Sunday 26 August 2012

Adding Character

When we added the butcher block top to our island almost two years ago, the installer recommended that we add corbels for support. I thought it would be fun to add farmhouse legs instead ... two years later, we FINALLY did it!

I found a great website, Osborne Wood Products ... they have several kinds of fabulous products at very reasonable prices! I found just the style/size we wanted, and a few days later they arrived!

All I had to do was paint a coat of AS Old White, followed by two coats of AS Chateaux Grey onto each leg ... added a bit of distressing and a layer of clear wax. I then wedged them up under the butcher block ... added a bit of hot glue in between the legs and the butcher block top to secure them ... and, voila!

AFTER!

We love the character they add and how they contribute to the farmhouse feel!

It's hard to believe that our island once looked like *this*:

Speaking of changes ... we're just about done with the kitchen refreshing! AND, I've got a few little things planned for our breakfast area. For a long time, I've wanted French Country chairs, but the prices have been a bit more than we wanted to spend. This past weekend, we visited a fabulous store nearby called Primarily Pine ... they had EXACT chairs I've been looking for! They're unfinished (which saved on the cost) ... all I have to do is stain the seats (Walnut) and paint the chairs either AS Old White or Pure White. Aren't they pretty?

I'm envisioning a farmhouse table, these chairs and parsons chairs at the head of the table. We'll see how it all turns out!

One more project ... what do you think of this French fabric?! I'm eventually going to add them to our dining room chairs.

Just another day in my crazy life! Happy Sunday, friends!

Thanks for stopping by,

I'm linking up with:

Savvy Southern Style/WUW

Becca

Asran.

14:41 Bigger No comments

This post is a milestone for Rang Decor as it features first of the many global design inspirations that will be posted here in time to come. Global design that traces it's route along the Silk Road.

Saadia Nasir Ricart of Asran wrote to me months back while I was in Bangalore introducing me to her new project. A venture in which she curates unique handmade items sourced from regions along the Silk Road on her online store.

What is the Silk Road?

The Silk Road spanned 7000 miles, weaving its way through China, Central Asia, Northern India, and the Roman Empires. It connected the Yellow River to the Mediterranean Sea, along with all the trade, religions and philosophies on the way. Many of the regions today that were a part of this ancient trade route still use the same methods to create the things that were sold hundreds of years ago.

Saadia states being half Pakistani and half Japanese, and her parents being antique rug dealers for over 30 years, created a strong intrigue and love for the Silk Road cultures.

Asran has a beautiful collection of Kilims from Turkey and Central Asia.

What are Kilims?

Saadia explains on her blog, "Kilims use several flat weaving techniques, kind of like knitting, but bigger and thicker weaves. Rugs on the other hand are made by individual knots knotted tightly together by pressing the weft against each other.

Both techniques are extremely time consuming and require meticulous attention but that makes the final product all the more amazing!"

Kilims are mostly handmade in Persia, Balkans, Eastern Europe and Turkey.

They use many geometrical patterns in the weaves and each symbol has a certain significance. Some Kilims are used as prayer rugs as well.

At Asran you will find some very interesting handcrafted decor accessories like this Camel Bone Powder Box from Lucknow, India.

Silk Scarves and Pashmina Shawls as well...

"Originally inspired by Chinese pottery, Imperial ware, also known as Iznik, was so exquisite that European collectors in the mid 19th century thought it came from Persia. Though in the early 1900's scholars discovered that they were from the Ottoman empire and thus concluded that these Iznik ceramics were Turkish". explains Saadia.

Saadia with her mother in Agra.

So do drop by at Asran and check out the lovely handcrafted pieces from the Silk Road.

You can keep updated about Asran on Facebook as well.

(Images from Asran Decor and Asran Blog)

Wednesday 22 August 2012

Antiques, Pillows, Sewing Projects, Stools

Solution to a Hole in my Vintage Tapestry!

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Isn't it funny when you just can't think of a solution to a problem and someone walks up and gives it to you on a silver platter? In this case, I had picked up an old tapestry. The problem: a hole right in the middle of it. Too big to repair without notice. One day, my lovely daughter, Lisa says, "why don't you just cover a stool with it!"

I just happened to pick up this very old and very

Art & Crafts of India: Ajrakh or Ajarakh

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Every dusty road trip that we made into the small villages in Kutch, Gujarat turned into a journey marveling at the abundance of traditional art & crafts of the region.

One fact that really stood out was the high density of different traditional crafts in the Kutch region of Gujarat. One afternoon we understood the intricacies of the Mutwa embroidery in Dordo village, next evening we were engulfed in a colorful world of vegetable dyes used in block-printing in Kukma Village.

Ajrakhpur, near Kukma is where the tradition of Ajrakh block printing is kept alive by the Khatri community, whose ancestors came from the Sindh region in Pakistan.

Dr. Ismail Mohammad Khatri is one of the few left who carry on this tradition of laborious but beautiful craft of Ajarkh printing.

Carrying forward the tradition, his son Junaid Khatri.

Ajarkh derives it's name from 'Aaj ke din rakh' or keep it for the day, the processing of Ajrakh printing is pretty long drawn with each stage involving many days.
Dr. Khatri explained that the process involved procuring the best cotton fabrics, washing, steaming in copper containers.

The fabric is then soaked in a mixture of dung, oil an water to make it soft. Dried for a couple of days and then re-soaked with other natural ingredients to bleach and make it ready for printing.

Ajarakh uses the process of resist printing in which hand block printing is done on designated areas in the pattern which are pre-treated to resist penetration by the dye.

Natural vegetable dyes like Indigo, Turmeric, Lime, Rice and many others are used to create intricate geometrical block print patterns that are typical of Ajrakh printing.

Block makers who carve these intricate Ajrakh designs are also very few these days.

The intricate patterned blocks stained with natural vegetable dyes.

Wooden Blocks stored in different boxes...

We were amazed at the various designs on the wooden blocks and prayed with all my heart for this wonderful craft to flourish.

I bought this beautiful craft in the form of a dupatta that I will drape with a sense of pride and great respect for these artisans who carry on the age-old laborious craft.

I have tried to style the fabric in my bare home with few interesting finds from a yard sale that I went to last weekend:-)

If you come across Ajrakh blockprinted fabric in any craft fair do buy and support the craftsmen.

The very few left who practice this craft.

(Images by Arch)

Thursday 16 August 2012

Antiques, chairs, Furniture, Painted Pieces

My addiction to Furniture!

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I am standing up and admitting that I have an addiction! But I am really sitting down.

An addiction to abused, beaten, broken and old furniture! Especially old stuff because it's usually all wood.

I don't need anymore.

I don't really want anymore. Um, maybe...

But, I can't help myself when I know what it could look like and keep it out of the landfill.

This is a good case in point. It

Monday 13 August 2012

Flowers, Gardening

Sunny Day

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Its sunny bright day and all the plants in my garden looked so happy after few cloudy and rainy days. There was magic in air, birds were chirping and twittering. Weather was perfect to sit and enjoy on terrace and to click all the beautiful, colorful blooms in my garden.

Allamanda is full of blooms. I just love the color :-)