What's Ethnic about Ethnic

I get an inward shudder whenever I hear people describe their interiors theme as being "ethnic". It conjures up images of multiple Sarawak vases and swathes of pua kumbus or dangly Indian ornaments like the ones here.

 

It's all fine and well if you are a student living in a small dorm room in a grey and cold city somewhere but it is really taking things too far when it actually becomes a interiors theme.

Some people do it not as a matter of taste but one of helping out minority communities which I don't disagree with but there are always ways to support the crafts without going overboard on the ethnic or the tribal.

Over the years, I found some of the best 'modern' pieces in the most unlikely places. My latest discovery is this black clay vase and dishes from a crafts market in New Delhi. This small collection was brought over from a village in India's Mizoram state which borders Burma. 

Got lots more examples but will have to wait till I unpack my boxes again.

The White Exception

I know I started this blog with a rallying cry against white rooms but I must admit that when done right, white rooms can be very charming.

The place I have in mind is a boutique hotel in Galle called The Sun House. I recently holidayed here for 5 days and fell in love with the place, including its white theme. There were a couple of elements that made the place so wonderfully cosy. The first was the use of dark hardwood furniture and brass antiques.

I was completely charmed by my Aliya room which was furnished with a four poster bed, a hardwood desk and cupboard, a colonial sofa and day bed. This room opened through double wooden doors to a bright shower, illuminated by a skylight and air vents.

I also managed to sneak a peek at the Dumas Suite while the house boys were cleaning one morning and saw this pretty study.

But for cosiness, nothing topped the evening atmosphere that was a quaint combination of colonial sluggishness and British eccentricity. The English owner, Geoffrey, ran Dick's Bar, Galle's favourite spot for sundowners. His deputy and countrywoman, Henri Tatham, flitted among guests dressed everyday in a different pink printed moomoo and pink feathered fascinator. Here are some decor pieces that really remind me of them.

Definitely the most memorable hotel that I've stayed in. 

A Question of Cupboards

I used to tell myself that given a choice, I would not install any built-in wardrobes. I hated them because the room I had in my parent's house was already on the smallish side and the built-in they installed took up a huge chunk of space. But years later when I bought my own place, I did the once unthinkable. After years of living in cramped rooms, I decided to compromise for the extra space to store my clothes, bags, shoes and textiles.

Now, as I look to moving again, the inevitable question has resurfaced. How do I get storage space without cramping the style I want to achieve? I'm running a poll for feedback. Here are the options:

1) Floor-to-ceiling built-ins. I was persuaded by Amazon.co.uk to buy this wonderful book, A Girl's Guide to Decorating by British designer Abigail Ahern. The designer recommends this simple design for closet doors. I quite like it.

  

2) Antique Chinese cupboards. I am definitely not interested in anything too 'ethnic' so I am qualifying this by putting up a photo of the exact design. I found this A-shaped giant Chinese cupboard at the Jalan 222 treasure trove, Danasti. According to Ho Lee who runs the warehouse, this piece was refashioned from recycled elm wood by Chinese craftmen. Check out the gorgeous brass hinges and door lock.

3) Pick-and-mix flea market finds. In one of my earlier postings, I wrote about finding a sweet little cupboard in a Malacca junk store. Instead of getting new ones, it may be an idea to try to rescue as many pieces as possible. It would be cheap but I may have to sacrifice space and design integrity.

And now...vote!

The Bawa Factor

I've just had a wonderful holiday in Sri Lanka and I am still brimming with enthusiasm about the place. If you are interested in modern Asian architecture, this is definitely the place to visit. Long before modern minimalism became popular in Asia, Sri Lanka had its own movement growing under the influence of the late (and gifted) Geoffrey Bawa.

Bawa started by transplanting European designs but later developed his own version of tropical minimalism. He experimented with creating bold geometric structures using local natural materials. But don't mistake the Bawa look for Balinese exoticism. I don't think Mr Bawa had a lot of patience little decorative things other than what nature has to offer. What I love most about the Bawa style is the signature courtyards - wide and airy in the shadows of tranquil frangipani trees. 

Here are some photos of the newly built Era Beach Hotel in Thalpe. I think the designers stayed true to quite a number of Bawa elements. 

By the way, this is what Era Beach is most famous for - the weather-hardened stick fishermen.