Janna Brown's Dreamy Home & Decorating with Memories

Hello November! Join me as we tour this gorgeous home today........

Where do I begin with this home?  I am completely besotted by its effortless elegant charm.  Sigh! I would love to explore every nook and cranny of this home! The space evokes so many wonderful feelings. I am transported into a delightful world filled with drama, intrigue and romance!  Look around. There are  many interesting elements that come together to create the perfect mosaic! 

Janna Brown, an event stylist, is the owner of this lovely home.  Her description of her decor style echoes my sentiments about about what a home means to me.  According to Janna:

"My treasured pieces include hand written framed letters from my ninety-three year old grandmother, dried flora from the fields of Provence, tiny photographs of my grandfather in his youth posing by the Eiffel Tower, and tattered books I purchased in Africa. My wardrobe holds three generations of wedding gowns, and some of my favorite garments that have traveled with me on my adventures. Over the years, I have learned to collect things with a purpose, pieces that tell a story. Isn't that the beauty of one's home? The small details that make it unique, that's what holds the magic!"

Beautiful words don't you think? I have said this in numerous posts in the past and I say it again.  It's more important to make your home "your own"  than to make it picture perfect :)  Weave your memories into your decor. Make it stand apart.  Give your home, "YOUR" personality. This will make you smile every time you think of your home, even when you are thousands of miles away :)

For me, my treasured possessions are the postcards my Dad sent me from Moscow. I was five at the time, and had stayed back in India with my mom. He made these cute illustrations on them and till date they make me smile :)  My Great Grandfather's collection of etched and cut glass is all shapes and sizes for his dinner table of 48. I have some of those glasses in my china cabinet and we use them on special occasions. My Grandmother's silver powder puff is the logo for My Dream Canvas.  A vintage coal iron which I bought from an old lady on the side of the road while driving around the Dolomites in Italy....... to my daughter's endless sea shell collection :)
The sentimentality and the history around it all, makes the simplest of things so meaningful.

This is so me!  I am forever collecting family memorabilia even when I have no place to keep them :)

The image below is dreamy.  I love the glimpse of what's inside and I adore the design of this armoire. The look makes for an unforgettable showcase.

I want to snatch up this pretty vintage chandelier. I have been trying to find vintage light fixtures for my home but have not found anything I truly love.

Glassy reflections.....

Crushing on these Vintage books.....

Do you love this home as much as I do ? Have a wonderful weekend my lovely readers and see you around!!


Images via and subject to Copyright.
Photography : Janna Brown Design Co.

Festive Vignettes by Chandan Dubey Photography +

Countdown to Diwali on My Dream Canvas

The festive season is upon us! For me, while there is so much to look forward to, its somewhat bittersweet. I miss my home in India more than usual this time of the year. Diwali also called "The Festival of Lights"  has always been a celebration in my parents home. It all started with my Grandmother and Mom who made it extra special for us :) I recall the endless discussions with friends and cousins about what to wear for the Diwali gathering:) Mom always cooked up a storm and there was a constant supply of mithai ( sweets) in the house. I was always in charge of the diyas, the lights, the flowers and the Rangoli. The polishing of the silver and the painting and sprucing up of the house were yearly Diwali rituals. The simple Puja at home was followed by blessings from the elders. Last, but not the least, there was the lighting of the diyas and the twinkling lights up on the trees. Finally, we would all sit around and admire our handiwork and revel in the beauty of Diwali :) It was a time of celebration and of simply coming together as a family! I do tend to reminisce quite a bit when it comes to Diwali :)

I want to pass on this legacy and the wonderful traditions that surround Diwali to my kids. Thousands of miles away from home, I hope that I am able to recreate the magic of Diwali for my children.

Over the nine years of blogging I have come across many artistic and creative people. There is so much to learn from each of them. One such friend and artist Chandan Dubey is a powerhouse of talent and her work epitomizes the festive season. For me, a Diwali mood board has to include her creations! While, many of you are familiar with her work, her dedication and passion for restoration is truly remarkable! Each piece designed by her is a labor of love. Her work showcases her passion for tradition. She has worked with me to create the most beautiful memory trunk dedicated to my Grandmothers. Today, I am giving you a peak into her  latest collection. From pillows/cushions to table runners to archival prints, boxes, furniture and wall art.....Chandan's creations brings the essence of Diwali and the festive season into our homes. 

You can reach Chandan via Facebook and Instagram. While Chandan is based in India, she does ship internationally to select countries. 

Stunning vintage style cushions/pillows. 

Exquisite Wall Art

A beautiful hutch.

Exquisite artwork that can be printed on varied surfaces, archival canvas, paper, framed and unframed.

Most of Chandan's work is limited edition so reach out before it all sells out :)


Images: Chandan Dubey Photography + and subject to Copyright.

Earthy Meets Modern in NSW

Do you think Earthy and Modern can co exist? I think so! This striking bungalow in Australia's New South Wales is a perfect example. Designed by Interior Design expert Louise Walsh, the home has a unique vibe. What struck me the most was the dark charcoal wall contrasting with the stunning red rug in the foyer. It does create quite the drama! There are pretty textiles beautifully layered in the bedroom and it all looks so appealing.

This home has a moody yet clean and airy vibe. A combination that is hard to achieve but here it seems pretty effortless :)

How are you doing this week? I am inundated with Diwali orders at the Shop At My Dream Canvas. While its been hectic, I can't afford to complain. I am grateful for the response to the new collection. As a small business owner, the  appreciation and support is what keeps me going :) So a "Big Thank You" to all those who have made my "finds" a small part of your lovely home!

Images: Louise Walsh and subject to Copyright.

A Season of Festivities and Gratitude

Hello there! It has been a busy few weeks. September begins with a new school year and its exhausting! New schedules, new challenges and the rude sound of the alarm clock after a long summer :) October rolls in..... and brings with it Autumn and the festive season. This year we faced the added drama of my 13 year fracturing his hand! It threw us off a bit as a family..... however, my baby is a good sport! He seems to be coping well with his schoolwork and other things with support from us. 

I also have an update on the Shop At My Dream Canvas! The Festive collection is now online!  Today, I wrote a small post about my little store on Instagram and wanted to share it here as well...

It was March 13th 2011 my birthday, when I announced the launch of the Shop At My Dream Canvas! My little store is soon going to be in its 9th year! It has been an incredible journey! During this process, while I have had a lot of fun , it has also been exhausting😳I have a lot of people to thank for their constant support and encouragement! Without them, I know I would have given up a long time ago! I have to thank the people who read my blog, my regular clients who thankfully 🙏🏽keep coming back and to constantly meeting new people who help my business grow! Ask any small business owner....we have our highs and our lows but when you have passion you persevere and somehow things fall into place! I run a one woman show with my husband and kids cheering me on😀My team in India is my rock! My parents who support me and spend a lot of their time doing the back end work to run this store! From sourcing to packaging they are involved in all of it! Amarjeet and Virender Bhaiya you both are truly God sent! Last, but not the least, my mom’s best friend who helped get this entire enterprise started. She is the one who found me the sources to procure the stuff! NM passed away last year! I miss her immensely! She will always have my gratitude🙏🏽I seem to be rambling a bit ....but I truly want to thank you guys for all the love ❤️ Your comments and support makes me smile 😃 every single day! 

Its been hard to focus these days....this is what the streets close to my home look like!! Fiery autumn hues tempt you to pull over and admire the view!!

We as a family love road trips! When you have the Cascade mountains in your backyard its even more tempting to hit the road. This is a view of Liberty bell at Washington pass on the North Cascades highway!

Here's wishing you a happy Festive and Holiday season! Join us on Instagram for everyday updates on the happenings at my casa and my little store!!

Images: My Dream Canvas and subject to Copyright!

House Calling in Netherlands

Today we are taking a quick trip Netherlands. A delightful home in Leiden caught my eye recently. This is the home of Saritha Ashok. She lives in this small town in Netherlands with her husband and 12 year old son.

I have to admit that this first image of Saritha's bedroom stole my heart. The entire home and especially this room looks so crisp, bright and beautiful. I like Saritha's approach to decor. Her home gives a fresh and happy vibe!

I asked Saritha to describe her unique style in her own words " We moved into our home recently and it is a work in progress, isn’t it always? I can’t say that my decor style belongs to a particular category. It’s a mix of European,  mid-century-modern, bohemian and Indian. It’s a chutney, you can say. I like to keep the base neutral, in terms of wall color and accent pieces, and add pops of colors here and there. More than half the furniture and a lot of decorating accents in my home are thrift buys. I bought them from flea markets and online groups. Refurbishing them to go with our decor style is my favorite pastime. 

The blue entryway sideboard and our bed side table are my favorites so far."

As you can see Saritha loves DIY's and breathing new life into her thrift finds. A gal after my own heart :) Though, I have to sheepishly admit that my skills as far as DIY's go is severely limited.

Thank you Saritha for sharing your home with the readers of My Dream Canvas. My favorite part of blogging is to showcase real homes and their immensely talented owners. There is so much inspiration out there and we can learn so much from each other. Don't you think?

I do hope you have enjoyed our Home Tours ? From India to USA....from Bosnia to Netherlands.....here at MDC we love connecting you with real homes and their unique decor styles :)

To view more of Saritha's pretty home connect with her on Instagram!!

Images:  Saritha Ashok and subject to copyright.

Festive Vignettes From Bangalore

With the festive season at our doorstop, I love sharing vignettes from homes gearing up for the festivities. Here is one such home all dressed up for the season. This is truly a beautiful home! Anupama who happens to be a doctor and lives in Bangalore has a passion for traditional decor. I really admire how  elegant her home is.

I asked her to describe her style in her own words so here goes...

" Doctor by profession decorista by passion!

My decor drama started by scrolling through Pinterest and then I had a spark of imagination seeing others. I got inspired and starting decorating my home.

 I brought along my family's brass collection which was left untouched and started arranging them in my house. That is  where my love for decor began. Then my second tool was Instagram as I saw many beautiful vignettes and began posting mine! And here I am today."

Thank you Anupama for sharing your home with the readers of My Dream Canvas. Do follow this talented lady on Instagram where she shares lovely corners of her home.

I do hope you are enjoying these home tours as there are more coming your way do stay tuned!!

Images: via

An Enchanting Home in Coimbatore Part 2

Hello There! I gave you a sneak peek into the home of Sigappi Annamalai in  Coimbatore in my previous post and today is Part 2 :) Exquisitely styled with traditional elements that exudes warmth, this a certainly a gorgeous home!

Her design style is both unique and authentic . Her eye for texture, art and other details are exquisite. There is no doubt about how gifted and skilled she is the area of Design and Decor. With an eye for picking 

up interesting pieces, she weaves them seamlessly into her interior style. By defying design rules and stereotypes, the end result feels airy  and fresh.

 Sigappi Annamalai  stays true to her instincts. Her Chettinad background is clearly evident in her home. Traditional brass pieces and artwork combined with unique, fun and artistic finds from her travels come together to showcase a talent which is truly one of a kind.

I do hope you have enjoyed this virtual tour of a beautiful home! What are some of your favorite elements?

Images via