Winner of Small Space Contest

I was on cloud nine, when I saw my name as the winner of "Small Space Contest" by Good Homes Magazine India.

Image source:Good Homes Magazine India

Whenever I see a contest or giveaway, I may win or may not, I just love to participate. I am a decor enthusiast and what can be better than this, as I got a very beautiful and elegant flower vase as gift from the team.

The contest was on sharing some tips for making the most use of small spaces of your home along with some photos. Here are my entries for the contest and my views, that I have shared.

"I feel I am an interior novice when it comes to share some tips on interiors that to at GoodHomes. But as there is a contest can’t ignore also :). When it comes to decorating a small space first thing to consider is which room or space we are decorating and accordingly the changes can be made, keeping in view the usefulness of the space. Few tips that I follow are

1- A room looks bigger and brighter if we use light colors on the walls, floor and even light colored drapes.

2- Hanging curtains just few inches below the ceiling makes the room look taller and room looks bigger dimension wise.

3- It should be well lighted; if the room is very small we should avoid floor lamps and go for ceiling and wall lamps.

4- A large Mirror gives the illusion of more space and it also reflects light, making the space look bigger and brighter.

5- Floating Shelves are great for a small space; they offer storage space without occupying much space.

6- Furniture should be well chosen and if they can perform multiple tasks then it’s an added advantage. Sometimes it’s better to pull away the furniture from wall. Some gap between the wall and the sofa can make the room look more open.

7- Adding some green can make a space look lively, a plant makes a place fresher and lighter.

8- Keep the space clean, clutter free and well organized. Never overdo anything.

9- Vertically utilize the space.

10- Wall hangings, paintings and other wall decors can make the space visually interesting.

11- Finally personal touch is a must, as it can add life to anything."

Living room of my home, soon coming up with a full post on living room of my home. Here is just a glimpse of it.

The most loved, cared and nurtured place of my home- My balcony garden. Area wise it is roughly 10/4 feet only.

Entryway of my home, a 4/3 feet area with some personal touch. Center of attraction of this space are my hand painted bottles.

So my dear readers of WCJF, don't forget to participate in such contests and giveaways in future and try to gift yourself some beautiful items like this.

Painting some fruits of Amaltas tree

A golden shower tree or Indian Laburnum or more commonly known as Amaltas, when it is in full bloom with bright yellow hanging bunches of flowers is extremely beautiful can steal anyone's sight. 

A Golden shower tree in my office campus, before a month and now. 

And what I did in this period??? I collected some dried fruits of it. Of course few colleague of mine encouraged and cooperated in this process. Few other gave some weird expressions with raised eyebrows. But nothing can stop us (creative people). A completely dried fruit of this plant is very sturdy like wood and this quality of the fruit gave me an idea *smile*. 

  

Then what I did is I painted them and result is here *smile*

I made some shapes randomly by using acrylic colors. Here is it on a side table in the living room. The pot in which I have kept this painted sticks is one of my DIY project. 

An Affair with Hand Fan

Hi there....
You may find it funny and crazy, but yes hand fan makes me nostalgic. 

Summer brings so many memories of childhood. The long summer vacations and the trip to village where my grandparents lived are the first thing that comes to mind. I feel those days were not that fiery hot as they are now. There were so many long power cuts, but it never bothered us (me, my brother and my cousins). Many nights passed without electricity and without fan discussing some horror stories. When there were long power cuts and electric fans gave up, something that came to rescue were hand fans. Some days I can remember whole night Maa used to blow the hand fan so that we can fall asleep peacefully. Nothing can compensate a mother’s love. Sometimes I feel lucky to be born in 80’s. As kids we have experienced the transition phase from fan to air coolers and then air conditioners and in between the hand fans had shown their faces too *smiles*.

Now the traditional hand fans have started to become extinct species. In the era of inverter or generator there is no need of these hand fans and they are losing their functionality. It is even sometime tough to find these in market. I have many memories associated with hand fans, so they find a special place in my home, as home décor accessories. Few hand fans in my home in different avatars are here...

A fold able hand fan. It's a travel souvenir from Sikkim. Now foyer of my home looks like this, do you know how it was looking earlier??? In the picture you can see my handmade tribal bottles also. 

A peacock feather hand fan, also a travel souvenir. Opps can't remember from where!!! *smile* The small vase with a dangler, holding peacock feathers is hand made. 

A white metal antique look hand fan, along with some other white metal elements.

A traditional bamboo hand fan of Odisha and with that few hand made paper baskets…

A small fold able hand fan…
As this post is about hand fans, here I am saying SAYONARA and see you in next post. 

Shortcut to Cold Coffee and Lemon Iced Tea

Hiya.........

Ohhhh this summer...

Sometimes it's good to live in such a place, where we can experience all weathers. Summer means some chilled drinks are must...

Today I am sharing two simple recipes. Honestly these two recipes are my favorite as they are my savior. Specially at those time when I get back home from office and need something refreshing to restore the lost energy, but at the same time don't have the patience for doing something special. On the weekends I prepare some flavoured ice and on weekdays I use them for preparing some chilled drinks. Through out this summer I have heavily relied on these two recipes. 

Instant Chocolate Cold Coffee

Ingredients Required (For 4 glasses)

1- Coffee powder- 4tsp

2- Chocolate powder-4tsp (optional, for extra taste. I use cooking chocolate)

3- Sugar- 1 cup

4- Milk-3 glass (pre-boiled and chilled)

5-Water-2 cup

Method: 

In a sauce pan pan heat some water. Just before it starts boiling add sugar, coffee powder, chocolate powder. Stir it well till the sugar dissolves. Bring it into room temperature. Then set ice with this mixture. This ice can be stored in freezer for more than a week. When you feel like drinking some cold coffee just put this ice and milk in a blender....and tada cold coffee is ready. For more taste top it up with a scoop of ice cream. 

Instant Lemon & Mint Iced Tea

Ingredients Required (For 4 glasses)

1- Tea powder- 2 tsp

2- Sugar-1 cup

3- Finely chopped /crushed ginger-1 tsp

4- Mint leaves- 2 to 3 tsp

5- Lemon Juice-4 tsp

6- Lemon Zest-1/2 tsp (for extra lemon flavor)

7- Water-2 glass

Method:

In a sauce pan boil water, sugar and tea powder. As it starts boiling reduce the heat and add the ginger. Let it boil for 5 minutes. Once the tea is ready, switch off the heat. Strain this mixture and let it cool down. As it comes to room temperature add lemon juice, lemon jest and mint leaves. Now set ice with this mixture and use this ice to prepare iced tea. Mix around 4 ice cubes in 3/4th glass of plain water and serve with few pieces of ice.

So I hope, you would like to try these two simple yet amazing recipes *smiles*
If you want to try some other chilled drinks, click here.