Ever had Cardamom souffle? No? Neither have I. But, there’s a place in Kerala called Paradisa Retreat, a spice and cardamom plantation to be precise, where you can taste the souffle while enjying the breathtaking view of the mountains. Saw this place on Vir Sanghvi’s Custom made program and enjoyed it.

It’s a long weekend here for most of us in south India.  This post is out of context of the topics usually written on this blog. But, if you’re not particularly religious and wondering what to do, a trip to the hills is not such a bad idea provided it’s not pouring.

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For people in love with ethnic handlooms and Indian handicrafts, here is the truth: no matter how many exhibitions come and go, or how many new shops spring in town, you always yearn for more.  I’m like that. Are you? Even if they carry the same stuff, my heart skips a beat when I see something I like. This black pottery, for instance. I picked up a set of Longpi pottery mugs only 4 days back at the Dastkar exhibition in Bangalore. And you all know, how big a pottery fanatic I am. Yet, when this was the first picture I saw on afday, I felt like exploring more.

A friend wrote about afday, which stands for art for everyday, on Facebook. That’s how I got to know about it. It’s, what shall I say, the new destination on the design sphere to appease our senses.

Image courtesy: afday

Take a 675 sq.ft apartment in Mumbai, make an interior designer its owner and, this is what you get: a small, functional abode that looks double its size as spaces flow fluidly into one another. Owner Kaizad Dinshaw, who designed the apartment himself, is the man behind residential and commercial design firm - Nitido design.

This month’s BBC Good Homes features the 675 sq.ft one-bedroom apartment of Kaizad Dinshaw. To say, I was floored by the design would be an understatement. I live in a 1460 sq.ft home like so many others I know in similar or much larger spaces. But the eternal complaint is: the space is small and we are always looking for a bigger space. Wouldn’t you agree? Being space starved, I think Mumbai residents have it inherently in them to make efficient use of every inch.

But Kaizad’s home is an inspiration that space can never a problem if designed well. And no, not at the cost of aesthetics. Just a lil more thought and little less clutter to transform that mundane house into your dream home. As Kaizad says in the article, the apartment building itself is nothing great to talk about  - superficially and architecturally. But that didn’t deter him from making a home he would like to come to. What did it take: breaking down a few walls and cans and cans of white paint. Literally. See the pictures and next time you are up for renovation, there’s something in here for all of us to take tips from.

This apartment reaffirmed my faith in white. White walls, ceilings, floor blend, and furniture blend beautifully with soft furnishings and portraits in colors. And, there’s nothing to beat this look. You don’t get tired of the color soon as it’s simple to change the look.

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For a few years during my childhood, we stayed in a remote place 40 kilometers away from Gulbarga, in northern Karnataka. The only outing was a trip t the city once a month. And during the monsoon, the rains ruined even that as the water flowed well above the bridge across Kagna river, thereby disrupting all means of transportation to the city from surrounding villages.

One of the reasons my brother and I loved going to Gulbarga was a chance to eat at Kamat restaurant. I fondly remember tea being served in pristine white cups, with no frills or fancy designs.  We have come a long way, but my memory of good bone china always go back to those humble beginnings.

A few weeks back, when we dined at Pondicherry at this restaurant called Cinnamon (you should check it out if you happen to be there - delicious food with an unbeatable home-made taste), chai was served in round-base clear white tea cups. And my love for the tea cups rekindled. Coincidentally, I found similar designs on the racks of Home Town and wasted no time in getting some home. I have to admit that I’ve never seen the kind all these years at any retain outlets as there are common only with commercial establishments. It turned out the ones I picked up at Home Town are made by Jaipur Ceramics, and they have a impressive product portfolio.

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This is a guest post by Christina Johnson.

What are buyers looking for in a home?

1. Wide Open Spaces
Buyers no longer want homes or rental properties with separate spaces for different family functions. Now you’ll see, real estate professionals advising clients to create multipurpose spaces. Buyers will see how valuable and functional open areas are. In a family room, a media area, an office area and possibly a separate game room space would be the optimum arrangement for maximum functionality.

2. Keeping it Neutral
This is an essential aspect to creating a home. This allows your home to be attractive to many buyers, who are actually willing to pay more for a house with a neutral color palette. Don’t go painting everything beige – there are a so many beautiful modern neutrals. These colors add depth, character and intense interest to spaces without making them dull.

3. Up to date Kitchens
Updated kitchens give a fantastic return on your investment on your home Many buyers fall in love with homes based on the kitchen alone.  Most people congregate in kitchens at gatherings anyways, so buyers will envision their guests enjoying the space.

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For all us avid gardeners, a trip to Green Grower in Bandra should be akin to a visit to heaven. From landscaping ideas for your balcony and garden to how to mix-n-match plants and what plants would make for a great gift, you’ll find it all.  Started in 1998 by horticulturist N.S.Rao, the facility is supported by 25-acre nursery housing over 1000 varieties of plants in Karjat.

This tea pot will make you think twice before you cast away that old ceramic tea pot next time.

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Aren’t low seating furniture cool and informal? Don’t you think it’s easy to change the layout in a jiffy and change the colors with cushions as the mood changes with every season? And, a big space saver of course.

Last winter, when we got rid of all our bulky living room furniture, one of the things foremost on our minds, was to create space. I’m sure that’s the case for most of us living in apartments - not to bang on furniture while walking. Come to think of it, it’s not exactly the space or the irregular floor plan that’s a challenge, as much as choosing appropriate furniture.Most leather sofas look great in a showroom display, but become a monster in a 11*15 living room.

So, we decided to go non-traditional- mixing and matching- individual pieces which were comfortable and not space mongers. Here is a quick compilation of some interesting ottoman-like ideas from Indian and Japanese living/dining rooms.

The olden day chakki (wet dough grinder) inspired design can be used to display artifacts or be used a seating with/without cushions. The seat is large enough not to hurt your a*.

Peter Sandback’s studio with a plethora of compact, handcrafted options is one of my favorites. Can you spot the green square stool?

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I hope it’s bright and sunny in the part of the world where you live in. Here, in Bangalore, there is an overcast for the past couple of days, but no rain in sight. But that doesn’t deter us from camping out on weekends, does it?

How and where do you store important bills? Do you have any ideas for stashing away wires and cords of the zillion digital devices that occupy our lives - from Kindle and Kinect to Creative and iPad? How about the knick-kanck in your kids room such as crayons, poster colors and chalk pieces?And, how about those bands and clips in rainbow colors in your dresser?

Over the years, I’ve used a combination of things for storage that’s recyclable and not ugly in presentation ranging from color paper-wrapped shoe boxes to colorful straw boxes. We have a habit of filing telephone, electricity and water bills upto 6 months in a file, and bills for all the other big purchases such as TV, music systems, fridge in a another folder.  The wires go in two cupboard drawers. Though the files and boxhttp://dressyourhome.in/wp-admin/post-new.phpes are neatly labeled, it’s not a IKEA kinda pretty storage. And, with a overdose of color, I’m getting tired of the straw boxes; it’s just personal and a longing for monochromes.

So, during a weekend visit to HomeTown, when I saw the Bigso boxes near the checkout counter, I was floored. Nothing fancy. They are your ordinary cardboard boxes with a sleek pullout handle that can be stacked vertically to created organized storage. Nothing sophisticated, yet makes you want to have it.

Available in various shapes and sizes and primarily in black and white, these no-frills boxes are made of paper laminate and recycled fibre board. The single boxes were priced at Rs. 349. If you are creative, maybe you can even make one. So, here’s a good start to clean and organized closet.

Image courtesy: Bigso box of Sweden

Sometimes do you realise how fast the week flies? I’m glad this week will soon be over as it’s been filled with whirlwind travels and tragic news. So, shall we welcome the weekend on a positive note?

One of things I wanted to but couldn’t was visit the pottery studios in Pondicherry, the Golden Bridge pottery in particular. Glazed studio pottery in Southern India found its early origins in Pondicherry at Ray Meeker and Deborah’s Golden Bridge Pottery in Auroville. I enquired around as to how to reach but couldn’t find help.

If you look at many of the ceramicists and studio potters in India, you’d see they all have at some point been trained at the Golden Bridge. So if you want to learn pottery, you know where to go. I’m definitely going to do that in this lifetime

Today, I share with you the work, functional pottery specifically, of Ange Peter. Ange, says her website, moved to India when she was two and trained at the Golden Bridge Pottery briefly. I loved what I saw on her site and after seeing all the stoneware and ceramic ware being sold at Auroville (which were great by the way), I think her creations take a natural form and is simple and unique. The synthesis of shape and color in her pottery is what appealed to me.

After raving over her pottery, how I wish there was a way to order online or just make another trip.

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The trip to the eco-friendly Dune Hotel in Pondicherry was great despite the scorching sun. Memories of lazing around in the hammock, milking the cows, fighting out the rough sea unsuccessfully, seeing my holding a crab in his little palm, petting Nash, lugging ourselves on a bicycle, shooting balloons, playing bat and ball on the lawn, and seeing my son at the potter’s wheel to make a cute piggy bank will linger on forever.

A lot has been written about the hotel, a favorite place in Pondicherry among the design bloggers. So I’m not going to rave about it. Instead, here are some amazing ideas to reuse and recycle some common objects that I saw was being done at the hotel.

A cluster of plastic water bottles filled with color water circle a lamp to create a beautiful center lighting piece with a stunning effect.

This is a old Sintex water tank that has been painted to double up as a seating area and play area for kids.

For most of us who have grown up in water-scarce smaller towns, the plastic pots are not a novelty. So it was heartening to see the stacked pots with bulb inside light up a dark night.

Image courtesy:

Plastic water pots - Exploring Serendipity