Villa Marigold

People Who Inspire: Sarita Handa

November 14, 2017

Sarita Handa is an Indian brand synonymous with luxurious textiles and impeccable craftsmanship. Since the establishment of its business in 1992, ‘SARITA HANDA’ has focused on its key strengths – design, innovation, exquisite detailing and quality workmanship.

What started out as an internationally inspired textile and linen range being the focus has turned into a comprehensive line of furniture and decorative accessories which are in complete harmony with the lifestyle products so painstakingly and selectively sourced by their team. Sarita Handa is more than just a home furnishing brand, it is a total home design resource.

Diah by Mana : modern mini light with endless applications

November 1, 2017

Have you ever seen a hollow, cordless & modular light that needs no plug points, bulbs or lighters? Well! Diah is here for you.

Diah is an innovative lighting concept created by a Lifestyle brand from Singapore, MaNa. Mana is a brainchild of dynamic young entrepreneurs Sid Butalia and Mandara Nagaraj.

Diah is a multi-purpose, modular and portable LED paper light that effortlessly adds ambience to any environment. Its unique design allows you to wrap, hang or string many together to make beautiful lighting structures. All you have to do is snap them on!

So thrilled to share with you all that this wonderful product has launched today on kickstarter

DIY | Happy Home | My Home | workspace

DIY shell display

October 29, 2017

This Diwali I got a couple of incense boxes and I had empty ones lying with me for a while. My kids have lovingly collected many shells during our vacations to beautiful beaches hence this is a project that I have been wanting to do for a long time as I simply love those shells and they are kind of a visual display of beautiful memories of beach side vacations. So here goes….

Decor/ Design | Diwali decor | festival decor | Happy Home

Diwali vignettes from my home

October 27, 2017

Hope you all had a wonderful Deepawali ! Wishing you a very Happy New Year!I thought I should round up all my Diwali Vignettes in one place so created this post for you all! This year, my aim was to use unconventional materials and containers around the house. I did not buy new things but just used what I had. All in all I had super fun putting up these vignettes. Hope you enjoy this post 🙂

Decor/ Design | DIY | festival decor | Happy Home

DIY Paper Stencil Rangoli

October 3, 2017

My favourite festival is almost here and I’m so excited to be doing all the decorating, partying etc etc…! Its so much fun to get together with friends and family and just have a good time! In the spirit of this beautiful season, I will be sharing some offbeat Diwali decor ideas…you can also check my instagram for frequent updates.

Last year , I did a lotus theme rangoli with paper stencil and it is one of my most repinned images on Pinterest. Many people have requested for a tutorial so here’s my humble attempt at one…hope you like it!

Image from last year’s lotus themed Diwali rangoli

Travel

Diani Beach : A slice of paradise on the Kenyan coast

September 14, 2017

A typical tourist to Kenya would do the regular trip to Masai Mara, Mount Kenya and probably Mombasa but there is so much more to explore in this beautiful country. Diani beach on the Kenyan coast is where you get picture postcard views of the Indian Ocean. The best part is that this beach is not crowded (or maybe it was not tourist season when we visited 🙂

African furniture | Decor/ Design | Travel

Swahili style furniture

September 12, 2017

Imagine lounging on a beautiful porch in a handsome plantation chair facing a beach, warm breeze bringing the sweet smell of frangipani blooms and bright bougainvillea around you. I could go on and on but you get the picture. The furniture I’m talking about today fits perfectly into this setting……

Travel

Weekend retreat on the Equator

May 8, 2017

We spent the last weekend at one of the most beautiful properties in Kenya, The Mount Kenya Safari Club, Nanyuki. This property belongs to Fairmont Hotels and lies on about 150 acres on the foothills on the magnificent Mount Kenya.

The fact that the hotel passes through the Equator line makes it even more special. Originally the retreat of movie star and Club founder, William Holden, this property has beautifully landscaped gardens and a small orphanage for wild animals. Its a perfect place to get away for the weekend. About 3 hours drive from Nairobi with beautiful views of the Kenyan Countryside on the way.

Magnificent view of Mount Kenya (image via: hotels.com)

Decor/ Design | Happy Home | Home tour

Huma’s warm and welcoming Nairobi home

May 5, 2017

I had a chance meeting with the very gracious Huma Butt when she invited a common group of friends to learn Baklava. Not only did I end up learning her lip smacking recipe but also couldn’t stop appreciating her tastefully done up home. I just had to share this gorgeous home with you all.

Huma originally hails from Pakistan but has been living in Nairobi for more than 30 years. Huma and her husband have put in a lot of hard work into designing and lovingly collecting furniture and artwork for their home, which clearly reflects in the warmth that this beautiful space emits.

Huma recalls that it was the positive vibe of this place that made her choose this apartment over others. When she chose this place about a decade ago, there was construction going on with rubble all around her but she went by her instinct and is very happy with her decision today.

So here is a tour of her warm and welcoming space! Enjoy!

Living Room

This is the heart of the home as the couple love to entertain a lot. The dining space seamlessly flows into the living space with easy access from the kitchen.

Decor/ Design | Happy Home

Hanging furniture for your home

April 2, 2017

When I was young, we had a big swing in my mother’s garden and I have awesome memories of playing with my cousins and friends on it. In traditional Indian culture, swings played an important role and were placed mostly inside the house. American decor too incorporates porch swings. Imagine going to a friend’s house and when you see a swing in her balcony……everyone wants to sit on it. It is not just a conversation starter but also adds such playfulness to a space. Hanging beds and chairs also bring in a unique character to your decor. I have compiled some beautiful hanging furniture for you here…..enjoy…..

This is the swing I saw at a beautiful home I visited recently…..such a cozy nook to relax and unwind with a favorite book or music or tea…