Hand Block Prints a Textile Art form so close to my heart. For those of you who don’t know, I started my Retail Career with Anokhi as a Management Trainee in 2006 and have my roots based in the touristy town & capital of Rajasthan ‘ JAIPUR ‘ , the block printing hub of the country.
Faith Ma’am British by origin revived this dying art in India almost 5 decades ago in 1971. Numerous brands way more famous have popped up now but Anokhi will remain special always. The clientele then and even now is very Niche , in fact it’s a very non commercial brand that sticks to their core identity. I had the privilege of meeting, working and interacting very often with the entire family & it was an impressive way of work & life to say the least.
Back in those days coincidentally my first brush with professional photo shoots also happened with Anokhi when I insisted my Kiwi Boss Samantha to let me be a part of it. We shot with industry level Models and Photographers then for publications and I was incharge of logistics from waking the crew at 4 a.m to acting as a Dummy Model , coordinating and narrowing some shoot locations. Ha ha it was fun lying on the damp swimming pool floor honestly with white paper strips in my hand or running and rolling on grass while the Photographer took some test shots. The perks were you stayed at the gorgeous Anokhi Farmhouse situated at the outskirts of Jaipur eating home cooked fusion food by a very able Chef from New Zealand , produce that was mostly grown in their backyard kitchen garden.
Touching down the fond memory lane , I remember the first time I walked into the Anokhi Farm as a young 20 something, it was a cultural shock quite literally to my senses. There were open beams , large bay windows , textured walls , racks and racks full of hardbound books everywhere , unpolished raw stone floors that hurt as I walked barefoot, and textiles, lots of them in an avatar I hadn’t seen before.
Indian Textiles that were beautifully woven throughout the design of that Home had some British country charm, and an amalgamation of East meets West, there was quite a bit of colour too over just the pale neutrals yet it was earthy , homely and comforting. It wasn’t just safe classics such as Blue & White everywhere but rather a notable understated character to the whole space possibly talking volumes about the owners personality (Preetam & Rachael). This treatment of Indian Textile was so distinctive than what I had grown up seeing here in India. And its safe to say , probably the first time I saw the true potential of the gorgeous block prints in a more classic timeless setting or simply Block prints done in the most subtle and beautiful way to compliment the overall scheme of things.
A perfect Marriage between British Design & Indian crafts with a sprinkle of Rajasthani architecture unfolding right in front of my eyes. I still remember taking notes mentally in my head specially, of the details in that Jaali headboard of the bed I slept in (Made entirely from local stone). Those times our Phones didn’t have a camera but all I am trying here is to paint a vivid picture for you readers with my poor sense of writing basically. Pardon me if I fail Please !
Moving on from storytelling, I have to tell you , I’ve been meaning to do this blogpost for really long but postponing it for no definite reasons as always…. Through the course of this I wanted to share what I actually imbibed through those formative early years of my career specially about design & living. How possibly design influenced me officially for the first time , how I had my first brush with mindfulness & slow living. And how I now do the coveted block prints in our Home and contrary to the popular belief that they can make everything look too Indian or Ethnic or gaudy , I think if done right they are versatile enough to add sophistication to any design style. I would always incorporate Block Prints in some way because Hey they are a reminder of my roots after all.
If you relate to my sense of aesthetics which oscillate between the Cottage Style to Lived in Cozy Farmhouse with hints of Colour here and there then keep reading because you can make Block Prints work brilliantly in Cottage style decor too that’s not overly ethnic.
HOW YOU MAY ASK ? Simply by picking the right colours pallet , patterns, a hint of complimentary solids, adding textural throws , mixing prints of complimentary colours well like different shades of Blue can tie them together perfectly. Even Appliqué & Barmer embroidered cushions to break the monotony when you have too much of prints. Indian crafts just need the right treatment to put them at par with global design trends.
Print on Print
Mixing two or more prints whether Block or any other can be a bit tricky. One easy way is to pick the same color family , or slightly more complimenting colours. For example Different Blues can be paired together or any other secondary color from the Primary Print’s undertone. Could be the White background or the colour of the piping and so on. Here’s an example below. These prints are totally different but the binding factor is the white base and the dull almost Faded Pink & Khakhi centring around both of them.
Add Solids
Solids are a must in your Home Linen collection. If you are using the same print in pairs or let’s say in the duvet and the pillows, try breaking it in with a solid. Print on Print can look very busy and as if a lot is happening unless you want it that way. Tying different elements from the Room to it also gets a tad bit difficult making it all look cluttered, it’s advisable to break this pattern with solids, the ones that compliment the overall space. Solids could also be your traditional Appliqué or Kantha work , Handlooms , Textured Linens or even your Plain White sheets & Pillows or your drapes. Mix and Match isn’t bad it rather adds a sense of homeliness, lived in feel when done well. If you want to dig deeper into design sensibilities I would highly recommend conversing yourself with the science behind the COLOR WHEEL & VIBGYOR that I learnt during my retail stint.
Introduce Textures
Choose different Fabrics to add Texture say a Throw with Tassels , some silk if you like the more luxurious feel and sheen , Flax Linen Sheets for a more lived in look, Appliqué Bedcovers, or even Gingham checks (this is a stellar combination which I am going to add soon to my collection once I find something nice). I love Linen sheets and guess what as opposed to my apprehensions initially they did pair beautifully with my Blocks too. See for yourself !
Keep it simple & Clean
This actually applies to everything, Decor shines when everything in a space has room to breathe and is well balanced just like Human relationships , don’t they blossom too when everyone has a say , a role , a place, adding balance. So don’t overpower the delicate prints with heavy drapes , stark rugs, very ornate eye catching pieces and a million other things in the room. Choose the things that compliment and bring balance to their delicate nature. Most Block prints have Mughal motives or nature inspired prints like florals emitting a very calm breezy lived in feel with their fine breathable cottons that are easy on eye. Keep that in mind while choosing accessories for the room. Books , Baskets , Plants and Candles compliment the busy print of that delicate Mul Dohar below.
Dining Room
Block printed Tablecovers are quite popular and why not they are pretty forgiving over a plain white specially around Indian foods, a Turmeric stain will show for months on your plain whites as opposed to not being so noticeable on the busy blocks. But if you still love your whites a little too much like me consider choosing block prints on white backgrounds. Keep the Tableware minimal, since the linen already has overall print. But could very well play with some gold and brass accessories to accentuate, striking floral displays, contrasting Tableware , Coloured Glassware to add all the Drama and conversations around it. Take a look at some of the styling I recently did for one of my Clients.
Hope these tips help you style your spaces with ease , specially now that there is so much emphasis on our Home and rightly so , post the Pandemic new home trends seem to be popping up everyday , a lot many are influences from the west and the old vintage styles seems to be making a real comeback too. Hopefully all for the good. And if you liked these tips and would love to add a few Blockprints to your Home this season , head to our store Deodar and treat your self to some cosy prints from the shop. We ship worldwide and design the most earthy patterns that can add interest to any home.
Ciao for now.
Kamakshi
