Store, Decor and More..

By now my readers would have known how maniac I am about organizing things. Especially when it comes to those knick knack stuff, be it be keys, wallets, my all day hair clip, TV remotes, etc. Often these grab and go things are left on the counters or tables, contributing to some kind of clutter (in my eyes). I have come across some vintage, rustic, cute storage boxes which not just help in tucking these frequently picked up items but also add an element of decor and contribute to the theme of the space. To add a cherry on top, these are not so expensive and come in different sizes. Take a look.

Try these vintage charms..Found them on www.pepperfry.com at a reasonable retail price.

Dimensions 13.5 x 13.5 13.5 inches, Price: Rs: 1350 

                                       

    

Something sober for everyone:

If you are looking for kid's room, no problem, there are cute ones for the kiddos too.

If some of you are not so keen in a closed storage box, you could go for distressed looking open trays. I loved some of these, also found on www.pepperfry.com

This natural rustic tray is multi-functional- Can be used as place holder for knick knacks or as a serving tray..

Some things that I use at my home..

a wooden tray picked from The Philippines..

an inexpensive small tumbler made of tin.

Let me know if you picked some of these cuties and I shall feature them in my blog. If you are looking to store something big then you need to stay tuned and wait for my upcoming post on "trending Trunks".

yellow, yellow, daisy fellow!!

Waking up from my bed and getting into the bathroom. Well.. scented candles work for my nose, but what about my eyes? I definitely need something to "cheer" me up visually every morning, saying "Hello, there!"

When I say the word "cheer", the one thing that instantly hits my mind is "yellow". Let me share an easy DIY tip to get some life to our boring bathroom vanities. 

Daisy in a mason jar with ribbon. Image source

The idea is to have a bunch of flowers or a single strand in a vase on the bathroom vanity to add some pop effect. The color of the flower(s) plays a major role. Hands down, Yellow is the happy and cheerful color. Yellow flowers instantly cheer us up. It looks better with a white contrast. Pick a white enameled metal vase or even a simple glass vase, we do not want the vase to dominate, it's the flower that should be more powerful. While fresh flowers can do the magic,  most of us are too busy to go for flower shopping regularly. It's not always a sin to go for artificial flowers as long as they have the real-looking texture and feel. And what best can we have other than yellow sunflowers or daisies.  

Sunflowers in a white designer ceramic vase Image source

I picked a simple and inexpensive vase costing less than a buck from IKEA (< 50 INR) with an artificial daisy strand. All together costing 4 $ (200 INR). The long stem is cut to suit as per the scale of the vase. I chose one strand instead of a bunch to keep it minimal (as it's a small bathroom counter) and make the flower stand out. I chose daisy as it's usually found in full-bloomed shape, which brings a smile on my face. If daisies are not your favorite, go for tulips - tender and beautiful. You can reuse your white wine bottles, sparkling wine or champagne bottles, mason jars, etc. for vases.

Hope you enjoyed this easy quick and cute tip. Stay tuned for an interesting and a deep decor topic coming up.

built-ins just got a contemporary look..

I was posed with a challenge of unwanted open built-in concrete shelves in a kitchen. You know those stereotypical builders who still are in the age of 1950's and  willing to do good. And following the phrase literally "charity begins at home", they build these built-in shelves in the 'homes'. Well, these are not as bad as they look. They add functional storage space. But in the age of Modular Kitchens, these are kind of out-dated and unwanted. These poor concrete shelves turn out to be disturbing the aesthetics of contemporary kitchens.

A picture speaks more than a thousand words.. Have a look at the unwanted...

          

Before:

Built-in concrete shelves.. with all the stuff displaying out, it looks like a lazy bachelor's kitchen

After:

The translucent sliding doors covering up all the stuff..

In simple terms, the solution was : Chic sliding doors in frosted glass covering the entire space. I chose the frosted glass so that no one knows the inside story :) 

and the making:

• I had two major options to attack the problem.  

              a) to rip off the concrete shelves or
              b) to cover them up cleverly

It is not a good idea to remove functional space if there is a way to beautify it. Hence I chose the latter. 

• Now the second question was what and how

As you see there was not much room to have full open-able doors for the shelves. So the central idea was to go for sliding doors.

Constraints:

I only had two days to inspect, provide solution and finish the task onsite. So this made me incline towards a quicker, equally durable solution -- Aluminium fabricated frames, instead of conventional wooden/plywood frames.

• By now, my solution was "to provide aluminium framed sliding doors for the concrete built-in shelves"

Other aesthetics to decide: 

• It was very essential to masquerade the aluminium frames to make it more appealing and to balance the aesthetic quotient. The home had a contemporary look overall. Believe it or not, I was inspired by the "refrigerator" which was just by the side of the shelves. I wanted the fridge to gel with the doors. Bingo! So I chose the color of dark grey for the aluminium frames. By this, they look more like a fine UPVC track rather than an aluminium track.
• I chose to have not more than two panels just to give it a better look.
• Last but not the least, for an easier maintenance and for a better look and feel I chose  to have frosted glass as the doors.
• I went to the nearby Aluminium fabricator and gave the measurements and ordered for Dark grey colored 1.8mm Aluminium frames with 5mm thick frosted glass. Negotiated the price and got free onsite installation and transportation.

All this was done just on time, within 48 hours. Hope you enjoyed my little tour on a quick weekend project. Get in touch with me if you need a quick renovation or update to your rooms or corner. Email me at deepa.ghankot@gmail.com . Do share with me any such experiences you had and I will be happy to post them in my blog.

light up your spirits with string of 'Globe lights'..

No, it's not Christmas or Diwali..but there are lights everywhere and romance in the air.. For having an alfresco dinner, you don't necessarily have to step out to a restaurant and splurge anymore.. Just open your balcony door and see the magic..

Sharing quirky and cute ideas is our primary goal. We want to be different, we want to add some wowness  to the space we are living in. So, take a walk with me and explore a simple yet effective way of turning your drab balconies, cuter.

Lighting is everything! It's one of the easiest yet most effective ways of covering up imperfections and highlighting perfections. We go extra miles to light up our indoor spaces using recessed lights, spotlights, lampshades, etc. , but we often tend to be less creative while lighting up the outdoors. So, let's take the most common outdoor space which we all have i.e. a 'balcony' and add some glitters and see the glam.

Many of us must have come across strings of lights put up during Christmas. So, the idea here is hang string of globe lights in balconies or outdoors to facilitate light as well as appeal. The string of lights is a treat to watch and really adds some special effect to the dreary outdoors. Imagine having outdoor dinner under these cute bulbs! They are called "globe" lights simply because the bulbs are round in shape.  To keep this special effect special, turn them on over weekends or on special days.

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• The string of globe lights is readily available as the whole string/rope of lights in electrical stores or departmental stores. They can just be plugged in and hung when needed and removed when not.
• Usually, these lights are available as strings measuring few meters. Do a simple math - how you want to hang them and get a rough measurement you would need for your outdoors.
• They are inexpensive and do not consume high energy. 
• Most often the entire string has one plug that can be plugged into a socket, needing one plug point.
• Sometimes you have an option of the color of the string - black or white. Hunt for them.
• Ask for those in which if one bulb goes off, others still work (bulbs work in parallel)
• They are also available in LED / solar versions and hence are quite energy efficient. 

White satin globe lights with white string Image source

Commercially available options for string of Globe lights:

These string lights are available in some options depending  on clarity, color, source of energy, etc. Broadly they are:

• strings with frosted or clear bulbs
• strings with warm light, white light, cool blue light or mixed color bulbs
• solar globe lights
• led globe lights

• String of 'Warm Frosted' globe lights:

I usually pick warm lights for my interiors to give the coziness and warmth to the space. Choose as per your mood.

Warm globe lights Image source 

• 'Cool Blue frosted' globe lights:

If you want to have a full moon day feeling, you could choose cool blue frosted globe lights..

• String of 'clear' globe lights:

To give an industrial feel, clear bulbs can help..

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Newer version of globe lights:

Now a days globe lights come with trendy 'Edison' bulbs instead of the old round bulbs. Edison bulbs are expensive than the regular ones and might not be available at all places as of now. Keep looking for my upcoming posts elaborating on Edison bulbs..

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Word of caution while using string of Globe Lights outdoors:

• As the bulbs in the string are made of glass, they are susceptible to breakage while handling them.
• While these bulbs look great at night outdoors, ensure that they are not in direct contact with rain or snow.

Very popular LED strings Image source

Most of the readers might be wondering  why I chose to emphasize on the globe lights rather than the very known and easily available string of LED lights (see pic on left). I personally feel that the strings of globe lights are more visually appealing than the LED strings. Also, LED strings cannot act as the main source of light for the outdoor area, they could be more for decor rather than the light source. But the globe lights can be used as absolute source of light in the outdoors.  Having said these, please choose the ones which fit your purpose and style.

I can't stop myself from sharing a great idea from a blog. It showcased a rustic ladder hanging horizontally over the ceiling with strings of globe lights, making it technically a ceiling light. This idea is quite out of the box and a true design element.  Although this was featured above the dining table, I felt this rustic way of lighting would look great if we could incorporate this in our balconies...

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To complete the alfresco dining experience under these cute lights, I would pick my all time favorite seating for the outdoor which could perfectly match..
Cool, casual and functional.  Can have a drink with friends or even have a casual dinner..

I leave you now to select your aroma candles and other accessories to go with our theme.. 

Stay tuned for my upcoming interesting posts on some interesting lighting topics.. Leave me your notes or feedback @ deepa.ghankot@gmail.com

boring drawers turned cute...

Have you ever tried replacing boring old buttons of a shirt or a dress with something  more bright and interesting ones? If you did, you are with me.

Be it grandmother's old chest of drawers or a boring bedside table or an unwanted desk with drawers or your old cupboards, they all can get a quick and a very cute look! There are many ways to charm them up. But to make our pockets happy and our faces smile, let's look at a quick and inexpensive fix. It's almost similar to changing the buttons of a shirt!
"Replace your old handles and knobs with some interesting Ceramic knobs" . Let me tour you through..

Now a days, ceramic knobs are available in various shapes, colors and interesting patterns. They are easy to manage. Adds a small detailing to cupboards. Most of them are handmade. The best thing is they are extremely pocket-friendly. Prices start from as low as 50 Rs for the regular ones or USD 3 in international markets.

Below are some of my all time favorite and classic ones.. 

• A beautiful bright yellow bulb shaped knob..

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• Ceramic knobs in bright colors draw your attention instantaneously. 

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• Beautiful handpainted knobs in moroccan colors..

Can be bought on etsy  Image source

• Pumpkin shaped ceramic knobs:

Found on Etsy

Found on Etsy

• Subtle ones go well with bedroom wardrobes..

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These vintage ceramic handles and knobs can be used for kitchen cabinets..

Can be bought on Etsy Image source

• Mediterranean style..

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• Go for some cute ones like the below for kid's cupboards..

            Can be bought on Etsy Image source                                      Can be bought on Etsy Image source       

Buy on Esty.com

Buy on etsy.com Image source

                                                                                   

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Sources:

I came across some online stores selling beautiful ceramic knobs. Please do check the genuinity of the seller and the website before buying.

• Many best sellers on Etsy.com  -- great collections from all over the world, slightly expensive
• Indianshelf.com -- moderately looking good, not so expensive
• Multiple sellers on ebay
• pepperfry.com 

Do share your experiences if you have incorporated any such simple yet cute ideas. Email me at deepa.ghankot@gmail.com. If you like the blog and want automatic updates on new posts, simply subscribe for free. Stay tuned for another interesting topic..Happy long weekend..

Interesting Towel Racks...

Last month, I was in Vietnam and happened to see our very old, never cared-for friend, Mr. Ladder! Yes, my room at Intercontinental, Hanoi, had a ladder as a towel rack in the bathroom.

It's not the first time I encountered this. Knowing that it's accepted across different countries, I felt, it's good to share this tiny idea of reclaiming/reusing a ladder as a functional and design element. It's functional, occupies less space, simple, can be re-used and importantly, adds a design charm. Check them out..

Wooden wall mounted ladder as a towel rack

Some tweaking ideas:

We can adapt and  enhance this idea and fit ladders into our spaces. Tweak the material or finish or color or size to personalize your own one. Some ideas I can think of are:

• Rustic looking ladder
• Melamine finished (smooth finished) ladder
• Full length floor ladder 
• Half length ladder- incase your bathroom floor area is too small
• Wooden or bamboo ladder
• Make a custom built ladder using plumbing pipes!!

Sky is the limit for your imagination and creativity!


A half length ladder on counter saves floor space..

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A contemporary bathroom with a rustic ladder as towel rack!

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To incorporate storage functionality, use the hanging tin shelves!! You can find them in garden/outdoor decor shops. Check the one below:

Ladder with storage functionality Image source

If you can go more extra mile , paint them in splashy colors like limegreen or turquoise!!

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Notes: 
1. To have sturdiness and make it immovable,  mount them to the wall.
2. Leave a gap of an inch or two from the floor level so that it does not get wet in the bathroom.
3. To conserve floor space, use smaller ladders and fix them onto the wall.
4. Reclaim old bamboo ladders with imperfect finish to get the rustic charm.

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Stay tuned for my upcoming post on another spectacular use of Ladders. Until then, happy homing :)

#34DDDD ....

Wondering what the title of the post is all about? No, it's not a typo. Well, I thought, reading my previous post, might have made you feel slightly color blind. So, here I am to splash my favorite color from the other side of the spectrum!
What's your favorite color? Black? Blue? Red? Yellow? White? ... ? ....?

How about a natural color called 'Turquoise'? #34DDDD is the hex color code for Turquoise shade!!  

My love for turquoise started with a cute pair of ear drops! Since then, I kept looking for what magic this color could bring in, in our Homes. Here I am with my small research!

My first turquoise collection - a pair of ear drops!

The serene waters of Lake Brienz in Switzerland and the enchanting Mediterranean shores of Capri in Italy further kindled my romance with this color.

As you know, this blog is about unique things, beautiful spaces, those little details from all over the globe which make a space go vow! And this post is quite in-line with our blog's philosophy. Let's see how this 'color' can really add some special effects to our space. 
Accessories in turquoise and similar shades can potentially make a great impact on the interiors. 

An intricate design for the mirror frame painted in turquoise.. really charming and something different!

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You will be surprised to see the original 'before' version of this mirror, found in our very own 'Hometown' store for under 2.5K INR! White is also charming, isn't it!

Mirror from Hometown Store, India.

A chandelier in turquoise..

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Beautiful sheers in Turquoise..

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Love the vases!

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Look at the vases, too delicate to comment!

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More shades from the family..

Some of the other shades from turquoise family which can be used effectively in home accessories are Aqua and Teal.

I quite often use Aqua for accessories as they are more commonly available than turquoise ones.


Where do I find?

Aqua shade full length curtains from Lifestyle(Homecentre )store in India. 
Sale price, INR 799 for a set of two. Good deal.. Use them for windows against white walls.

A cool aqua colored lampshade from Homecentre, India. Rough Texture makes it little special. Price: 995 INR for both lamp and shade. Doesn't include bulb, obviously!

If you are not a big fan of texture, looking for something glossy and contemporary, how about this one below from Homecentre again? Price was under 1000 bucks.

How about these tiny cute lanterns ? I like both the below colors. Homecentre, Price = 450 INR!!! Can't get better for this price! 

 

How about a bathroom cabinet in similar shade, from Hometown store?

                                       
Found this large owl wall art with turquoise background in a swedish store. Perfect for my blue walls. Price is 40 SGD (1700 INR)

Best paired with..

• These cool mediterranean shades go well when paired among themselves  (playing with lighter and darker shades of same family). 

• They can really get more appealing when paired with whites or similar neutral shades. 

• They also gel well with slightly contrasting shades like shades of olive greens , lemony greens, light mustard shades, etc.

Look at the Teal accents below:

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Ahh, the console table is popping out with color in the neutral room! See the pears in olive shade is not out of the place but goes well.

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Olive and aqua/turquoise shade..

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Go ahead and splash some color into your neutral rooms. 

Do not forget to share your comments and pictures..mail me at deepa.ghankot@gmail.com
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