Being a home stylist, I always play with mood boards and colour palettes to create the desired feel that would appeal to end users of the space. To create such spaces, I am on the constant lookout for new materials and fabrics, locally as well as from other states.
At times, it is difficult to get the right textures and patterns straight out of a brand catalog, and most of the time it gives joy to create products out of different fabrics put together. It would give the rawness of handmade décor as well as a personal, homely touch to the homes transformed - be it a little border on a curtain or block prints on a cushion.
During my journey of identifying new fabrics and styles, it occurred to me that our Kerala handloom has not been used well in the home décor scenario. Despite the fact that I see myself as an innovator who is always trying to tweak current styles to look different and create new patterns, I had never explored or played with this beautiful traditional fabric.
Kerala has a very rich textile industry which traces its origin way back to the Buddhist era. The golden and cream thread work crafted on this ethnic fabric is intrinsically set giving the material a traditional appeal, and also the delicate feel of affluence and calmness on the same scale.
I was inspired by its subtle opulence and tranquillity when added into a space; the decor was not screaming for attention, but had an aura that would never miss the eye. The beauty of the golden kasavu can be accentuated in some of the products by adding block prints in golden and earthy tones. This transforms the cushions and curtains to become statement pieces by their own right! How could a Kerala home be without a little golden kasavu line in it?
(The writer Varsha Rakesh runs a home styling firm in Kochi)
