Mrhba Bkm Fi Bladi Blog!

In case you're wondering what the title is...it is "Welcome to my blog" in Arabic, the language in Morocco! 


As you all know I am off on a mini vacation, and except for the air travel part of it, (every flight I have taken so far has been delayed!!!), I'm having  a great time. My travel blog is up and running so do check it out.


In the meantime, Susi from Arcadian Lighting has kindly offered to do a guest post on my blog. And she said she'd write on Morocco! Anyone who knows me even a teeny tiny bit knows my love affair with all things Moroccan! So take it away Susi!

Hi, I'm Susi, a writer from the Arcadian Lighting blog, a fabulous source for inspiration from lighting fixtures to dÈcor. I'm so happy to be visiting Saffron and Silk today to talk about Moroccan style, specifically magical Moroccan spaces.† There is a love affair right now with all things Moroccan. Have you noticed? Are you embracing it? I am in love with the colors and patterns of Morocco so am delighted to share these 8 Magical Moroccan Spaces with you.† Hope you are inspired to add a bit of Moroccan magic to your dÈcor. Enjoy!

This Moroccan style living room can magically transport you to Casablanca or Marrakesh.† Moroccan lanterns, carved table, tile, rug and other accessories combine with the Moroccan arches for amazing Moroccan style.

Magical Moroccan spaces are all about color, pattern and tons of both.† Pillows, textiles, rugs and poufs can all help you create a magical Moroccan space in your home.

This Moroccan room is magical with layer upon layer of colors and patterns.† Low profile seating creates a casual atmosphere that invites lounging.

Magical Moroccan spaces don't have to be a riot of bold colors. Pastels in contrasting hues also create Moroccan magic. From lovely hanging pendant lighting to magical mirror to vintage rugs, this is such a gorgeous Moroccan style bedroom!

Blue and white and tons of pattern make this a lovely Moroccan space.† Pattern and gorgeous details are hallmarks of Moroccan style.

This beautiful living room is definitely a magical Moroccan space. The deep blue and purple palette is accented with gold and pearl inlay accents.

This gorgeous bedroom is a stunning example of Moroccan style. Love the door, the ceiling medallion and warm color palette.

Moroccan style in an outdoor living space is magical.† Hang a collection of Moroccan outdoor lanterns for twinkling, colorful light. Lounge on colorful cushions and poufs.


Want to add some Moroccan flavor to your home? Implementing some unique pendant lights should do the trick. Check out Arcadian Lighting today to get inspired!†


Images: ( 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6 / 7 / 8 )

India to America!

My first post is up on my travel blog. More to follow.


Till then....

TTFN

Or as we say in India "Ta Ta for now" TTFN - ....meaning bye for a few days!

Am off tomorrow to the US for 5 weeks......visiting Seattle. Atlanta and DC...with a few side trips to Nashville, Connecticut and New York City thrown in for good measure!


A lot of fun things happening on this trip:


I get to reunite with my best Seattle buddies, as well as a go for a Diwali party at my friend Leena's place. Leena started this Diwali party tradition sometime in the late 90's....it started out with a small gang of 4 to 5 families, then became 7 to 8, then more, and the last time I attended in 2005, it up up to 15 families. I hear it had swelled to 25 plus and is the happening party for Diwali. Her house is lovely, the food is fantastic, the drinks unending, but more than anything we all look forward to the riotous game of Teen Patti (the Indian version of Texas hold-em) we play after dinner. The monies we play with are pennies and nickels, but you'd think we were playing with millions of dollars the way things heat up!!!!Finally after 6 years I get to go back and re-participate!

Another exciting thing is, if things go as planned,  I get to meet 6 blogger friends. Anu of MDC in Seattle, Anpu in Atlanta, Sudha of TDE, also in Atlanta, and Divya of SHP in New York City, plus....2 food blogger friends - Richa of Hobbyandmore and Vaishali from this blog! So its a bloggievaganza!


My mom and dad will be here holding the fort....and looking after my 2 canine babies who adore her! My 90 year old grandma from Chennai will also be hanging out here...so yes, my mom will have her hands full. 


My travel blog will once again get resurrected...so do drop by and check out what's happening there!


So until then.....

If I find anything design worthy or Saffron and Silk post worthy, I'll post. If not, some inspiring quotes like this....just to keep things going!

Ouro Preto ~ Baroque Architecture at its finest!

I really do not have time to blog....am up to my neck in shopping lists and endless packing for my upcoming trip in 4 days to the Americas. But I simply had to show you some gorgeous architecture!


Ouro Preto (Black Gold in Portugese ) is a city in the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil, a former colonial mining town located in the Serra do Espinhaco mountains and designated a World Heritage Site by UNESCO because of its outstanding Baroque Architecture. 

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European baroque arrived here and adapted itself. This is evident in the ups and downs of roofs and the narrow confusion of side-to-side housing, the palaces, the bridges and the fountains. 

Isn't this photo amazing??? It took a lot of convincing and googling and tumbling (my latest addiction) for me to believe it really is the town.

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And here are more images for you to swoon over.

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Now excuse me while I get onto Expedia to find out how much it will cost me  to cancel my US tickets and get a one way ticket to Ouro Preto!!!!

Happy Birthday Anna!

Quickly before you all start asking who Anna is.....I am referring to my late father-in-law! "Anna" in our native language Tamil, means elder brother. Not sure why, but my FIL was always called Anna by his 3 sons -  my husband and his 2 younger brothers, and after my marriage I started calling him "anna" too.

Many of you were with me (in thought) throughout his illness last year and his passing away early this year, and your heartfelt comments helped tremendously through the difficult time. So I am sharing with you all his birthday today. The last few years as his memory was slowly fading he would keep insisting his birthday was the 13th of October, even though we all knew it was the 11th of Oct. So we would celebrate both days....maybe he did that deliberately so he would get sweets twice???

Even though he is not here with us physically, his presence is still felt at home especially when I pass by our puja room.

And so today, in his memory and because it was his favorite food (and mine ;-), I made "pongal". Every Saturday night was pongal dinner for him.

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Pongal is this decadent creamy concoction of rice and mung lentils, cooked together and then seasoned with pepper, ginger, curry leaves and cumin, mixed gently with coconut milk and topped off with fried cashew nuts!! Finally something that's not just delish, but good for you too and often recommended as food when you are ill (Ok, not the cashews maybe, but its equally delicious without the nuts!) Most South Indian wedding breakfast menus include pongal and it is the only reason I go for breakfast!!!

This along with coconut chutney is a gastronomic marriage made in heaven!

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So Anna, Happy Birthday! We miss you! I know you're watching from above and licking your lips too! :-)

Ikea - Portugal style!

I am not really a huge fan of IKEA furniture. I mean, there's nothing wrong with IKEA, I had a ton of their stuff when I lived in Seattle, and their store was 2 miles from home so any free afternoon I would go window shopping....to get some great design ideas. Their furniture is stylish and affordable...but...well....it's so IKEA! Its easily recognizable.....strong linear Scandinavian lines, easy-to-assemble looking, contemporary styled. It is a great place for families starting out and college kids!

But be that as it may, I LOVE their new IKEA family website and the Home stories section. You have to hand it to them, they know how to engage their customers and their marketing guy is a genius.

OK, enough blabbing! I came across this colorful psychedelic home in Portugal, and even though I do vaguely remember seeing it featured in other blogs a while back, I had to engrave it on my blog too. For those who haven't seen it, it is serious pink, eye candy and the color in the home will leave your head spinning for days!

The home belongs to Interior Designer Maria, in the charming little village of Sintra, outside Portugal. (If I had known I would have dropped by when I went to Sintra 2 years ago).

I'll let you read up on the design story and her ideas here. I just want to hurry up and post the pics because they are soooo lovely!

Got your dose of pink today huh? Maria is certainly not afraid of color!

Design theory in food!

Am guest blogging on Richa's blog today! Am so excited cos I actually get to blog on a seriously great food blog!


Have you heard of Washoku?

Did you ever look at the food on your plate and think how fantastic it would be to design a room around the colors on your plate? Or vice versa...have you ever looked at a bowl of creamy chocolatey Tiramisu and think how lovely a room would be in the same shades of cream, brown and espresso???


Well, think no more....go check out my guest post and tell me if you think I have finally gone off the deep design end here....

Architect profile - House and House Architects

I'm thinking of renaming this blog "Mexico and Morocco", because it seems to me that lately most of my posts have been "Mexican/Spanish or Moroccan-centric". Here I go again.


I came across House and House Architects today while surfing the web. And instantly fell in love with everything that Steven and Cathi House do. 


First of all, they do a lot of work in Mexico - anything Mexican or Spanish in my opinion deserves one thumbs up!
Secondly, they love and embrace color - 2 thumbs up.
Thirdly - their homes are deeply sensitive to light and movement and they are committed to sustainability. 3 thumbs up!
Fourthly - they throw in little pops of my favorite color - orange, 4 thumbs up
and finally
All their homes have a tiny bit of Moroccan inspiration. 5 thumbs up!!!


Take a look at some of the absolutely stunning homes they have designed. 
{WARNING: Picture heavy post!}

Casa Lluvia Blanca, San Miguel de Allende, Mexico

Casa de las Estrellas, San Miguel De Allende, Mexico

Casa Cabo Pulmo in the Baja Peninsula, Mexico

Casa de Buenas Alamas - Baja, Mexico

Casa Renamiciento - Rio Laja, Mexico

Francisco Marquez - San Miguel De Allende, Mexico

I spent a bulk of my day drooling over the pics. If you have a few hours to totally waste, then I suggest you hurry on over to this site and check things out. 
Happy Surfing!