Pondicherry Home- a Franco- Tamil Celebration

So much talk of preserving culture feels like an oxymoron, an almost amusing one at that. The most vibrant cultures are an outcome of two or more worlds coming together, and evolving over a period of time.

Tucked away in the southern part of India, Pondicherry reveals a tale of love between French and Tamil culture. While the roads, colonial offices and cafes reveal glimpses of the Franco-Tamil affair; it’s the Pondicherry home that lets you breathe in the essence of Pondicherry whole.

A typical home in Pondicherry factors in aesthetics hailing from French adapting to the sultry Southern Indian climate. One finds a blend of neo-classical architecture and popular facets of Tamil homes, all rolled into colorful, layered home design. Arched windows, colonial pillars carry forward the French legacy in Pondi, while thatched roofs and lush courtyards remind you of a simpler time, more like days of the Raj for the common man.

The roads boast of color- blocked homes on the outside, but the interiors tell a whole new story. Modest, minimal and magnificent; a Franco Tamil home’s décor is the face not many know. Wooden accents big and small adorn the space; wooden beams, furniture, large traditional doors add modesty to the otherwise palatial looking set up. Another striking feature is the focus on greenery within the house- big potted plants and climbers creep into the Pondicherry dwellers personal space.

The city stands as a poetic example of the balance created when two cultures combine. It shows innovation in art only makes it that much more aesthetically pleasing and viable as well. Whether a spoon, a table or four poster beds; designs that borrow from different worlds, or periods in time are reflective of a nuanced result.

Design in living, or living in design?

The way we style our surroundings governs our life more than we realize, rather one might wonder if our life choices impact our flair for style and the way we decorate our way around a space.

Have you ever stopped and wondered why you adorn your space with certain pieces or pick styles from a specific era?

We deconstructed two prominent home styling trends in 2017 and what they have to say about our choices in general, have a look –

Green Décor

The presence of green in your homes in indicative talks about the current scenario in more ways than one. Pantone’s color of the year 2017 green dominates the world of fashion at home too, with ecological consciousness as a sub consciousness objective.

The infusion of green, raw white, wooden frames lends to a simpler, primitive style with a nuanced approach. Postmodern sensibilities find their way into our space and hearts as traditional techniques take contemporary forms.

Artisanal Everything

Tableware, decorative pieces and artwork— skilled and semi-skilled pieces take over the mass-produced IKEA and Pottery Barn. While minimalism is here to stay, the whole less- is- more philosophy takes an interesting turn as statement, almost whimsical pieces own the spotlight in an otherwise empty space.

Artisanal pieces find originality in thought, and are given form through unique ideas and innovative implementation. Every piece follows a line of thought and has telltale signs of personal affiliation.

In retrospect, it’s easy to admit that life and design are mutually dependent, and feed off each other in fascinating ways. The way we live helps decide the way we decorate, and while it may seem like an overstretch, the case works in the obverse as well.