Pappa's Kitchen - where the magic happens!

While in NYC again with our sons, they mentioned a foodie blog that our very good friend's son in law had started.  It so happened, our good friend was also in NYC on a business trip.  We met up with our friend, who is now living in St. Thomas, and her daughter's family.  The young couple and the kids are the cutest family ever.  I always admire the wisdom and talent they have at a  young age in partnership, parenting, entertaining, having fun and of course professional achievements.

Asim is an excellent cook and the blog speaks for it self.  His captions are a must read!

http://www.pappaskitchen.net/

Sneak Peak - Bathroom Design...

Designing a Spa like bathroom.  We have two different fabrics and not sure which one to choose for the window.  The paint colors are from Sherwin William either Sea Salt or Waterscape.  The lights (my weakness) are two pendant lights hanging on either side of the mirror, instead of the traditional bathroom lights that go on top of the mirror.

Pillow Talk!!!

If I need to spruce up a room, need an instant make over, or pop of color,  I change the pillows.  It is a cheaper way of "re-decorating" that will make my husband happy!  It is also an easy accessory to swap out and change. Some of you have written to ask the rule of pillow styling, however, I don't have a rule.  If I like the pillow, I buy it and then decide how to style and coordinate with the other pillows.  Though, I think it is good to have geometric pattern coupled with other fabrics. These are pillows that I have around the house.

Love these pillows...isn't it art on pillow?

 The orange pillow is a purchase from Thailand, the design speaks for it self.  It is a Jim Thompson creation.  If you visit Bangkok, a visit to the Jim Thompson's former house and the store is a must!

 The below two pillows are reversible.  One side has a leaf embroidered and the other has a paisley design.

 These are two pillows, one from Jim Thompson and the smaller one is from Fab India another store that you must visit when in India.

Additional pillow styling that I love by other designers.

Just when you thought J C Penny wasn't worth a second look...they pull out a wild card!

Did you see the Jonathan Adler "Happy Chic Collection" at J C Penny?

and the Tuxedo couch, the pillows, the bed all by Jonathan Adler?

Guest Bathroom officially updated/done!

You may have seen some of our bathroom remodeling pictures quite some time back when it was in the process of being finished.  Now it is officially finished (this is the line for my husband!)...unofficially we still need window treatment.  Didn't take that long for the contractor to finish the bathroom, but took long enough for me to take pictures of the bathroom.

In my mind the bathroom is done when you have hung art work on the wall!  So during our vacation in Sri Lanka, I was able to connect with an artist to get my thoughts on canvas.  I gave him colors and described what I wanted, "An Indian woman in a saree bathing in the river before prayers", gave him a random picture of a woman bathing in the river, nothing like this. I wanted the saree to look wet.  I also wanted the colors to be neon green, some blue and a little pink and orange to bring in the colors of the boxes in the bathroom containing the best smelling soaps. Here you go...

Indian Fashion meets Interior Design

To Sri Lanka via Chennai...

Was on the road again...

Vacations are made of memories. There is nothing like getting away from the daily grind and relaxing with your friends and family.  We are ever so grateful to be able to get away and spend it with the most spirited hilarious friends.

Now to Chennai.  For the normal person, no matter how enthusiastic you are about a trip to Chennai, you will be hard pressed to find much gush about Chennai due to the traffic, weather and heavy smog.  But for me Chennai is the place to be, especially in December with the Music and Dance festivals, temples and the shopping (hello...sarees!).

We stayed at a very nice hotel "Metropolitan Accord",  which is centrally located with outstanding restaurant staff.  Obviously you may not know this, but my vacations are also centered around culinary experience, so good food is a must! 

The decor of the hotel was modern with Indian flair.

For the interior design junkies,  "Good Earth" (in Rutland Gate, Chennai) is the place.