Monthly Archives: June 2018
When Walls Speak HeART
Art has always found high homage in hotels.
In current times, however art is no longer of mere ornamental or aesthetic value. Art has become a fundamental element of hotel design, as hoteliers are thinking out of the frame to expand the experience of their esteemed guests.
Art now integrates into the architecture, design and essentially the ‘vibe’ of the soul of the hotel, thus inhabiting the imagination of the customer in a manner that makes him want to come back again, and again.
Locale, environment, rootedness – these elements now figure high up in the checklist for hospitality brands who want to be seen as connected to the environment they exist in; this predilection, naturally translates into infusion of these elements in every aspect of the hotel’s character – be it cuisine, interior
Of Vintage Charm and Shabby Chic
In an era where sustainability and eco-friendliness rule trends in almost all aspects of life, décor is a key contender.
Vintage and shabby chic, the latter popularized by Rachel Ashwell about 20 years ago, lends itself very well to this age of recycling, repurposing and upcycling. Vintage, shabby chic are forgiving, comfortable warm styles that infuse history, character, charm and dimension to modern spaces. The good news about vintage décor is it can be an inexpensive style, with many items coming from vintage or secondhand shops. It can also be incorporated into almost every room and with other styles.
Vintage as the name suggests refers to items from the past of good quality. Shabby chic refers to a décor style that uses furniture, furnishings, curios, accents and other décor items that have a pleasingly old and somewhat worn appearance.
Let’s look at how you can weave these elements into a cosy, charming ambience in any room
Artisans Rose Upped the Ambiance - Dashrath Reddy, Orange Wok, Chennai.
Chennai loves Chinese.
But that alone would not have been enough to guarantee the success of my Chinese restaurant, Orange Wok.
Of course, I had great cooks and an excellent menu but what I really needed to get the footfalls going was great ambiance. Cool, chic furniture that the millennials would find relaxing. And Artisans Rose understood my requirements perfectly when I briefed them over a call. After a few rounds of discussions, we agreed that solid wood sheesham chairs will complement and enhance Orange Wok’s personality. They would give the restaurant the vibe which I was looking for.
However, anybody can discuss and give ideas but to me it is the execution that is vital. You can say that the proof of the pudding in a restaurant is in its seating! And Artisans Rose didn’t disappoint. Their execution was as good as the ideation. I must also say they ticked all the boxes that are expected from a top quality supplier of furniture. From quality of manufacturing,
How to Choose Furniture for Al Fresco Dining That Attracts AND Endures
As Technology tantalizingly (what with Blockchain and Artificial Intelligence, Bots and more) takes over our lives, conversely, ironically, Nature and the Outdoors bewitchingly beckon.
Nowhere is this more apparent than the rash of restaurants and cafes with patios, rooftops, verandahs and just plain front and back yard spaces. Al fresco dining (dining in the outdoors) is now a universal favourite from California to Chennai, and includes avatars in Tier 2 and 3 cities, not forgetting big towns.
Restobar Decor
Restobars (combination of a restaurant and a bar) are on the rise. Every major metro and many Tier2 cities in India boast of a significant number of these cosy, casual cocoons, where people from all walks of life and all age groups home in to relax and unwind and emerge happy and refreshed.
A major contributor to the restobar’s ambience of warmth and positivity is its décor and furniture. Many restobar proprietors especially if they are core foodpreuneurs tend to focus primarily on the food and drinks and their concomitant accessories, believing these factors alone will carry the day(and night), as they are the raison d’etre for the place. Certainly, guests first and foremost come for the food and drinks which must be distinct, yet delicious and enduring. Diners and tipplers, however also, and almost equally make a beeline for their preferred ambience in which to enjoy their dinner and drinks.
Enjoyment is a holistic, sensory experience. It involves all
Mirror Matters
“Mirror, mirror, on the wall, Who’s the fairest of them all?”
Lines we all know from our Fairy Tale days. The mirror, however has evolved from being a showcase for reflection to a showcase for good taste. From functional to fashionable.
Mirrors are used to indicate illusion of spaces, create accents, reflect light, open up a room and establish mood. Mirrors can be deployed creatively – from the simplest of uses to the most innovative.
- Enlarge the room: position a floor mirror (at least 3/4ths of the wall height) to create instant square footage.
- Bathroom luxe: Adorn your master bathroom with a Venetian style mirror to enhance the elegance quotient.
- Gallery display: Create an entire gallery of different-sized mirrors with different frames on one side of your living room, maybe facing a wall of art. Heights of stunning display.
- Bedroom beauty: create a wall sculpture of mirror panels, as a mod headboard.