A Complete Guide To Cleansing And Eight Cleansers For Every Skin Type

January 31, 2022February 5, 2022 / mythoughtlane / Leave a comment

The first secret to glowing skin is effective cleansing, do you agree? We are now on the same page, and so here are eight options of face cleansers that are packed with beneficial natural ingredients. They are gentle, safe and score high on efficacy.

A well-cleansed face provides the canvas for further skincare and makeup. Clean skin drinks up the nutrients from your serums, essences and moisturizers, giving you that ‘much-desired’ plump, glowy and dewy skin.

When is the best time to cleanse your face?
Every type of skin…. even problem skin needs daily cleansing and twice a day at that! At bedtime, or after you get back home in the evening to dislodge the build-up of dirt, grime and makeup that sat on your face all day! And the first thing on waking up to remove residual oils from the night (read natural sebum plus bedtime skincare products).

How to cleanse effectively without drying the skin?
First and foremost, say no to harsh chemicals and choose gentle formulations from trusted brands. Opt for natural ingredients that target your skin concern.
But, before I take you to some hero face cleansers, just a few tips on how to give your skin a little TLC.

Do’s And Don’ts Of Face Cleansing

Properly remove all your makeup first – use a gentle makeup remover and a soft cotton pad to do so.
Use lukewarm water – extreme temperatures of water can harm your skin, and do no good.
Skip the washcloth – much touted it is on social media, but it can irritate skin due to rubbing.
Allow the face cleanser to sit on your face for a few seconds to dissolve and dislodge the impurities. Do not wash off immediately. Massage the product gently on your face and neck with your fingers.
Tools like face brushes and loofahs are not really essential. A good face cleanser applied using your finger tips will do the job.
Your neck is an extension of your face in the beauty world, so give it the same care as you would a face.
Pat your face dry gently with a soft towel and avoid rubbing it on.
Apart from washing your face twice a day, cleanse it additionally only if required (in cases of sweating) and use only the required amount of the product. Over-washing can dry up your skin.

When you are done cleansing, do remember to follow up with a toner/serum/moisturizer that suits your skin type and concern.
I have put together eight of the best facial cleansers to suit all skin types, and have you covered with natural ingredients – only after I have tried and tested them on myself and some members of a test team so that I recommend only the safest and the best. These products are available in India on the brand websites as well as at Aardae website in Singapore. I have provided links to the products in India at the end.

Aminu – the essentials AHA FACE WASH

aminu aha face wash for blemish clearing and brightening, aardae, singapore

A face wash to fall in love with, you certainly wouldn’t want to miss this. If its classy packaging draws you to it at first glance, prepare to be wowed by the gentle, soothing potion that leaves your skin smooth, radiant and fresh as dew. With five natural AHAs, natural sugars, antioxidants, botanicals and mild resurfacing ingredients, this face wash is a ‘multitasker’.

Skin Type – Dry, Normal, Combination, and Oily

Skin Goals – De-Tanning, Spot-Correction, Blemish-Clearing, Brightening. Sensitive skin types can avoid this and opt for Aminu Cream Cleanser.

Earth Rhythm-Cleansing Balm With Propolis

If you love the ingredient ‘propolis’, this cleansing balm is for you. A face cleanser that not just gently cleans, but brightens up skin instantly, like none other. Keep this handy if you have an event to go to and you may shine the best. Plant-based fatty acids replenish, while the rest of the rich natural ingredients balance, heal and soothe skin.

Skin Type – Acne-prone, Dry & Problematic.

Skin Goals – SkinBalancing, Healing & Soothing, Retaining Moisture.

Omorfee – Green Apple Face Wash

omorfee apple protein face wash for sebum balancing and acne

‘An apple protein to deep clean oily skin’ is its simplest description. Oily skin throws up many challenges when it comes to face washes and moisturisers. But this Omorfee green apple face wash, devoid of sulphate extricates all grime without disrupting the healthy skin mantle. Could be your best bet to taking care of oily/acne-prone skin and keeping it healthy.

Skin Type – Oily & Acne-prone.

Skin Goals – Sebum balancing, Clearing Pores, Controlling Acne.

Shankara Naturals – Hydrating Cleanser – Fine Line

shankara naturals hydrating face wash for fine lines

A good one for combination and dry skin types. It’s not often that products are formulated for combination skin, but this one is. A face wash that feels luxurious yet cleanses thoroughly, leaving skin soft and smooth. A perfect blend of highly potent natural ingredients that helps in protecting the natural acid mantle of the skin.

Skin Type – All

Skin Goals – Skin acid mantle protection, Soothe skin and keep it moist, Remove makeup gently & effectively.

Detoxie – Anti-pollution & De-tan Refreshing Face Wash

detoxie face wash to combat pollution and tanning

Made for city life, made for you! City life is riddled with pollution and many environmental stressors, which in turn stresses our insides too, resulting in inflammation, damaged skin barrier, acne and pigmentation. Detoxie face wash has been designed to combat just that. It’s enriched with potent nutrients like Japanese Matcha, Peach Extract, Vitamin B5, Vitamin E, Witch Hazel Extract, Alpha Arbutin & Jojoba Ester. Together they help in cleansing pores to the core, minimizing blemishes and all that without drying the skin.

Skin Type – All

Skin Goals – Cleansing of all pollutants, Brightening of Skin, Clearing Pores.

Juicy Chemistry – Saffron, Marula and Ylang Ylang Face Wash

juicy chemistry face wash for improving skin texture and plumping

This face wash is a boon to dry and mature skin. Enriched with antioxidants, phenols, plant vitamins, fatty acids and terpenes, this Marula and Saffron face wash cleanses without drying mature skin further, and reverses free radical damage. Women who have used have reported smoothening of skin texture too! So that’s a big plus.

Skin Type – Normal to Dry

Skin Goals – Nourishing dry skin, Enhancing Tone & Texture, Plumping.

Soul Tree – Indian Rose Face Wash

soul tree face wash to enhance elasticity

Absolutely wonderful on normal to dry skin. Dry skin particularly is always under threat of losing its plumpness and elasticity. Potent extracts of Indian Rose and Turmeric are super beneficial to maintain the elasticity of the skin. Forest Honey and Aloe Vera together leave skin refreshed and hydrated.

Skin Type – All

Skin Goals – Retain elasticity, Keep skin blemish-free, nourished and hydrated.

Brillare – Oil Away Face Wash

brillare face wash for oily and acne prone skin, aardae, singapore

Oily skin can be tricky, one is never sure of what face wash and moisturiser to use. But, here is one product that puts your fear to rest. Brillare’s Oil Away Face Wash cleanses pores deep enough to clear it of the residual sebum, thereby leaving no room for microbes. Leaves skin non-greasy and fresh.

Skin Type – Oily & Acne-prone

Skin Goals – Oil balancing, Clear Pore

So those are some top-notch recommendations for high-performance face cleansers with pure and natural ingredients.

Bonus Tip :
Foods containing preservatives and artificial ingredients may irritate skin and cause breakouts even in the healthiest of skins. For eg, foods high in trans fats, such as margarine, processed food, and fast food. Foods high in sugar may also trigger eczema flare-ups. Sugar causes your insulin levels to spike, which can result in inflammation.

All products at Aardae are free from harsh chemicals, are not tested on animals and are eco-friendly. With natural ingredients sourced ethically from across the globe.
See you soon again. Till then, stay beautiful, naturally!

Aminu AHA Face Wash : https://aminu.life/Item/23/products/AHA-Face-Wash

Earth Rhythm Cleansing Balm : https://www.earthrhythm.com/collections/propolis/products/healing-cleansing-balm-with-propolis

Omorfee Green Apple Face Wash : https://www.omorfee.in/products/green-apple-face-wash

Hydrating Cleanser Shankara Naturals : https://www.shankara.in/products/hydrating-cleanser-fine-line

Detoxie Anti Pollution Face Wash : https://detoxie.in/products/anti-pollution-de-tan-refreshing-face-wash

Juicy Chemistry Face Wash : https://juicychemistry.com/products/saffron-marula-ylang-ylang-organic-face-wash

Indian Rose Face Wash Soul Tree : https://www.soultree.in/products/natural-indian-rose-face-wash-1

Oil Away Face Wash Brillare : https://www.brillare.co.in/products/oil-away-facewash-for-oily-acne-prone-skin

Hand-carved Vintage Door, Indian Teak – Make Your Home Special With It

February 3, 2017February 4, 2017 / mythoughtlane / 4 Comments

Doors and doorways have fascinated most of us at one time or the other – either for the sheer beauty of the door, or the interest to know what lies behind such a work of art. If the door is carved and splendid, the world beyond and within must be magical too! There goes the child in all of us, seeking a peek at the unknown!

Yes, doors have an aesthetic role in creating an impression of what lies beyond.

This happens to me when I travel and sit by the window of a car or a coach. As houses whip by, there are always a few that catch your attention with their magnificent entrance doors, and my imagination soars. There is immediately an attempt to visualise beautifully decorated, warm cozy living spaces within the house. Term it a pass time travel activity if you will, but it’s certainly conditioned by some visits to some pretty interiors within artistic doors.

The Sandalwood Room has one such antique, carved doorway that will lend beauty and grace to your home. An intricately carved frame and two alluring shutters.

The Carved Doorway

80 year old antique hand carved door ensemble in indian teak, the sandalwood room

A majestic hand-carved front door ensemble in Indian teak, probably 80 years old

A classic Indian vintage carved doorway in Indian teak wood, with two galloping horse busts, fixed on the top at either sides, giving it a regal touch. Through all cultures across the world, horses symbolise the epic power of mind, body and spirit to rise above the ordinary as also trusting relationships. Apt, isn’t it for the doorway then?

horse bust of galloping horse supporting carved header of carved doorway

Galloping horse bust holding up the hand carved header of the carved doorway

Exquisite carving on the door header that adds a beautiful ethnic dimension to the vintage doorway, and tells the story of expert craftsmen, who must have chipped and chiselled away to produce this intricate work of art. This beautifully carved door with its frame, shutters and other embellishments is probably 75-80 years old, and Andhra Pradesh a southern state of India could be its provenance.

intricately carved header of an 80 year old vintage doorway, the sandalwood room

Intricately carved header of the 80 year old carved doorway

Doorway: W 36″ H 72″ Outer frame: W 52″ H 98″

Double shutters in Indian teak, studded with brass knobs are a part of the vintage carved doorway. They can be fixed with the sturdy iron hinges provided at either sides. Wood scores the most in terms of visual appeal as the surface material, and it adds an organic warmth. World’s best doors are made in wood I would think.

handcrafted indian teak shutters with brass knobs, shooter bolt and handle, the sandalwood room

Handcrafted Indian teak wood shutters with brass knobs and shooter bolt and handle

Details of the brass knobs, the brass shooter bolt and handle are in the image below. Brass has been the preferred metal in decor for centuries, and continues to hold sway even today, due to its staying power. All it needs is a wipe of polish now and then and its ready to shine and glow. Most would be unaware that the beautiful brass signifies natural good in the world of metals. So yes, reason enough to be used in places of worship, again across most cultures of the world.

indian teak wood shutters with brass knobs, brass shooter bolt and handle

Brass knobs, brass shooter bolt and handle on Indian teak wood shutters

The following images contain the specs and the prices.

Doors as Entrances

Doors are most often symbolically linked with ritual purposes. Haven’t we all felt solemn receiving the keys to a new home or work place, as we step in with new energy and hope? A door is first and foremost an entrance on a literal level, leading us from there to the insides that either are our places of rest or work. Either way, a doorway has some kind of energy. Doors are also closely related to gates and thresholds. The three together create a welcoming portal and a passage, for they share similar, symbolic features.

Doors make a statement.

Your front door is an introduction of sorts. Of your style and sensibilities. Of your warmth and energy. That is why, most people invest time and money on making a good front door and that done, a natural progression would be to make pleasing and cozy interiors. So, a good door is encouragement to making a pretty home within.

Mix-n-Match Tips

Just like in my earlier posts on home decor accessories the predominant theme has been mix-n-match, so does the vintage carved doorway with its components lend beautifully to the theme.

The gorgeous carved frame could be attached to a wall akin to a showpiece. Within it could be placed on the wall, several small to medium-sized wooden or metal handicrafts, like a collage. Or a statue of your choice giving it a stately look.

The two shutters could also be a showpiece on your wall, just fix them up with screws to give the appearance of a door leading to an inside. Let in a little wonderment!

The carved door is ready for pick up at The Sandalwood Room, Singapore. Contact Anjana@thesandalwoodroom.com or call them at 9786 5896.

The Sandalwood Room at Singapore has more on offer till the 10th Of February, as part of their exclusive home decor accessories sale.

Please drop in between 11 am and 8 pm Monday to Friday
11 am to 2 pm on Saturdays

The Sandalwood Room on Tras Street, close to Tanjong Pagar, Singapore is an exclusive boutique with gifts and collectibles, ethnic fashion, jewelry, home decor and art, an eclectic mix of merchandise and an art gallery that hosts periodic exhibitions by international artists.For those with a penchant for contemporary arts and traditional crafts…this is the place to be!

If you have liked any of the above products, click here to explore more.
Payments can be made through PayPal, bank transfers and cheques (delivery subject to realisation)
All products subject to availability.
Give them a Facebook like here.

Address:

The Sandalwood Room, 78 Tras Street, Singapore 079017

Phone : +65 6221 2654 / +65 9786 5896

Email: thesandalwoodroom@gmail.com

Website: http://www.thesandalwoodroom.com

Facebook : Visit The Sandalwood Room

Rugs : Add Layers Of New Looks To Your Rooms As Often As You Please

January 29, 2017 / mythoughtlane / 1 Comment

The Rug : A Versatile Home Decor Accessory

The right rug is a home décor accessory like no other. It can make a room look cozy and intimate or give it a dramatic lift. Expecting guests; rushed for time, but you are rearing to give your living room a different look ? Just throw a floor rug in the entertaining space and you are done. Now go, shower, dress up and you are ready to show off your pretty den.

The art is in choosing the right rug though. The Sandalwood Room has some very pretty and irresistible rugs on sale. Handmade, like everything else in the boutique-store. These rugs are incredibly durable and easy-care ones and are hand knotted, making them that much more exclusive and exotic. It takes several days for a weaver to complete one small rug – truly only a passionate weaver can bring out this work of art. I was amazed to read the details that go into producing hand-knotted rugs , you will value the rugs too, even higher after you read the story of the labour behind it. Click on the link provided above, you will find care instructions too.

The Classic Look

Can you resist this bright and beautiful one? Just right if your interiors and furnishings are in pastels – this rug with tribal patterns hand-woven will brighten up your room instantly.

tsr-hand knotted-rug-rose_fotor, the sandalwood room

Hand knotted rug with a classical touch

Size : 5 X 3 (ft) ; Price : 70 SGD

tsr-rug-rolled_fotor, the sandalwood room, hand knotted

Hand knotted rug, rolled up

You could probably mix and match the home decor accessories below on a fine teak wood side table to give your room a colour-coordinated look.

Handmade decorative box

Handmade palmyra trays

Handmade tray, coasters

Rugs or dhurries as they are also called are an essential layer of home decor accessories. Carpeting is boring, rugs are exciting, for they are versatile. It’s like you wave a magic wand and your room gets a new look. Move rugs from one room to the other and keep redesigning your spaces with as little as few square feet!

The Subtle Look

Now for a neutral base. When you have a colourful space, this rug is sure to bring in a subtlety and style with its run of traditional motifs on a light toned base colour.

tsr-rug-beige-and-grey_fotor, the sandalwood room, hand knotted

Hand knotted rug in a neutral tone

Size : 6 x 4 (ft) ; Price : 80 SGD

tsr-rug-beige-grey-rolled_fotor, handknotted, the sandalwood room

Beautiful hand knotted rug in a neutral base , rolled up

A few suggestions from the wide range of table napkins at The Sandalwood Room to go with the neutral tone.

Handmade blockprinted Anokhi dinner napkins with organic dyes

Handmade dinner napkin

The Traditional Look

Traditional motifs like Ikat seem to be a big hit with rugs, so are geometric patterns. Modern interior designing is so much about fusion. Contemporary colour palettes have made it easier to mix and match, be it personal attire or home designs. With colours of spring, this rug is a cheer-me-up kind. If you have a sitting arrangement in your patio, spread this sprightly rug out for a closer to nature feel.

Hand knotted rug in colours of spring

Size : 4 x 3 (ft) ; Price : 60 SGD

Hand knotted rug in colours of spring, rolled up

Tea-cups and saucers to suit the outdoor, garden mood.

Ishika cup n saucer

The Cottage/Country Look

A rug for a room with cottage or country decor style. Compliment it with folk art hangings, pottery and crockery, if serving your guests hot piping coffee or tea and snacks.

Hand knotted rug for a cottage look

Size : 6 x 4 ; Price : 80 SGD

tsr-grey-green-red-rolled-rug_fotor hand knotted cottage look, the sandalwood room

Hand knotted rug for a cottage look

Some accessories to go with the country or cottage look. The ceramic pottery, the box lamp with laser cut copper filigree inlay and transom like glass and Palmyra leaf basket for your fruits or other knick-knacks.

ceramic table top decor items ensemble, the sandalwood room

Ceramic table top decor pieces

Box lamp

Palmyra leaf basket

The Versatile Look

This rug maybe for your bedroom, where there is less traffic – it can add an impact. The three-tone rug makes it so simple to match your bed linen and cushions with it. Place it so that the longest side is perpendicular to the bed.

tsr-rug-blue-brown-mustard_fotor hand knotted, the sandalwood room

Hand knotted rug with tribal patterns

Size : 5 x 3 (ft) ; Price : 70 SGD

tsr-rug-rolled-2_fotor in blue, brown mustard, the sandalwood room

Hand knotted rug for a cottage look

A bedside table is an absolute essential for any bedroom. You could use the pretty ceramic round box to keep safe your little jewellery as you get ready for bed. A scented candle of course to create a soft romantic mood as you wind down for the day.

Coffee table

Ceramic round box

Copper candle holder

The Ethnic Look

An all out ethnic look with a combination of motifs. It’s the predominant green base that probably lends the rug its ethnic look.

tsr-rug-multicolour_fotor ethnic look hand knotted, the sandalwood room

Hand knotted multi colour rug for an ethnic look

Size : 6 x 4 (ft) ; Price : 80 SGD

tsr-rug-multicoloured-rolled_fotor ethnic look, the sandalwood room

Hand knotted multi-coloured rug for an ethnic look, rolled up

Match the ethnic look with these bright home decor accessories, a cutlery box, a tissue box and an ornate multi-purpose box.

Ethnic Cutlery box

decorative tissue box with openable lid and zardosi embroidery, the sandalwood room

Red tissue box with a flap lid

Decorative multi-purpose box

Reed Mat

Here is another interesting accessory, not a rug, but a beautiful hand-woven reed mat. Reed mats are made of plaited reed and can be found in abundance in India and Thailand. They help keep cool and when the sun is at his hottest, people in India and Thailand use them for resting in the afternoons. Its hard work plaiting these mats and the artisans amaze you with their intricacy, so much so that they can, from a distance be mistaken for finely woven fabrics. Credit to the artisans that the reed mats last and last.

Size : 6 x 3 (ft) ; Price : 160 SGD

tsr-woven-reed-mat_fotor handwoven, the sandalwood room

Handwoven reed mat

Tips On How Best To Place Rugs :

Perfect placement is as important as the rug itself.
Measure the room’s dimensions.
Leave at least 18 inches of bare floor exposed on all sides of the rug for best results.
In smaller rooms, place it to cover just the center of the room. Accessorise it with a coffee table and seating at the perimeter of the rug.
In a dining room, the rug must allow at least 24 inches of clearance around the table. All four legs of all the chairs can then be securely placed on the rug, even when pulled out.
A round rug can still provide ample working around space for a square table provided it is large enough.
In a bedroom, place the rug as to extend beyond the foot of the bed and not merely outline it.
It is best to use rug pads wherever possible to avoid slipping and sliding and to minimise wear and tear.

The Sandalwood Room at Singapore has all these and more on offer till the 10th Of February, as part of their exclusive home decor accessories sale.

Please drop in between 11 am and 8 pm Monday to Friday
11 am to 2 pm on Saturdays (Closed for Chinese New Year on Saturday the 28th)

The Sandalwood Room on Tras Street, close to Tanjong Pagar, Singapore is an exclusive boutique with gifts and collectibles, ethnic fashion, jewelry, home decor and art, an eclectic mix of merchandise and an art gallery that hosts periodic exhibitions by international artists.For those with a penchant for contemporary arts and traditional crafts…this is the place to be!

If you have liked any of the above products, click here to explore more.
Payments can be made through PayPal, bank transfers and cheques (delivery subject to realisation)
All products subject to availability.
Give them a Facebook like here.

Address:

The Sandalwood Room, 78 Tras Street, Singapore 079017

Phone : +65 6221 2654 / +65 9786 5896

Email: thesandalwoodroom@gmail.com

Website: http://www.thesandalwoodroom.com

Get Creative With These Home Decor Accessories – Mix n Match

January 26, 2017January 26, 2017 / mythoughtlane / 1 Comment

New and different looks is the order of the day. We all (most of us!)want to stand out, make style statements and shine forth uniqueness in almost everything we do. It’s not as easy though – it asks for investments in time and money and aren’t we all rushed and pushed for the two?

Getting a new look with different styles in attire is quite superficial – that’s only a quarter of the battle won. It does not do much to the face which is what draws peoples’ attention and retains it, much after the colour and glamour of the clothes, or jewellery you wear, wears off. Hair can do that magic, for it instantly adds to the beauty of your face and so, rightly termed the ‘crowning glory’. I liken home decor accessories to hair. Just like different hair-dos fetch you different looks every time and add a certain newness to your style, so do home decor accessories. We cannot change the interiors of our homes, or the furnishings as often as we would like to, but we can certainly get creative and add accessories, to spruce up our homes in a way that even the cognoscenti would take note of.

Some creative ideas from The Sandalwood Room – small changes and additions to your walls and corner-spaces that will at once add colour and vibrancy to the spaces.

Decorative Hangings

Custom designed decorative hangings with detachable accessories

Whats special about these ? They can be custom designed. Each accessory, if you notice, is linked to the other by metal chains with hooks that can be attached, or detached. The pretty and colourful boxes in the decorative hangings double up as lamp shades, when used independently. Just detach them and place them on your beside table, in your study, or the living room for that warm, diffused glow. It lit up the worship area of a friend’s house ever so subtly, I had never thought of that!! So, play around with the cane and metal mesh balls, the stuffed toys or anything else you wish to add to the decorative hangings. Isn’t it a lot of fun getting creative, specially if we could mix and match? The pride we all take in such creations is priceless.

tsr-custom-designed-decorative-hangings-pink_fotor

Decorative hangings with detachable accessories

A gallery of the detachable accessories of the decorative hangings.

Box lamp with glass n fabric

Box lamp with links

Stuffed toy elephant

Cane ball

Metal mesh ball

The hanging box lamps are pieces of art themselves – wooden frames with fabric, glass and copper inlays. The coloured glass used in some is reminiscent of the transoms and the room dividers in the pre-50 era across almost all cultures of the world. So if you are one those who love that look, these are perfect for you. The fabrics used in some others are either silk or silk-cotton, both hand-woven, lending them a rich look. The patterned sides like the one you see below, are made of laser cut copper filigree. An amalgamation of the old and new – traditional materials and craft, yet harnessing the very modern process of laser cutting.

And now for the solo lamp shade, this is how pretty it can look. Check out the second image below for descriptions and prices.

Decorative lamp with glass and laser cut copper filigree inlay

tsr-custome-designed-lamp-shades_fotor, the sandalwood room

Custom designed lamp shades in two sizes

Customising is also applying the multi-purpose benefits of an item, just like we did above. Here is another of that genre.

The Rope Trunk

Bright and beautiful rope trunk, handwoven, with storage

This burst of pink and red in the rope trunk stole my heart, an instant perk-me-up accessory. Hand-woven and handcrafted home decor accessories are always a huge draw in today’s times, so just the right one for fine taste, for getting creative. The Sandalwood Room displays here, how the rope trunk could be utilised to store your cushions, quilts or just about anything, while adorning a cozy corner.

Rope trunk with accessories

Bright and beautiful rope trunk, handwoven, with storage

Decorative Mirrors

In keeping with the multi-purpose theme, getting creative and customisation, find below two mirrors that do precisely that. Before we go on to the pictures, a little dwelling upon on why we have all, without an exception come to love mirrors ; I cannot envisage a room without a mirror! TBT to an older post I wrote a while ago and here is the link Mirror musings , the Illusionist , the Therapist. Mirrors are space enhancers, reflect light and sound. Take away the mirror from a room to see how bare the space appears. Mirrors even heal and elevate moods – they are used in physiotherapy too. If you wish to know more, you could read about it in my post (link above).

Long wall mirror with decorative frame and hand block print blocks inlaid

In the meantime, check out this beautifully framed mirror, inlaid with hand-block print blocks. Hand block printing is an ancient Indian art form that uses a hand carved teak wood block, dipped in dye and stamped by hand on cotton or silk. The design for the block is typically a traditional Indian motif. The motif is traced on a block by a master craftsman who then chips away at the block to create a stamp. But here, the inlaid blocks are used to render the frame ethnic. The beautiful mirror reflects in turn home decor accessories at the store. And here are the specs.

Long wall mirror with decorative frame and hand block print blocks inlaid

A peek at the hand block print blocks.

tsr-hand-block-print-blocks-embedded-in-mirror-frame_fotor, the sandalwood room

Hand block print blocks inlaid in mirror frame

Another mirror to do the magic, to your walls and to you. This is contemporary carving in wood and painted with a distress finish. So, all you distress finish enthusiasts, jot in on your list.

Wall mounted oval mirror with a distress finish

Decorative Wall Hanging

Intricately carved, this decorative wall hanging is purely an indoor home decor accessory. It combines the rustic with the artistic. Gift this to a dear one and you will be remembered fondly for gifting them art.

Carved wall hanging

The Sandalwood Room at Singapore has all these and more on offer till the 10th Of February, as part of their exclusive home decor accessories sale.

Please drop in between 11 am and 8 pm Monday to Friday
11 am to 2 pm on Saturdays (Closed for Chinese New Year on Saturday the 28th)

If you have liked any of the above products, click here to explore more.
Payments can be made through PayPal, bank transfers and cheques (delivery subject to realisation)
All products subject to availability.
Give them a Facebook like here.

Address:

The Sandalwood Room, 78 Tras Street, Singapore 079017

Phone : +65 6221 2654 / +65 9786 5896

Email: thesandalwoodroom@gmail.com

Website: http://www.thesandalwoodroom.com

Use Ishika Tableware Differently As Home Decor Pieces

November 11, 2016 / mythoughtlane / 4 Comments

Crockery and tableware is no more just about serving food. It’s about fine taste and your style statement. Just like our persona shines through the apparel we wear and the accessories we carry.

Laying out lovely tableware and dinnerware is also a way of making your guests feel special. Hasn’t your dining experience been enhanced with good dinnerware and crockery? Fine dining is also about what you eat out of, right?

Tableware is being so elevated today that celebrity chefs and designers across the world are either coming out with their own line or are lending their names to some very exotic ranges. Nigella Lawson, Kylie Kwong and James Oliver work at theirs passionately. Manish Arora back in India has created a stunning range with his trademark bright colours and kitschy look.

The Sandalwood Room in Singapore has always had an eye for all things handmade and exclusive. The Ishika tableware on their shelves was very tempting to write about. The staff at the boutique tells me that many of their customers use these exquisite ceramicware beauties differently – to adorn their coffee tables or patios. Lets see what more we can do with them. Christmas is approaching and these could be good gift ideas.

Oval plates that you could serve cakes and sweets in, or let assorted fruits sit pretty in the white of the plate. Or just place them strategically against the wall for adornment. Ethnic and adding vibrancy to pastel walls – so in sync with Singapore homes.

ishika-oval-plate-with-golden-motifs, the sandalwood room

A stunning Ishika oval plate with floral motifs in gold on green

ishika-oval-plate-with-gold-filigree-work, the sandalwood room

Elegant and pretty Ishika oval plate with floral filigree motifs in gold on turquoise blue

ishika-oval-plate-with-elephants-and-motif-patterns, the sandalwood room

A collector’s item, Ishika oval plate with herb and floral motifs and playful elephants copper and gold

Ishika is a word derived from Sanskrit and literally translates as “painter’s brush”. The motifs vouch for it, I would say – elegant and delicate. Tableware that is truly unique for discerning customers.

Round plates that come in handy to serve just about anything during festive times, or again to embellish the walls. The use of intricate patterns and elephant motifs in copper, gold and platinum etch the regal look, while the garden theme in the second image makes it light and breezy.

The sprightly ones below are actually saucers, you can see the depression in the centre to place the cup, but The Sandalwood Room customers think that the motifs are too pretty to be hidden underneath cups! Hence the cup stands independent of its partner, as a pen holder. Some others tell me they used the cups to hold stirrers and the like. The saucers double up as wall plates once again amidst floral arrangements. How I wish I could visit their homes and take pictures!

Whimsical patterns and motifs along with unique colour combinations give Ishika tableware that touch of drama, making it even contemporary. It is heartening that Ishika ceramicware measures up to international standards of low lead release.

So here are the stand-alone cups. Try placing them on a high mantel-piece for decoration or use them as holders.

Ishika cup with garden theme

A peek at the cup and the saucer ensembles. Irresistible! Drinking tea out of these cups must feel special!

Ishika cup n saucer

Floral and herb motifs seem to be prominent and the designer’s favourite too. The use of traditional Indian designs is unmistakable in the gold, platinum and copper plated work adding elegance to the tableware.

These days crockery seems to have become the rage for gifting options, be it quarter plates, serving bowls or dessert bowls. Not just because they do not cost as much as gold and silver, but its simply due to the sheer beauty and the utility value that they stand out. Add to that a flexible budget. So then, crockery is not just a style statement, but is getting to be a collectible. Collectibles that can be found at The Sandalwood Room.

If you have liked any of the above products, click here to explore more and if you wish to place an order email them and The Sandalwood Room will be happy to courier your order to you.
Price on request. Email them at the ID below.
Payments are routed through PayPal.
All products subject to availability.
Give them a Facebook like here.

New Address:

The Sandalwood Room, 78 Tras Street, Singapore 079017

Phone : +65 6221 2654 / +65 9786 5896

Email: thesandalwoodroom@gmail.com

Website: http://www.thesandalwoodroom.com

Facebook : Visit The Sandalwood Room

Handmade Dinner Napkins And Table Mats – Add A Vibrant Touch To Your Dining Table

September 24, 2016 / mythoughtlane / 1 Comment

Much ado about dining table etiquette and decoration is sometimes frowned upon by a few, but they do invariably fall in line when their dining experience is enhanced by the pleasantness of it all. Some even have a fetish for dinner table accessories and find it hard to resist shopping for them. This post on dinner napkins is for them and for those that have such inclinations, albeit mild.

The Sandalwood Room has some pretty handmade dinner napkins from Anokhi that will enchant your guests. Placing attractive and exclusive table linen when you have guests certainly makes them and the occasion feel special. Take a look at their collection, pick your choice and amaze your guests.

Handmade dinner napkin

Handmade blockprinted Anokhi dinner napkins with organic dyes , the sandalwood room

Handmade dinner napkin

While these irresistible dinner napkins look pretty folded into a simple square, would you like to better them? Click here to check out a few tips and techniques on ways to fold them for a better appeal, the folds have interesting names. A few images as a sampler, the Diamond fold, the Cone fold and the French fold.

Image Courtesy : napkinfoldingguide.com

And now watch this quick, simple method to fold your classic white napkin…..

Some of these may not lend well to decorative folding due to their designs, just plain-fold them and they are good to go. The vibrant colours, stripes and motifs will anyway steal hearts.

Nevertheless, an attempt to fold an Anokhi handmade napkin into a Crown fold

A folded Anokhi print handmade dinner napkin

Table mats would be a natural progression from dinner napkins, talking of accessorizing dining spaces and The Sandalwood Room has on display an array of both, dinner napkins and table mats from Anokhi to brighten up the dining zone. A nice way to perk up your moods too just in case the monsoons are forcing you to stay indoors.

If you have liked any of the above products, click here to explore more and if you wish to place an order email them and The Sandalwood Room will be happy to courier your order to you.
Price on request. Email them at the ID below.
Payments are routed through PayPal.
All products subject to availability.
Give them a Facebook like here.

New Address:

The Sandalwood Room, 78 Tras Street, Singapore 079017

Phone : +65 6221 2654 / +65 9786 5896

Email: thesandalwoodroom@gmail.com

Website: http://www.thesandalwoodroom.com

Facebook : Visit The Sandalwood Room

Sleek And Modern Handmade Jewelry For Singapore

May 31, 2016May 31, 2016 / mythoughtlane / 1 Comment

I could go on and on with jewelry quotes, am sure there are as many quotes as all of one’s jewelry put together. I am not even sure which one would number higher!

Chosen carefully, it’s that one piece of an accessory that can make you unique. Jewelry has been a mood lifter on many occasions personally when I have felt luxurious, elegant, rich, sensuous and so much more wearing certain pieces of jewelry. That goes for most of you I guess!

With changing lifestyles, we are forever on a buying spree for clothes and accessories. And when we chance upon handmade jewelry, most of us find it hard to resist the temptation to shop. Even if it means stretching our purses a bit more. For all those fashionistas, The Sandalwood Room presents some exciting jewellery under two brands – the Dusk Jewellery and the Chinoserie Chic range from ICING Accessories, creations of Jan and Mei from Singapore for Singapore to suit every purse though.

The Dusk

Dusk Jewelry collection, the sandalwood room

Collage of Dusk Jewelry

The duo thought Singapore needed bright and uniquely coloured gemstone jewelry and set about collecting handpicked semi-precious, natural gemstones from all over the world. For many artists, dusk has been more inspiring than any other part of the day. True that, the colours of sunset are magical. Jan and Mei got enraptured too, like most of us. In their own words “Just like dusk, we hope to capture the transient beauty of sunset in our Dusk jewelry creations”. Clearly, the wondrous hues of sunset set these two brands of jewelry apart from others.

Sleek neck-chains that can be paired with for an ethnic look or a contemporary ensemble.

Dusk Jewellery neckchain

Dusk Jewellery neck-chains

Dusk Jewellery neck-chain

Handcrafted in Singapore and set in elegant brass and 18k gold, they seem to be just right for Singapore, keeping the designs simple so that the natural beauty of the gemstones shine through.

The Chinoserie Chic by Icing Accessories

Chinoserie Chic earrings

Lovingly hand-made jewelry with porcelains, pearls, shells and ceramics seem to be inspired by the modern woman. This is a new collection reflecting oriental elegance and femininity.

Singaporeans seek sleekness and modernity in designs and the Dusk and Chinoserie Chic jewelry seem to have just that as their leitmotif.

The Sandalwood Room is excited to collaborate with the ICING Gifts and showcase their line of jewelry on their shelves, being committed to handmade products. Jan and Mei are the first local designers to display their wares in The Sandalwood Room and are equally thrilled to have found a boutique store that values their work. More reasons in line with The Sandalwood Room’s philosophy:

It is a label that is easy to wear and conveys simple elegance.
Most of the designs are one of a kind
Every piece of Dusk and ICING Accessories jewelry is designed and handmade locally in Singapore.
Every design is limited to a few numbers to keep the jewelry unique and exclusive
All earring hooks and necklace chains are 18k gold-plated

The brand’s jewelry pieces showcased in The Sandalwood Room are exclusive to the boutique, dont look for them anywhere else in Singapore.

The Sandalwood Room on Tras Street, close to Tanjong Pagar, Singapore is an exclusive boutique with gifts and collectibles, ethnic fashion, jewelry, home decor and art, an eclectic mix of merchandise and an art gallery that hosts periodic exhibitions by international artists.For those with a penchant for contemporary arts and traditional crafts…this is the place to be !

The Sandalwood Room looks forward to partnering with more local designers and brands of Singapore going forward. After all, it feels quite rewarding to be recognised and accepted.

If you have liked any of the above products, click here to explore more and if you wish to place an order email them and The Sandalwood Room will be happy to courier your order to you.

Price on request. Email them at the ID below
Payments are routed through PayPal
All products subject to availability.
Give them a Facebook like here

New Address :

The Sandalwood Room, 78 Tras Street, Singapore 079017

Phone : +65 6221 2654 / +65 9786 5896

Email: thesandalwoodroom@gmail.com

Website : The Sandalwood Room

Facebook : Visit The Sandalwood Room

How To Add Colour To White Interiors

May 6, 2016 / mythoughtlane / 4 Comments

We all know the power of white and Singapore loves white. The country has chosen well. It is the most refreshing colour of the spectrum, evoking purity and a clean look. But more than anything else, it exudes sophistication I think. Its crowning glory however is in its versatility, in being a canvas for the palette of colours. Almost all the metals pair with white in a classy and a classic way.

An interior decorator had this to say “the greatest asset of working with white is the ability to showcase your own personality by adding colour in your upholstery, furniture, furnishings and décor accessories without having to compete with the colour on the walls”. True that. I am coming to ‘adding colour to a white room’ in a bit, but in the meantime, look at this stunning simple European summer look in white-on-white. It took my breath away.

Image Courtesy : Freshome

With white and its multitudinous shades as the canvas, spring/summer, winter or autumn can be ushered in into your homes with a change of colour shades. Give in to a whim, swap out rugs, add pillow and cushion covers, brighten up the window sill, splash colour with bed linen. Options and options. The Sandalwood Room brings their Play with Decor ideas in the following pictures and video, when pastels meet colour.

Play with Decor Ideas

Contemporary meets ethnic in this makeover. Beige with a splash of colours, making it at once warm and cozy.

pastel walls and brightly coloured accessories, the sandalwood room

Pastel wallls and brightly coloured accessories

Check out another makeover in this video, a study room this time.

An array of home decor accessories that could brighten up any space, letting you get creative and experimental with many a mix-n-match options. Giving white spaces an interesting twist with handcrafted accessories. The Singaporeans, the Chinese and the Japanese women love these colourful things from The Sandalwood Room. An interesting link on how different regions symbolise colours.

Home decor accessories, the sandalwood room

Home decor accessories in multi colours and textures

Adding some brightness to your kids room.

Stuffed toys, handcrafted

Trunks and a trunk seat for an immediate perk up of any corner of the house.

turkish print decorative home decor box, the sandalwood room

Turkish print decorative box

Recycled cloth and coir trunk from the sandalwood room

Made from recycled cloth and coir

Trunk seat

And then these quilts and comforters. How about gifting some to that one most wonderful woman in your lives, the Mother on Mothers Day? A hug along with a handcrafted accessory to make her feel special.

Quilts and comforters , handcrafted in superior cotton, the sandalwood room

Quilts and comforters, handcrafted and vibrant

If you have liked any of the above products, click here to explore more and if you wish to place an order email them and The Sandalwood Room will be happy to courier your order to you.
Price on request. Email them at the ID below.
Payments are routed through PayPal.
All products subject to availability.
Give them a Facebook like here.

New Address:

The Sandalwood Room, 78 Tras Street, Singapore 079017

Phone : +65 6221 2654 / +65 9786 5896

Email: thesandalwoodroom@gmail.com

Website: http://www.thesandalwoodroom.com

Facebook : Visit The Sandalwood Room

Handcrafted Trinket Boxes For Your Valuables That Let You Play With Decor

April 30, 2016April 30, 2016 / mythoughtlane / 1 Comment

How To Add Colour To White Spaces

Life is all about boxes! I guess we have more boxes in our mind space than we have in our physical world. Tiny spaces for all our thoughts, memories and emotions. A small Eureka moment as I start writing about these pretty trinket boxes.

Trinket boxes were born out of nobility methinks. More so the elaborately decorated ones, going back to medieval times when the genteel placed the embellished boxes on their dressers for their brooches, pins and jewellery. We continue the habit or shall we call it a need, for the fascination for accessories has not ceased in the present times. Just that the trinket boxes are getting more functional and less decorative, making them disposable easily only to be replaced by fancier ones.

A bit of trivia : Did you know the most popular trinket boxes were created for the Russian Tsar from 1890s to early 1900s? And they were without doubt the most expensive, being studded with gold and precious gems. They came to be called the Faberge Eggs, named so after the royal jeweller Carl Faberge and were shaped like eggs. I cant help but post pics of two of the fabulously crafted Faberge Eggs.

The Imperial Coronation Egg, the most famous and iconic of all the Fabergé eggs.

This grand Faberge Egg was made under the supervision of the Russian jeweller Peter Carl Fabergé in 1898 by Fabergé ateliers. It was presented to Tsar Nicholas II, who gifted it to the Tsaritsa, Empress Alexandra Fyodorovna.

That was for the Royalty, now let’s get back to reality, our times. Here are a few trinket boxes from The Sandalwood Room that you and I can afford to have on our dressers, handcrafted and exclusive, not just serving their purpose but adding to the decor of the rooms. The Sandalwood Room gives tips on how to change the look of your rooms in small ways, but ones that are easy on the hands and the pockets. This campaign was born out of the need to liven up living spaces without having to get a fresh coat of paint to the walls or struggle with handymen. For homes in Singapore and many other regions, where walls come painted white most often. Where the only option is to add colour to the rooms with home decor accessories. Adding warmth through colours and textures. Sounds good.

Some beautiful handcrafted trinket boxes from The Sandalwood Room.

TSR play with decor handcrafted Trinket Boxes, the sandalwood room

Play with decor with this handcrafted trinket box

Here are beautiful rectangular boxes patterned with organic colours.

Play with decor with this handcrafted trinket box with organic colours

Earthy wooden trinket box to fit your necklaces snugly.

Play with decor this hancrafted wooden box, the sandalwood room

Play with decor with this earthy wooden handcrafted trinket box

A glossy ceramic trinket box that looks as precious as the trinkets you are going to store in it.

play with decor with this handcrafted trinket box, the sandalwood room

Play with decor with this beautiful handcrafted trinket box

If you have liked any of the above products, click here to explore more and if you wish to place an order email them and The Sandalwood Room will be happy to courier your order to you.
Price on request. Email them at the ID below.
Payments are routed through PayPal.
All products subject to availability.
Give them a Facebook like here.

New Address:

The Sandalwood Room, 78 Tras Street, Singapore 079017

Phone : +65 6221 2654 / +65 9786 5896

Email: thesandalwoodroom@gmail.com

Website: http://www.thesandalwoodroom.com

Facebook : Visit The Sandalwood Room

More ideas on “Play with Decor” in the next blog.

Do Gift Vouchers And Gift Cards Embarrass You?

April 16, 2016 / mythoughtlane / 1 Comment

I was at a wedding a few days back, privy to an interesting chat on gifting. For a blogger every thing that one sees around and hears is food for thought. One of the other plusses is that it pushes you to think, think and think and then write, write and write. I am reminded of Nihar Pradhan’s recent post about bloggers whose thinking caps are ever on.

So yeah Gifting. The chat commenced with how difficult it is getting to choose gifts for family and friends. Everyone has almost everything they need and sometimes dont need! It then veered towards how gifts and the one gifting get judged on certain occasions. Sad I thought! Gift vouchers and gift cards were discussed and so were their merits and the ‘not so real’ demerits. But, why do we even create this gift connected Frankenstein in our heads ? I mean, lets grow up!

Gifting has to come from the heart, we all agree on that. But sometimes it doesn’t. The thought is there, but one could be stressed for time, ideas or sometimes constrained by a budget. Then lets look at gifting differently. The need for gifting when it first started had a noble cause behind it, that of equipping the near and dear ones with some things they didn’t possess or have access to. But over the years when peoples’ monthly incomes now are handsome enough, there is no apparent need left! So what are our options for gifting then?

With lifestyles scaling higher by the day, gifting is getting to be expensive if one has to match the style of the one being gifted. But really, do we have to do that? Let gifting remain a pleasure and not be heavy on your pockets. Gift as much as you can and want to. Quantifying…..is it difficult? Is it embarrassing? I think this all about mindsets.

Set your mind to give and receive with an open heart and we will then be wont to relish that very act of giving and taking.

So are we then talking of gifting cash or gift cards and gift vouchers? Both are fine by me personally. I’d let them pick and choose what THEY want rather than duplicating or gifting something that does not fit their lifestyle. Even if it means my gift voucher/gift card amount being only a part of the value of their ‘purchase’. I have in a way led them to buying something that they had probably put off for a long time, something that their heart really longed for!

But yes, the downside of gift vouchers and gift cards is that people forget they have one. You have tucked it in your wallet and it remains there, sometimes innocuously till after the validity has expired.

So why don’t you pin it up somewhere above your dresser or on a reminder pinboard?

Another scenario. You have received far too many gift vouchers/gift cards but you don’t have plans to shop at the moment. Your friend or family have put in thought and money into them, don’t let them go unused. Did you know some 30% of gift voucher money across the world goes down the drain? We don’t have to add our bit to it.

You could in turn gift them to someone or just sell them online or even exchange them for brands that you like.

A few online gift voucher and gift card resellers that make the job easy for you, check out which one suits you best. I have listed just a few, you can find many more such sites.

Zeek

https://www.zeek.me/

Cash4Vouchers

http://www.cash4vouchers.com/ – these guys accept even credit notes, how cool is that?

VoucherCart

https://vouchercart.com/

Today, every business worth its salt offers gift vouchers, so does The Sandalwood Room and here is a sample of it.

The Sandalwood Room Gift Voucher

If you wish to check out their products, click here and if you wish to place an order email them and The Sandalwood Room will be happy to courier your order to you.
Price on request. Email them at the ID below.
Payments are routed through PayPal.
All products subject to availability.
Give them a Facebook like here.

New Address:

The Sandalwood Room, 78 Tras Street, Singapore 079017

Phone : +65 6221 2654 / +65 9786 5896

Email: thesandalwoodroom@gmail.com

Website: http://www.thesandalwoodroom.com

Facebook : Visit The Sandalwood Room