Imagine India and you conjure up saffron and magenta hues and cumin and curry aromas. Whether you’re harking back to the earliest Indus Valley civilizations or the pageantry of Bollywood, you’ll discover that India offers an array of style options that combines traditionalism, mystical novelty, and discriminating aesthetics.
India is one of the world’s greatest cultural centers. This second most populated country hosts every major religion and artfully mixes tradition with its modern, contemporary culture. A space designed in Indo-fashion can include an image of the Hindu god Ganesh and a poster of film star Akshay Kumar. A statue of Siddhartha, the great Buddha, will bring good luck to any business meeting. Creating a background of deep reds and saffron will allay visual distraction and allow calm to settle over you. Fuse the traditional and the contemporary to create a visual mosaic of paisley and pop, celebrating the majesty of the Indian subcontinent!
WALLS
• Saris come in a variety of prints and bold colors and can provide a dramatic wall covering. Measure your walls first to ensure you purchase enough material, and select your favorite saris at a store that carries international goods. Fasten each sari to the top of the walls with straight pins, gather the fabric in the middle of the wall, and pin each end of the gathered section to create a swag.
• Using hot glue, line the top of the wall with a simple strand of red plastic disks or beads that complements your sari.
• Cover the surface of the shelf in gold lamé or vinyl and trim the edges with strands of coordinating plastic disks or beads. Attach both covering and trim with hot glue.
DESK
• This cube is all about jewel tones, with accents in gold. Cover the desk in gold lamé or vinyl, securing it with duct tape underneath the desk. Trim the edges of the desk with coordinating disks or beads affixed to the vinyl with hot glue.
DÉCOR
• Brass accessories add warmth and sparkle. Display a brass vase, frame your favorite photograph in brass, or put pencils and pens in a brass cup.
• Carved wood bookends and decorative iron pots provide visual stimulation and contrasting textures.
• Colorful perfume bottles in a variety of sizes will add a sense of romance to your design.
• A wooden organizer accented with hammered metal is the perfect container for office supplies.
• A lamp with a colorful beaded shade casts an appealing glow while playing off the trim of the walls and desk.
• Line the cubicle with 3- or 4-foot-tall (91 or 122 cm) iron candle-sticks topped with colorful votive candleholders to add a homey feeling and a warm candle-lit glow.
• Give your cubicle depth by placing a dark-colored bench in front of the iron candlesticks.
• Hang a painting of an Indian icon that coordinates with the jewel-toned saris.
• Brew fresh Darjeeling tea in a French press, and keep bright Mediterranean tea glasses on hand for serving.
• Colorful fruit in a wood or brass platter is not only a healthy afternoon snack, but also adds to the depth of color in your cube.
