Spending this past month in India kicked off my new year with a wealth of design inspiration.
We spent three weeks hunkering down with family in Calcutta – a bustling Indian city nestled in West Bengal – known for its rich history of craft and talented artisans – from embroidery to sculpture and sketching to metal crafts.
Then a week in Mumbai one of India’s most exciting cities. Known as the gateway to India its aesthetic straddles the best of the east and west, resulting in an exquisite design landscape.
Here is a snapshot of inspiration from my travels from shops to eateries to family homes – all of which I will elaborate on in the weeks to come. Happy New Year!
Above: Block print fabric from Anokhi. Mirror at my grandmothers sisters home. A clay plate being decorated at Aarya’s First Rice ceremony by her grandmother using ground rice paste.
Above: The ‘British’ marble lions that guard Victoria Memorial. R&D Laboratory at The Horticultural Gardens in Calcutta. Iconic buildings on Marine Drive, Mumbai. Pavements in Calcutta. Door handle display and knocker at The Corner Courtyard. Antique Mirror at The Taj Bengal.
Above: Mumbai’s first luxury boutique hotel Abode. Mirror at Bungalow 8. Pali Village Cafe, in Bandra. Last two images both Tote on The Turf restaurant, Mumbai.
Above: Wall treatment and cool plant detail at a family home. Embroidered bangles at By Loom Calcutta. Ceramics and textiles at Sasha in Calcutta. Colonial interiors at the Bombay Gymkhana.
Above: Etched brass floor treatment on the stairwell at Good Earth. Luxurious textiles at 85 Lansdowne. The balcony at our family home. A ghostly Victoria Memorial at night. My favourite detail at our family home – the marble floor with brass inlay.
Author: Rohini Wahi
Rohini is a London based freelance journalist and trend forecaster for the design industries. She has worked for Elle Decoration, Living Etc, Houzz and Design Sponge amongst others.
She loves a period drama and keeps a tidy home. Launched in 2007 The Beat That My Heart Skipped focuses on home inspirations, design trends, lifestyle and food – coupled with an insight into Rohini’s work and home life – from key picks at trade shows to styled weekend soirees. To contact Rohini for queries, work for hire or just to say hi drop her a line at mail@rohiniwahi.com
mlleparadis
Wednesday, January 14th, 2015 16:14 at 4:14 pm (7 years ago)gorgeous stuff, great post!
Claire
Wednesday, January 14th, 2015 16:48 at 4:48 pm (7 years ago)Looks like you’ve had a fabulous time. Amazing inspiration!
Claire x
http://happylittleplaces.blogspot.co.uk/
Nusaiba
Sunday, January 18th, 2015 14:14 at 2:14 pm (7 years ago)wow!! you had a great time there. I am well known of the area of Calcutta. Happy Reading .
Tokyo Lab
Sunday, January 18th, 2015 18:45 at 6:45 pm (7 years ago)Beautiful moodboards, thank you for this inspirational post!
Cooking Appliances
Sunday, February 1st, 2015 11:48 at 11:48 am (7 years ago)Wow! great pictures. India is a beautiful country, looks like you explored it really well. Loved reading your post 🙂
Jennifer
Tuesday, February 10th, 2015 02:42 at 2:42 am (7 years ago)Such beautiful images! What a wonderful trip you must have had!
Rohini:TheBeatThatMyHeartSkipped
Thursday, February 12th, 2015 22:28 at 10:28 pm (7 years ago)Thanks everyone! So glad you are enjoying my inspiration from India – lots more to come!
Tiffany Loyd
Saturday, March 14th, 2015 11:26 at 11:26 am (7 years ago)Wow great photos! I love also the inspirational post!