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PHOTO: M.KARUNAKARAN

A TOUCH OF INGENUITY: A few passionate about design do it themselves in their homes to make a stylestatement.

“You don’t necessarily have to be a professional to decorate. It takes tremendous amount of passion and motivation to design your own space. But at the end of the day, the sense of satisfaction and pleasure it gives you is something that cannot be quantified in words”, says Mrs. Meera Rao, a home-maker with a background in textile designing.

Her interior boasts of a variety of experimental techniques she has tried and tested over the years. Art work employing the decoupage craft with special paint effects, highly detailed and hand coloured is one such noteworthy technique elegantly displayed.

Relief work on pottery, carved ceramic figurines, plates and mixed media art work are other examples of her aptitude. Metal embossed art pieces and decorative mirror work add a touch of ethnicity to her home. Artificial flowers crafted using the European lamasa techniques are neatly exhibited in vases.

Design discovers the value of space as much as it adds value to it. It is an expression of one’s creativity and individuality and underpins every form of creation from mere arrangements of objects atop a table to the way we plan and execute our lives. While trained personnel offer a wide array of design services, right from planning to final execution there are still the passionate few who do up their spaces themselves.

Do-it-yourself interiors provide one with affordable templates and ideas to create simple yet attractive interiors without much fuss and mess. However, individual perceptions, ability, time and resources play an important role while experimenting with such concepts. From being considered as a mere object or entities positioned across a room, artwork today is regarded as an essential component in crafting the style statement of a space.

One such home, with an ethnic Indian touch to its interior, is the Manocha residence. A mélange of plush furniture and curios all over the living room and dining space creates a warm, homely feel. Exquisite paintings accentuate every possible nook and corner. As one explores the interior more carefully, more collectibles and artefacts with cultural connotations catch the eye. The statue of a reclining Buddha in wood, a wooden bust , traditional textile art work panels and original Pahari paintings from Palampur in Himachal Pradesh are some of the objects worth mentioning. A wooden filigree mantelpiece with bronze statues, brass objects and figurines forms the focal point in the dining space.

The person behind this impressive interior, Mrs. Madhu Manocha, with a background in textile designing and clothing, says “The art and culture of India, its rich deep-rooted mythology has always been my source of inspiration. The desire to delve deeper and uncover ancient art forms and techniques has been the basis of my collection. Also, my various journeys overseas gave me enough reason to explore and further add to this assortment.”

Designer interiors give your home the feel of a coordinated lifestyle, which is stylish, elegant and classy. Like fashion, interior décor reinvents itself constantly. “Different styles may come and go , but a home reflecting the culture and art of the immediate environs and pertinent to the locale can never be called outdated.” she says.

It’s easy and economical to do up your interior yourself since one has absolute control over the budget. However, the time, patience and skill required can sometimes prove discouraging in experimenting with new methods.

“There is a flip-side to the coin always. While professional designers are experienced with the entire process, an individual dealing with the same may not be aware of certain issues which could make the process tedious”, says an architect.

For instance, awareness levels of various options, possible products, knowledge of material availability and its sourcing vary from person to person. “As designers, the key objective is to respond to the client’s lifestyle and what it demands. While industry professionals are up to date with any new product launched in the market, the current price rates and costs involved, the same may not be true for everyone”, she says.

However, with a little scourging around and market research, any individual can familiarise with this as well.

“The passion to design, a flair for art and an eye for detail coupled with a desire to explore and innovate are some of the key factors to strike a balance.

Together with effective management of time and resources, one can achieve outstanding results with simple ideas put together”, says Mrs. Meera.

While professionally done interiors leave behind their trademark, the contentment of doing up your own space is something that leaves a satisfying experience.

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