Home spic and span? Check. Bought diyas? Check.  Shopping? Check. Made sweets? Check.  Rangoli design? Check. Diwali menu? Check.

Somehow this Diwali doesn’t really feel like one for me. Maybe because it falls in the middle of the week, and most offices are off only tomorrow. So, there isn’t much activity in the sweet shops, or on the roads, in general, as compared to every year; at least where I live.

If you haven’t picked up flowers, or something nice to spruce up your decor, don’t fret. You can create one with the stuff from your kitchen and your backyard. Or, if you are all set and just browsing looking for some more inspiration, then here you go. Some fire play in water from Martha Stewart just for the big day.

Who says you need flowers? A handful of beans and candles are all you need to create a mesmerizing effect as this.

Floating candle centerpieces are easy to create but the effect is instantly magical.

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I was happy to discover Swedish home fashion site SIA. As lovly as the products are, the site is also a mine of styling and home decor ideas that can be easily adapted here to up the glitz and glamour quotient this Diwali. From what kind of flowers will look good in what kind of vases as centerpieces to how to mix and match candles, you’ll find it all.

So, are you ready for some quick exploration?

If you have a silver jug, you could turn into a vase with two or three stems of scented flowers like Rajnigandha to bring richness.

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Colored candled in a metallic container on a wooden table completes the picture.  A cluster like the one below, or even a single piece like this, coupled with some bright flowers will look attractive.

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I saw a peacock feather inspired centerpiece and was floored by the vibrancy and the life the colors brought to the table. Not too many colors, but the color play from blue and green has a stunning effect over all against the dark wood table. It’s fresh, nothing like you’ve seen before. The silkiness of the fabrics, ribbons coordinate well with the peacock feathers. The simple white vase accentuates the beauty.

Would you use this idea for your Diwali setting? Combine this with a few floating candles and the picture is perfect.

Craving for more? Stay tuned for more styling ideas tomorrow.

Pat: This is for you. I’m sure you loved it.

Image courtesy:

Love and weddings

It finally feels bright and cheerful. After a damp weekend, the summery sun is back -  shining on Bangalore.

Before September is over, it’s time to wish Sharon and Rekha of The Key Bunch who are celebrating their second blog anniversary. What a nice way to bring in their blog’s third year through flowers. I share a few corners of my home decked with flowers in recent months…

Can you smell the fragrance of Jasmine flowers floating in water?

Nothing better to liven up a dining table than bright flowers and fresh fruits.

A bouquet from my husband for my birthday

A serene corner of the drawing room

Another bouquet - for my husband on his birthday. Yea, we are a family of florists :).

A wedding anniversary, a birthday, and the day for professing love world wide - all fall in the month of February. In other words, the house is smelling fresh of flowers and bouquets all round the month.

My husband used to be once called a ‘florist’ dearly by friends for the amount of money he spent (umm, invested!) in buying flowers. I’m not fond of red roses, so they never find a place in our flower arrangements. Rajnigandha is a personal favorite. Yesterday was Valentine’s Day and much to my surprise, this year, my husband walked in with a huge bouquet containing a dozen Rajnigandha sticks nestled in pink and white roses held together by lavenders.

How do you forgive/forget and bury a argument? Flowers have always done the trick for me; they are also a cheap and instant way of decorating and bringing cheer into a home. As the bouquet was huge, I split into two today and filled the vases.

Rajnigandha

Rajnigandha sits atop the center table in a beautiful glass vase.

Roses in a copper vessel

Roses

While the roses are in a new copper vessel. I picked up this copper vessel (usually used for last rites in the South or for drinking water) from a large stainless steel retail store called Ratna Stores in Trichy for Rs.110. I’m into thrift decoration these days - in tune with the times. If you’d agree, most magazines last year, screamed of headlines such as decorating on a budget or how not to let recession get in the way of doing up your home.

I add a little sugar to the water and change the water every day. This way it lasts for 4 days. How was your Valentine’s Day? What’s your trick for making fresh flowers last longer?