Before we get to the wooden collections from Jin Kuramoto Studio, let me tell you how I got there.  I have two identical terra cotta pots with an interesting shape waiting to be painted and planted. I got it on my trip to Mahabalipuram; so they’ve been sitting in my balcony for over a month. I can’t settle on a design/color for the pots, and am constantly looking for fresh ideas. While scouting for modern patterns, I discovered materialicious.  According to the folks who run the site, “materialicious™ (”shelter, materials and objects”) is a user-submitted visual curation site featuring modern architecture and design, craftsmanship, materials and products.” True to every word. You can’t get your eyes off the page once you start browsing, and before you realise you’ve spent enough time wasting looking at the stunners.

Now, materialicious is what led me to  Jin Kuramoto Studio. The wooden tea sets and mirrors in striking, contrasting, and complementary colors leaves a lasting impression. It’s easier to reproduce the same effect with planters. I need not delve further into the effect it would bring into one’s garden.  The traditional wooden tea sets in subdued earthen colors with simple stripes is unique too.

Striped planters

Consider growing a herb garden in the smaller ones by placing them on your kitchen windowsill.

For dark, bright colored planters

Black absorbs heat and can be harmful for the plants during the summer months. Go for a little lighter shade while retaining the effect.

White rules

When you’ve run out of ideas, a easy fallback option is a white planter. - you can never go wrong with this one. Give it a little texture, group a couple of them in different shapes in a corner, and you have a winner.

While we’re on the topic of painting planters, I feel compelled to share how discarded cups were transformed into eye-catching reusable pieces with a little design on them. And, if those designs happen to be characters from Alice in Wonderland, can one resist?

Alice in Wonderland ceramic cups

Images:

1.2.3. - Jin Kuramoto

4 - Dagens Design

You’re well traveled. You love to cook. You’re an avid reader. You have an eye for interesting curios. Now, that means you have an impressive collection of souvenirs from the various countries you’ve visited, a good collection of recipe books, spices and well-stocked grocery, and an overflowing library. And, there’s always only so much space in an apartment to display one’s collectibles, right?

Umm, that’s true to only an extent. But, if you ask me, limited space is an excellent opportunity to change the look of your home often. Don’t you think cluttering a showcase with all those shot-glasses and porcelain frames from exotic locations is a tad boring and old-fashioned? For a minimalist look, introduce open shelves around the house. Line them asymmetrically to give it a stylish edge. The material is of your choice but wood looks classy.

Try not to clutter a shelf with too many similar objects. Change the display frequently by rotating your collectibles. This way you get to get out all you have on time or the other. Match a photo frame with a odd looking vase. Go wild. The part I like about open shelves is you don’t have to spend a fortune and it’s easy to maintain.

Plan carefully how many shelves you would need based on the room. If it’s a living/dining room, limit it to two or three. For a study/kids room, you can design them into open cubes for additional storage.

Here are several ideas for inspiration.

An assortment of shelves

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One long overdue project is re-designing our guest bedroom-cum-study in white. As my husband and I got discussing about it last week, we got into a small argument over wall color. As you may agree, getting a color palette that appeals to everyone involved is one of the challenging tasks while designing interiors.  Let’s just say we’ve had better conversations on the subject. While on the subject, I’m reminded of an apartment I visited recently that was freshly painted in turquoise blue, bright orange, chrome yellow - every  member in the family got to choose one color for a wall.  Shall we safely forget the end results ? But, the people who live in it love it and, I think that’s what matters.

If you spend so much money and time, and don’t like what you’ve got done, then it’s money wasted. So, it’s good to browse/research a few designs online for choosing colors, visualizing it, planning the furniture and the other accessories that would be a part of the room before hiring the painters. Some colors like lime green or orange or magenta look great in ads but are not ideal for a small room cluttered with furnishings. Let me be honest here; I’m a color-hungry person. But, for once, I’m leaning heavily towards muted colors - shades of white, in particular.

When I said white, my husband remarked, “It will look like a hospital or hotel.”  Now, there is a element of truth in this argument if not designed with care. There are downsides to decorating in white, such as being impractical for its high maintenance, lacks in warmth, and with no color or texture, it can get depressing. But, the positives far outweigh the negatives. White walls are suitable for any season; you need not re-paint the wall to match your furniture; you have all the freedom to bring color to the room through curtains, cushions, furniture, rugs and other accessories. Changing from a minimalist look to any other theme is relatively easy. Monochrome colors gel well with any trend. And, more importantly, white gives a feeling of peace and space like no other color.

For inspiration, I went searching for a few rooms dressed in white. So, let’s forget the violets, greens, peaches, oranges, bright reds, wild pinks and fall in love with white through these rooms.

White walls and floors, multicoloured accessories

Bedroom in hues of gray and white

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