Our Darling Ganesha!

With the celebratory occasion...‘Ganeshas’ are having a moment right now. And just like every year, we too have invited eco-friendly “Bappa” in our home. No corner of our home is untouched with the celebration. Especially our pooja room, which is brimming with his love and presence. The sound of soothing 'Bhajans' and the rising of chanting 'prayers' has left a purifying effect in our temple room which I look forward to enjoy every year.

Festive look this year has been created with the burst of yellow and green colors with some red thrown in. Strings of artificial marigold garlands have been placed on the runner (dupatta) to uplift the aura of the room. Our daughter's Lord Ganesha portraits are adding enough splashes of colors making it a perfect backdrop.

Taking care of the environment while we celebrate the festival, our daughter has been making idols at home since last four years now. You may peek here and here for our last two years' idols.We immerse him in a 'kundi' at home and let him be with us by pouring his left overs in our little garden.

Though one must visit India in order to experience the grandeur and splendor of ten days festivity of “Ganesha Chaturthi”, which is celebrated with much zeal and fervor.

With more festivities lining up to our calendar, I have so much to do, to plan and celebrate the festive joy at this time of the year. Signing out for today, as I head back to tick off the long list of things to tackle for the upcoming days. Stay connected until we meet again friends, toodles!

Festive Mode is on - Ganesha Chaturthi 2017

The festive season is upon us and I feel it is the best way to recharge and feel rejuvenated. Festivals give us a chance to debunk the suffering of our stereotype lives and enjoy the unapologetic and non-guilty pleasures of celebration.

 

Nevertheless, this year with our recently ended road trip and schools re-opening in a week, punishing schedules has begun to take toll on me and with that our home is an absolute madhouse.  Still the temptation to welcome 'Bappa' with all the grandeur is as strong as Fevicol adhesive :). After all, festivals are all about forgetting our worries and celebrate the positive side of life which also includes finding the time to do all your favorite things! And as you all know my favorite thing is to ignite a new romance and unfold new décor stories at the herald of any festival.

The one whose arrival has captured the social media, many homes and many hearts this festive season also is our rotund and plump bellied fella, Ganesha. Whose love runs in our genes and in our collection being the soul of our home. On this pious festival of "Ganesh Chaturthi", presenting few rare pieces of grand antiques from our collection that resonate with history. At the same time, they echo our sense of pride being a passionate collector of such gems. 

The very first in the antique series is "Sitar playing Ganesha" paired here with the rest of the antiques. My everyday gold brass is scrubbed and shined especially for the festive season. The brass water jug and small 'lota' housing flowers are recent loots from an antique dealer this summer. I personally think, these rare pieces keep us plugged in the past and surround ourselves with nostalgia and history. 

Next is an intricately carved brass hanging diya..which is quite heavy to hang. I have proudly displayed it here with all the bumps and knocks it came with. Every time I call these antiques in service, my husband wonderfully smug about collecting them all with his discerned eye, I let him take the credit of adding them to our collection ;), but it is me, who feel contented to bring out the best of them by displaying them in the nooks and corners of our home.

 

Whatever the festival it is, make-overs on my consoles and coffee table are part of my decorating DNA. Placed on my console here, the chubby little deity 'Bal-Ganesha', is my absolute favorite. Festivals are the best reason to bring out those hidden gems and scatter these treasured pieces into dead spaces. However, this Ganesha doesn't take turns often on my social media because keeping him clean is a herculean task. Though, this year, my son offered his hands for shining these beauties. His thoughtful and appreciative gesture revealed that festival values are being instilled in him firmly without being said.

And for the last of the series, I am ending with antique duo of Ganesha with more brass (is there a such thing as too much brass? Not for me!). Each of our pieces are distinct and have an individuality and character of its own. Multitude of such brass items can bring a buzz on the coffee table with ease.   

 

All this antique pieces are hunted and acquired from different antique dealers who have sourced these pieces directly from the destruction of palaces and temples, hence the exact era and age of these pieces are unknown. We feel proud to own and display these pieces from history in our collection which are hard to find in current market for owning. 

And before I wrap up this post, it hit me that you, my dear reader, might not know that these stunning but simple vignettes this year are created with the flowers from our tiny garden. With every bloom, I have leaped and whirled in one of those dances to see these babies and my green thumb grow ;).

Signing out wishing that may this festival of faith and joy bring the prosperity and happiness in you and your family. Happy Ganesha Chaturthi, enjoy the festivities until we meet again, toodles. 

Perfect, Pretty and In Place (Home Tour of Kinnari Parikh)

Tell me…do you have a friend where you drop by for an event or pop in for an unannounced visit…any day...anytime…everything is perfect, pretty and in place? Why, you ask? With a current state of mind filled with anxiety and excitement taking you today on one such home tour of a very close-knit family friend who is not only known for an impeccably organized skills but also a warm hearted lady.

Nestled within a quiet and leafy lane off the bustling city Toronto, there is a home that has been under the scanner of my eyes since long to be featured in my décor radar - a home of Parikh family, lovingly known as “Parikh Parivar”. 

Kinnari Parikh, the lady of the home - whose perfection itself has become a benchmark …whose thoughts, feelings, and attitudes closely match mine, whose generosity is popular lore in our social circles and who clearly knows how to eke every inch of her home. Her home radiates warmth, laughter and love of the couple and their both charming girls that she dearly dotes on. 

Any well thought out home with just the right energy smells good, feels warm and looks inviting - you may instantly hit with these characters upon arrival of her entrance. Vibrant ingenuity welcomes you at the entry way, which is brought to life by a dotting different forms of Ganeshji falling perfectly in the rhythm with the core of her ethnically Indian home. 

An exquisite and visually loud effigy of Krishnaji, which the family bought from one of the local artifact store, compels you for your short stay in her foyer. Her home is a chock full of lovely architectural detailing and this niche is a part of it which sets the tone for the rest of her home. 

And here is the family’s darling living room which creates a warm space with contemporary details and a bit sprinkling of brass. The family has a separate dining room with an added convenience of walk in servery and a less formal family room completely devoted for their family time. Both the rooms are work in progress and Kinnari is still scratching her head tackling these rooms.

My collection has created waves amongst many of my readers, and she being my avid reader and follower, takes a leaf from our collection. My creativity has given her wings and driving inspirations from my vignettes she has pushed her creativity to another level. Shown here are the best of her collected pieces so far. The 'baby gannu' reading a book in a relaxed pose is my favorite and was bought on our Diwali visit from a local temple.

Soft pools of light via wall lamps and candles are making the living room feel much cozier and inviting.  Beige walls, dark toned hardwood floors and juxtaposition of vibrant patterns and colors amplify the décor quotient of the room.

Family treasures are not merely decorative objects, they remind us of the people who matter us the most. After all, these inheritances help us to plug into the past and keep us closer with nostalgia and history. Entrusting the same funda that I follow for my heirlooms, she has also learnt to put those antiques at the best use. The heirlooms in her home are dotted with a whole new perspective brimming with a new life full of emotion.

 The evening mood teases out a unifying colour of brass here. 

The multi-functional and visual anchor here is the kitchen island, which adds space and functionality in her most used room. Whether it’s a home work time for kids or they decide to pitch in to help for dinner, the extra land on island comes in handy for any additional use. The island is also a witness of our impromptu ‘chai’ (a Kinnari special) sessions and gossips ;).

Kinnari is genetically wired to have a spotless clean home and takes due care and attention to the quality of her surroundings. The ongoing delight of having a place for everything and everything on its place in her home, always makes me pick up tips on how to declutter on very visit. 

 

As we wrap up this home tour, wouldn't you agree that Kinnari has assessed the space with same gusto as per personality? Her home is a sign of their well-lived life, family heirlooms and favorite memories that lend a character to make her house a home.  Signing out, wishing all the very best to "Parikh Parivar".

And until we meet again, stay connected lovely readers, toodles!

(Images are taken by Pinkz. Please do not use the images without the prior written permission of the home owner and Pinkz Passion however, you may re-pin them from Pinkz Passion's Pinterest account)