My Prized Possessions: Ganesha at Home :)

I often get emails and messages for a tour of my house. Loads of motivation from blogger friends and I decided to show case my abode and the curios I have collected over the years. Nothing better than starting the feature with my Ganesha. *

My Love for brass has been there forever now. Vacations with parents in Tamil Nad n kerala (Southern States in India) meant trips to temples and a compulsory detour to old markets laden with beautiful handmade brass and bronze artifacts. I am quite blessed to have found pieces I love. My collection has grown over the years.  Do enjoy the vignettes :)

My love for music prompted me to pick this up. It has been there with me for over a decade. I fondly call the set

Kaccheri pillayar or The Ganeshas in Concert :)

The relaxing ganesha enjoying a quite evening

another vignette of the same idol

And ending this post with my ultra modern singing ganapathy (a.k.a. ganesha) the lord is holds a sitar (musical instrument) and seems to enjoy the outdoors a lot :)

A  few friends tease me about this idol and call it Organic pillayaar Ganesha). The reason behind this is Lord Ganesha is known for his love for food. Its very rare to find an idol with out a belly :). This idol was a gift from a dear friend and is lean and unconventional.

Also read about my handmade Ganeshas for the Ganesh Chathurthi festival. Loved doing the post. Thanks for stopping by :).




PS:  Coming up with a wonderful home tour. So stay tuned

*In Hinduism, Lord Ganesha is considered the remover of obstacles :)

Art Direction ~ Indian Cinema

I had shared a video of a very classy song from a movie called Pyar Kiye Ja in this post >>Here and the post about international influence on Indian cinema- music, decor and fashion etc. The tamil version of the same movie was remade and instead of mid century modern interiors, the art directors chose to go antique-y...see what I mean

french, and english furnishings in the tamil version I(above)

versus

a mix of mid century modern and some very faint french influence via accent pieces in the hindi version (below)
I personally love doing the movies masti magic post....i hope you enjoyed both the songs while letting allthe decor goodness sink in


PS: corrections to terminologies and style references are welcome..i m here to learn :)

First Giveaway on My Blog :): via Indyakaleidoscope

Hey Guys, Announcing The First ever Personal Giveaway on The Design Enthusiast....

Home tours, sneak peeks and Design and Decor ideas on various blogs, flickr etc are a major source of inspiration for me. I have always wanted to ask people about their decor sources, what, where and how they shop for such amazing things in their homes?  Wouldnt it be great if these talented bloggers and photographers manage to source amazing decor items and open up their own online stores for you! Amazing isn't it :-).

IndyaKaleidoscope: Blog, Store

Let me introduce you Preethi Prabhu's store on Indyakaleidoscope. If you are a regular on the decor blog circuit, you would be familiar with her super cool blog, and must have visited her wonderful store already. If not, I highly recommend that you do and see her exclusive picks - handcrafted and handmade by Artist across India, for your home. 

And now, the Giveaway: The First ever on The Design Enthusiast

Preethi celebrated the second anniversary of her blog - Indyakaleidoscope and has decided to organize a Giveaway via The Design Enthusiast. (sweet)

Here is what you could win

Isn't he the cutest!!! Who wouldnt want to have him at home :-)

All you need to do

• Leave me comment here on the Design Enthusiast to participate in the Giveaway
• Visit her store and the blog via here ; Indyakaleidoscope and tell me here on the Design Enthusiast: what draws you to her blog and her store. 
• Everyone is allowed a maximum of two comments on this post (here). (you can leave as many comments as you like on her blog though)
• And one very important thing, this Giveaway is open to readers in India and to all those who can provide an Indian Shipping address (sorry about that guys)
• The Contest is open until 16th Sept 2011. A winner will be announced on 17th Sept 2011..Do participate and inform your friends about the giveaway!!

Before I wrap up, I need to mention that this is the first ever giveaway on the Design Enthusiast!!

 All thanks to Preethi :-)


Images: Preethi Prabhu 

Movies masti and magic...International Influence on Indian Cinema

While on my research about the influence of international design. fashion and music on Indian cinema, I keep my eyes open for design trends and art Direction choices in Indian regional and hindi cinema over the years. This song is a classic example of what international influence on Indian Cinema in the mid century and until early 70's.

Each time I post a song, I spot design classics and decor pieces in the video. This time around, I would love you guys to do that for me :)

So, while you enjoy the very pretty Mumtaz and the versatile Mehmood sahab sway to a song sung by Manna Dey and Usha Mangeshkar, play the spotting game...will you :)?!! (The video also includes a very handsome Shashi kapoor and Kishore kumar in a "disguise" :-)

In general, most of the art directors picked stuff they liked from the international scene and imported stuff or custom made them for the sets. I love the way they made everything work for an Indian storylin and with other Indian Accents....cool isnt it!!

Vintage Love ~ Scoop Chair with arms!

My hand and shoulder injury have been keeping me away from blogging. I have been on the system only when it is really necessary, so blogging has taken a back seat. (snifff!!). My cousin spotted this chair on SF craigslist and sent me the link (sweet!!), and I had to share it here :)

Item: Scoop Chair

Manufacturers: Carter Brothers, Salisbury, NY

Period: Circa 1950

Status: Awesome, Drooling!

Made from a single piece/plank of plywood, bent to form the body of the chair. 

Measures: 23" wide x 19" deep seat, 21" high back, 13" to 10.5" seat height, 30" top of back to floor. Legs are removable. Weighs about 16 pounds.

source

The seller says " This chair can also be found with a single cushion, but the two cushion one is very rare and was discontinued in 1958."

Nominally priced for a vintage MCM piece, in beautiful condition. I admire people who maintain their homes and their furniture/furnishings well!! 

Vintage Love ~ Pascoe Plywood and Iron Side Chairs

I have spoken about my love for using wood and metal in furniture design. But then use of metal has to be in simple and clean lines for me. When I saw these on another blog I follow, I had to share it :-) 

 (circamidcentury blogspot com)

This chair were designed in late 1951by Clifford Pascoe for Modernmasters Inc, and was included in the 1952 Museum of Modern Art Good Design show. This chair has a bent/sculptural molded plywood backrest, black metal frame, and a vinyl upholstered seat. Pascoe chairs are considered a cheaper reproductions of Paul Mccobb's chair, the #1535 side chair of the Planner Group. 

Another reproduction of Paul McCobb was out in 1960: A design by Reilly-Wolfe 

source

vs

Pascoe (year: 1952/53)

A huge thank you to Jonathan of http://paulmccobb.blogspot.com), Here is what he has to say on identifying the original Paul McCobb vs equally good looking Pascoe's chairs :)\

How do you tell them apart? Here's a list of the major differences:

1. Paul McCobb chair has a metal stretcher across the bottom between the front and rear legs, the Pascoe chair does not have this.
2. Clifford Pascoe chair incorporates an upholstered foam rubber seat, the Paul McCobb chair a carved wooden seat.
3. Where the Pascoe chair uses bolts through the back of the backrest to attach it to the iron uprights, the McCobb backrest is connected invisibly at the bottom of the backrest.
4. The McCobb backrest is more sculptural and less angular than the Pascoe backrest     

  (source:  paulmccobb blogspot)

Found a pair of Pascoe plywood and iron chairs on D.C. craigslist :) (sigh) 

These chairs would look so good in a sunroom, breakfast nook or a balcony..I am sure whoever buys it will be pretty happy :). These pieces work well in small spaces, as they are stack-able and contrary to their looks are pretty comfortable. What I love about clean line furniture, is the airy and well ventilated affect they bring to any decor :)..But then, as I always say, they have to be done right!!

House Beautiful ~ At Home with Dana

As promised, I am back with a home tour. Starting the series with a peek into Dana's beautiful mid century home. Infact, Dana is the one who suggested the title for this series. 

She is my Research guru and has an amazing blog which is my go to guide for everything mid century. She is a mini celebrity :-) (her home was featured on HGTV's rate my space). I always knew this was the house I needed to start my home tour series with. 


Thank you Dana, for the pictures and a wonderful write up. And now, over to Dana.....

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I’ve been reading Sudha’s beautiful blog, The Design Enthusiast, for quite some time now, so I was honored when she told me she wanted to do a home tour series and would like to start with my home.

I live in a mid-century ranch style home which was built in 1950. It is very small…only 1200 square feet…but it’s the perfect size for me and my two sidekicks Mister Ming (a Shih Tzu) and Isadora (an Italian greyhound better known as Izzy).

My 1950 ranch style house in Fort Worth, TX

Ming and Izzy

Bright colors greet you as soon as you walk into my entry. The varying shades of red, orange, green and turquoise are used in some combination in all the rooms of my home. The art is a large Miro print and two smaller Brian Andreas StoryPeople prints. I’m in the middle of a DIY upholstery project on a “new” vintage bench which will soon be where you see the leaning shelf. 

Small entry hall sets the tone

  

My living room is a long, narrow space with French doors at one end and a small alcove at the other. One wall is lined with the original built-in shelves. The hardwood floors are also original to the structure, but the slate tile in the alcove, which also extends into the dining room and kitchen, was added by the previous owner. The alcove, along with the master bedroom and the dining room which all extend across the front of the house, have ceiling-to-floor windows with wood blinds. My living room is decorated with mid-century modern furniture I found on Craigslist, at estate sales or at auction. 

Living room furniture is all vintage, except for my one concession to pure comfort, an Ekornes chair

Alcove with Carter Brothers scoop chair, Jens Risom credenza, which holds Kosta Boda and Blenko glass

Original built-ins which contain Haeger pottery and vintage pewter

My dining room furniture is a Drexel Profile set that I found on Craigslist a few years ago at an unbelievable steal of a price. The china cabinet houses my collection of Russel Wright Iroquois Casual.

Drexel Profile and Russel Wright china

Corner cabinet with more Russel Wright, as well as a collection of Harvest Time by Ben Seibel

I was born in 1948, so I am a "genuine" mid-century gal, and it only seemed appropriate that I use turquoise, the signature color of the 1950s that my grandmother loved so much. The room developed around a vintage bedroom set that I found on craigslist, and it soon took on a life of its own with a 21st century twist to the turquoise color scheme. 

Crate and Barrel bed and bedding with vintage bedside tables and chest

Vintage saucer chair

My second bedroom is a TV room for me and playroom for my grandsons. The closet hides toys, play mat and bouncer when they’re not visiting.

Yes, more vintage furniture...but I made the barkcloth pillows

The bathroom was already “updated” when I moved in. I would have loved to find it in original 50s condition, but the previous owners had opted for more of a spa look. 

The spa look isn't quite my style, but the previous owners did a nice job.

The previous owners installed stainless steel appliances, stainless steel countertops and slate flooring in the kitchen, but I’m planning a redo in the near future, so I won't show it yet. Maybe that will get me invited back to do another guest post on The Design Enthusiast.

Thanks again for the invitation, Sudha. I hope your readers enjoyed the tour of my house as much as I enjoyed sharing it.

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So folks,you see why I started the feature with her home right!! I strongly recommend Dana's blog and store for further design inspirations. Can't thank her enough for the wonderful post. Watch this space for a guest post from this wonderful lady and my major source of inspiration. You can leave comments and questions for Dana.

Pictures courtesy: Dana

Amazing Antiques ~ Hutschenreuther Gold Overlay Cream & Sugar Set

Found this creamer and sugar set listed on the local Criagslist for a reasonable price...I loved the make and researched a bit on its histrory.

Seller listed it as Hutschenreuther creamer and sugar bowl set

A brief history:

Hutschenreuther China Karl Mangus Hutschenreuther set up Germany's first private porcelain decorating factories in Hohenberg, Bavaria in 1814. Hutchenreuther wanted to produce his own patterns, and after an eight year struggle with the Bavarian Government (which was not interested in creating competition for the state-owned factory), Hutschenreuther received the necessary permission to begin production in 1822. Upon his death in 1845, his son Lorenz founded his own Hutschenreuther Porcelain company in Selb. Son Christian and widow Johanna also worked to carry on the company tradition.


In the early part of the 20th century, Hutschenreuther grew quickly by absorbing factories at Altrohlau (1909), Arzburg (1918) and Tirschenreuth (1927). The branches of the company were united in 1969. Hutschenreuther was a trend-setter and enabled Germany to gain an excellent reputation in the European china industry. The Hutschenreuther "Mark of the Lion" is a symbol of excellence that continues to this day. source


A few more pictures of the set

lovely details...

Perfectly glazed!

It is in amazing condition considering its age...I would have bough it..but for the lack of space :)

Lovely and very classy isn't it!!

Pctures source: CL seller; the listing