A Summer Home!

Do you ever come across a space that makes you feel..... this is so ME? Today is one of those days and this is one of those homes waiting for me in Ibiza :-) I can relate to it completely. Sun drenched rooms, exposed wooden beams, white washed walls, a comfortable vibe and a big bright room filled with eclectic touches. This is a perfect place to gather with family and friends!

I am so in love :-)

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A Room that makes me Smile....

I know very little about this bright and beautiful room. What I know is that I love it :-) The cheerful look of this room is perfect for my dull day! I do know that the chair is really old and has been given a new life. It has been gently renovated and painted a bright red!

It looks perfect...........a great spot to snuggle up with a good book and some background music :-)

How are you all doing ?

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A Farm, A Shop and A Cafe!

Did you know that you can buy these lovely hand block printed bed and table linen  at an Organic Farm in the UK ? I did not...... and there is a fascinating story that goes with it. 

 I am taking you today to the  Abbey Home Farm in Cirencester, UK. This is a  family run farm owned by Will and Hilary Chester-Master. These lovely textiles are sourced by Hilary from India and printed at her own small workshop in Rajasthan . They have been created by the same two hand block printers for the last 21 years. The printing process has switched completely  to organic cotton and low impact dyes over the past four years .

The farm runs as a  workshop / B&B / textile store and so much more. The farm is  organic and environmentally sustainable and has a lovely garden, a shop and a cafe. There is also a cute little shepherd’s hut and yurts where you can spend the night and enjoy the experience of being at a farm.

The farm is often visited by schools and green fingered enthusiasts and is  a brilliant and inspiring example of a sustainable organic community.

Laid back and rustic...this is the verandah of the cafe at the farm. The menu changes daily here!

The Lunch!!!

 

Now for a bit of history about the Farm. This part always fascinates me :-)

After the dissolution of Cirencester Abbey in the reign of Henry V111 an area of the confiscated land was bought from Elizabeth 1 in 1564 by Dr Richard Master, the Queen's physician. The present owners, the Chester-Master family are the descendants of Dr Richard. The farm name has its origins in his purchase of this earstwhile church property. The modern day boundary of Abbey Home Farm includes land owned, purchased and transferred over the last 450 years.

Are you impressed and fascinated. I certainly am :-) Anyone ready to join me for a quick trip to England to visit this farm???? Click here to view the farm's website.

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A Beautiful Day

Every once in a while you witness a day that is simply unbelievable. A beautiful day that ended with a spectacular sunset. My pictures do little justice to the gorgeous display of beauty by Mother Nature. However,  I happily kept clicking away. These are just a few pictures of the eighty plus images I have to sort through. I took them all this evening :-)

A lovely day and that too at the beginning of the week, definitely helps shake off those Monday blues :-)

All Images: Anu Varma. These images are copyrighted and cannot be reused under any condition.

Visiting Jerez

I am always on the look out for unique hotels, bed and breakfasts and home stays. In my mind a tiny place tucked away full of history and charm can truly enhance a vacation.

The beautiful Hotel La Fonda Barranco  dates back to 1865 and is in residential  building in the heart of old town Jerez. Hard to believe given its modern and luxurious feel. The renovation I believe was an arduous task. However, the result is a charming hotel and a true reflection of its Andalusian legacy. The property has only eight rooms that open into a central courtyard. A perfect haven to enjoy the various attraction the area of Cadiz has to offer.

Jerez de la Frontera is a municiplality in the province of Cádiz in Andalusia which is in southwestern Spain.

What a lovely terrace......

Love that door!

A pretty bedroom.

Lovely accents...

The central courtyard where you can relax after a long day of sightseeing.

Hope you have enjoyed your visit to Jerez!

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Hello to the New Week

It was a busy weekend and it just flew by :-) I am watching the Oscars and enjoying a quiet Sunday evening. The sun came out briefly and put on a spectacular show! I love the play of shadow and light that fills my house on days like today. We experienced some very strange weather today! We got rain, snow, hail and sunshine all in one day. Now, that's the Pacific Northwest for you :-)

Here's wishing you an awesome week ahead!!

Images : My Home

Joining the Weekly Story at Colours Dekor.

Greg Elms Photography

Hi! I usually don't blog on the weekends. Quality time with family takes priority :-) However, when you see something so eye catching and beautiful you make an exception :-)

Welcome to the mesmerising world of Greg Elms Photography. Greg Elm is one of Australia's leading  food and travel photographers. His photographs have appeared in National Geographic and Travel + Leisure magazine to name a few!

This feels like Morocco but is actually the Il Convento di Santa Maria di Constantino, Marittima in Puglia, Italy. This B&B is  a converted 15th-century convent whose eight guestrooms are filled with Moroccan carpets, Indian ceramics and Aboriginal paintings from the family's extensive collection.

Absolutely gorgeous to say the least......

 

Enjoy you weekend!!!

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Hello Weekend

We are getting ready for yet another winter storm. I guess the weekend will be spent at home with endless cups of tea, the Oscars on TV, some rain, some snow flakes, screaming kids and more :-)

Here 's wishing you a super weekend from my home to yours!

Image: My home

Friday Inspiration

The weekend beckons....yes I do love Fridays :-) I get to plan for the weekend on Friday. Almost always nothing goes according to plan but yet I like to think of Friday as a fun day!
My weekend appears to be pretty mundane and full of chores. However, I do wish yours turns out to be special :-) Here is some Friday inspiration to set the tone for the weekend :-)

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Indigo love from Les Indieness

It is time again for this weeks MDC's fabulous find! Super expensive but totally drool worthy is this antique Italian Chair in Indigo IKAT from Les Indieness. What a striking way to add a pop of color to your space. If you have not visited Les Indieness, you are definitely missing something. Click here to visit their entire collection.

A cute ottoman in Indigo Ikat from Orrisa completes the picture!

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A Lucky Find.

This was truly a lucky find and I am so happy to share it with all of you :-) I have never cared much for the alcove in the foyer of my house. In fact architecturally there is a lot that is not right with my house :-) I guess I have grown to love it despite the imperfections :-) However, if I were to build my dream home, it would look a lot different. My home is a typical cookie cutter house in the suburbs so its architectural qualities are not really its strong suit!


Okay....now back to the main reason for this post! My not so perfect alcove now has a brand new cabinet!!! A lucky find at yet another antique store close to home. The best part was the price.......it was a steal :-) An English Oak cabinet from the early 19th century. Hmmm......I wonder what is the story of this cabinet. I would like to believe it is an interesting one :-) I really like the dark tone, the beautiful wood......pretty much everything about it! I posses a few heirlooms that I love which are now displayed on my new cabinet.

It has been dull and grey in my neck of the woods. I have had a hard time taking pictures during the day. Here is a shot I took this evening. It is not really a great picture but I had to share my excitement :-)

Hope you are having a good week!

Image: My home

Linking up with Knick of Time's Vintage Style Party.

Kalamkari and Leather

The Shop at My Dream Canvas has a limited edition collection of Kalamkari products. Visit my Facebook page for more details.  The cute little pouches come in a variety of colors. The boxes are handcrafted using leather and stunning Kalamkari motifs. Kalamkari refers to the Indian craft of painting natural dyes on cotton or silk.

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West Elm and Morocco

When a lovely store like West Elm teams up with Aids to Artisans and explores the souks of Marrakech we are in for a treat :-) The Moroccan collection at West Elm is striking, beautiful and something to admire.....

I so want these trays :-)

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Rain Rain Go way.......

This dreary, dull and very grey day makes me dream of the outdoors. Sunshine, blue skies and gorgeous picnics! My dear Sun, where art thou?? Growing up in India and that too in Rajasthan and Delhi, I waited for  the rainy season to set in. That pitter patter of raindrops and the time when the dusty trees got a new life......in my mind everything looked beautiful :-) Now, I am wishing for the rain to go away so that my kids can go out and play. Ah! How times change:-)

I still love the rain but maybe not the endless rain here in the Northwest. I am eagerly looking forward to a trip in April. Sunny skies here we come :-)

How is your week coming along?

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A Tea Estate.....and a Home!

It was a walk down memory lane......and I was happy to share it with him :-) This is the Tea bungalow where my husband spent 6 years as a child. We visited Assam last winter and my husband was overjoyed to be going back home!

S has lived here in the States for 22 years now. However, his childhood home is Assam and many of his memories are of this home! For him coming back here after so many years and that too with me and the kids made it even more special! It really is a lovely home and my pictures do no justice. The Tea estates in India are sprawling colonial mansions with lovely gardens.

We enjoyed a tour of the tea gardens and a visit to the factory to see how tea is made. My 6 year old had a great time and he had endless questions for his Dad and Grandfather :-)

It was like stepping back in time, and a memory that I will cherish forever. The bungalow's old world colonial charm, its beautiful interiors, the solitude......the sound of the birds, the rustling of the trees, the vast open spaces and best of all.........my husband's childhood memories.

We spent one night at the bungalow and sitting by the fire in the evening......I could not help but think what a fast paced life we lead. It felt good to slow down.........

Images: by Anu Varma at Sagmootea Tea Estate, Assam

The Last House

 A beautiful villa designed by a prominent Sri Lankan architect Geoffrey Bawa. This is The Last House in Tangalle, Sri Lanka.

The ideal location for a family vacation, this villa has 5 beautiful bedrooms.  I love the open and airy feel, the antique filled interiors, the white washed walls and the colorful hues in the bedrooms.

Dreamy.....bright and beautiful.............

Stunning..........

Last but not the least, the gate to the beach........ and you meet the shimmering Indian Ocean :-)

Visit The Last House for more information.


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