A Beach Estate for Sale in India

As promised, here is a tour of a beautiful beach estate in India! Now, for the best part......you can actually buy it :-) Located in Alibaug, near Mumbai and  well connect via the Mumbai-Goa Expressway and by ferry from the Mandwa jetty, this property seems eons away from the hustle and bustle of city life. I am honestly completely swept away!! This home has direct access to the beach and comes with its own swimming pool.

Gorgeous Teak wood everywhere in the house, old shutter style windows, stunning interiors, landscaped gardens and the beach right at your doorstep.......what more can you ask for??

I am not sure what the price is of this amazing home. However, you can get more details right Here!

Images: via

Happy Flowers

Hello everyone, and hello to the New Week! The weekend was busy and passed by very quickly. However, we had some good moments, so I guess I should not complain.

We made our annual visit to the Skagit Valley Tulip festival. The drive takes about an hour and a half. It is such a delight to come across fields of Tulips in a myriad of colors. A truly spectacular sight. Every year we think that we saw it last year so there really is no need to go again......... and yet somehow we are drawn to it over and over again:)

I came back home with Tulips of course:) Today, a friend dropped by lunch with a few more bouquets of Tulips. Now, my home has these pretty flowers just about everywhere. I think it is a good way to start the week, I call them my happy flowers:)

Here's wishing you a great week. I have an amazing house to show you......so stay tuned:)

I took numerous pictures of this charming barn.................

All pictures taken by Me!

My Wish For You

A weekend filled with rest, relaxation and beautiful things! This is my wish for you :) I want the same things. Unwind at home, maybe dine at a delightful restaurant, enjoy good weather and spend time outdoors. However, for me, the reality is run to Costco, do laundry, buy groceries..........shall I go on :)


Lets just focus on the good things today :) Happy Weekend!

Images : via

Suzani Ikat Pillows

Happy Friday!

I just spotted this new store on Etsy called Islimi. The store has a collection of Suzani Ikat pillows that look really attractive. The cushions are hand embroidered and ships from Uzbekistan.

You can visit the store Here!

Images: via

Home on a Private Island

I like waking up and falling love. So what if it is with a house :-) How would you like to live in a charming beach house on a private island off the coast of Maine. I certainly would :-)

The owners Barbara and Charles believe that life by the sea teaches them humility. Their home is decorated with flea market finds, baskets, flowers and lamps. What a simple and beautiful way to live. Sigh......I need this too!!! A getaway where I could unwind, read a book, watch the waves, write a book, paint.......okay I am day dreaming now :-)

Happy Thursday friends!  Come fall in love :-)

I love the pop of color here.....the plates here remind me of my trip to Puerto Vallarta. Mexican pottery is so tempting and I brought back a few things as well:)

Photographs are by Photos: Tria Giovan / Redcover

Images: via

Exploring Puerto Vallarta

It is so easy to get swept away and spend your entire vacation on the beach when you visit a place like Puerto Vallarta in Mexico. However, despite the obvious attraction to the endless expanse of the deep blue sea......I am so glad I discovered more :-) Long before this trip materialized I had done enough research by reading guide books and searching the Internet about this charming town.

Framed by the majestic Sierra Madre mountains, the town of Puerto Vallarta has cobblestone streets, an imposing cathedral, a bustling malecon (boardwalk), and a delightful (town square)......all of it just waiting to be explored.

Mr MDC who is usually very content to lie on the beach or be in the water very graciously obliged and joined me in my exploration :-) My two little ones were the very best. They know of their mom's love affair with the camera and realized that climbing up and down steep steps around town would make me happy. So they did just that.

Of course, after a little while, I realized that they were on a little treasure hunt of their own. You see my kids adore Herbie. For those who are not aware of Herbie, let me explain this in more detail. Herbie is a 1963 Volkswagen Beetle. Herbie is a character that was featured in several Disney  pictures starting with the 1968 feature film "The Love Bug". As we trudged along the steep stairs we came face to face with the exact replica of Mr Herbie himself :-) The car vanished from our sight pretty quickly but not before we noticed Herbie's  distinguished red, white and blue racing stripes and the number "53" painted on the front trunk lid. Thereafter, the kids were determined to find the car again and nothing seemed to stop them as they literally raced up the steps. While the Herbie mania was on, I happily clicked endless pictures. Incidentally the movie Herbie Goes Bananas was shot in Puerto Vallarta......hence the Herbie hangover :-)

The town has a delightful old world charm. We came across alleys and cobbled streets filled with cafes, galleries, homes with picturesque doors, windows, red tiled roofs looking out to the sea, Bougainvilleas hanging over walls from terraces, and from window sills almost everywhere we looked.

I could easily spend a lifetime here..........the magic of Puerto Vallarta lingers on!

Stay tuned for Part 2 :-)



Images: All mine. Subject to copyright.

A Birthday!

Hi there!  Today is my mom's birthday so I am inviting you all to a virtual party right here at MDC :-)

Happy Birthday Amma, you are my rock!

Image: via

Backyard Inspiration

Yesterday was glorious and sunny, today it is dull, and grey. I don't know why that continues to surprise me...... it is after all, my sixth year of living in the Pacific Northwest :-) I continue to look for inspiration and ideas for my backyard. I still have to plan for the summer.......we all must live in hope :-)

The outdoor collection from La Redoute, France looks pretty don't you think?

Images: via

Anek Design in my Home!

For those of you who have have not heard of Anek Designs, you are definitely missing out! I have been fortunate enough to have interacted with Kanika Bahl, the founder of Anek Designs. A dynamic husband and wife team, Kanika and Vivek have created the very colorful, the very artistic, and unique collection of home textiles and accessories. Kanika is a graduate from National Institute of Design, Ahmedabad.

Visit Anek Design here. Find them on Facebook and Etsy and you can also buy their products via SHOPO.

I have always admired Kanika's work and finally I am a proud owner of a beautiful Kantha stole and cushions from her store :-)  The stole reached me a few days ago.  Instead of putting it away in my closet, I have decided to use it as a runner :-) Yes, it is too pretty to be hidden away!  

Kanika, this is for you :-) I am rather pleased with how the runner looks on my table. Aren't the colors gorgeous?

Images: My home

A Home in Colorado

This would be a beautiful home to live in. Surrounded by natural beauty the interiors of this ranch in Colorado has such a Moroccan vibe to it. Especially the beautiful door! The entire house is chic yet simple and with earthy tones that I really love!

It is almost 70 degrees in my neck of the woods. With my home bathed in sunlight.....I am a happy gal :-)

Images: via

A Vacation Hangover

I am not suffering from Monday blues but vacation blues!! Yes, it is worse than a hangover :-) I have spent this weekend dwelling on the past week and my trip to Puerto Vallarta. I am aware of the endless chores that I need to tackle, but everything seems like way too much effort! Day dreaming is just so much simpler :-) I have tonnes of images and stories to share.  For now, here are just a few pictures. Reality hits hard and I need to get to work, so a more detailed post will have to wait :-) 

Have a wonderful week ahead! I love writing about Design however Travel and Photography is my first true love :-)


The view from our hotel.......

Where we dined everyday.....

Glorious evenings......

 

The food was good but the desserts.....now that's another story :-)

The perfect end to a lovely day........

Images: Anuradha Varma. These images are subject to copyright and cannot be reused under any condition.

Joining the Weekly Story at Colours Dekor.

Back from Puerto Vallarta

Six days in gorgeous Puerto Vallarta, Mexico and I now know what paradise feels like :-) I am on my way back from a lovely vacation. My most vivid and cherished memory is of the last evening my family and I spent on the beach.

The birds flying away into the fiery sky were such a beautiful sight that I must have taken a thousand pictures. This is one of the many :-) I hope you all will join me next week as I share my vacation and bring you Puerto Vallarta through my eyes!

I have missed you all. Have a wonderful weekend and see you back here soon!

Photograph by Anuradha Varma. This image is subject to copyright and cannot be reused under any condition.


Linking up with Show off your Shot at And Then She Snapped.

Friday and Spring Break!

Spring break begins in my household today :-) My Dream Canvas too is going to take a break and enjoy the week off with the kids! I am looking forward to some uninterrupted family time. My kids are making endless plans and their excitement is infectious :-)

You know how much I love fresh flowers but bougainvilleas are hard to find in this area :-) So to give my living room a touch of Spring I have added a faux bougainvillea branch. I am not totally convinced about it, and might remove it today. However, I did take these pictures last night to share with you.


Hmmmm.....the more I think about, it I am really looking forward to the farm opening up close to home. When I stop to buy fresh flowers by the side of the road........... that will be the true sign of spring for me :-)

Have an awesome Friday and a super weekend :-) I will see you back here in a few days!


P.S. The Shop at My Dream Canvas too will be closed for a week.

Images : My Home

Joining Show and Tell Friday at My Romantic Home.

Weekend Wrap Up Party at Tatertots and Jello.

Layla Grayce

This is a story of two friends and their passion for design which led to the birth of their store Layla Grayce. In their own words" Layla Grayce is an "inspired haven that reflects a stylish, creative take on lifestyle.

I am drooling over their collection  of vases, tumblers and pillows! To visit their site, click Here!

Two lifelong friends came together and followed their dreams to create something beautiful :-)  What a lovely story and a beautiful collection!

Images: via

Follow your Dreams

My Dream Canvas has been a Dream Come true for me! I love blogging, sharing my ideas, discovering the world of design and decor and making friends with some incredible people in the blogosphere :-)

I like having something that is mine that I can turn to everyday to relax and de stress. I am lucky to know some incredibly talented people who share this interest and passion with me. There is so much to learn from everyone, so much to share and so much more to discover. My Dream Canvas is my exciting journey where everyday I stumble upon something beautiful that I am eager to share with you.

We all have to live in the real world and have responsibilities of everyday life. However, I do believe that it is rewarding to step away for a few hours everyday and do something just for yourself. Spend time doing something that makes you smile :-)  Trust me, it can be very theraputic :-) I do agree that on most days, it may not be the easiest thing to do. While "Tomorow is another day"  when you want to follow your dreams.......... "Today" is the day you should begin. Don't you agree??

Don't postpone doing the things you love to do.......go on and create that little world just for you :-)

This is my nook where I spent hours thinking, dreaming, researching and creating my little world I call My Dream Canvas.  I would love to invite you over to chit-chat and for a cup of tea.......but for now, I guess this will have to do :-)

Have an absolutely wonderful day!

Images: My Home


Joining the party at Strut Your Stuff Thursday @ SomewhatSimple