about her color choices. On seeing the final outcome, the homeowners were more than thrilled and it now happens to be their favorite hang out zone in the home.

A close up of the farther end of the corner.

Another angled shot of the balcony allows us to spot colorful portraits of Frida Kahlo. With that we come to the end of this wonderful home tour. Whether a new construction, restoration or renovations — Veshali has addressed them all with experience, proficiency, imagination, and creativity. The resulting body of her work has always garnered numerous positive feedbacks from my readers and peers in the industry. I’m sure that this time too, you my lovely readers have enjoyed this exclusive home tour as much as I have enjoyed collaborating with Veshali in bringing this to you. Before I sign off, I'm leaving you with a lovely note from Veshali, "Kavitha was awesome to work with and she managed this home renovation in the midst of presentation and submitting the final thesis for her PHD. As for me, I stepped out after the handover to the homeowners feeling completely satisfied. I was thrilled to see that they were admiring their old pieces all over again in a new setting. I take this opportunity to thank them for having me as part of this incredible journey. I would also like to thank you dear Sruthi as you have always been my inspiration. Gratitude for life!"

Veshali the admiration and love is mutual. I'd also like to thank Kavitha and Irving for letting us take a virtual tour of their private abode.

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Thread Talk SG (Featured Artist/Store)

November 8, 2020, 4:11 pm

≪ Previous: Re-envisioning a place called Home (Home Tour)

Based in the metropolitan city-state of Singapore, Thread Talk SG founded and owned by Sagorika strives to positively impact the Indian weaving community, their fast-growing global consumer base and focuses on conscious sustainable fashion so as to leave a reduced carbon imprint. What I absolutely admire about this brand is:

~ Their timeless and classic creations that are not mandated by trends but rather driven by Sagorika’s love to keep the traditional weaves/crafts alive and thriving.

~ Not tampering with the process and age old techniques of the bountiful and unrivalled craft and textile heritage of India and yet generating innovative and fresh designs that appeal to the new-age Indian woman.

~ Embracing sustainability through and through – be it designing, sourcing, production or their distribution practices.

I’ve first hand witnessed the quality of work and effort that Sagorika puts into the design and making of a saree. My collaboration with her has been in the works for over a year now (yes you read that right, that’s how elaborate and labor-intensive it is!). Finally, when the saree arrived, I was fascinated to see just how effortlessly, Sagorika had managed to bring 3 Indian states together in designing a one-of-a-kind saree for me. The only brief that I gave her for this customized piece was it had to be soft silk (as I personally like fluid and luxurious drapes), an Ashta Lakshmi theme for the palla and the saree in a color other than maroon. After which she took it entirely upon herself to design and execute it.

The finished saree is the outcome of Maheshwari silk handwoven in Madhya Pradesh that then travelled to Srikalahasti in Andra Pradesh to be penned for Kalamkari. Once that was done, it went to Bhuj (Gujrat) for the Kutchi embroidery and mirror work. As you can see, none of the traditional processes were manipulated in the making of this saree. Sagorika worked with each authentic craft cluster from the original state to which it belongs.

I had the opportunity to deeply understand the workings of the brand and the thought process of its owner and designer Sagorika. I now have so much more appreciation and respect for what she does. I hope this tête-à-tête with Sagorika gives you too a similar insight into the brand and its soul.

Hello Sagorika and welcome to TECD! Please tell us about your foray into the work of textiles and drapes and your brainchild Thread Talk SG?

“Armed with a Masters degree in Microbiology from Mumbai University and a post-graduate diploma in pharmaceutical marketing, it’s contrary to my creative field of designing and fashion that I'm pursuing currently. I had a short stint in the Insurance industry before I quit to settle into matrimony and move to Singapore. My love and appreciation of weaves has largely come from my mother who has impeccable taste when it comes to sarees.

Thread Talk was registered as an entity in 2014 in Singapore when my first born turned 15-16 months old and I was craving to do something creative whilst still being able to devote significant time to him. I had already decided I wanted to work with weaves as there were not many options in Singapore if one really wanted to explore the rich plethora of Indian weaves. There was Nallis ofcourse but that largely curated Kanjeevarams and then there were other boutiques that made cheap imitations of the Bollywood inspired fashion with nets and synthetic fabrics loaded with bling. I ached to find Dhakais, Chanderis, Maheshwari’s, Ikkat’s, Kanthas or Kalamkaris. Once I had made up my mind on what I wanted to do, I started with the branding, name, logo etc. Threads being the very basic unit of weaves that I wanted to work with and Bread Talk being a very popular chain for breads and bakes in Singapore, I took inspiration from both to come up with “Thread Talk”.”

Kindly highlight what sets your brand apart from others?

“Thread Talk started out with curating weaves but now most of what we showcase are our own creations, where we have been involved in designing and execution of the particular weave. While I prefer not to tinker with original weaving process, I often experiment with different yarns, natural dyes and sometimes try contemporary designs with traditional methods besides combining 2 or more traditional crafts to create a single, exclusive piece. As a Singapore based business, we are probably the only one that works with designing traditional weaves from scratch. But even otherwise, I’d say our USP lies in how we can see many regional crafts coming together seamlessly to create a one-of-a-kind piece.”

What would you say has been the greatest influence on your designs?

“I wanted Thread Talk sarees to be able to narrate stories and be conversation starters. India is a land full of stories and mythologies and symbolism, so what better inspiration than India. Also, as Indians living outside of India, what more could evoke cosy, fuzzy emotions than stories from our own land.

My biggest inspiration is India and all the thousands of stories that she holds within her. However, we are also looking at other cultures, other stories different from our own but which, nevertheless invoke a feeling of nostalgia. I Guess I am an old soul which is why I move backwards more than forward For eg: our Kantha + Batik saree featuring toadstools was totally out of an Enid Blyton book. The Poppy Kantha saree was also something that reminds you of Remembrance Day. So yes, India and the past era would be our biggest inspirations.”

Please enlighten us about the design process that you adopt to create each piece/ collection?

“The way Thread Talk works, it’s not possible to have one unit as these are all regional crafts and the artisans are geographically based in their respective craft clusters. So whether it’s weaving or embroidery, they all happen strictly in the craft clusters that they belong to. It would be mis-selling if not. Like I see a lot of Paithanis, Patolas, etc from Benaras. Those are definitely not authentic. We are very careful after learning along the way about these crafts and hence work with regional clusters only. For the regular “adda embroidery” and for tailoring we have separate units, other than that all work happens in original craft clusters and we take this very seriously.”

I also see that you have branched out into the jewelry category too. What do you intend to bring to this section of your business?

“Though my main focus is on weaves, I have loved working with jewelry too. Like with our drapes, “wearable art” is an inspiration. Our first neckpiece was a pure silver Panchamrit spoon that we thought of as a pendant. Soon enough, I was working on a few more designs. Some involved making new ones where as others, like our Betel-nut cutter necklace just involved looking at the beautiful, vintage, artistic betel nut cutter in a different light to know it would make a fantastic statement necklace.”

How would you describe your ideal Thread Talk SG woman ?

“For me, the woman who would resonate with Thread Talk’s designs would most importantly be someone who is extremely confident. She is someone who is mature and refined, takes pride in her roots and origins and will flaunt and promote them without any inhibitions. She is not someone who will be a crowd pleaser or someone who tries hard to “fit in”. Thread Talk designs are very subtle and never over the top! So it takes a woman of substance to be able to drape one without having to make a “bold, loud saree” or a more acceptable/ fashionable garment as her crutch.”

What are your future plans for Thread Talk SG?

“Because I have never treated Thread Talk as a business, I have never had any plans for it. I go with the flow. I just hope I can reach out to more people so they can see what we have to offer. When people appreciate the effort we put in behind creating a single piece, it gives us a high as no other. The focus is always on the craft. If people value the craft, if the design resonates with them, they buy it.”

Where can one shop for these beauties?

“No retails plans and no website either. I showcase everything on FB and IG and those in Singapore can always drop by to check out stuff and pick them. I’d never want to lose the personal touch in pursuit of commerce.”

Finally, what would you say is the success mantra for a small business?

“There is no mantra! Also, how does one measure success. If I have to go by account books, Thread Talk fares poorly. If success is a measure of my happiness and sense of fulfilment, then I’m extremely successful. I love what I’m doing and in the small scale it is, I’m able to manage it as a one woman army. I often tell my husband I don’t want to lose this charm of a small, mumprenuer owned business. The day the joy of creating goes away and stress comes in, I’ll hang up my boots."

That brings us to the end of this feature and a motivating interview with Sagorika. She through her wonderful brand Thread Talk SG is here to harness the power of merging aesthetics, crafts, old traditions and ethical fashion. The interaction I’ve had with her has been such a pleasure and I see how her designs and work is an extension of her honest and authentic self. Hop onto her page and enjoy surfing their Facebook and Insta-gallery and I hope you’ll come away feeling tempted and inspired to order your own customized unique creations from them - be it sarees, jewelry or blouses.

(Photo Credits & Image Copyright: 2,3,7,9,11-Sruthi Singh for Thread Talk SG; 1,4,5,6,10 - Thread Talk SG: The images may not be used for commercial or non-commercial use without the prior written permission of Sagorika, Thread Talk SG & TECD.)

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