From woven furniture to chikankari embroidery carpets, the fifth edition of India Design week showcases the bright and funky hues of home decor, with high end luxury brands and designers unveiling their latest collections. By Ankita Jain
There’s a lovely pale teal blue chair with a pink flower painted on one corner as I readily enter the exhibition hall of India Design Week. I’m pretty sure Goldilocks sat on it in the home of the three bears. There’s a dainty distressed white round table with a delicate wreath of pink flowers. Can I have a pot of steaming hot tea served on it pleaseIJ There are dragonflies sitting whimsically on a chequered honey-toned wooden cupboard. Do the doors open to a wonderful world beyondIJ
What you can’t also tell is that a lot of these pieces of furniture are not just hand-painted but also decoupage designs skillfully rendered as a painting. Decoupage is a French form of art where paper cutouts are used to decorate surfaces and later layered with decoupage glue though a rather elaborate process to produce a kind of emblazoned effect, along with paint. The world of a Noida-based design studio, Inliving, is filled with other such piquant furniture, inspired by Victorian English and French furniture. Besides, it also features poufs and stools in a colourful blend of yarn and fabric knotting with metal and wood, woven across a variety of geometric shapes. Passing by another stall, I realise that statement quotes are back in season. I love the wall scroll that reads, “I’m well on my way to getting absolutely nothing done today.” An elderly man comfortably lies on the floors playing the guitar and gives me a warm smile when I ask him if I can take a picture.
Moving ahead, I step into a palace like set-up. It has a dramatic effect with a monochromatic palette of black and white and the glint of steel and chrome. This brings to life the glamour and sheer magnificence of the drawing rooms of the jazz age. The wallpapers carry detailed and intricate art deco motifs to a flurry of butterflies. The lushness of the wild captured through chinoiserie patters to the clean lines of furniture, moulded from metal and leather. This palace collection by Chicago pays homage to a period in history which was alive with sounds of jazz, the laughter of the young and free and unabashed joie de vivre in the face of all the odds.
Amid silver stars, lanterns and flowers, stands an elegant cradle nestled under a canopy with an enchanting chandelier of golden moon and stars. This is the setting for a kid’s room. A little boy lives out his dream. His high-ceiling room is designed like something straight out of a Roald Dahl book, more specifically, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Charlie Bucket had to shack up in the loft because that was the only space available but this child chooses to stay there. What’s more, he has a dormer window through which he can peek at the world from a height. Elsewhere, a little girl wants to turn her cot into something that would serve many purposes — she wants to sleep on it, have sleepovers with friends and use it as a chair too.
The days when kids’ furniture meant cots and tables in bright colours, a study table and little else, are long gone. Now, the very meaning of furniture has changed to include quirky bedside lamps, book shelves, themed clocks and accents, and even bathroom accessories. Architect and designer Rama says it is important to design kids’ rooms with the involvement of their little occupants. “Sometimes, when they speak about what they want in their room, they end up giving us absolutely lovely ideas,” she smiles.
Another tiny stall, tucked away in the side lanes of the India Design week, is called Elan. A bottomless cage hung with butterfly magnets holding tiny heartfelt notes catches my eyes. “It can also be used on top of the cake stand filled with candy and flowers. Or fit a bulb inside and use the cage as a light dome. It makes for an unforgettable gift,” says the designer explaining its usage to a customer.
The moment I see the bathline, the first thing which pops up in my head is “What-a-loo!” It is not just a pot of aloe vera by the window or a mini garden by the tub that makes the rest room one with the environment. It is an effort to have the best of products with the least carbon foot print. Water saving, water recycling, reducing electricity consumption, recyclable raw materials, less energy consuming manufacturing process… these are but a few areas where the Italian minds are at work. “Italian design has always been known for its simplicity and functionality. And I believe this is what it represents. The exhibition showcases rich and multi-faceted work beginning from furniture designs and touches upon new forms of expression; from food to web design, from fashion to textiles, jewellery to graphic, multimedia and interiors,” says Italian Trade Commissioner Francesco Pensabene. He further adds about the expectations from the Indian market: “Indian customers understand and welcome Italian designs very well. As per my knowledge, the Indian market and customers have always received Italian products with great appreciation whether in fashion, furniture, automobiles or textiles. Also, a lot of Indian companies are partnering with Italian companies to market the designs in India. So I think India attaches great value to Italian design and manufacturing and I am very happy about that.”
By the time I walk up and down the hall, the crowd has grown. I head back. On my way out, I am amazed to see the hunting scenes, Mughal miniatures, chikankari embroidery, divine dancers and birds that have found their way on carpets and rugs, just like an artist uses his brushstrokes on canvas. In typical motifs, regional variations of colour, myth and lore and in the brilliance of their craftsmanship, each carpet designed by Tarun Tahiliani weaves a fascinating story. Well a cuppa hot chocolate, a rocking chair near the hearth and a rug under the feet make for a cosy picture.