All We Need Is Organic Bedding

After all the hustle and bustle of the busy day, we all want a cozy place where we can unwind and rejuvenate and that's our bedroom. No matter how beautifully the bedroom is decorated and how peaceful is the ambience if the thin layer between you and the mattress is not right and comfortable you are not going to get good night's sleep. 

Bedsheets and pillow cases can be a big reason that you are not getting enough rest. Why you ask, well, there are many reasons. Today's guest on my blog will answer all this and more.
This blog is brought to you by Amouve, a luxury organic bedding brand founded by Ami Sata who had worked in a non-organic bedding industry earlier and knows the drawbacks of non-organic bedding. Hence Ami took the plunge into organic bedding industry and founded Amouve that offers certified organic bed linen. Ami is with us today to enlighten us more on organic cotton and right bedding.

3D: How the idea of Amouve was conceived.
Ami: A combination of factors came together to spur the idea. 
A trip to Scandinavia introduced me to the most sumptuous bedding I had slept on. Made of organic
cotton, it was a bed made in heaven and I knew I had to know its origin. Several days of research later, I traced it back to India. Soon enough I was making calls to manufacturers and sitting upon an idea that I felt right about. While trying to find the same quality in big-box retailers in India, I was left disappointed. I realised that the emphasis on the fabric that touches your skin was minimal. Few realise that conventional cotton sheets are choc-a- block with chemicals, from pesticide-laden cotton to formaldehyde finishes. Anti-wrinkle and anti-stain sheets may be easy for ‘maintenance’, but not your health. That is why we even certified it according to the highest standard of organic textiles – GOTS.
More importantly, we wanted to be a business with a conscience and stand up for the cause of the Indian cotton farmer. Since decades, thousands of farmers have been committing suicides every year. Farmers enter into contracts with multinationals for purchasing patented GM seeds and pesticides. This leads to rising debt and suicides.
It was necessary to opt for an alternative. The beauty of organic cotton is its sustainability for the planet, biodiversity, human health as well as the farmers and textile workers. Cumulatively, the above led me to start Amouve.

The main factor that affects our sleep is the material of the bedsheet. Synthetic fibres tend to trap heat and don't allow moisture (sweat) to wick away from our body. Whereas natural fibres like cotton are light, breathe well and allow air to circulate which in turn cools down the body temperature. So cotton sheets are good in both warm and cold weather. A lot of brands use a blend of synthetic and cotton fibres that of course doesn't feel as good as cotton but Amouve promises to bring you 100% organic cotton bed linens. 

3D:. Why organic cotton.

Ami: With increasing stress, long working hours and an erratic sleep pattern, the need to opt for healthier lifestyle choices is more pronounced now than ever. When you sleep on organic sheets, your body breathes better. It feels super-soft and luxurious. Not only this, we wanted to bring a global standard to India concerning health, safety and the quality of sleep. Organic was a way to achieve that. Our idea is to democratize organic and bust the many myths associated with bedding in general. From ply to thread count to the quality of cotton, it is necessary customers are aware of the truth. For eg, Thread Count is the number of threads woven together in a square inch and not an indication of the quality of the fabric. As opposed to conventional wisdom which says higher the thread count, better the quality, the truth is that thread counts are a misleading custom often used by manufacturers and brands to inflate and advertise.  

3D: What does the range comprise of.

Ami: Amouve’s range is a healthy mix of Scandinavian minimalism and contemporary hand block prints done with a discerning design aesthetic, inspired by travel and places. It comprises of bed sheets, quilts and comforters all in super soft GOTS certified organic cotton so the consumer knows what she is getting is genuinely free from chemicals and not just a marketing term.

While the Everyday Luxury range comprises of solids like classic White, Sand, Blush, Navy and 

Charcoal in 300 TC sateen with a pearlescent sheen, the Lyric Collection is a labour of love that takes days to make, only to ensure the best quality. From Morocco’s eclectic vibe in Moroccan Musings to the Colorado collection inspired by the red mountains of Colorado, from Angkor’s stone ruins to the urban vibe of metros (Geometro), each collection is thoughtfully-crafted. Each Amouve quilt undergoes 7 different processes and takes an average of 45 hours to craft. 

Talking about cozy comforters, these come in a hypoallergenic encasing in colours, so one need not worry about spoiling them. Hail chilly nights!

Ami has sent me this beautiful organic cotton bedsheet in sand color. She assured me that being devoid of chemicals, these bed sheets are also anti-pill and get softer with each wash and how true she was. I washed mine just a few days ago and realise that now it is even softer than earlier.They're literally a dream to sleep on and when I say this, I mean it!!

Secondly, I don't need to worry about the aesthetics. Inspired by Scandinavian style these bed sheets go well with classic as well as contemporary style decorating. This minimalist bed sheet in sand color gives me the opportunity to play with accessories to add a pop of color and I can pull off warm, cool or even neutral look for bedroom easily and effortlessly. 

Thank you so much Ami for helping our farmers, giving us a healthy and sustainable option, promoting make in India concept, sending me this soft and comfortable bed sheet and for being with us today. I wish you loads of success ahead!!

Dear Peeps, you can find Amouve on Facebook too. Do check out and let Ami know what do you feel about Amouve.

I am working on Vintage Suitcase Planter's video tutorial. So stay tuned!!.

Soft Furnishings Play An Important Role In Bedroom's Decor

Namaste wonderful readers!!!
June started on a happier note. First, I am glad to share with ever growing 3D family that 

like past few years this year also our blog finds a place in the 7th edition of the Directory of Best Indian Blogs, released on 1st June 2017. Second, my YouTube channel which is in a baby phase right now just hit the mark of 1k subscribers on 1st June. This gave me a reason to make more wonderful videos. I have shot two already and they are in the post-production phase. Soon I'll be publishing them. So if you haven't already then please consider subscribing. And third, a luxury bedding company called Aplus Linen is introducing its new collection on blogland and Design Decor & Disha is the first blog to do the honours!!

Now for today's blog as I said in my previous post that I'll be talking all about beds and beddings this month, so here I'm with second in this series and I'll be sharing something about bedroom soft furnishings today and how it changes the look and feel of the bedroom. The white bed linen you see in the above picture is made of Egyptian cotton and is manufactured in Israel. Why Egyptian cotton? right!! I have the answer for you. Read on...

Today I have two young enthusiastic entrepreneurs with me Aditya Narvekar and Vinay Ghatkar, co-founders of Aplus Linen. A long conversation with Aditya over a call gave me some really important insights about soft furnishings industry in India.

Here is a tete-a-tete with Aditya:
"I am a Computer Engineer with an MS and MBA from New York University. After working in Investment Banking industry for 10 years in New York. I decided to return home to pursue my passion. The Apluslinen idea was conceived by me when I went shopping for Egyptian cotton sheets in India last year. The branded Egyptian cotton sheets were selling in excess of 8,000 with some European brands being sold for 15,000. Even at these exorbitant prices, there was very little information about the type of cotton (Egyptian, Supima) or the weave. I knew I could do better so I contacted my co-founder Vinay who is a textile engineer. Together, we researched and then finalised the type of cotton, thread count, weave type and then we travelled around the world looking for a reliable manufacturer. We avoided China because of poor quality and the chemicals being used in the manufacturing process. We finally partnered with an Israeli manufacturer who supplies major US/European brands. We visited the factory to check on the machines and processes used for quality control. They use state of art German and Italian machines for manufacturing and their quality control was top notch. For example, our floral design had a small color spread because of a broken screen which was not immediately visible but our manufacturing partners rejected the entire batch. Although it delayed our launch by a couple of weeks, we were happy that we are offering our customers the best possible quality.

Vinay is a Textile Engineer with over 10 years of experience in fabric manufacturing. We brought his years of experience in designing Aplus sheets. His technical expertise helped us differentiate between the various factories we visited in China, Italy and Israel."

As a child, I had always loved my Nani's (maternal grandmother) pristine white, super soft and comfortable cotton bedsheets. That was the most luxurious and comfortable bed that I have ever slept on and quite often I miss that comfort. I have so many cotton bedsheets in white color and I tried buying expensive ones too but never felt the same comfort. All the cotton bedsheets have some kind of roughness which is why they don't feel comfortable. Aditya told me it is because of short staple cotton which means cotton fibres are short in length and to make it longer several fibres are joined one after another that makes the thread rough. But this is not the case with Aplus Linen, long staple cotton from Egypt is used in making Aplus bedsheets which makes the bedsheets super soft and comfortable. Still, the bedsheets are not that expensive because Aplus Linen omits all the middle-men and avoids costs such as licensing fees, slotting fees to bring the luxury bed linen in the market at an affordable price. Whereas many luxury bed linen brands in the market are charging 7-8 times the cost of the manufacturing. 
See the image below. You will not be able to notice any roughness on the bedsheet's surface. 

Here are some more facts that Aditya told me about APlus Linen:
"Bedsheets are made of 100% Long staple Egyptian cotton. This makes our sheets more resistant to fading and pilling. Egyptian cotton gets softer with every wash.
Percale weave (one yarn over and one yarn under) is a traditional weave which is stronger than other weaves such as sateen. Percale weave leads to a soft, crispy feel with matte finish
No harmful chemicals used: Oeko-Tex certified to be free from harmful chemicals. Oeko-Tex is a German organisation which is considered the worldwide standard for chemical free textiles
300 thread count: We have used 300 thread count.With long staple Egyptian cotton, the maximum thread count is between 300-400. The sheets marketed as 800-1200 thread counts actually use poor quality short staple cotton to inflate thread count. 
Made in Israel: Aplus sheets are made in Israel by a manufacturer that supplies international brands such as Pottery Barn, Dorma, Raymond Waids. These brands sell their sheets for 7000-15000 in India."

Did I say now I feel as comfortable as I used to in my Nani's bed and of course with no compromise on modern style and elegance. The simple geometric pattern on the bedsheet adds a contemporary twist to my rather classic bedroom. Whites and greys are ruling the color palette and making my sleep sanctuary a calming and soothing retreat. I am quite happy with the premium quality of Aplus Linen's Egyptian cotton bedsheet. If you are also looking for comfort and elegance at an affordable price then check out Aplus Linen for more. Here are all the important links:
Aplus Linen Website
Aplus Linen Facebook
Aplus Linen Instagram
Aplus Linen Twitter

That's all from me today. Decorating with copper is in my mind and you will get to know more about it in my next blog. Stick around and till then find me here:

Instagram
YouTube

Facebook

Google+

Pinterest

Twitter 

Choose Your Bedroom Furniture Right With Camabeds

Hola, dear peeps!!

Let's our bedrooms give a makeover this month.
This month I'll be talking all about beds and beddings. I have a lot of information to share with Y'all about different types of beds, mattresses and bed linens this month. Did you ever wonder if a bed can be used as a pouffe or can be converted into a recliner or a lounger or a chair and then again into a bed? Yes, such beds actually exist and can save a lot of floor space without compromising on style and comfort. I have two guests all the way from Spain who are going to talk about their newly launched online furniture store called Camabeds and let us know about latest bedroom furniture trends. 

Sofa, chair, lounger and bed (All in one)

Before we begin let me introduce this furniture brand to you. Camabeds, a part of Natasian Corporation Pvt Ltd was founded in 2014 by two young and enthusiastic businessmen from Spain Fernando Villuendas and Antonio Fernandez. Both of them are engaged in various ventures like solar energy, trade and even laundry and dry cleaning. India's economic growth and rising demand for high-end products are attracting lots of business owners across the globe and motivated by the same fact this duo started their business in India too. After some market research, they got to know about the need of space saving, stylish, comfortable yet affordable furniture here in India and that's when along with Kamil Pawlowicz, who is brand’s CEO, they created Camabeds to make it easy for everyone to buy great value products everywhere in India.

As the word 'furniture' comes out of your mouth you can easily visualise a bulky piece laying in the room and consuming most of the space. Space crunch is a big issue if you are living in a metro city and space saving furniture becomes the necessity for your teensy apartment. A brand like Camabeds is aiming to create a furniture that doesn't take up much of the floor space and you can make most of your space. The brand offers a well-designed furniture at low cost and convertible design of the furniture makes it a great space saver which is in demand and trend as well. With all the above qualities if you get a furniture that is affordable, stylish and of the best quality then know that you have got the right furniture. Now I'll show you some latest bedroom furniture design trends and how to pick the right one. 

Rollaway Bed

If you are looking to buy single or double beds then sleek, stylish and minimal bed designs are in trend these days and these beds can easily give a quick Scandinavian makeover to any bedroom. If space constraint is your concern then wall beds, folding beds and rollaway beds are a perfect option. Simplicity is an innate part of contemporary interiors and these wall beds, folding beds and rollaway beds are meant to lend that simplicity. Imagine having an open bookshelf on the wall, a long desk below it and a bed that can roll away under the table easily because it is equipped with 360 degrees wheels, all your space problem is sorted!!

Pouffe Cum Bed

Do you need a more stylish bed that is comfortable as well as a space saver, see here is one that you can convert into recliner during the day and bed in the night. Camabeds has some beds that you can use as pouffe when you are watching TV and just want to stretch and rest your legs on something and then convert it easily into a bed when you are a sleepyhead.

Sofa Cum Bed

Kids have their own choices these days and they just don't like to compromise. Why should they!! So here are some stylish bunk beds to make your kids' sleep sanctuary fun and stylish without compromising comfort. To see the complete range of Camabeds stylish & affordable furniture check out the links below:
Website: Camabeds
Facebook Page: Camabeds

So that's all from my side today. Soon I'll be coming up with some bedroom soft furnishing ideas.
Stick around and till then find me here:

Instagram

YouTube

Facebook

Google+

Pinterest

Twitter

P.S. All the images are the property of Camabeds and subject to copyright. Please don't use them without their permission. Thanks!

One Good Thing For Your Home

Hello World!!

How is the weather treating you. I am enjoying the last of the winter sun in my part of the world

and trying to infuse more warm colours around me. 

I told you in my previous blog (Anamika's Home Tour) that I have One Good Thing for you so here it is- a set of new cushions for my living room.

How do you like these cushions. I liked them for two reasons; one is that the embroidery on the cushions is the famous tangible cultural heritage of India called Toda Embroidery, which quenches my thirst for incorporating Indian art forms in my home decor and the second is that it is a product from a brand launched by a woman entrepreneur Chitra Ghildiyal. Let's meet the brain behind the brand called 'One Good Thing' and know more about the woman entrepreneur and her brand. 

Chitra: I am a designer of home decor and furnishings products with a brand name 'One Good Thing'. Taking a hint from my enthusiasm towards fine fabrics, handwork, arts, history and home decor, I quit my job as a communication specialist and started One Good Thing in June 2016. One Good Thing offers distinctive home furnishing pieces inspired and influenced by the heritage arts, cultures, history and people from around the world.

Most of the fabric,  dyes, other material and handy work used on One Good Thing is sourced from different parts of Rajasthan and is done by skilled craftsmen from interiors of the state. 

Image Credit: One Good Thing

Our products are available on Jaypore.com, Pepperfry.com, Eindianaugust.com, and Mora Taara stores in Mumbai and Gurgaon.

Now you know if you choose furnishing from a brand like One Good Thing, you not only support the artisans of India but also do your bit in empowering women of India. Not to mention you support #MakeInIndia campaign too. 

Now let's know more about Toda Embroidery!

The toda is a pastoral tribe of  Nilgiris(Ooty) of Tamilnadu. Toda embroidery is also known as 'Poothkuli', 'Torhbohr' or 'Pukhoor'. It is an artwork done by toda women. Toda embroidery is usually done with red and black threads on white cotton cloth and design is made by counting the threads using reverse stitch method. Usually, geometric pattern is made by counting warp and weft in the cloth. Patterns of Toda embroidery are inspired from nature, for example, Sun, Moon, animals, reptiles and rabbit ears. Out of practice, Toda women produce the design without even tracing the pattern on the cloth. Embroidered fabric can be used from both the sides. 

Embroidered fabric is worn by both Toda men and women as a traditional garment. Toda embroidery fabric is liked and purchased by lots of foreigners who visit Ooty. Toda tribe is proud of their heritage!!

Chitra has graciously sent me a set of these beautiful Toda embroidery cushions and I paired these celery Ice green cushions with burnt sienna cushion and throw. The fabric of these cushions is linen and its quality is excellent. To add a bit of drama I covered sofa with the patterned fabric in black and burnt sienna which is complementing both cushions and throw and creating a pulled together look.

If you liked the products you saw here please check out the links to One Good Thing's social media platforms:

Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest

I am taking a break from blogging as I need to concentrate on some other more important things in my life but I'll be back for sure so stick around :) 

Happy Decorating Fellas!!

CapriCoast: The Smart Way To Do Your Kitchen Interiors

So you just got a permanent address and the home is yours.
You are both excited as you move into your marvelous new house, a dream came true, right!! But next comes the most crucial part and that is doing up the interiors of your home, mainly the modular kitchen and wardrobes. I still remember the ordeal I had gone through when I decided to get the kitchen interiors done from a local kitchen vendor. Right from choosing the design to getting it customised and then waiting endlessly for it to get delivered, the whole process was too much of a hassle and infuriating. But that was four years ago!!

Now in the golden age of e-commerce, everything is just a click away. And getting home interiors done online in a hassle free way is no exception. Let me introduce you to the biggest online player in home solutions industry- CapriCoast, an online destination for all your modular kitchen and wardrobe needs. If you are looking for a smart way to get the modular kitchen and wardrobe for your home then CapriCoast is the perfect place to be.
If you choose CapriCoast then you are just three smart steps away from getting your interiors done in a hassle-free and cost-effective way. What else one needs in today's fast-paced world when everyone is hard-pressed for time. Now let me take you through these three very simple, hassle-free and quite interesting steps and in the end, you will know why CapriCoast is a smart choice for getting your kitchen interiors done.

Smart Step #1:
We all know how hard it is for working couples to go to various vendors just to get the estimate of how much it will be going to cost them to get the kitchen of their dreams designed or a wardrobe or any modular fit-outs to get done. Spoil no more weekends, as this can be done online with CapriCoast while sitting in the comfort of your home. You just need to fill in your requirements and CapriCoast's instant estimate tool will generate multiple estimates from different vendors. See!! you didn't even step out of your home and there you have estimates of your interiors expenses. At this point, you can make choices like whether you want a fully modular kitchen or semi-modular one and what material and finish you are looking for. Now you are free to choose the estimate that is in line with your requirements and fits your budget. Isn't it a hassle free way to get the estimates.

Kitchen Interiors by CapriCoast

Smart Step #2:
CapriCoast has saved your several rounds to market and you have an estimate in your hand. Now! what next? Just sit back, take a sip of your favorite drink and get the personalized design from CapriCoast's design expert. Your floor plan and the estimate you had chosen in the first step are the only things that the design expert will need from your end and you will get a kitchen design perfect for your floor plan along with 3 quotes from various vendors. They have thousands of pre-designed kitchens, their online catalogue offers India's widest range of models to suit any design inclination and every budget. Smart indeed!! Do you want to see stunning designs of the modular kitchens designed by CapriCoast then click here. 

Smart Step #3: 
What if you didn't like the design? Well! you have the liberty to customise the design to your liking and to pick the vendor of your choice. No worries if you find it difficult to make the decision of vendor selection, CapriCoast's professional team is there to assist you. You can compare the products and their pricing across the vendors. Once the design and vendor are finalised, it's time for you to step out and visit their showroom to have a look of the material. Once you are 100% satisfied now you can place the order.

Now you might be thinking, will delivery of the order and its installation be as easy and hassle free as the three smart steps of placing order was? Well! the answer is yes. Rest assured, on time delivery and professional installation is guaranteed. In fact, you will get Rs1000/day cash back for the delays.

Now let's take a quick glance at what makes CapriCoast a hassle free online marketplace:

- You get everything under the one roof. Choose from multiple brands and various vendors.
- No compromise with quality and they value for money.
- A wide range of pre-designed kitchens and wardrobes to choose from.
- Compare price and performance easily across the vendors.
- You can get the design customized as per your liking.
- Their professional team will be happy to assist you at every step.
- Your personal designer will be your single point of contact. No need to make unnecessary calls.
- On time and on budget delivery.
- You would get exactly what you paid for.

Don't you believe me?? check out yourself and do let me know your experience with CapriCoast. Below is the link to get in touch with them.
CapriCoast Website (click here)     
Happy CapriCoasting!!

Stay tuned dear readers! My next post will be an easy DIY to add some cheer to your dining space.

Urban Ladder For Urban Nest

When my husband and I were looking to buy an apartment few years back,
our biggest concern was the oversized furniture we own. Though I like my furniture to bits as it offers good storage option and looks aesthetically appealing but the only thing we were worried about was its bigger size. It could easily make the compact urban space look crowded and uncomfortable. We were fortunate enough to have found an apartment that could easily accommodate our bulky furniture without making our place look cramped. 

Image: Urban Ladder

But this was not the case with one of my friends in Mumbai. She bought an apartment which is really very compact. An urban space can be referred to as space-challenged place. And that's why I call it an Urban nest. You might find yourself struggling to fit everything you want around you, in a compact area. When my friend moved into her new house and was worried about getting the space done in a stylish and affordable way, she asked me to suggest some good furniture store. Days of furniture hunting, Plans of Getting it ready at home with a carpenter working round the clock seemed a daunting task to her as she is a working woman. Then we thought maybe we should try browsing online.  Scared of hits and misses, we weren't too sure till we stumbled upon Urban Ladder.

I had heard of Urban Ladder before- known for its furniture, offers a sustainable, stylish yet functional range of beautiful furniture. Having read their promise on product quality and design, we realised we don’t need to look anymore. Now a lot of people, as confused as my friend have come to me to find the best design solution from a trustable platform, hence this post! I thought it’d be best to take you through what made Urban Ladder stand out for both my friend and I!

We both were stunned to see the trendy designs and contemporary style of furniture on their website. After having look at few products we realized that the brand aims in making furniture that can transform space-challenged urban dwelling into an ideal home and that's what we were looking for. An elegant looking furniture that is specially designed for urban living that tucks into small spaces with ease. We were glad to know the fact that furniture is designed in-house by Urban Ladder and its design is so thoughtful that it can easily double up its purpose without compromising its style and aesthetics. We kept on looking the furniture in beautiful designs. My friend was quite happy as she had found the design she was looking for and that too in a material she was looking for but then she was worried about the functionality of the furniture. So we went on browsing their website looking for furniture with added functionality.

Image: Urban Ladder

What we realized after looking at Urban Ladder's range of products that aesthetic beauty and functionality woven together in the most elegant way is the speciality of Urban Ladder. She wanted a versatile piece of furniture which multiplies the storage space effortlessly that too in a stylish way. Multifunctional designs are in demand these days as urban spaces are short on places to store stuff hence you need a furniture with a good amount of storage and that can serve various purposes at the same time. At this point, my friend was totally relaxed and had calmed down as she had found the most functional piece for her living room from Urban Ladder's wide range of products. 

Few of my friends who already own the furniture from Urban Ladder had told me that furniture from Urban Ladder has transformed their house into a home. I told the same thing to my friend that she will definitely find her fantasy furniture at Urban Ladder. She liked a sofa designed to maximize space, can be turned into a bed and that too with ample storage underneath. It can be a perfect addition to her compact living room. Not to mention that sofas were available in different materials like fabric, wood, leather and in different design & style like L-shaped, loved seat, modular, divan and many more. Bingo!! she has finalised the sofa cum bed with storage in brown colour for her living room. We started looking for dining room furniture then.

Image: Urban Ladder

She was particular about the design of the dining table set. She wanted a dining table that is designed especially for urban spaces that lends a contemporary look and takes up very less space. We checked out a wide range of dining tables from 8 seater, 6 seater to 2-3 seater set. Now she was not worried about the shape and material of the dining set as she knew now she can find one easily that suits her taste and design sensibilities. She was looking for something that fits in her compact dining room without making it look crowded. She was surprised to see the folding six seater dining table that was made of two flaps, one flap can be folded down to turn the dining table into 2-3 seater and the dining table can be tucked away by putting both the flaps down to make space in an apartment. So my friend fell in love with this dining table instantly and she chose teak wood finish as her apartment has warm
and earthy colour palette.

Image: Urban Ladder

That's all she wanted to buy for her new apartment and she was quite happy and satisfied as this is what exactly she was looking for. What more can one ask for, the design & style that reflects your taste, additional functionality, and range of products to choose from that fits your budget. And after placing the order she was worried about the shipping and delivery of the furniture. That’s when we read some awesome customer reviews on their website. One such review said that “I am quite happy with my purchase. It got delivered in good condition without any breakage. People at Urban Ladder know that service is as important as their products. That's why they are always conscious of every detail of the process, from the time of ordering till your order reaches your home, and even afterwards". We both were quite relieved after reading that and were waiting impatiently for the furniture to delivered.

Not only my friend lots of my blog readers are quite happy about their experience with Urban Ladder. So if you are looking to give your home a beautiful makeover head over to Urban Ladder.
Happy Decorating folks!!

Yes It's Made For Me!!

Have you ever been in a situation when you struggle hard to find the fantasy home decor object that has been on your mind but you find it difficult to get it in either desired shape and size or desired color and you just don't want to settle with the second best option. It happens with me all the time. I just can't find that fantasy home decor object anywhere and how I wish to find a producer/maker who could bring my vision to life.

Image Credit: MadeForMe

My wishlist of fantasy home decor objects consists of various things, for instance, planters in animal shape like a fish planter, elephant planter, camel planter and I want a custom made cabinet for an alcove in my bedroom because I couldn't find anything to my liking that fits perfectly in that space, specific furniture for my kid's room and so on. So what exactly I want to say here is that we all want to decorate our home with statement pieces that are not only functional but also reflect our tastes and personalities. But the biggest question is, is there anyone who can turn our creative imaginations into reality? And the good news is YES! Yes, there is someone a team that is working hard day in and day out to turn our dreams into reality in a hassle free way. Who they are? Well, they are a team of young, hardworking, enthusiastic and energetic entrepreneurs who are founders of MadeForMe.
Dear readers today I would like to take this opportunity to introduce the founders of MadeForMe to you. Read on to know more about MadeForMe in their own words.

Introducing MadeforMe

We humans are a curious lot. We are the species that inherently require more than just food and fresh air to thrive. That means we are wired to desire things that mirror our sensibilities. Our homes are no different. Whether small or sprawling, humble or flamboyant, they hold within them, endless cues into our personalities. Little wonder that we yearn for customized products that not only decorate our living spaces but also tell our stories. Our surroundings dictate who we are and that's reason enough for investing our time and efforts in making it our own. There is something special and sentimental about pieces of furniture or home decor, that are made with just one person in mind - you. This celebration of individuality is the idea behind MadeforMe.

Custom Cafe Corner made by MadeForMe

Who We Are

Anchored in Bangalore, MadeforMe is the bridge that connects customers with the best makers and designers to create bespoke, handcrafted home decor and furniture. It is the brainchild of a dynamic team whose roots run deep in the Indian design industry: Kabir Bhasin (Co-founder of Furlenco and Director of East Furniture), Puja Rao (Founder of Songs of Summer) and Raghavendra Badaskar (Formerly with Intellecap Advisory). Though the team comes from diverse backgrounds, their common passion for finely crafted, timeless products brought them together.

       Puja Rao                                      Kabir Bhasin                                     Raghavendra Badaskar

"As consumers ourselves, we struggled to find craftspeople that made impeccably designed bespoke furniture and decor. Unlike the generations gone by, machine-made products on the shelves of a store spelled the end to our creativity. Unfortunately, we are quickly turning into a generation that settles for generic products for the home, as opposed to one that embraces individuality. This realization motivated us to find a way to bring back to the home, the bygone era of bespoke handcrafted products. Through our array of thoughtfully handpicked makers, we want to shake off the complacent mindset that good is good enough. Because it can be so much more", reminisces Kabir, on the genesis of the venture that took off in his own backyard.

Meet Our Guild of Makers

During the co-founders' travels across India, they were astounded by the wellspring of untapped craftsmanship that they discovered in little-known locales. Each one of the makers they met and brought on board are experts in their craft. These craftspeople and their unparalleled skill deserved a niche and this inspired MadeforMe to create and foster this ever-expanding guild.  While honing their time-honoured craft, the makers of this guild have imbibed a deep knowledge on raw material, design, and aesthetics that manifests in every product that leaves their stables. They may measure with their eyes, but they build with their hearts - a capability that even the best machine can never master. MadeforMe strives to further the pursuit of design and craftsmanship through the creation of this new-age guild.

How We Work

MadeforMe prides itself on getting that dream project from your imagination into your home without pesky supply chain roadblocks. All it takes is five simple steps:

• Send a brief and photograph of your project. Alternatively, browse the existing repertoire on the company website to ignite your inspiration
• MadeforMe will map your vision with the best artisans to make it come alive. Together with the makers, you will explore a world of possibilities and zero in on the specifications you fancy and approve
• Confirm your order and make the payment
• The makers will pour their skill and commitment into creating your custom work of art. The team will ensure that you are updated on the progress, every step of the way
• The completed product will be packaged and delivered to your doorstep.

Custom Bar Cabinet Whisky Cask (Made by MadeForMe)

MadeforMe helps clients from a plethora of backgrounds to express their personalities through one-of-a-kind statement pieces for their homes, by making them matches with the best makers in the business. "I was very pleased with my experience with MadeforMe during the creation of my sideboard. All I had to do was give them an idea of what I had in mind - they did the rest and brought it to life. When I saw the finished product I was thrilled -the workmanship was impeccable! I could really get used to all the compliments I get for that sideboard, from visitors who drop by.", says Gunjan Mohanka, Director, Scarlet Tiger Brand Designs and one of the earliest patrons of MadeforMe.

Let's talk!

Do you share our passion for all things dainty and handcrafted? Connect with us on info@madeforme.in and experience the joys of getting custom made products that speak to you.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Dear readers, I really hope that you liked today's website feature and you have now found a destination to get all those creative things done in an easy, fun and hassle free way. Do let us know what do you think about MadeForMe. Connect with them on their Facebook page -MadeForMe

What's coming up next, any guesses? A video tour of my winter garden. Yay!! Stay tuned :)

How To Style A Sofa

Winter is creeping up on us fast and I am all set to give my home a punch of warm hues. 

What could be a better place to start with other than a sofa in living room or I should say cushions more precisely. Cushions can instantly add the cheer and warmth to the decor and they are totally transformative. Careful selection of right hues for winters can completely change the look and feel of home. So in association with 'House This' a brand that curates the most fashionable products for home and is now available on Jabong, I bring to you this post on styling a sofa with cushions to beat the winter doldrums. 

In case, you missed my earlier post on how I used 'House This' duvet cover to give my home a holiday makeover then click here to read it.

***Before I start giving you tips on styling a sofa, it's a warning and a request to all you lovely readers, please don't give much attention to my ugly sofa keep your eyes only on beautiful, colorful cushions only. I'll be giving my ugly sofa a facelift very soon!!***

Sofa styling is all about cushions/throw pillows. Now let's start styling a sofa with cushion covers. I picked all my cushions from 'House This' and below is an image that I created especially for my readers. You can 'Pin' this image for future reference. Hover you mouse over the image, you will see a 'Pin' button, click it and you are done!!

Now let's explore all the points one by one.
1. Always start from the outside and use a bigger set of matching cushions of size 22" or 24" I will prefer solid over patterned here as these cushions will set a perfect background for patterned ones.  Though you can choose patterned cushions also as I did and it works well too. My first set of 'House This' cushions is 100% cotton in ochre color with all over pattern in yellow. The color sets a perfect mood for winters.
2. Layer the second set of matching cushions of size 16" and here I'll prefer patterned ones to create a perfect balance. Try to co-ordinate the colors of patterned and solid cushions for a cohesive look. My second set of 'House This' cushions here is again 100% cotton in orange color with yellow delft pattern. I chose warm hues to bring some warmth in my home and to avoid winter blues.
3. Now place an accent pillow in the middle and try to blend its color well with end pillows and the surrounding accessories for pulled together look. This cushion can be of any size ranging from 12" to 16" and any shape like lumber pillow, bolster, round pillow or square one. I chose 'House This' Suzani printed cushion in red to add a pop of color. I paired it with matching accessories on the coffee table for a cohesive look.

2-2-1 ratio is the most visually appealing. Keep the number of cushions odd for an appealing arrangement of cushions. Accessorize coffee table to complement the color scheme of cushions. 

Here in the below image, I not only changed the accent pillow but also the arrangement of cushions and coffee table accessories. This blossom printed white and pink 'House This' cushion is to tone down the warm hues a bit.  

'Mix and match' is the perfect formula to style a sofa with cushions. Mix lots of colors and patterns and try to match them. Turquoise being my favorite color, it has to be there on my sofa no matter whether I am decorating for winters and this color falls in the category of cool colors. I mixed it with suzani and delft patterns and matched its color with Buddha and throw to tie things together. 

Mix and match I said and that's what I did here. Mixed the colors and patterns and matched them with other accessories like delft pattern on cushions are blending well with the patterns on throw and elephant kept on coffee table books is complementing elephant cushion. 

My turquoise 'House This' cushion has darbaar buti on it with silver outlines, I paired it with gray darbaar elephant and white blossom cushions. Turquoise Buddha and silver diya are complementing each other. 

Turquoise and orange is the color combination that works best without any fail. So amidst a lot of ochres and yellows I used turquoise as an accent color.

Well, to give company to my beautiful cushions I stained few glass bottles in warm hues and clubbed them together on the coffee table for a perfect cohesive look. Things look good and eye pleasing if they are beautifully color coordinated. 

House This is my go-to online destination when it comes to buying home furnishings. I will show you more in coming days. Till then you check out what 'House this' is offering right now on Jabong. 

Coming up next is something about 'Christmas'. Yay!! finally, I am in a holiday mood. Stay tuned!!