Stories
from the Avenue

Art & Living / July 19, 2020 / 3 minutes of reading

To bring out the best in any space, a floor plan is an ideal first step. It creates a visual of the room’s flow, and helps identify the furnishings and respective dimensions.

Mix old and new décor

Something very special about the blend of old and new. A mix of modern and antique pieces never go out of style; they belong together and elevate the character of any given space.

Sleek modern sofa paired with antique cupboards and signature mirrors. Location: The Postcard Galle, Interior solutions by Gandhara

Choose the right bulbs

Depending on the space, the lighting requirement could be anything from minimal track bars to lavish chandeliers. So, selecting the right bulb is very important, LED bulbs are energy efficient and they look great. We at Gandhara always opt for warm white light over bright white.

Wall and table lamp lighting both in warm white. Home Interior Solutions by Gandhara

Invest in specialty pieces

Signature pieces like fine art and fabulous antiques are equivalent to good wine; simply getting better with age. So as Chandos Epley once said, “It’s better to cry once and have a forever piece”, and we too recommend adding that special piece to fall completely in love with your space.

Location: Gandhara Store

Don’t under-estimate the power of paint

Be it the room walls or a piece of furniture, a vibrant ‘paint-over’ makes all the difference. This is a rather economical way of giving the space a completely fresh look, while going easy on your spending.

Location: The Postcard Galle. Interior Solutions by Gandhara.

Coffee tables are important

A coffee table must be selected carefully depending on the space; taking into account dimensions and aesthetic. In an open seating area, a well-proportioned coffee table could act as a statement piece; grounding the entire seating arrangement and giving a sense of place. Gandhara has a wide variety coffee tables ranging from textured and smooth wood, marble, metal and glass finishes.

Interior Solutions by Gandhara

Get inspiration from ancient buildings

Floor patterns in ancient buildings add so much character, and it could act as the signature feature of the space while all other furniture remain complementary. Imagine a checkerboard patterned marble floor bringing all that glory to a simple room, how marvelous!

Tall furniture create the illusion of higher ceilings

When furnishing spaces with low ceilings, we recommend using tall shelving units and cupboards. This in turn would make the ceiling seem much higher to the ground than it really is, creating the illusion of a larger room. Gandhara has an array of cupboards in Oak, Teak, Metal and Ratan in a multitude of colours.

Location: Gandhara Store

Mirror, Mirror on the wall

There is something warm and wholesome about adorning a wall with mirrors. Yet we risk creating a commercial ambience if not careful, by slapping large mirrors onto room walls. Gandhara has a collection of intricately patterned mirrors in several shapes and sizes, that could add oomph and elegance to most spaces.

Old ship windows converted to mirrors. Location: The Postcard Galle, Interior Solutions by Gandhara

Trust your intuition

And finally, trust your intuition. Listening to experts is always wise, but trusting your instinct is equally important. There is more than one right option, so best go with the option you are most content with. Olivia Erwin once said “Follow your gut. If you have to talk yourself into liking something, you probably don’t”, and we heartily agree.

Art & Living / July 10, 2020 / 3 minutes of reading

Finding a home that is perfect in one’s eye, is everyone’s dream. However, this perfect home may have a floor that is stained, chipped or an awful color. Would you give up the home?

Certainly not! Dhanak has found after 12 years of experience, that a rug, be it oriental or contemporary, eases the pain of looking at the floor. It takes the focus away from the floor while adding interest to the area and demarking it. Art for the floor would be more apt a statement. There are three key factors we urge you to consider prior to making your purchase.

COLOUR

Colour or Pattern of a carpet is a critical focal point. Especially if other design elements like furniture, lighting and paint are already in place, those tones could be used to guide the carpet colour selection. If the space is predominantly light or shades of pastel, the rug could also be selected in similar shades. However if the rug is bold with a poignant pattern or colour, its best to place the rug first and select the other furniture and accessories based on the carpet.

TEXTURE

Texture is a lesser recognized fact when it comes to rug purchasing, but it should not be. It is often missed in online shopping, but the fact is that well curated textures in a rug add much depth and layers to the overall design of a space. In a nutshell, one should look for pieces that contrast with the existing textiles. If the space consists of smoother surfaces such as a leather, a full and fluffy rug in hand knitted wool would be ideal. This same principle should be followed for the smaller décor items like pillows and throws for a rich, layered feel.

SIZE

Correct sizing is one aspect of a rug that cannot be compromised. Simply going with a rug, you absolutely adore in the wrong size will be doing injustice to the space, because an undersized rug will make a room feel small and awkward. As a rule, covering the seating area is the standard, but making sure at least the front legs of chairs are on the textile is a satisfactory arrangement. The orientation should be taken into account, because rectangular pieces fit rectangular spaces while square rooms look natural with square or round rugs. This may sound obvious but it’s easy to be tempted away from a proper sizing when falling for an attractive textile not available in the right dimensions.

We encourage our customers to place the rug in their homes and see how it looks when placed, this way the family could see what it looks like and make a more informed decision prior to purchase. While we talk of family, Dhanak ensures an anti-slip is placed if required, so that the elderly and children remain safe.

In the past buying rugs entailed visiting the store, while the new ‘normal’ is online or on WhatsApp. Dhanak services are personalized even then, so photos of the areas and the preferred colors are the only requirement, after which we could recommend the size and the style. Once you have narrowed down your choice we will send the rug to your residence, to see which one fits perfectly.

Maintaining a rug ensures longevity, so we do also undertake washing and repairs; taking the best care with over a decade of experience.

Fashion / July 10, 2020 / 2 minutes of reading

A white mini dress is a summer essential to have in your wardrobe.

“White has it all. Its beauty is absolute. It’s the perfect harmony”
— Coco Chanel

There are so many ways to style such a piece that in a way make it perfect for the beautiful tropical island weather.

Much like the little black dress, a little white dress is just as essential for your timeless wardrobe. The Wanderlust Mini by ILEANA is a perfect piece that is both chic and effortlessly cool. This sleeveless summer beauty is perfect for the tropics due to the fabric being 100% antique washed linen. It’s breathable and to help with the hot summer days, we have designed it with a back opening. The best thing is, IT HAS POCKETS with loop detailing. Who can say no, to a cute dress with pockets?

The Wanderlust Mini can be dressed up for a summer cocktail or dressed down for your weekend getaways. It is specially designed to suit island aesthetics and lifestyle and will be the most versatile dress in your collection.

Tip 1 for Cocktail Hour

Pair the Wanderlust Mini with a pair of brown/nude flats. Add a pair of gold statement earrings to jazz up the outfit. You can also opt in for a nude/brown bag to keep it clean or add a pop of colour with a funky clutch from your wardrobe.

Tip 2 for on your way to Down South

Pair the dress with a pair of brown sandals and a colourful kaftan or kimono to bring out the weekend vibes. You can then dress it up with a straw hat and a weekend bag (Brown, fabric made or embroidered) of your liking.

Tip 3 for the City Escape

On your days in and around your home city, the Wanderlust Mini can be paired with a denim jacket and white flats. The denim jacket will work to break the simplicity of the white. You can have fun with your accessories according to your mood for the day.

For more Ileana styling, send us a message on Instagram @ileanathelabel or visit a stylist at The Design Collective Store.

Food & Café / July 10, 2020 / 2 minutes of reading

For majority, there is no chance of a head start without a cup of coffee, it has become such, that coffee plays the center stage in Colombo’s café culture. Why do we thrive on coffee? is it just to be caffeinated or is there more to it? Just as much as you know your favourite coffee, lets dig into some history from the bean.

Coffee dates back in time to the 15th century. The earliest evidence of coffee or knowledge of the coffee tree is from the 15th century in monasteries in Yemen. Spreading soon to Mecca and Cairo by the 16th Century it diversified towards the roots of Middle East, South India Persia Turkey, Horn of Africa, Northern Africa, Coffee then spread to Balkan towards Italy and to the rest of Europe, South East Asia and America.

The term coffee entered the English language in 1582, via Dutch Koffiee, term borrowed from the Arabic Kahwah.

First Use of Coffee

In the 9th century Ethiopian Goat herder Kaldi, noticed the energizing effects of his flock after nibbling on the bright red berries of a certain bush. He roasted the beans to experience an aroma which enticed him to quickly ground and dilute it as a beverage.

Species and Varieties of Coffee

As with grapes for wine and hops for beer, coffee cherries come from a tree that has numerous species and varieties although only a few of these spread across the world new varieties are continually been cultivated. Arabica and Robusta are two types of coffee beans which evolve all across the world and their characteristics change with factors such as sunlight, rain fall, wind patterns, humid levels, altitude and latitude.

Specialty Sri Lankan coffee at Pages and Coffee and its ‘Purpose’

We at Pages and Coffee, use local coffee directly sourced from the Ceylon’s highlands of Kotmale and Walapane. Serving you the best of local specialty coffee brings us much happiness.

The coffee beans are harvested and crafted by the female farming communities of the hills. Sourced as an organic single origin coffee, these Arabica beans give you fruity notes to your palette. Every cup of coffee, a customer purchases, helps us to empower these women to support themselves and their families.