A picture of snow clad mountains isn’t the only way to add an element of Kashmiri beauty to your home décor. Along with its natural beauty Kashmir is also known for a number of handicrafts that complement and enhance residential interior designs. Here are a few ways to get you started.
Hand Carved Furniture
Walnuts aren’t the only offerings of a walnut tree. Hand-carved wooden artifacts are something every tourists takes back with them from Kashmir. From small curios and boxes to furniture, every piece is hand carved from walnut or chinar wood with the chinar leaf being the most common motif. An entire set of Kashmiri carved furniture may be a little overbearing for apartments in Mumbai and Delhi but a singular statement piece like a carved bar or a set of nesting tables can complement contemporary styled furniture and interior design to complete the picture.
Papier Mache Curios
Papier mache in Kashmir is nothing like the rough models you might have made as a kid in craft class. Choose from a wide variety of brightly painted curios, boxes, hanging ornaments, bowls etc to add colour to your home décor. These small pieces complement any style of interior design from traditional interior design to minimalist interior design.
Carpets and Namdas
A carpet is the easiest way to change the look of a room. It would be extremely rare to find a Kashmiri home without beautiful carpets. Kashmiri carpets are made mainly with silk or wool. Apart from the exquisite Persian designs, what sets these handmade carpets apart from carpets made elsewhere is that these carpets are always knotted and never tufted.
A well designed silk carpet is usually exorbitantly expensive and if this seems out of your budget look towards the Namdas. Namdas are small cotton or woolen rugs with chain stitch embroidery. These rugs are typical of this region. Unlike regular rugs, a namda is not woven but manually pressed into shape thus giving it an unfinished appeal. Namdas can be used as small area rugs or even as ornamental throws on a sofa.
Aari work Cushion Covers
When it comes to textiles, Kashmir is known more for its surface ornamentation techniques than its fabrics. Chain stitch or aari work is the most well known of these and can be seen on all types of soft furnishings. A cushion cover with intricate aari work is the perfect way to brighten up and add personality to a living room.
Metalware
Photoframes not only hold memories but also add to the aesthetics of a room. One of the lesser known handicrafts of Kashmir is its silverware and copperware artwork known as naqash. Along with the chinar pattern; floral, stylized and calligraphic motifs are engraved or embossed on silver or copper sheets to create unique photoframes, bowls, trays, ornamental boxes etc.
So how do you think a Kashmiri carpet or a silver photoframe would look in your home?
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