PATTERN IN CHAOS: May 2016

Studio pottery...
Creating art with my hand and it emerging from a spinning wheel, like a rabbit out of a magician's hat, has always spelt magic and intrigue for me.

I was at the house warming party of a friend when a piece of pottery, a vase, caught my eyes. It blended well with the decor yet maintaining its identity, adding a calming zen effect to the set up.

The design story, I believe, is never complete without the designer's story, so I got digging and discovered Devyani Smith. One who impeccably knows the alchemy of clay. In her quiet studio in Mumbai she churns out magic from mud every day. Having had a keen incline to create artistic content with her hands she initially wanted to learn carpentry. In 2008 she started with wheel-thrown pottery and developed a keen connection to the mystique of creating shapes from the formless. In 2014 she worked as an volunteer in Auroville and in her journey of bonding with the good earth she moved on to make her own studio in Mumbai.

Studio pottery having emerged in the early 20th century, has strong roots in Britain and is a lot about tableware. This movement is represented by works of several pioneering artists. Devyani's favourite potter being Lucie Rie, who is famous for her bowls and vases. Devyani crafts each tableware, individually with strong imagination, intensive detailing and aesthetic appeal. Every piece whether it is a cup, a bowl or plates are unique and great buys to procure for your home collection.

This tenderly coloured, demurely-glazed, delicate, mordernist pottery stands out with its rustic, oriental look. Though we spoke about studio pottery being more about tableware, mammoth number of creative artists have taken to non-functional design forms, such as vases and decorative sculptures. Devyani too loves making vases and pours her soul and design signature onto them. "Each piece that comes out of the kiln is a part of my life" she says. So once she is done with her clay work, she puts it in the kiln and lets go of it, to take its destined shape and look. Having grown up in the mountains, her work carries a strong presence of the mountain terrain in form and texture.

Devyani Smith's work can be bought from exclusive pottery exhibitions. She also sells from Paper boat in Goa and Bungalow 8 in Wankhede, Mumbai. The secret of course would be to hop into her private workshop, have some fun, meet her feline companions and get a stunning deal too. Seeing the glee on her students' faces, while they learn from her, you too might get inspired to take one of her tutorials.

I am glad that in my search for pattern in chaos, I met a shy ceramist whose work speaks volumes. These artworks can be stunning elements to add beauty to your space or even a design story for every tea or meal that you share with your friends. Now as I furiously work on my laptop to finish this post, a soul-touching zen cuppa coffee is my new thinking-mate.

Note:
Devyani Smith Studio Pottery
+919820225003
Video courtesy Aparajita Saha, Sutej Singh

Friends and clients have often asked me how do we convert our homes to look more opulent and luxurious without having to break through the bank door and getting a hole in the pocket. Luxury living does not have to be a complete makeover, it can be achieved with simple touches of opulence. Today I will share images and tips on how to make your home space look like a million bucks by using colours, design balances and shopping for the right blend of accessories.

Let's start right. For starters, it's the entrance of your home that sets in the whiff of your personality. Adding a sleek console, controlling the vibrancy with some tasteful lighting and adding detailed touches with candles and vases can do the trick.

The secret of elegance is to create and curate splendour by adding styles that are : #Brave, #Bold and #Timeless.
I have in the images below, a trim and tasteful layout of these 3 styles

#Brave
Is using a sumptuous colour like Rust and Beige with pinches of bling thrown in. Matching flowers, vases, table lamps and candles to enhance attraction.

#Bold
Is teaming up with stimulating Yellow and reticent Grey. Patterned cushions, dazzling yellow-velvet bedspread, spruced with an interplay of colour and forms makes for a determined impression that has become quite a global trend and a mark of contemporary style.

#Timeless
Is the combination of ageless Aqua with bashful Beige. Classic and everlasting in personality, this combination makes for an elegant, deluxe statement. Organic and geometric patterned cushions, vases, photo frames and candle-ware together sums up for a Timeless decor.

A home space truly thrives when friends and guests add sprite to your home. Tableware, dinnerware, cups &mugs, serving platters, trays, glassware, cutlery, tea sets, napkin rings and the list goes on... is what reflects your design personality. The choices could be: #Floral Elegance, #Quirky Fun, or #Patterned Classic.

#Floral Elegance ('Autumn', @AddressHome, Raghuvanshi Mills, Mumbai)

#Quirky Fun ('Katputli', @AddressHome, Raghuvanshi Mills, Mumbai)

#Patterned Classic ('Zeba', @AddressHome, Raghuvanshi Mills, Mumbai)

A home full of art instantly screams luxury. To conclude the home design story it's imperative to get a bit arty and look at shopping for the Object D' Art, that will give the final touch to conclude the grandiose of your home.

A well-designed home doesn't have to cost an arm and a leg. When I mention shopping it does mean identifying an address or addresses to source it all. Today I spoke about a one-stop address that seamlessly helps you add to your shopping bag and wave the magic wand to achieve the iconic touch. True to its debonair character this shopping destination is even called Address Home. Address Home has stores at many locations. You could head to your nearest store or even make a dash for it online.

I do get a bit edgy and obsessive when I can't find the exact design elements I am looking for, so I love the pampering of subtly coordinated displays when I am shopping for my spaces. Being in Mumbai, my favourite is the sprawling, well-teamed and conspicuously exhibited, Address Home store, in Raghuvanshi Mill Compound, Lower Parel.

While I have designed quite a bit of living rooms in my over two-decade tenure as an architect, I have always wanted to pen in a guideline on shopping for sofas. Sofas sum up for a dominating design element in any space and marks the personality of the design concept. Recently I walked into a boutique furniture store, Colonial Collections in Fort, Mumbai, which has an exquisite detail of sofa layouts in mixed styles. This prompted me to share with you images and concepts of a couple of styles that I favour while designing.

#The Classic Style

Vintage and comfortable in essence, this style is suitable for large and mid-sized living spaces. The Classic Style is a hands-down winner when it comes to weaving opulence. It can range from neutral, chic and sophisticated to dramatic, glamorous and magnificent.

#The Classic Contemporary Style

The most widely used and versatile form of design is The Classic Contemporary. This style can be used to add a touch of class and a definitive form to a mid-sized living space. It can be combined with classic centre tables and accessories to smartly use a mid-sized space to render a touch of splendour.

#The Contemporary Style

The trend that has consistently captured many designers' imagination is The Contemporary Style. Smart, elegant and debonair, this style is flattered with clean lines and innovative play of colour mixes. It is well suited for mid-sized as well as compact living spaces.

#Country Style (predominantly French Country Style)
This style has an intelligent balance of earthy and trim. Often the distress, antique, stain-layering wood finish in combination with floral prints or solid colours is used to create this look. It infuses a space with warmth and welcome. European elegance blended harmoniously with homespun comfort, this is a popular style for compact spaces.

#Arts and Crafts Style
This is a mesmerising, simplistic style inspired by wood. This style is comprehensive and can be used dynamically for indoor and outdoor seating arrangements. This design concept is a part and parcel of the repeated resurgence of the Arts and Crafts movement in American housing, design and architecture. The highlight of this style is craftsmanship and durability that can be handed down generations.

Today I have shortlisted 5 sofa design styles which have grabbed my planning focus for a while. Dabbling in these trends has forever helped me enjoy the desired mix of form and style to achieve the wow factor while designing a living space. You could select from these design ideas and draft your own signature style or walk into a bespoke store like Colonial Collections and be spoilt for choices (http://colonialcollectionsindia.com/).

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