The Beat That My Heart Skipped – A blog dedicated to daily design inspirations. By Rohini Wahi.

The weather keeps changing and making things so beautiful. The tree outside our window which has been spindly and dry all of the winter has flourished with the sun and the rain and grown the most amazing jewelled green leaves. We are so lucky to have it right outside our window, it feels like we are living up in the trees.

Makes me want shiny things to live in my bejewelled luscious world.

Berlin carafe Habitat

Lotus Dessert Plate Anthropologie

Felix Water Glass Zara Home

My friend Luke is a Graphic Designer and showed me some work he did which I think is so cool! I love the megaphone with wings – so whimsical.

His work was inspired by the dream-like art of Sean Hillen. Collages are such a great way to link random thoughts, which once unified make such wonderful stories. All of them make me smile : )

I have never been a fan of traditional Indian clothing, always thinking it either too frumpy or too garish. That is until I discovered Sabyasachi Mukherjee…now there is no going back!

Sabyasachi’s influences remain Bengali and bohemian literary: the poet Rabindrinath Tagore’s family photo albums; Satyajit Ray’s films, including his classic period film Charulata (The Lonely Wife, 1964), with a little bit of Calcutta’s communist past and some theatre thrown into the mix. He effortlessly manages to bring the traditional saree and formal-wear up to date, layering rusty looking textiles in modern patterns against each other, creating something so subtle with a multitide of depths.

Sabyasachi has completely changed my outlook on Indian fashion and I think when done correctly – the more traditional the better, or shall I say ‘folksy’. The designer completely captures the bohemian elements of India and also takes his cue from deserts, gypsies, prostitutes and antique textiles. The whole concept also has a feel reminiscent of the colours and flavours of Moulin Rouge.

I especially like the gold spotted textile he uses like glittering stars.

Some old photos I dug out this weekend. I love the pale pastel hues and painterly colours in all of these. See the corals and the oyster pinks.

Having been a Marks and Spencer’s connoisseur for over 15 years, courtesy of Mama Wahi and her BFF, and also a Stylist who is privy to behind the scene glimpses of many brand giants, I have to say that M&S is decidedly one of my favourites.

Professionals and perfectionists from staff and products to campaigns and press offices, everything about this great British Brand makes me proud! So when I learned that M&S were opening up a new concept cafe in my hometown I was eager to get home and try it out.

Popping in for brunch on a Friday with Mama Wahi and said BFF, I couldn’t believe my eyes; English Summer unrolled before me in the form of scrawled menu’s on blackboards, floral print trays, hefty sandwiches freshly prepared and displayed on chunky wood blocks, fresh summer juices lined up in tempting vintage style glasses. Hot food was also available in the form of hearty English Breakfasts and bubbling soups.

Seating was vintage inspired and tables adorned with glass bottles full of daffodils, and upon ordering each table was assigned with a numbered milk bottle engorging a single English Rose.

I became over-excited like at past M&S press shows where the cookie-cutter perfection and effortless small touches overwhelm me. The old cafe institution that I had frequented for half my life immediately felt dated and frumpy – THIS was the brand I have grown to love in my youth, a brand that had grown with me – clever old M&S updating the old and welcoming its new generation of devotees! : )