TUTORIAL: Organise Your Year With Bullet Journalling

JAN-FEB 2018
`�125

esha
gupta
exclusive!
CELEBRITY CHEF
RAKHEE
VASWANI
COOKS FOR US
A Life Less Ordinary
THE NEW
25 Powerful
LIVE BETTER
BEAUTY
A Return
Affirmations to Nature
to Make
ECIPEet
+ kl
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S & S
LAD
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Restart, Refresh, Renew

THE LATEST COLOURS, FABRICS & DESIGNS FOR THE HOME
 contents
jan-feb 2018 | volume 11 | number 10

FRESH
20 ALL ABOUT COLOUR Bring
home the Pantone Colour of 2018.
28 TREND We decode the décor
trends for 2018.
32 BY HAND Organise your year
with bullet journalling.
39 SHOPKEEPER Celebrate
all things Indian with Samyukta
Nair’s brand new store, Clove.
40 DESIGN Baarique’s classic
Indian tableware get a makeover
with hand-painted motifs.

HOME
48 INSPIRATION How a couple
turned a 150-year-old farmhouse
into a modern heirloom.
56 PLANTINGS A lowdown on
creepers and climbers.
58 STORE ALERT Add an avant
garde twist to your home décor.

62
60 NEW IN THE MARKET Get
the latest news on home products
WINNING AT LIFE Fearless and independent, Esha Gupta opens up about and services.
charting her life path and living on her own terms.
BEAUTY
72 ALLURE Four dermatologists
reveal their beauty regime secrets.

on the
cover
Learn all about bullet journalling—32
Get celebrity chef Rakhee Vaswani’s
exclusive recipes—101
Why beauty brands are going back
to nature—76
Hearty soups and salads—Inside
Start the year on a fresh note—19
Positive affirmations you need
this year—86
Actor Esha Gupta on
winning at life—62

photograph by taras taraporvala

creative direction by anuradha sen

24
ACCENTS Cosy up your home
interiors with the best of winter fabrics.
36
styled by mohit rai hair & makeup
by harry rajput dress zooomberg
INSTANT IMPACT Elevate accessories accessorize
location maison by international
basic glass pieces by learning to etch them. furniture brands, mumbai.

6� | Jan-Feb 2018
 ontents
76 TREND Why the beauty
industry is going back to nature to
source ingredients.
78 KNOW YOUR BRAND Desert
Splendour has the country
hooked to jojoba oil.
79 MAKEUP Go au naturel with
our top picks of nude shades.
82 KNOW HOW All that is new
on the beauty shelves.

LIVING
86 LIFE LESSONS The 25 life
affirmations to start 2018 on
a positive note.
90 BOOKS Soha Ali Khan on her
debut book. Plus, an excerpt.
92 NUTRITION What the
Japanese Diet is all about and
why everyone’s talking about it.
94 FIRST PERSON Get inspired

41
by author Nandita Chakraborty’s
tryst with beating the odds.
FAMILY SPACES Take a tour of a loft-inspired Gurugram home, designed in a Zen style. 95 EXPERIENCE The perfect
staycation for Mumbai residents.
96 SOLUTIONS The coolest
stationery you need this year.

FOOD
101 CELEBRATE Get the recipes
to an exclusive four-course meal
by celebrity chef Rakhee Vaswani.
106 GOOD TO BUY Classic pastel
pieces to refresh your kitchen.
107 SERIES A café that is
bringing cycling back into vogue.
108 EXPERIENCE Dig into
authentic, flavoursome Italian
cuisine at Bella Cucina.

IN EVERY ISSUE
10 EDITOR’S LETTER
14 BETWEEN FRIENDS
16 SOCIAL MEDIA
18 BHG LOVES What’s tugging at

80
FITNESS Simple yet effective
10-minute workouts you can do in office.
our heart strings this month.
110 RESOURCE
SPECIAL Indulge in soups and salads this
month with this extensive booklet. 112 I DID IT! Learn to build your
own antique trunk.

8� | Jan-Feb 2018
EDITOR’S LETTER
OUT WITH THE OLD.
IN WITH THE NEW
If there’s one word that defines January for
me, it’s ‘possibility’. The change of year
brings with it the opportunity to start on a
clean slate. The prospect of trying something
new, shaking things up, discarding old
routines. It thrills me.
So, in this issue, we decided to explore all
the ways in which we could give you, our
readers, the chance to ‘Restart, Refresh,
Renew’. Your homes and décor. Your beauty
routine and health. Your dining and cooking.
Your lifestyle. We wanted all our stories to
be about positivity and optimism. Stories
that could help you start 2018 off on a
strong note.
So, if you turn to pg 86, you’ll find 25 life
affirmations geared to empower you. Given
by SKG Kartha, founder of and life coach at
10 � | Jan-Feb 2018
The Life Changers, we wanted these
assertions to serve as optimistic guiding
lights for you through the year. Right On
Track (pg 32), provides an in-depth, step-by-
step look into bullet journalling—currently a
craze with DIY enthusiasts, it is guaranteed
to help you organise and schedule your life
better. In our beauty section, you’ll find easy
ways in which you can rejig your regimen.
We get you insider secrets from the
country’s top dermatologists on their
favourite products (In Their Skin, pg 72),
and track how the beauty industry is
increasingly turning to organic, natural
ingredients (Force of Nature, pg 76).
For homes, we give you the freshest
trends—the winter fabrics you need to have,
the lowdown on the Pantone Colour of the
Year, Ultra Violet and the décor trends you
will see in 2018 (nature-inspired is big here
as well). Our food booklet in this new year
starts off on a healthy note too—soups and
salads are a perfect way to detox after a
season of partying, and also nudge you
towards a more fit lifestyle. There are
also exclusive recipes from celebrity chef
Rakhee Vaswani.
On the cover, we have actor Esha Gupta.
Candid, fearless and with immense
gumption, Esha has followed her heart and
rules in whatever she has done so far.
Not one to walk the line, she spoke to us
about how her non-conformism defines her.
“I’ve never been one to o kkeep qui and play
p quiet
dumb. We all get one life.
li
So, it’s important thatt
PHOTOGRAPH: KARAN TAKULIA
you are happy
in whatever
you’re doing.”
To that effect, we
P
Preetika
k Mathew
h
hope that the next few Editor
pages bring you joy. instagram: @preetikamathew
kam
 PREETIKA MATHEW
Editor
ANURADHA SEN
Creative Director
Deputy Editor NANDINI BANERJEE
Senior Features Editor MEGHNA MENON
Features Writer NEHA MEHTA
Senior Designer PRITAM SINGH
Deputy Manager (Digital) PALLAVI PHUKAN
Senior Editorial Executive SUDHALIKA VERMA

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BETTER HOMES AND GARDENS

Vol. 11, Issue 10
Copyright © 2014 Exposure Media Marketing Pvt. Ltd. Plot no. 378-379, Second Floor Udyog Vihar, Phase IV, Gurugram- 122015, Haryana. All rights
reserved throughout the world. Reproduction in any manner is prohibited. Published by Xavier Collaco from Exposure Media Marketing Pvt. Ltd.
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in your words
CANAPÉS & COCKTAILS: Master the Perfect Bar Set-Up

DECEMBER 2017
`�125

radhika e
ag
16-pklet

apte
boo BIG
H E
T LIDAY
HOEAST!
F
I also loved Chip, Chip Hooray! and
And How She’ll
Rule Next Year made my own bitter gourd and spinach
chips. Thanks for sharing information
Three
Authors on about micellar water (Taking Care with
the Joy of
Giving pg 86 Micellar Water)—pre-sleep clean-ups
party makeup
are now done in just two swabs. Garden
REAL WOMEN
GIVE YOU LESSONS
stories like Pushing the Limits, Prep
Talk and Green with Envy have helped

Get Christmas Ready

CHEERFUL DÉCOR Ì FANTASTIC GIFTS Ì CREATIVE DIYs
Season’s best
Radhika Apte’s cheerful face lit up your
latest December issue. I especially look
forward to the December issue every
year, for the many Christmas features
that you include. Tie One On was my
favourites this year—I never knew you
could make all those things with just
ribbons. Home for the Holidays, too, got
me excited about decorating my house
for Christmas. Keep up the great work.
Christina Jacob, by email
Ideas galore
Thank you for making the November
2017 issue such an interesting and
useful read. I loved the décor ideas in
You’re Invited and Centre of Attraction.
me develop my green space a little,
enhancing its beauty and variety. I am
eagerly awaiting the next issue.
Shikha Yadav, by email
Bonding over BHG
The November issue was the first time
that I bought an issue of Better Homes
& Gardens. I must say that there so
many quality features in there, making
it a treat to read—even if you don’t end
up trying many of the suggested baking,
decorating and landscaping ideas.
I initially purchased this magazine for
my mother, who lives in a retirement
home. I thought that the magazine
could be something that we both could
look at together. However, I ended up Tell us about your
enjoying the magazine so much. It is favourite articles. The
truly an all-round, quality magazine, letters featured here win
providing readers with immense value. a bag from Lavie.
Savitri Khatri, Vadodara

CONTACT US! We’d love to hear from you. E-MAIL bhandg@emmindia.com

WRITE Exposure Media Marketing Pvt. Ltd., 378-379, Second Floor, Udyog Vihar Phase-IV, Gurugram-122015, Haryana.

Y
STARK TREK
an never go wrong with white. This classic hue always takes th
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e minimalist design and gold accents that accentuate elegance.
Go ahead, add them to your wardrobe today.
Available at www.lavieworld.com.
`2,099 onwards
OR THE LATEST LAUNCHES, VISIT LAVIE WORLD ON INSTAGRAM
on the web
We are social, we are round-the-clock and we are
here to give you the freshest updates.
INSTAGRAM

QUIRKY GARDEN ELEMENTS ruled our

social media, this month. To know more about
the trending outdoor accessories, and for
FACEBOOK advice on gardening, just scroll through our
Instagram feed.
WE TREATED OUR
FOLLOWERS to fun
Christmas contests
this month, and what a
response we received!
If you missed out on
these, keep an eye out
for our Facebook feed
and participate in the
upcoming contests
this month.

BEHIND THE SCENES

THERE’S A LOT
THAT GOES BEHIND
bringing out the
perfect cover. Here’s
a peek into all that
happened at the cover
shoot with the candid
and cool Esha Gupta.

twitter.com/thisisbhgindia | facebook.com/BhgIndia | instagram.com/betterhomesandgardensindia

Sporty Chic
Today, comfort and fashion are one. And with athleisure becoming the new
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lah^lpbma`ebmm^kZ\\^gm%f^mZeeb\iZe^mm^%f^laZg]ZgbfZeikbgm'Ib\dhg^ghp'
Available at www.lavieworld.com.
`2,099 onwards
FOR THE LATEST LAUNCHES, VISIT LAVIE WORLD ON INSTAGRAM
 Indulge
Bring this chair home
to add a burst of colour
and quirk. Price on
request. For more info,
visit limon-design.com

SPICE Inspired by local spices, Limón’s new range stays true to the brand’s modern
Indian sensibilities. In collaboration with graphic designer Shweta Malhotra,
OF the RASA collection includes chairs, cushions, table mats and napkins,
which feature motifs like bay leaves, mustard seeds, tamarinds and star
LIFE anise. Made of rubber wood, the design is hand screen-printed on 100%
cotton canvas.

18 � | September 2017
 ideas for living well
PHOTOGRAPH: KIM CORNELISON

SEASON GOALS From winter fabrics and

Ultra Violet accents to new décor trends and
the best way to organise your year, this is
everything you need to get a head start in 2018.
fresh | all about colour

noble purples
The Pantone Colour of 2018, Ultra Violet,
looks best as found in nature. Pair with
chalky whites, feathery greys or deep
garnets for a scheme that can go
bold or softly poetic.
text by deb schwartz
photograph by adam albright

SPRING LILAC
10046
Nippon Paint

BEJEWELLED
50RB 14/232
Manish Malhotra
for Dulux

AMHERST FOG
2319
Nerolac

PRODUCTION: EUGENIA SANTIESTEBAN SOTO; STYLING: JESSICA THOMAS.

VIOLET POND
670
British Paints

SILENT FALL
4402
Jotun
 DAVID
KAIHOI
Raised in Minnesota,
WALL US, and trained as an
GARDEN BEAUTY
7183 artist, he fell into
ASIAN PAINTS decorating while
working as an art
installer for designer
Miles Redd. David is
here to help you
conquer your
purple-phobia.
KEEP IT SIMPLE
“Because purple is so
singular, put it
alongside classics:
Black, white and grey.”
His purple room has a
dark navy floor, black
shelving unit and
black-and-white
“YOU CAN GET AWAY WITH MORE IN A SMALL SPACE,” says American designer artwork.
David Kaihoi, who transformed the living room in his one-bedroom New York City
apartment into a cosy jewel box by painting almost every inch of it—walls, shutters SAMPLE THE
SPECTRUM
and trim—matte purple. The eggplant velvet banquette subtly contrasts with the
PHOTOGRAPHS: NGOC MINH NGO (ROOM), COURTESY OF SCHUMACHER (PORTRAIT)

Choose a “deep and

walls and the oxblood throw is a vivid but not-too-bright accent. Dark green in the dark or light and
artwork, plants and ethnic textiles on pillows balances and lightens the purple and bright”, purple,
ties it back to nature. says David.

PURPLE PAIRINGS BRING IN WOOD

The shade can feel
intimidatingly fancy,
GRAPE VINTAGE VELVET GYPSY QUEEN but “pairing it with a
SHADOW 2322 7190 630 solid, dignified
Nerolac Asian Paints British Paints material like wood or
any kind of natural
finish, grounds it”.
RASPBERRY STONE SHADED ICE
CRUSH 10175 0555 30GG 72/008 JUST TRY IT,
Nippon Paint Jotun Dulux YOU’LL LIKE IT
“Especially when it
Two hues from Pale grey-purple plus Silvery grey with soft comes to paint,”
opposite ends of the a plaster-like putty lavender recalls “runway he says. “Start with a
purple spectrum are “moody and couture, like a taffeta door. You can always
come together. comfortably cool”. gown in the sunlight”. paint over it.” ■

� Jan-Feb 2018 | � 21
fresh | all about colour

ROYAL TREATMENT
Give your home a plush makeover with accents in shades of purple.

S
CUSHION COVER R CLASSIC TEAPOT GLASS VASE
370, India Circus
` 370 Circus, indiacircus
indiacircus.com
com ` 33,350 onward, Le Creuset, le-creuset.in ` 1,390, Home Artisan, homeartisan.in

CHILL OUT
SETTLE INTO THIS
PLUSH PIECE ON GOOD
DAYS AND BAD.

WINDSO OR SOFA
SO A WALL ART
` 46,999, Urban Ladd
der, urbanladder.com
b l dd m `1,995, Chumbak, chumbak.com

SIDEBOARD DINNER PLATESS DHURRIE

` 65,000, Baro, baro-india.com d Tree, freedomtree.in
` 2,720, Freedom f ` 13,500, Safomasi, safomasi.com

22 � | Jan-Feb 2018
 fresh | accents
COSY GATHERINGS
A living room like this is perfect
to entertain guests and visitors.
1, 2, 9 & 15. Manhattan photo print,
`�42,000; Seat, `�61,650; Wooden
reindeer, `�10,944; Sofa set, `�3,89,000,
IOTA 3. Embroidered cushion, `�2,650,
Nur 4. Flower bucket, `�2,499, Asra
5. Tray, `�1,899, Urban Dazzle
6. Sunflower cups, `�2,499 (set of 2),
Navya 7. Teapot, `�2,215, Crazy Daisy
8. Fur carpet, `�14,456, Rugsville
10. Striped cushion, `�2,999, Shades of
India 11. Herringbone cushion, `�999,
Pepperfry 12 & 13. Furry textured
cushion, `�3,800; Studded felt pillow,
`�3,200, The Pillow Company 14. Velvet
pillow, `�1,800, Address Home
16. Throw, `�2,299, Maspar.

11
12

13 14
10
3
15

16

8
ASSISTED BY SHRI MANI RANGAN

7 winter dressing
6 Beat the cold this season with plush, warm
5 fabrics like wool, fur, felt, velvet and suede.
photographs by irina usova | styling by mahima shukla
 YOUR WINTER
GAME PLAN: POUR
YOURSELF A HOT
CUPPA COCOA,
GRAB YOURSELF
A BOOK AND SINK
INTO A COMFY
COUCH LIKE THIS.

11

2
3

7
6
10 8

SNUG NOOKS
What’s better than having your own little, warm reading corner?
1 & 11. Popcorn couch, `�1,38,500; Felt cone beehive lamp, `�28,800,
9 IOTA 2 & 8. Knitted cushion, `�1,999; Woollen pouf, `�6,125, Peeli Dori
3. Polka dot cushion, `�1,599, Pepperfry 4. Pompom cushion, `�2,699,
Nur 5. Ceramic stag, `�3,890, Home Artisan 6. Quilted tray, `�1,799,
Navya 7. Striped cups, `�1,600 (set of 2), Limeroad 9. Carpet, `�3,88,800,
Meraas 10. Chunky knit throw, `�14,400, The Pillow Company. 
fresh | accents

RELAXED REFUGE
Cuddle up with the family in this inviting bedroom.
1, 2, 13 & 14 Glass globe lamp, ` 23,500; Set of side tables,
` 37,000; Leather bed, ` 89,100; Taxi artwork, ` 28,800, IOTA
3. Photo frame, ` 1,600, Ishatvam 4 & 8. Suede pillow,
` 1,599; Yellow velveteen cushion, ` 1,299, D’Decor 5. Woollen
throw, ` 2,299, Maspar 6. Fur throw, ` 8,990, The Pillow Company
7. Quilted yellow blanket, ` 6,650, Nur 9. Raw silk patchwork
cushion, ` 4,999, Nivasa 10. Velvet cushion, ` 2,299, Moon River
11. Suede woven cushion, ` 2,000, Address Home 12. Felt cushion,
` 1,399, Apartment 9.
14

1
13

12
11

9 10

3
8

6
PROP BOOK: COURTESY IOTA

5
TOASTY EVENINGS
Complement the scent of hot soup with a warmed-up dining space.
1 & 13. Cork deers, ` 15,800 (set of 2); Pinewood lamp, ` 31,920, IOTA
2. Cake stand, ` 1,400, Gifts of Love 3 & 16. Dutch oven ` 21,000; Fondue set,
` 21,000, Le Creuset 4. Fur cushion, ` 5,200, The Pillow Company 5. Napkin,
` 800 (set of 5), Fabindia 6 & 12. Mugs, ` 595; Floral cushion, ` 2,895, Cath
Kidston 7. Floral plate, `1,600, Cyahi 8. Gold and white plate, ` 24,000 (set of
6), Apartment 9 9. Cheese platter with knives, ` 3,500, Nicobar 10. Wooden
platter, ` 1,200, Crazy Daisy 11. Telephone salt and pepper shakers, ` 399,
Navya 14. Table mat, ` 999, Pepperfry 15. Runner, ` 1,500, Ikka Dukka. ■

2
3

12 13

5 6

14
11

7
16 8
15

9
LOCATION COURTESY:
10 IOTA FURNITURE STORE
For more info,
see Resources
fresh | trend
Warm tones, classic and vintage styles, and futuristic furniture—
the new year has some interesting décor trends in store.
India is not ready
to let go of its
obsession with
rose gold in 2018
P rinted furnishing,
muted tones (a touch
of pop and otherwise),
futuristic furniture and
decluttering are some of
the highlights of the Indian
home décor scene in 2018.
Interior designers, architects
and décor experts share
their views on the trends
that will make this year a
good one.
PEACEFUL SHADES
This year is all about warm
interiors, especially with
wooden and extruded-wood
(a wood-plastic composite)
28 � | Jan-Feb 2018
HAUTE HOMES
text by deepa narayanan
furniture, and greens and
whites seeping into the
accents. It will also see
softer shapes in furniture or
home accessories—
PHOTOGRAPHS: WERNER STRAUBE (TOP); EMILY FOLLOWIL (BOTTOM)
this means more curves and
arches, and less squares
and straight lines. “Given
the pandemonium across
the world, the emphasis
will be on bringing serenity
into homes, which contrasts
the chaos outside,” says
Mumbai-based interior
designer Ravi Vazirani of
Ravi Vazirani Design Studio.
You can also expect pastel
shades, warm-toned fabrics,
 and more eye-catching and
playful furniture in 2018.

NATURE-INSPIRED
Designers are expected
to delve more into nature
this year, taking cues from
natural textures. “With
increasing pollution in cities,
it is time to bring back the
lost greenery and green
spaces,” says architect
Chirag Bhatia of Delhi’s
Studio Machaan. Whether
through wildlife-inspired
prints or tiny, landscaped,
garden-like terrariums,
the emphasis is on more
flora in the living areas,
bedrooms and bathrooms.
“Many people are now
opting for terrariums— If you don't have a
whether as accessories or patio space, bring
as centrepieces on dining the plants inside
and coffee tables—because to enjoy cleaner,
these add a wow factor healthier air.
to the home,” says
Komal Behrani of Panache
Design Studio, Mumbai,
who has been designing
residential, retail and
commercial spaces for
celebrities for much
over a decade.

A TOUCH store Tulips, which focuses

OF ROSE
Despite its waning popularity
internationally, rose gold
will continue to be favoured
in India. In fact, more and
PHOTOGRAPHS: LAURIE BLACK (TOP); PETER MARGONELLI (BOTTOM)
on luxury furnishings.
INDIAN ACCENT
Aspects of Indianness will
find their way into home

more people are choosing décor, via deep colours

to add luxury accents in
this hue to their home
interiors. “Gorgeous
passementerie (ornamental
edgings) like pompoms,
pearls, tassels, frog buttons,
crochet flowers, ‘pretzel’
cords and pillows laced
with golden threads, and
fabrics like silk, Turkish
linen and velvets, will be
in high demand,” emphasises
Raajkumarri Mutha,
a bespoke furnishing
designer and founder of the
like purples and browns;
and grand and intricate
elements and motifs like
wooden frames (think the
jharokhas of Rajasthan
or majestic doorways of
Kerala). Designs, concepts,
furniture, furnishings,
artefacts and prints will
all have an indigenous
flavour, sharing space with
contemporary concepts.
“This is a trend that will catch
on not only in India but also
internationally,” says Chirag.

� Jan-Feb 2018 | � 29
fresh | trend

OLD WORLD CHARM

Modern, sleek lighting fixtures
are going to give way to
vintage-styled lighting options
for a more decorated look,
this year. “Lamps and pendant
and ceiling lights with a more
antique, traditional look are
expected to be favoured over
their modern counterparts,”
explains Shyam Praveen,
Light, pastel Senior Director—Categories,
hues on the walls ShopClues. However, given
will be in vogue. the importance of technology
Pair them with in our lives, architect Sonal
Indian accents Sancheti of Opolis foresees
like ikat fabrics. decluttering and timelessness
that will also come to the fore.
“I hope to see architecture
and design chanelling the ‘less
is more’ spirit. Clients today
are more informed, so we may
enter the era of decluttering—
keeping everything from
lifestyle to décor to a
minimum,” she says.

FUTURISTIC
FURNITURE
The new year will see
technologically-advanced
furniture gain prominence—
luxury furniture like beds
and sofas with in-built music
systems, LED lights and
charging spots. “This kind of
furniture is trending in Europe,
and is considered fashionable
by those who want high-tech
features,” explains Namit
Ajmani of Delhi-based
IOTA Furniture Store.

ALL IN THE DETAILS

Whether incorporating
craftsmanship in furniture
“Details become even more important—use or interlacing metal with

day-to-day items for accessorising,

glasswork, details will become
important. “This may even

like stacking books to use them mean using day-to-day items

as accessories. For instance,

like stands.” stacking books on the floor,

and using them as a ‘stand’ for
Komal Behrani, Panache Design Studio a photo frame,” says Komal. ■

30 � | Jan-Feb 2018
fresh | by hand

right on track
If the pictures on Instagram are anything to go by,
bullet journalling or ‘bujo’—a system of planning—
is fast getting popular in India. We got Juhi Chitra,
a calligraphy artiste and founder of The Scratchy Nib,
to explain the concept and how one can use it to
arrange one’s life better.
text by meghna menon | photographs by karan takulia
creative direction by anuradha sen

If you need more space to plan, you can use

a daily log instead, where you use the whole
spread for one day, instead of a week.

32 � | Jan-Feb 2018
What is Bullet Journalling?
It’s an organising system that helps you keep
track of the past, systematise the present and
plan the future. It is flexible enough to let you
start out simple, and powerful enough to bring
your whole life in one place. In simple words,
it’s a blank grid notebook that you write and make
layouts in. It can be whatever you want it to be:
Your to-do list, calendar, journal, goal-tracker,
doodle book, brainstorming notepad, idea
collector, habit tracker. It may look complicated
but if you start out small and understand that
there is really no one way of doing it, with regular
use it can become an amazing productivity tool.
Bullet journalling has some basic layouts
that will help you begin. You start with a key of
the symbols that you will use (representing a
task, event, appointment etc.) and an index of
the pages inside. From here, you can pick the
layouts that work best for you—two of the most
commonly used are the future log (the upcoming
months at a glance that you can fill in throughout
the year) and the weekly or daily log (for a more
immediate future).
1 2
3 4
HANDY HELPERS
1. A5-sized grid or dotted notebook 2. Scissors (optional) 3. Bookmarks (to
quickly flip to a page) 4. Micron pens (005 mm, extra fine tips) in black and
other colours 5. Binder clip (optional) 6. Eraser 7. Ruler 8. Colour markers or
sketch pens 9. Pencil (All available at reputed stationary stores.)
2 5 6
4
7
1
8
3
9
[�HOW-TO�] so you can refer to this list and
GET IT RIGHT jump to a tracker/week quickly.
1. Your first page is the Key. 3. The Future Log is where you
Begin with a bullet that look at the whole year and plan
represents a task. Cross off the on a monthly basis. You can
bullet when it’s done. (Don’t keep adding tasks, events, notes,
strike off the actual task, so you as and when they come up.
can go back and read it in the
4. The Weekly Log is where you
future.) Add > or < to the bullet if
look at the upcoming days,
you’re going to do it later. Use a
including the present day.
circle to mark an event, like a
In addition to the 7 days, you can
birthday or holiday, and a
add more lists to your week to
triangle to mark an appointment.
keep track of weekly goals,
Use a - for all other notes.
unscheduled tasks (for instance,
2. The Index is a simple list of all you know you must pay the rent
the layouts that you will make this week, but you don’t have a
inside. You can add to it as and day in mind), or anything else
when a layout is made. Number you want to remember. You can
all pages and note them here, even add mini habit trackers.
fresh | by hand

“In addition
to better
organisation GET INSPIRED
After you’ve got some basic
and time- layouts in place, think of

management, what aspects of your life

you want to record, track,
bullet journalling describe or improve upon.

has helped me live Some ideas: Books to read,

more consciously.”
a 5-year plan, gratitude log,
inspiring quotes, bucket
list, achievements, nail
polish swatches, gifting
ideas, meal plans, weight
loss tracker, savings goals,
trip itinerary—the choices
are endless. Here are three
spreads that you can try:
MOOD TRACKER This helps
you be aware of your day-to-
day emotions. All you need
is 30 boxes, one for each
day of the month. You can
use a circle, as shown here,
or come up with your own
shapes. You can also create
your own colour-coded
system (green for a happy
day, red for frustration, and
so on). Fill each box with that
day’s prominent emotion or
even a mix of colours each
day. Keep a key of which
colour represents what.
HABIT TRACKER This can
help you keep track of your
habits, motivate you and
build a pleasant association
in your mind. In this layout,
you have the days of the
month on the left and the
habits on top. Every day that
you continue the habit, fill
in the relevant grid. As time
goes on, you’ll get a quick
glance of your ‘performance’.
SHOPPING LIST A bujo gives
you a single place to bring all
your shopping lists together.
As shown here, you can have
a spread for all that you
want to buy. Organise this by
categories like shown here.
Then, keep adding items as
and when you remember
them and cross off the ones
you have bought. ■

34 � | Jan-Feb 2018 To see more of Juhi’s work, head to thescratchynib.com.

fresh | instant impact

MAKING
THE CUT
Etching glassware is an easy, affordable way to
elevate basic pieces. Use our ideas (or your own)
to create works of art in 20 minutes or less.
text by lauren hedrick | photographs by blaine moats | crafts by amber wagner

BOTANICAL
BOTTLES
Etching amber
glassware results
in a two-tone effect
that highlights
the leafy motifs,
which echo the
flowers and
greenery.
Find similar bottles
on amazon.in.

STYLING: CHRISTY BROKENS

36 � | Jan-Feb 2018
 GEOMETRIC TOOL
DISHES
Bargain glass bowls
KIT
get an inexpensive DISH SOAP
makeover with LINT-FREE CLOTH
geometric patterns. DISPOSABLE
Cover the whole COVER FOR
dish, opt for SURFACE
a singular motif We used a plastic
or mix and match. painting tarp.
SELF-ADHESIVE
STENCIL
MASKING TAPE
PROTECTIVE
GLASSES
RUBBER GLOVES
BRUSH
Use a small
paintbrush with a
straight edge
for best control.

ETCHING CREAM
Martha Stewart,
` 1,450,
crafterscorner.in
Shake bottle well
before applying to
remove clumps
and air bubbles.
Not intended
for etching large
areas of glass.

HOW TO ETCH GLASS

■ ONE Wash glass with ■THREE Apply adhesive ■ FOUR Wearing ■ FIVE Rinse glass ■ SIX Wash stencil with
warm, soapy water; dry stencil; remove any protective glasses and (from top down) warm water to
with a lint-free cloth. air bubbles with gloves and using a thoroughly with warm remove etching cream
■ TWO Working in a your fingers. Tape small paintbrush, apply water to remove all residue. Do not remove
well-ventilated area, off glass around the a thick layer of etching cream, then remove protective gloves
cover work surface stencil with masking cream. (You shouldn’t stencil and tape. and glasses until stencil
with a disposable tape to prevent be able to see the Let glass air-dry or dry is clean. Let dry. Reuse
plastic sheet. accidental drip marks. glass.) Wait 10 minutes. with a lint-free cloth. stencil as needed.

� Jan-Feb 2018 | � 37
fresh | instant impact

MIRRORED
TRAY
Add glam to cocktail
hour by covering a
mirrored tray
in triangles. (It’s the THE
same process as STENCILS
etching glass.) Reusable,
This stencil comes as self-adhesive
a sheet, so it’s easy stencils ensure
to keep rows straight.
crisp lines.

LEAVES
Martha Stewart
Ferns & Boughs
17 Designs, ` 1,100

TRIANGLES
Carabelle Studio
Petits et Grands
Triangles, ` 460
All available at
crafterscorner.in

ETCHED GLASS 101

APPLICATION TESTING THE GLASS DURABILITY DAMAGING EFFECTS PRACTICALITY
Apply an even layer Some types of glass Etched designs are Etching cream Etched designs are
of etching cream won’t take the etch. food-safe yet will mar the finish permanent,
in one consistent Test the glass first highly susceptible to of porcelain and enamel no sealants required.
direction across by marking a tiny dot staining. Etching the sinks. Rinse projects Etching cream won’t
the project (from the of etching cream with outside of the glass in a stainless sink, affect the pieces’
top down or a toothpick where prevents stains utility sink or ability to go in
right to left) to ensure it won’t be seen. and allows the designs plastic bucket to the microwave, oven
even results. Wait 5 minutes; rinse. to show clearly. avoid damage. or dishwasher. ■

38 � | Jan-Feb 2018
 fresh | shopkeeper

a passage to india
Located in a beautiful art deco building in Colaba, Mumbai, Samyukta Nair’s
luxury lifestyle store, Clove, celebrates her love for all things Indian.
text by nandini banerjee

In a quiet corner off the bustling streets

of Colaba, Mumbai, lies Clove, a new
luxury lifestyle store born out of hotelier
and entrepreneur Samyukta Nair’s need
for a space that housed her favourite
things—more specifically, favourite
Indian designs. Giving perspective to
everyday luxury, the store features a
curation of independent, handcrafted
Indian labels, across the categories of
fashion, kidswear, sleepwear, beauty,
lifestyle and dining. “Clove celebrates
the simple pleasures of everyday living,”
says Samyukta about the brand’s
philosophy. “The edit, classic yet
eclectic, aims at a diverse set—
the local, the gifter, the traveller and
the collector. I am proud of the talent
that we have in this nation, and it offers
my view on Indian design.”
So you will find known and loved
fashions brands like Dhruv Kapoor, Aish,
Kardo; jewellery by Misho; home linen by
Anavila and Shift, alongside objects from
Claymen and Ikka Dukka; sleepwear
from Dandelion; and
books like Fiona Caulfields’ Love Travel
Guides and Archana Pidathala’s
cookbook Five Morsels of Love.
Clove has been designed to
resemble the interiors of a home with
three main spaces—a living area, a
bedroom and a walk-in closet—each
area structured around a large, painted
wall display unit. A floating, free-form
brass lamp in the store is the only
three-dimensional element in the
composition. Samyukta says that she
had been developing the concept for
INSIDER over two years, and the space was
created within six months with the help
GUIDE of a talented team, which included
“Clove reflects my Malika Verma Kashyap of the
own personality. I’ve Border&Fall Agency for retail advisory,
curated the edit to LABEL GAME POTIONS MASTER NATIVE BEAUTY and Zameer Basrai of The Busride
reflect an offering Lesser-known, niche Even though the Clove has a wellness Design Studio for design direction.
that is meaningful labels like Untitled store is only two section that houses “I collaborated with Zameer to create a
without taking itself Co (fashion), Atelier months old, indigenous brands, Zen-like calm in the store. From its
too seriously.” DS (home décor) the apothecary which include minimalist aesthetic and neutral hues,
and Other Kingdom and homeware Pure Earth, Bare to the airy lightness of its oversized
(lifestyle) are products are fast Necessities windows and arched doorways, the
stocked at Clove. becoming popular. and Junaili. store encourage relaxed browsing.” ■

� Jan-Feb 2018 | � 39
fresh | design
M
etal utensils may
not be a fixture
anymore in urban
Indian homes, but
that’s exactly what Baarique,
a Mumbai-based tableware
brand, is trying to bring back.
In 2013, fresh out of MIT
Institute of Design, Pune,
co-founders Malika Budhiraj
and Surkhi Matharu were
travelling through Leh when
they came across traditional
metal utensils in which butter
tea and thukpa were served.
Sensing that these had become
a rare sight in urban India,
the then 23-year-olds returned
to Mumbai and set up Baarique
(‘delicate’ in Hindi) in 2014.
But they gave it a twist:
Baarique utensils, crafted out
of copper, brass and bronze,
were decorated with colourful,
hand-painted motifs like the
house boats of Kerala, parrots,
laburnum and gulmohar trees
and dreamcatcher mandalas.
So striking were the creations
that right after the first
collection launched in 2014,
the utensils found a home at
Mumbai’s India-inspired
restaurant The Bombay
Canteen, and then at Zorawar
Kalra’s Made in Punjab in
Gurgaon and Toronto’s The
Fat Beet. Mumbai-based Le 15
Patisserie’s celebrity chef
Pooja Dhingra is also a fan, and
for an event, served Japanese-
inspired desserts in Baarique’s
brass plates painted with
cherry blossoms. Today,
popular food blogs like Bake
With Shivesh, La Petit Chef
and Amrita of Life have also
40 � | Jan-Feb 2018
served on a metal platter
Baarique is reimagining design traditions by giving classic
Indian tableware a makeover with hand-painted motifs.
text by meghna menon
joined the Baarique club, using
its stunning tableware in their
food photographs.
“We find inspiration in
Indian gastronomy, which has
always had a vast spectrum of
utensils designed in keeping
with the ingredients used to
prepare the meal. Thus, our
attempt has been to revive the
ancient ayurvedic wisdom
behind the use of copper and
brassware through modern
design,” says Malika. Products
by Baarique—tumblers, plates,
cutlery, bowls, shot glasses and
even lotas and thalis—reflect
an ethos that is traditional,
raw, artistic and luxurious.
This can be attributed to the
fine workmanship of craftsmen
from Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh
and Haryana, who skillfully
melt, mould and beat the
metals into submission, and
paint them intricately to create
inimitable works of art. Each
of these are unique due to the
variation in textures and sizes.
“It feels amazing to create
something that is sustainable
and functional,” says Malika,
adding that the response has
been phenomenal. In fact,
it was only in November that
Masterchef Australia’s Gary
Mehigan and Italian Michelin
Chef Massimo Bottura dined
out of Baarique plates at The
Bombay Canteen, as part of an
upcoming TV show. Malika
and Surkhi are now working on
a collection for London-based
group JKS Restaurants, besides
introducing new products and
THE TABLEWARE IS AVAILABLE ONLINE ON THE BRAND’S
designing customised ones WEBSITE AND ON JAYPORE. ALSO, AN EXCLUSIVE RANGE
upon request. ■ CAN BE FOUND EXCLUSIVELY AT THE BOMBAY CANTEEN.
 where life happens

halfway to zen
Symmetry and an elegant arrangement of colours and
textures characterise art director Manish Chopra’s
Gurgaon home—the one place, he admits, he lets his
obsessive-compulsive need for perfection run wild.
text by deepa narayanan | photographs by anil chawla
creative direction by anuradha sen

� Jan-Feb 2018 | � 41
home | family spaces
The African sculpture in the
foyer, this page, has travelled
all the way from Helsinki,
Finland, while facing the
entryway is the oil on canvas,
Poppy in My Dream by Vijay
Thomas. The burnt orange
carpet is from Samarkand in
Uzbekistan, while the other
rug is from Rabat in Morocco.

The living room, facing page,

has pops of colour, which
come by way of orange
jacquard cushions
from Designers Guild—
Monticello Fabrics, UK.

42 � | Jan-Feb 2018
 MANISH SAYS HIS HOME
REFLECTS HIS OVERARCHING
DESIGN PRINCIPLE OF INVENTING AND
SIMPLIFYING. “I WANT TO BALANCE MY
CREATIVITY WITH SCALABILITY.”
A loft-inspired,
ground floor home
designed in Zen
style—that’s how
Manish Chopra,
Senior Art Director,
Global Product
Imaging, Amazon India, describes his
2,200-sq-ft Gurgaon house. A peek
into the living room, and I see what he
means. Sunlight floods in through light
drapes on the tall French windows that
open into a balcony with a Japanese-
themed garden, lush with plants as old
as the house. The living area, featuring
modern furniture, extends into the
dining room where a glass-and-wood
dining table looks out into the garden
through the same French windows.
It’s bliss, sequenced in modern,
spacious intimacy.
BUILDING A
PERSONALITY
“This was a DLF property and one of
their very few, anywhere, which had
such a tall ceiling at 16 ft. I fitted a
false ceiling of about 4 ft,” Manish tells
me of the house he bought in 2004,
and designed himself over the next
10 years. “Designers, architects and
builders work around trends, making
homes look exactly like one another.
I wanted my abode to mirror my
personality—my obsessiveness about
everything, whether it is the size of
the tiles, the angles of the walls or the
colours on them. I wanted a house that
was primarily a bachelor’s pad with all
the comforts and luxuries in it, without
making it look like a hotel or museum.
A space that exudes a lived-in feel and
reflects my OCD,” he explains with a
laugh. Then, as if to drive home the
point, he tells me about his favourite
activity—deep cleaning!
The colour palette used in the
home is white and tones of grey, with
just a splash of bright hues, mostly
through rugs or throws—perhaps
the only Indian touch in his house.
� Jan-Feb 2018 |  43
home | family spaces
“I don’t have beiges and browns.
It’s either whites or deep chocolate,”
says Manish. Then, there’s the touch
of quirk that pops up here and there—
the two 80-year-old suitcases in his
living room, for instance. “My boyfriend
Sumeet’s parents were throwing them
away, one of which (the round one) was
a tabla box and the other was a suitcase
his dad used to travel with. I took them
both and placed them near the sofas.
They are gorgeous just as they are.”
Manish’s love for art and design
goes back to his college days when he
did his fine arts course from Aligarh
University, trying to learn painting and
sculpture. He followed this up with an
illustrious career that started off with
designing furniture for the Palace on
Wheels, the world-class luxury heritage
train, and taking on graphic designing
and visualising in digital branding for
44 � | Jan-Feb 2018
“MY HOUSE IS A
BACHELOR’S PAD WITH
ALL THE LUXURIES, BUT
WITHOUT MAKING IT LOOK
LIKE A HOTEL OR MUSEUM.”
Unicef-endorsed projects and fashion
designers like Manish Arora, Siddartha
Tytler, Manav Gangwani and Gaurav
Gupta. After heading the creative
division for publications like Harper’s
Bazaar, Men’s Health and Robb Report,
he joined Koovs’ creative team and
then Amazon India. In his current role
at Amazon, he reopened their global
studio in September 2017—the first of
its kind in this side of the hemisphere.
GOING WORLD CLASS
It comes as no surprise then that his
home has a global influence. Not only
does it have a modernist appeal, but
is also filled with objects from his and
Sumeet’s travels that further reflect
his style. The artworks that adorn the
space are the framed posters Manish
had picked up from the trip he took to
Finland in 2004. Even the prominent
Tungsten bulbs from
Ikea hang over the wood-
and-glass dining table
that’s set beside the
French windows.
On the table, the candles
are from Shoreditch in
London, while the metal
vase is from Good Earth.

� Jan-Feb 2018 |  45
home | family spaces
Buddhist painting in his living room,
which he’d bought from Bhaktapur,
Nepal, in 2011, has a contemporary
feel to it. Other stand-out elements
in his home that caught our eyes were
the Eames chair from Singapore in the
drawing room, the occasional table
with golden lotus sculptures from
Klove, New Delhi, and the cement
tetrapod from Filter, Kalaghoda,
Mumbai. The kitchen too was given
a lot of attention through charcoal
grey-brushed granite tiles flooring
from Spain, contrasted with woollen
rugs that add a pop of colour to the
space. These were bought from local
traditional vendors at Dilli Haat, New
Delhi. Needless to say, the space was
spotless and that in itself is a marvel.
Manish says all these build into
his overarching design principle of
46 � | Jan-Feb 2018
The wall shelves in
Manish’s guest room
houses a collection of
antique metalware from
various places like
Orchha in Madhya
Pradesh and Hampi in
Karnataka, and
monasteries in Ladakh
and Sikkim. There is also
a wooden vase from
Mumbai’s Bungalow 8,
and a piece of coral reef
picked up from an
antique shop in Sydney.
inventing and simplifying. “I want to
balance my creativity with scalability.
And given the mix of my OCDs and
creativity, I believe I am a good balance
of the right and left brain. So, at home,
you’ll see a lot of traditional-looking
items treated in a modern way—for
instance, I’ve sandwiched paper from
The Paper World in Lado Sarai between
toughened glasses and used them as
cabinet shutters. It was a simple
design, but I haven’t seen it anywhere
else,” Manish says.
So how would Manish describe his
home in one word? “A detox,” he tells
me after few moments of reflection.
“I draw my energy from people and
I love having them around. But at the
end of the day, when I step into my
home, I know it is all I need to recharge
and refresh, to take on the next day.” ■
The island breakfast
table, which can seat two
people, and the cutlery
storage drawers, were
designed by Manish
himself. He picked up the
China water jar from his
travels to Dubai, while the
antique cutlery jar on the
kitchen counter is from
the Orchha Palace in
Madhya Pradesh.

� Jan-Feb 2018 |  47
home | inspiration

living
HISTORY
Two globetrotters found their next adventure in the renovation of a
150-year-old farmhouse. Yes, they hung wooden panels. But, they also hung
vibrant contemporary art and made room for passed-down family treasures.
The look feels familiar and somehow new. Let’s call it modern heirloom style.

text by paige porter fischer

photographs by david land
styling by yvette gonzales
Interior designer Alys
Protzman advises clients
to splurge on a rug they
love and layer it over
an inexpensive larger
sisal rug. She used the
trick in her living room,
opposite, with a
favourite Moroccan find.

In the case of
this junk-shop
chair, Alys had it
reupholstered with a
vintage textile
she found in Buenos
Aires, Argentina.

� Jan-Feb 2018 | � 49
home | inspiration

t he best advice I ever got was to go

have a grand adventure before having
kids,” says US-based designer Alys
Protzman, who studied and worked
for years in New York, before she
and her husband, Alex, went off
the grid on a trip around the world.
They travelled light but carried home loads of
inspiration from other cultures and a newfound
desire to “put down roots and own some land”.
That led to the couple’s next adventure:
Restoring a 150-year-old farmhouse in Bynum,
North Carolina, an old cotton-mill town
that had the slow pace and space they craved.
In the kitchen, above,
Alys opted for cream-
coloured marble
counters. The honed
finish forgives etching
and scratching better
than a polished variety.
Over the dining nook,
she added whimsy to a
schoolhouse clock by
flanking it with cutlery
formed from crafts
store wire. “The best
30 minutes I ever
spent,” says Alys.
What’s more, the home came with beautiful old Left, Alys with her
bones and period details, like the impeccable husband, Alex; kids,
building material and original heart pine floors Poppy, 5, and Baldwin,
preserved beneath vinyl tiles. “The architecture 4; and pup, Stokley.
was compelling enough to overlook the negatives: The couple recently
The lack of air-conditioning, old radiant heaters, welcomed daughter
peeling laminate countertops,” says Alys. Darby to the family.

50 � | Jan-Feb 2018
BAMBOO SHOOT
7113
JOTUN
Alys fell for this green—
which reminded her of
old chalkboards—at a
New York hotel and
replicated it for the dining
room. The formal
furniture was inherited
from her grandparents,
but a vintage hemp
tabletop blanket relaxes it.

BEFORE

RENOVATION RECAP Alys and Alex Protzman

bumped out the back of their house by 15 feet, opening up the living area and eat-in
kitchen while gaining a mudroom downstairs and a master suite upstairs. Here’s what
they learned once the dust settled. ■ WOULDA, COULDA, SHOULDA “I think my
mudroom could have been twice the size. I’m not a complete hoarder, but there’s a design
saying that you can never have too much storage.” ■ SIMPLE PLEASURES “I’m surprised
by how much I enjoy the original, practically untouched spaces. I love their antique
quality contrasted with the more contemporary feeling in the added-on spaces.”
■ PROJECT MANTRA “Expect the best. Be prepared for the worst. And bring chocolate

chip cookies to the crew at least once a week.”

� Jan-Feb 2018 |  51
home | inspiration

“The house needed a lot of work, but thankfully

we are project people. So, we took it one project
at a time.”
An addition to the back of the house won them
enough extra living space to reinvent this as their
forever home. “I knew I didn’t want to design a
modern farmhouse in the way everybody expects,
with rusty tin signs and chicken wire everywhere.
We are too eclectic to fit into that specific mould.
We love colour and pattern and modern art too
much. As a designer, I delight in all the quirky,
unexpected moments in a space.” Case in point:
She’s layered organic live-edge wood pieces with
industrial elements, covered thrift shop chairs
with hand-woven textiles, and filled an antique
hutch with contemporary ceramics and her kids’
art-class pottery. Alys’ look is comfortable and
casual, but defined by its contrasts.
“Travelling really opened my eyes to think
and decorate outside the box,” she says. “What
is unexpected is often what we remember most
about a place, and that goes for a home, too.”

“For the pantry, above,

I found an antique nickel
sink, had it shipped
here, had a countertop
made to reveal its
beautiful shape�…�and it
doesn’t drain very well.
Live and learn!”

Wall-mounted shelves
from an antiques fair,
far left, create a front
door drop zone for
shoes and whatnots.

During renovations,
they uncovered old
horse-and-hound
wallpaper on the stair
landing, left. Alys took
square pieces of it, and
Alex built a frame and
hung them on the walls.

52 � | Jan-Feb 2018
 The mudroom was an

I LOVE addition, but Alys made

it feel original with brick

DEMOLITION. floors. “We salvaged the

bricks from walkways
around the house,”
I came out to the site says Alys. “No one but

with my 3-day-old baby me would ever know the

history, but I get into

in my arms, and it looked the details like that.”

like a dollhouse—the
entire back had been ripped
off. It was awesome.
home | inspiration

A local craftsman
fashioned a live-edge A FUNKY CHAIR
headboard in the
master bedroom. with an antique table—that’s
“I love the little
details of the my language. A modern
butterfly joints and
the contrast lamp on your grandmother’s
of the organic warm
wood against the
sideboard—that’s my version
clean panelling,”
says Alys.
of fabulous.

54 � | Jan-Feb 2018
Plenty of wooden panelling and
hand-hewn beams salvaged from a shed
that they had to raze were used to hide
the patina of age in this additional space.
A free-standing Scandinavian fireplace
puts off great heat with a flip of a switch,
says Alys. “We really wanted a fireplace,
but I wasn’t about to haul logs upstairs.” ■ Wraparound white
linen blackout curtains
create a cocoon for the
room, which feels like
a tree house because
of the windows
on three sides.
home | plantings

C
all them space savers or
clever ornamental covers,
climbers and creepers in
any shape or form are low
maintenance and easy to
grow. “While creepers grow downwards
and spread horizontally on the ground,
producing roots at the nodes, which
anchor into the soil, climbers spread
vertically with the help of a support
system—like walls, pipes, ropes,
trellises or any other slender thing
to twine upon,” explains Gitanjali
Rajamani, CEO of Greenmylife, a
Bengaluru-based landscaping and
garden maintenance service provider.
While to a layman, both might appear
to be the same, climbers and creepers
are very different in the way that they
are planted. “However, both make for
amazing ground covers and are perfect
for adorning patched and worn-out
walls,” says Harsh Vardhan Thakur, an
urban farmer and founder of Garden
Onsite, a Gurugram-based, full service
garden centre. So, while during the
summer months, planting a climber on a
trellis or wall provides shade, in winters,
it works as a natural insulating layer and
helps in keeping the house warm.

THE RIGHT SPOT

Both varieties are outdoor plants,
and require a sufficient supply of
water, well-drained soil and sunlight
for their overall growth. They can be
grown in pots, containers, hanging
baskets, ground soil or even on vertical
wall frames. “The bigger the pot,
the better the plants grow and cover
Climbers like nearby areas,” shares Mittesh Gaiwala,
bougainvillea give director of the Mumbai-based landscape
your area an English consultancy, GreenLands. “However,
countryside vibe. since climbers have weak stems, they
require a good support, such as

vertical limit
a pillar or a wall. Try to look for a
ground that is close to the balcony,
so that the climber can spread onto
the terrace or the floor above, giving
PHOTOGRAPH: EDWARD GOHLICH

the area an English countryside vibe,”

They require minimum effort, and spruce
up your outdoors in a short time. Leafy or flowering,
creepers and climbers bloom in every season. Here’s a
lowdown on how to make the most of them.
text by neha mehta
suggests Gitanjali. If you want to
give your space this look, creepers
like vernonia (curtain creeper) and
English ivy, and perennial climbers
like bougainvillea, climbing rose and
clematis, serve the purpose.

56   | Jan-Feb 2018
 Make sure the
support wall has a
suitable covering—
like a plastic sheet
or tiles, so that VARIETIES GALORE
the water doesn’t Thanks to the tropical climate in
cause seepage. the country, India is home to a large
variety of creepers—both flowering
and non-flowering. The most common
include the orange trumpet, pyrostegia
venusta, thunbergia, morning glory,
clematis, passion flower, madhumalati,
jasmine, mandevilla, allamanda,
bougainvilleas and lantanas. According
to Harsh, while inch plant, purple heart,
money plant and ivy make for good
ornamental creepers, the flowering
ones like aparajita, tikoma, morning
glory, bougainvillea and madhumalati
lend beauty to your garden with
minimum effort.

MAKE YOUR CHOICE

Climbers like gourds, beans, mint,
tomatoes, thyme and oregano are
a perfect choice if you are looking
to add to your kitchen garden this
season. Since creepers and climbers
are, in general, flowering plants with
a pleasant fragrance, these also help
in enhancing and purifying the area
around. The night blooming jasmine is
a good example. “By using a good
soil mix—that includes red soil, cow
or organic manure, micronutrients,
granules and liquid fertilisers in
sufficient proportions—you can grow
these plants in pots, soil beds and
containers. For instance, bougainvillea
Since creepers and climbers are generally needs more sunlight and less water
flowering plants with a pleasant to bloom well,” suggests Mittesh.

fragrance, they help in enhancing

Additionally, a few select varieties of
plants like heartleaf philodendron,

and purifying the area around. pothos, and creeping fig can be grown
indoors as well. n

1. While planting, do not

HANDLE forget to apply a thick
year, should be trimmed
after flowering.
horizontally, or else they’ll
become too dense.
WITH layer of mulch around the
3. Keep pruning the 5. Water the plants
CARE base of the plant.

2. Trim them regularly,

shoots that grow away
from the wall to make sure
regularly, except in the
monsoons. During winters,
PHOTOGRAPH: BOB STEFKO

Expert tips for especially in the late the area stays neat and the water them as required.
maintaining and winter and late summer. plants remain in shape.
getting the best Climbers that flower early 6. Leave some breathing
out of creepers in the year and bloom on 4. Try giving climbers space between the wall
and climbers. stems from the previous support with wires fixed and the trellis.

  Jan-Feb 2018 |   57
home | store alert
show stealers
To add an avant garde twist to your home décor, visit
Mumbai’s Maison by International Furniture Brand,
a store featuring luxe furniture and furnishings.
THE LOOK IS
ELEGANT AND
BLENDS
CLASSICISM WITH
MODERNISM.
C
reative director of Maison
and founder of International
Furniture Brands, Aruna
Tara has come a long
way in the past decade.
What began as a hobby and expanded
into retailing from home, is today a luxe
brand hosting global décor labels, like
Fendi Casa, Kenzo Maison, Theodore
Alexander, Baker and Maitland Smith,
Ferguson Copeland, Baker, Ralph
Lauren Home, Donghia and Cane-Line.
The latest feather in Aruna’s cap is
the opening of the 4,000 sq ft Maison
store at Indiabulls Finance Centre in
Mumbai, which houses handcrafted,
luxury furniture sourced from
manufcturers in the US and Europe.
The flagship, which was launched
in November 2017, showcases dining,
living and bedroom concepts consisting
of high back, occasional and tufted
armchairs, sofas, coffee tables, wooden
side tables with dull gold and bronze
embellishments, beds with headboards,
hand-carved dining tables and chairs,
58 � | Jan-Feb 2018
among others. The décor accessories
include mirrors, candle stands, vases,
table lamps, crystal champagne flutes,
wine glasses, decanters etc., and the
colour palette ranges from pristine
whites to soft greys, with accents of
violet, indigo blue, olive green and
bright yellow. “There’s a lot of research
that goes behind this. With in-depth
studies on the latest décor trends in
India and worldwide, our accessories
have been thoughtfully curated. We also
Maison houses
keep in mind the edgy look that people handcrafted,
aim for while styling their space,”
shares Aruna.
LUXURY FURNITURE
So, you will find elegant designs sourced from
that blend classicism with modernism
(a signature of Maison furniture)
manufacturers in the
crafted from the finest woods and US and Europe.
finished in typically warm tones ranging
from a neutral finish to high gloss
lacquer. The upholstery is dominated
by sensuous fabrics and lays emphasis
on texture and colour blocking. And
all this is brought together by an
unparalleled level of craftsmanship. ■
home | new in the market

ARTISTIC
SENSIBILITIES
Looking for handcrafted Kashmiri
carpets and artefacts? Meraas,
which is a brand focused on
preserving the 600-year-old
heritage of Kashmiri and Persian
crafts, recently launched its store
at MG Road, Gurugram. Featuring
silk carpets, rugs, walnut-wood
furniture, décor accessories and
papier-mâché products, among
others, Meraas is a treasure trove
for those who love exquisite
craftsmanship. Price on
request, meraascrafts.com

NEW IN TOWN
DETAILS THAT
MATTER
The brainchild of interior
designer duo Nilu and Gobind
Kapur, luxury label Maison du
Luxe’s Regal Collection, featuring
accent chairs, beds, dining tables
and sofas, keeps in mind design
details alongside focusing on
the comfort of the furniture.
Their ergonomic range has
been crafted using a combination
of wood, steel, leather and
upholstery fabrics. A must-have
for your space. Price on
request, maisonduluxe.in

HANDY
HELPERS
Häfele’s new range of
professional small
kitchen counter-top ARTISTIC TALES
appliances makes Hamsini, a newly-launched brand,
cooking effortless. specialises in crafting décor furnishings
Featuring modern and made from linen. Seeking inspiration from
sturdy design, and fun Indian historical tales, the latest
colours, the collection collections—Amra and Gond Art—have
includes the kitchen been created and designed by Hamsini
machine, the power Hariharan, and feature cushions,
mixer and the patchwork bedspreads and table runners,
professional blender. with each product reflecting a tale through
Price on request, its intricate artwork. Price on request,
hafele.com hamsini.co.in  

60 � | Jan-Feb 2018

EXQUISITE EXTENSIONS Create extra space
with Window Magic’s Victorian Conservatories,
a glass extension between your living space and
patio for a sitting area. Keeping in mind the
technicalities that play a vital role in customisation,
the brand takes care of every detail that a house
requires. Made with energy-efficient glass that lets
in maximum light, it also maintains a steady
temperature all year round. Price on request.
The Cultural
Blend
Collaborating with designer
duo Abraham and Thakore, the
luxury rugmaker brand
Obeetee’s second edition of
‘Proud to be Indian’, includes
handcrafted rugs made using
traditional techniques and with
a contemporary colour palette.
The carpets feature elements
like Kanchipuram sari designs,
Sanganer’s block prints, and
ornate lettering techniques.
Price on request.
For more info, see Resources
DO NOT MISS
DESIGN ON POINT
The International Furniture Fair Singapore
(IFFS), which will take place in Singapore
from March 8 to 11 will present a
comprehensive range of furniture,
furnishing, decorative accessories,
interiors, handicrafts, lightings, carpets
and fittings by exhibitors from almost 40
countries. For the first time, IFFS has
partnered with Chantal Hamaide—
Founder and Chief Editor of French design
magazine Intramuros—who will also style
an exclusive pop-up showroom within
The Piazza Hall. The fair is also the first in
Asia Pacific to feature Augmented Reality
(AR) technology on site through which
visitors will be able to enjoy an interactive
4D experience of participating in
exhibitors’ products by scanning them
with their smartphones. With 16 national
pavilions comprising of 13 design-centric
enterprises, you can expect some of the
most exciting designs of the year on the
show floor.  For more information, visit
IFFS.com.sg or NookAsia.com.sg
SPACE SAVER
Acrysil, popularly known as Carysil, is a globally
acclaimed brand manufacturing home and kitchen
appliances. They recently inaugurated their first
Kitchen Gallery in Mumbai, which houses professional
kitchen equipment. The range is eco-friendly, certified
and multifunctional, and includes preparation and
cooking equipment, display warmers, dish washers,
among others. Price on request, carysil.com
� Jan-Feb 2018 |  61
 Dress: Lavish Alice.

62 � | Jan-Feb 2018
Winning
at ife
INTELLIGENT. FEARLESS. UNAPOLOGETIC.
ACTOR ESHA GUPTA SITS DOWN FOR A
TÊTE-À-TÊTE AND REVEALS HOW SHE IS
LIVING BY HER OWN RULES.
text by meghna menon | photographs by taras taraporvala
creative direction by anuradha sen | styling by mohit rai

“If they(trolls)
can’t add
anything to my
life, then THEY
CAN’T SUBTRACT
anything from it.
I've never given
anyone the power
to upset me.”
� Jan-Feb 2018 | � 63
“I love to travel.
While London
is my absolute
FAVOURITE
CITY, Cuba is
on my wishlist.”

Jacket: Madison;
Skirt: H&M; Shoes:
Steve Madden.

64 � | Jan-Feb 2018
N
othing can bring Esha Gupta down—not trolls,
not naysayers, not even the excruciating cramps
that debilitated her through the course of the
cover shoot. (You would never be able to tell
looking at the photographs. “Just give me a steady
supply of coffee guys, and I’ll be ok,” she had
laughed.) It takes minutes into my conversation
with her to understand that that’s just who the
actor is. Tough and cool, with a the-work-must-get-done and
the-show-must-go-on attitude. She tells me that even as a
child, no one dared mess with her. It’s no surprise then that
when trolls came down heavily on her after pictures from
her semi-nude photoshoot went viral on social media
(each picture received a minimum 75,000 likes on
Instagram), Esha was the least bit shaken. “If they (trolls)
can’t add anything to my life, then they can’t subtract
anything from it either. I’ve never given anyone, except my
friends and family, the power to upset me. In fact, they made
me the national news—so I should be thankful to them,”
says the 32-year-old. “While I did expect the negative
comments, I didn’t anticipate the love I got, from both men
and women, and from the media.”
Esha’s always been a non-conformist. After winning the
title of Miss India International in 2007, she didn’t dive
straight into the world of films. Instead, she decided to study
further, bagging herself a law scholarship at Newcastle,
UK (where she picked up two jobs on the side, including
mopping floors at McDonalds, when she had to deal with
rising expenses). It’s only after that that she joined the
fashion industry, starring in the very popular 2010
Kingfisher calendar, eventually debuting in films with
Jannat 2, in 2012. Today, after performances in movies like
Rustom and Baadshaho, the hazel-eyed beauty—often
referred to as India’s Angelina Jolie—is looking forward
to starting the filming of her next undisclosed project in
February, as well as the launch of two brands that she’s
endorsing by the middle of the year. There also have
been unconfirmed news of the actor launching her
own lingerie line, as well as forming her own women’s
football team.
Not one to play it safe
What Esha does care about, however, is speaking up against
things that bother her. In the past, she has used social media
to voice her views on the government’s ban on the screening
of condom advertisements during the day; her support for
the armed forces, vegetarianism (she’s a PETA
spokesperson) and free heart surgeries for kids under the
age of 16 (she’s the goodwill ambassador for the Touching
Little Hearts initiative). “I have never been one to keep
quiet and play dumb. We all get one life. And while I do
believe in karma and, hence, being good in this lifetime;
I also feel that we should live life on our own terms,
irrespective of what society tells us. This society may tell
you to be real too, but the moment you are yourself,
someone or the other is going to point fingers and say,
‘No, not that way’. So, it’s important that you are happy in
whatever you’re doing.”
Amongst other things, she credits this attitude to her
upbringing in a defence family—her father retired as a Wing
Commander from the Air Force—and learning to cope with
its many challenges, big or small. And while she looks up to
her pilot dad, it is her mom who has inspired her the most.
Esha also admits that as a newcomer in the film industry,
there were times she felt it would have been helpful had her
family been connected to it, but looking back, she is proud of
her self-made success. “I’m never content. Someone like me
can never be. If I am ever content, I’ll never drive or push
myself for more.”
Always raring to go
When not watching football, or engaging in online banter
with fans of the sport, the actor finds other ways to
stimulate her mind: “I read and write a lot. I also love to
dance (she’s learnt Kathak for five years). Some people like
to clear their closets when stressed; I like to cook and bake
instead. So, I usually cook a lot, call my best friend over and
then sit down with him over some wine and my food,”
says Esha, who has even harboured ambitions of becoming
a chef as a child. She works out at least once a day, if not
twice, for two hours. This includes dancing, cardio, weight
training, even kick boxing. She also eats lean. “I am
perpetually on a diet, but mostly because I’m lactose
intolerant. I also avoid gluten, except while on set.
Otherwise, I’m a rice lover. Whether at home or out, you can
give me rice all day.” Her five room-penthouse (“I don’t
know why I have so many rooms; maybe because I’m used to
spaces in Delhi”) is dressed in pastel greens, blues and
whites; has a walk-in closet; and designed on the lines of a
French-Greek home. “Every piece in my house is
expensive—not boastful—and it shows in the way I take
care of them. Paintings of naked women adorn my walls,
and the furniture is minimal.”
Living life queen size
As independent and determined as she is, I ask Esha what
her advice would be to women today. “No one human being’s
fingerprints are the same,” she says. “That is how unique we
all are. When even our fingerprints are different, how can
we expect to look or be like someone else? Forget the trolls.
If Steve Jobs didn’t believe in himself, he wouldn’t have
started working from his garage and then gone on to create
Apple. You just need to believe in yourself as well as in
your uniqueness.” ■
� Jan-Feb 2018 | � 65
 Shirt: Madison; Jacket and
Pants: Ikai by Ragini; Shoes:
Burberry; Earrings: Accessorize;
Belt: Dhruv Kapoor.

“A night-in with
friends is
incomplete
without great
music, food
and wine.”
Nightsuit: Sanchita.
Assistant stylist: Vedhika Ghotge;
Hair and Makeup: Harry Rajput.
LOCATION: COURTESY MAISON BY
INTERNATIONAL FURNITURE
BRANDS, MUMBAI.
AND THE
WINNERS
They came, they saw, they conquered.
Meet the winners of the first edition of ARE…
The Lifestyle Influencer Awards.

Lifestyle
The
Influencer
Awards
In Association With

When Better Homes & Gardens, in association with Social Samosa, decided to create The Lifestyle Influencers
Awards, the idea was to felicitate India’s best digital influencers across the décor, beauty, food and lifestyle segments. It was
conceptualised as a first-of-its-kind platform, where bloggers and social media influencers from all over the country would be
recognised for their work and popularity. We anticipated it would generate interest in the blogger community. What we didn’t
expect was the overwhelming response this debut edition got. An initiative that was nearly a year in the making and executed
over two months, the awards saw over 300 self-nominations and 10,000 votes. Helping us in judging the winners was a
celebrity jury panel—chef & cultural influencer Maria Goretti; digital expert Anaggh Desai; chef Sabyasachi Gorai; designer
Adarsh Gill; interior designer Raseel Gujral; and beauty expert Vidya Tikari—who independently voted for the nominees
shortlisted for the quality of their work along with the votes they garnered for themselves.
H E R E A R E T H E N A M E S T H AT W O N . . .
best design inspiration blogger
Rukmini Ray Kadam
Blogs at Trumatter
Rukmini is hailed as a
pioneer in the
blogosphere for
breaking convention
and glorifying white as
a workable hue in
Indian décor.
best original recipe blogger
Nandita Iyer
Blogs at Saffron Trail
If you thought
vegetarian food was
boring, Nandita’s blog,
featuring classic and
creative dishes with
surprising tweaks, will
change your mind.
DÉCOR
best ethnic décor blogger best gardening blogger
Sangitha Anand Siddhant Bhalinge
Blogs at Sajavat Blogs at Ugaoo
Sangitha features Eschewing a technical
beautiful, traditional approach to gardening,
homes of India on her Siddhant’s blog breaks
blog, and her work down the scientific
focuses on the ways jargon and makes it
one can give a home simple for everyone
an ethnic look. to understand.
FOOD
best food v-logger best desserts blogger
Richa Gupta Shivesh Bhatia
Blogs at My Food Story Blogs at Bake With
Richa’s blog, rich with Shivesh
videos of quick dishes, Shivesh’s blog,
is a boon for those featuring recipes that
who don’t want to be are simple and
inundated with desserts that look
heavy-duty prepping fabulous, is food porn
and cooking. at its best.
best craft & diy blogger
Rittika Chokhany
Blogs at Ariyona
Interiors
The talented Rittika’s
blog is a fabulous
treasure trove of home
décor tips that can be
executed on a
shoestring budget.
best indian food blogger
Kalyan Karmakar,
Blogs at Finely Chopped
From food trails across
India to special dishes
at famous restaurants
and eateries, Finely
Chopped tracks
the dining culture in
the country.
H E R E A R E T H E N A M E S T H AT W O N . . .

BEAUTY

best beauty blogger best diy beauty blogger: best makeup blogger best luxury beauty blogger
Shalini Srivastava Urvashi Kumar Dhriti Bhanushali Bhumika Thakkar
Blogs at Be Beautilicious Blogs at The Right Blogs at That Look Blogs at New Love -
If you want to know Shade of Red You Love Makeup
all that is new in the For all kinds of natural Dhriti is a professional Bhumika gives reviews
world of beauty, beauty remedies, makeup artiste and on luxury beauty
Shalini’s blog will makeup tutorials and hair stylist, and if you’re products, as well as
provide you with everyday fashion, looking to learn the advises on what
detailed answers and Urvashi’s blog is your tricks of the trade, products one needs
information. go-to guide. follow her easy videos. to invest in.

LIFESTYLE

best wellness blogger best fitness blogger best lifestyle blogger best social media influencer
Anupriya Kapur Radhika Bose Nivedith Gajapathy Hrish Thota
Blogs at Mom On Blogs at Yogasini Blogs at MacroTraveller Blogs at Dhempe
The Run A fitness addict and If you are planning Hrish’s extensive
Anupriya’s inspiring yoga enthusiast, a trip soon and need to travels and posts on
blog, which was Radhika’s blog focuses know all about the the Indian tech
started to chronicle on her love for the destination, Nivedith’s industry, written in an
her everyday runs, concept of body, mind travel stories and engaging manner,
also features her and soul, and is an photographs will help you know the
wellness endeavours. inspiration for many. hook you. market trends.
SOUL FOOD
Detox this winter with a healthy selection
of hearty soups and crunchy salads.
BHG special |

SOPA DE PEPITAS
(PUMPKIN SEED SOUP)
total time: 1 hour 5 minutes
INGREDIENTS
900 gm reduced-sodium vegetable broth
(available in grocery stores)
1 cup pumpkin seeds (pepitas),
toasted
1 to 2 dried cayenne peppers,
stems and seeds removed
1 tbsp vegetable oil
¹�₂ cup chopped onion
2 cloves garlic, minced
¹�₂ tsp salt
¹�₂ tsp ground coriander
950 gm white beans, rinsed and drained
Fresh cilantro leaves
Pumpkin seeds (pepitas),
toasted (optional)

PREPARATION
1. As part of a pre-preparation, in a small
bowl, combine 2 cups broth and 1 cup
pumpkin seeds. Cover and chill 12 to
24 hours (do not drain).
2. Now place a skillet over medium heat.
Add chilli peppers; cook for 3 minutes or
until fragrant and slightly darkened,
turning frequently.
3. In a medium saucepan, heat oil over
medium heat. Add onion and garlic; cook
for 5 minutes or until onion is tender,
stirring occasionally. Add salt and
coriander; cook and stir for 30 seconds.
4. In a blender or food processor, combine
pumpkin seeds with soaking liquid, chilli
peppers, onion mixture, remaining 2 cups
broth and half of the beans. Cover and
blend or process for 3 to 5 minutes or until
smooth. Return to saucepan; stir in
remaining beans. Bring to a boil; reduce
heat. Simmer, covered, for 15 to 20 minutes
to blend flavours.
5. If desired, serve soup with cilantro and
additional toasted pumpkin seeds.
Makes 6 servings.
Per Serving 335 cal., 21 gm fat (3 gm sat.
fat), 0 mg chol., 1,121 mg sodium,
25 gm carb., 9 gm fibre, 20 gm pro.

2 | Jan-Feb 2018
BUTTERNUT ¹�₄ tsp ground nutmeg 2. Transfer one-third of squash

SQUASH AND ¹�₄ cup half-and-half or light cream

Sour cream (optional)
mixture to a food processor or
blender. Cover and process or blend
CARROT SOUP Toasted pumpkin seeds until nearly smooth. Transfer to a
total time: 55 minutes (pepitas) (optional) bowl. Repeat two more times with the
Fresh tarragon sprigs remaining squash mixture. Return all
INGREDIENTS (optional) of the squash mixture to saucepan.
1 tbsp butter 3. Bring just to a boil. Stir in
3 cups chopped and peeled PREPARATION half-and-half; heat through.
butternut squash 1. In a large saucepan, melt butter over If desired, garnish each serving
2 cups thinly sliced carrots medium heat. Add squash, carrots and with sour cream, pumpkin seeds
(4 medium) leeks. Cook, covered, for 8 minutes, and tarragon.
³�₄ cup thinly sliced leeks or stirring occasionally. Add broth, white Makes 6 servings.
chopped onion pepper and nutmeg. Bring to a boil; Per Serving 82 cal., 3 gm total fat
800 gm reduced-sodium reduce heat. Simmer, covered, for (2 gm sat. fat), 9 mg chol., 364 mg
vegetable broth 25 to 35 minutes or until vegetables sodium, 12 gm carb., 2 gm fibre,
¹�₄ tsp ground white pepper are very tender. Cool slightly. 3 gm pro.

Jan-Feb 2018 | 3
BHG special |

THREE-MUSHROOM
SOUP
total time: 45 minutes
INGREDIENTS
225 gm fresh cremini, oyster,
button, and/or stemmed shiitake
mushrooms, sliced
50 gm fresh portobello mushrooms,
stemmed and sliced ¹�₂ inch thick
50 gm fresh porcini mushrooms,
sliced ¹�₂ inch thick
¹�₂ cup chopped onion (1 medium)
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 tbsp olive oil
1.25 kg reduced-sodium vegetable broth
1 tbsp snipped fresh thyme or
¹�₂ tsp dried thyme, crushed

PREPARATION
1. In a large saucepan, cook mushrooms,
onion and garlic in hot oil over medium
heat for about 10 minutes or until
mushrooms are softened and most of the
liquid is evaporated, stirring occasionally.
2. Add broth and dried thyme (if using).
Bring to a boil; reduce heat. Simmer,
covered, for 20 minutes. Stir in fresh
thyme (if using).
Makes 6 servings.
Per Serving 58 cal., 3 gm total fat (0 gm sat.
fat), 0 mg chol., 474 mg sodium, 5 gm carb.,
1 gm fibre, 4 gm pro.

4 | Jan-Feb 2018
CHICKEN
ENCHILADA SOUP
total time: 35 minutes
INGREDIENTS
1 tbsp vegetable oil
1 cup chopped onion
2 cloves garlic, minced
900 gm reduced-sodium chicken broth
¹�₂ cup cornmeal
2 cups shredded cooked chicken
400 gm diced tomatoes, undrained
280 gm enchilada sauce
100 gm diced green chilli peppers,
undrained
1 cup shredded cheddar
cheese (100 gm)
Tortilla chips
PREPARATION
1. In a 4-litre Dutch oven, heat oil over
medium-high heat. Add onion and
garlic; cook for about 4 minutes or until
onion is tender, stirring occasionally.
Stir in broth and cornmeal. Bring to a
boil, stirring constantly. Stir in the next
four ingredients (through chilli peppers);
heat thoroughly through. Stir in about
¹�₂ cup of cheese.
2. Top servings with remaining ¹�₂ cup
cheese and tortilla chips.
Makes 8 servings.
Per Serving 286 cal., 14 gm fat
(5 gm sat. fat), 52 mg chol., 781 mg sodium,
22 gm carb., 3 gm fibre, 18 gm pro.
Jan-Feb 2018 | 5
BHG special |

HEARTY FISH SOUP 1

total time: 40 minutes
INGREDIENTS
5 cups fish stock or reduced-sodium
chicken broth
2 cups chopped red and/or green
sweet peppers
225 gm fingerling potatoes, sliced, or
tiny potatoes, quartered (1³�₄ cups)
1 cup chopped onion
1 cup chopped celery
2 tbsp Worcestershire-style
marinade for chicken
bay leaf
4 cloves garlic, minced
¹�₂ tsp kosher salt
¹�₄ tsp freshly ground black pepper
900 gm fresh skinless whitefish fillets,
such as cod
450 gm fresh medium shrimp in shells,
peeled and deveined (tails on)
Snipped fresh Italian parsley
PREPARATION
1. In a 5- to 6-litre Dutch oven, combine
the first 10 ingredients (through black
pepper). Bring to a boil; reduce heat.
Simmer, uncovered, for 15 minutes.
2. Meanwhile, rinse fish and shrimp and
pat dry. Cut fish into 1-inch pieces.
3. Stir fish and shrimp into soup;
reduce heat. Simmer gently, covered,
for 3 minutes or until fish flakes easily
and shrimp are opaque. Remove from
heat. Discard bay leaf. Sprinkle servings
with parsley.
Makes 8 servings.
Per Serving 204 cal., 2 gm fat
(0 gm sat. fat), 141 mg chol., 558 mg
sodium, 10 gm carb., 2 gm fibre, 36 gm pro.

6� | Jan-Feb 2018
LENTIL-TOASTED
BARLEY SOUP WITH
SAUSAGE
total time: 1 hour 5 minutes
INGREDIENTS
1 tbsp olive oil
¹�₂ cup regular barley
1 cup chopped onion (1 large)
³�₄ cup chopped carrots
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 tsp ground cumin
4 cups reduced-sodium chicken broth
1 cup water
¹�₂ cup lentils, rinsed and drained
1 bay leaf
400 gm canned, no-salt-added, diced,
fire-roasted tomatoes, undrained
170 gm cooked chicken sausage links,
halved lengthwise and sliced
4 cups fresh baby spinach

PREPARATION
1. In a 3- to 4-litre saucepan, heat oil over
medium heat. Add barley; cook and stir for
3 to 4 minutes or until barley is golden.
Add onion, carrots and garlic; cook for
about 10 minutes or just until vegetables
are tender, stirring occasionally. Stir in
cumin; cook and stir for 30 seconds more.
2. Add broth, water, lentils and bay leaf.
Bring to a boil; reduce heat. Simmer,
covered, about 55 minutes or until barley
and lentils are tender. Stir in tomatoes
and sausage; heat through. Remove and
discard bay leaf.
3. Add spinach, stirring until spinach begins
to wilt. Ladle soup into serving bowls.
Serve immediately.
Makes 6 servings.
Per Serving 245 cal., 7 gm fat (2 gm sat.
fat), 32 mg chol., 645 mg sodium, 33 gm
carb., 5 gm sugar, 10 gm fibre, 14 gm pro.

Jan-Feb 2018 | 7
BHG special |

GINGERED CHICKEN
MEATBALL SOUP WITH
BROWN RICE AND
BASIL
total time: 45 minutes
INGREDIENTS
2 tsp canola oil
¹�₄ cup finely chopped green onions
8 cloves garlic, minced
1 tbsp grated fresh ginger
2 egg whites
³�₄ cup Panko (Japanese-style
breadcrumbs)
¹�₂ cup finely chopped red
sweet pepper
3 tbsp reduced-sodium soy sauce
2 tsp sesame oil
450 gm uncooked ground
chicken breast
¹�₂ cup chopped onion
2¹�₂ cups reduced-sodium chicken broth
1¹�₂ cups water
2 tbsp rice wine vinegar
1 tbsp honey
1 tsp crushed red pepper
1¹�₂ cups cooked brown rice
¹�₂ cup snipped fresh basil

PREPARATION
1. In a large nonstick skillet, heat canola
oil over medium heat. Add green onions;
cook and stir for about 2 minutes or until
tender. Add half of the garlic and the
ginger; cook and stir for 30 seconds more.
Remove from heat.
2. In a large bowl combine green onion
mixture, egg whites, Panko, sweet pepper,
1 tbsp soy sauce and 1 tsp sesame oil.
Add ground chicken; mix well. Shape
chicken mixture into 1-inch meatballs.
In the same skillet, cook meatballs over
medium-high heat until browned, turning
occasionally. Set aside.
3. In a large saucepan, heat the remaining
1 tsp sesame oil over medium-high heat.
Add onion; cook for 2 to 3 minutes or
until nearly tender, stirring occasionally.
Add remaining garlic; cook and stir for
30 seconds. Add remaining 2 tbsps soy
sauce, broth, water, vinegar, honey and
crushed red pepper. Bring to a boil; stir in
meatballs. Return to boiling; reduce heat.
Simmer, uncovered, until meatballs are
cooked through (73°C). Stir in cooked
rice and basil.
Makes 4 servings.
Per Serving 391 cal., 15 gm fat (3 gm sat.
fat), 98 mg chol., 939 mg sodium, 36 gm
carb., 7 gm sugar, 3 gm fibre, 28 gm pro.

8� | Jan-Feb 2018

CHICKPEA AND
FREEKEH SALAD
total time: 40 minutes
INGREDIENTS
¹�₂ cup uncooked freekeh
(on amazon.in)
450 gm chickpeas, rinsed
and drained
1 avocado, halved, seeded,
peeled and cubed
80 gm feta cheese, cubed
50 gm salami, chopped
¹�₂ cup chopped fresh mint
¹�₂ cup chopped fresh Italian
parsley
1 clove garlic, minced
1 tbsp olive oil
PREPARATION
1. In a medium saucepan, bring
1¹�₄ cups water to a boil; stir in freekeh.
Return to boiling; then reduce heat.
Cook, covered, for about 20 minutes
or until most of the liquid is absorbed
and freekeh is tender. Place freekeh in
a sieve and run under cold water to
BHG special |
cool quickly. Drain well.
2. Meanwhile, in a large bowl,
combine the next seven ingredients
(through garlic). Drizzle with oil;
toss lightly to coat.
3. Stir freekeh into chickpea mixture
and mix well. Season to taste with
salt and black pepper. You could
serve immediately or cover and chill up
to 4 hours.
Makes 4 servings.
Per Serving 362 cal., 19 gm fat (6 gm
sat. fat), 31 mg chol., 556 mg sodium,
35 gm carb., 11 gm fibre, 15 gm pro.
Jan-Feb 2018 | 9
BHG special |

TABBOULEH WITH boiling; reduce heat. Simmer, covered,

EDAMAME for about 15 minutes or until the water

total time: 30 minutes
INGREDIENTS
1¹�₄ cups bulgur
¹�₄ cup lemon juice
3 tbsp basil pesto
2 cups fresh or frozen shelled
edamame, thawed
2 cups cherry tomatoes, halved
¹�₃ cup thinly sliced green onions
2 tbsp snipped fresh parsley
¹�₃ cup crumbled feta cheese
PREPARATION
1. In a medium saucepan, bring 2¹�₂ cups
water to a boil; stir in bulgur. Return to
is absorbed. Transfer to a large bowl.
2. In a small bowl, whisk together lemon
juice and pesto; drizzle over cooked
bulgur. Let bulgur mixture cool to
room temperature. Gently stir in
edamame, cherry tomatoes, green
onions, parsley and ¹�₄ tsp black pepper.
Sprinkle with feta.
3. If desired, cover and refrigerate up
to 4 hours before serving. Garnish with
additional snipped fresh parsley and/or
lemon wedges, if you like.
Makes 6 servings
Per Serving 239 cal., 9 gm total fat
(2 gm sat. fat), 10 mg chol., 176 mg
sodium, 32 gm carb. (9 gm fibre,
4 gm sugars), 12 gm pro.

10 | Jan-Feb 2018
ARUGULA-PESTO
POTATO SALAD
total time: 50 minutes
INGREDIENTS
900 gm potatoes (6 medium)
2¹�₂ cups arugula
¹�₃ cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
¹�₃ cup pine nuts, toasted*
3 tbsp water
2 tsp lemon juice
4 cloves garlic, minced
¹�₂ tsp salt
¹�₂ tsp ground black pepper
¹�₄ cup olive oil
1 cup red and/or yellow tiny pear-
shape tomatoes, halved lengthwise
Toasted pine nuts* (optional)
Shaved Parmesan cheese (optional)

PREPARATION
1. In a large saucepan, cook potatoes in
enough boiling salted water to cover, for
20 to 25 minutes or just until tender.
Drain and cool slightly. Peel and cube
potatoes. Then place potatoes in a bowl.
2. For pesto, in a food processor or blender,
combine arugula, ¹�₃ cup cheese, ¹�₃ cup pine
nuts, water, lemon juice, garlic, salt and
pepper. Cover and process or blend until
nearly smooth. With processor or blender
running, slowly add oil through opening in
lid in a thin, steady stream, stopping to
scrape down sides as necessary.
3. Pour pesto over potatoes; toss gently
to coat. Stir in tomatoes. If desired,
top with additional pine nuts and/or
shaved cheese. Serve slightly warm or
at room temperature.
Makes 8 servings.
*Tip: To toast pine nuts, preheat the oven
to 175°C. Spread pine nuts in a shallow
baking pan. Bake for 5 to 10 minutes or
until light brown, watching carefully and
stirring once or twice.
Per Serving 208 cal., 12 gm total fat
(2 gm sat. fat), 3 mg chol., 279 mg sodium,
22 gm carb., 3 gm fibre, 5 gm pro.

Jan-Feb 2018 |  11
BHG special |
PEACHY CHICKEN
PASTA SALAD
total time: 30 minutes
INGREDIENTS
225 gm dried pasta, such as
radiatore, bow ties,
campanelle, or penne
450 gm chicken breast halves,
cut into bite-size pieces
Salt and black pepper
5 tbsp olive oil
1 medium red onion,
cut into slivers
2 large peaches, halved,
pitted and coarsely chopped,
or 2 ripe pears, cored and
coarsely chopped
¹�₂ cup walnuts, toasted
and chopped
¹�₂ cup packed fresh basil
leaves, chopped
12 | Jan-Feb 2018
2 tbsp balsamic vinegar or red
wine vinegar
PREPARATION
1. Cook pasta according to package
directions. Drain; rinse with cold water.
Drain again.
2. Meanwhile, sprinkle chicken with salt
and pepper. In a large skillet, heat 1 tbsp
of the olive oil over medium-high heat.
Add chicken and cook for 5 to 6 minutes
or until browned and almost cooked
through. Add onion to skillet; cook 2 to
3 minutes more or until chicken is done
and onion has softened. Stir chicken,
onion, peaches, walnuts and basil into
cooked pasta. Whisk together vinegar
and remaining 4 tbsp oil. Add to pasta;
toss to coat. Serve immediately.
Makes 8 servings.
Per Serving 323 cal., 15 gm fat (2 gm
sat. fat), 41 mg chol., 102 mg sodium,
29 gm carb., 2 gm fibre, 18 gm pro.
OLIVES AND
LOX SALAD
total time: 30 minutes
INGREDIENTS
450 gm small potatoes,
quartered
1¹�₄ tsp salt
300 gm thin French green
beans, trimmed
¹�₂ cup olive oil
¹�₄ cup champagne vinegar
2 tsp Dijon mustard
170 gm thinly sliced, smoked
lox-style salmon
1 small head Bibb lettuce,
quartered
4 hard-cooked eggs, sliced
¹�₂ cup olives, pitted
¹�₄ cup chopped fresh
Italian parsley
PREPARATION
1. Place potatoes in a large
saucepan. Cover with cold water
and add 1 tsp salt. Bring to a boil
over medium-high heat; reduce
heat. Simmer, covered, about
10 minutes or until fork-tender,
adding French green beans the
last 2 minutes of cooking. Drain;
transfer to a bowl of ice water.
Drain well.
2. For dressing, in a screw-top
jar, combine oil, vinegar, mustard
and the remaining ¹�₄ tsp salt.
Arrange potatoes, green beans
and remaining ingredients on
plates. Drizzle with dressing.
Makes 4 servings.
Per Serving 564 cal., 41 gm fat
(6 gm sat. fat), 205 mg chol.,
965 mg sodium, 31 gm carb.,
6 gm fibre, 19 gm pro.
Jan-Feb 2018 |  13
BHG special |

BLT SALAD WITH

BUTTERMILK
DRESSING
total time: 30 minutes
INGREDIENTS
2 tbsp sour cream
2 tbsp mayonnaise
1 tbsp snipped fresh dill
1 tbsp apple cider vinegar
1 clove garlic, minced
¹�₄ cup buttermilk or sour milk*
4 slices bacon
2 heads romaine lettuce
Olive oil
1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
¹�₂ cup shaved Parmesan cheese
(50 gm)
Salt
Freshly ground black pepper

PREPARATION
1. For salad dressing, in a small bowl, whisk
together sour cream, mayonnaise, dill,
vinegar and garlic. Mix in buttermilk and
season with salt and pepper.
2. Preheat the oven to 190°C. Arrange
bacon on a baking sheet; bake about 15
minutes or until crispy. Crumble bacon
into large pieces on a paper towel-lined
plate and set aside.
3. Rinse lettuce; pat dry with paper towels.
Cut each head of lettuce in half lengthwise,
brushing the fronts and backs with oil and
seasoning with salt and pepper. For a
charcoal grill, toast lettuce on the rack of
an uncovered grill directly over medium
coals for about 2 minutes or until lightly
charred, turning once halfway through
grilling. (For a gas grill, preheat the grill.
Reduce heat to medium. Place lettuce on
grill rack over heat. Cover and grill as
above.) (For a pan, preheat the grill pan.
Place lettuce in pan and cook as above.)
4. Place each wedge on a salad plate along
with bacon and cherry tomatoes. Top with
salad dressing and cheese.
Makes 3-4 servings
*Tip: To make ¹�₄ cup sour milk, place
1 tsp lemon juice or vinegar in a glass
measuring cup. Add enough milk to make
¹�₄ cup total liquid; stir. Let stand for
5 minutes before using.
Per Serving 223 cal., 19 gm total fat
(7 gm sat. fat), 32 mg chol., 516 mg sodium,
4 gm carb., 1 gm fibre, 9 gm pro.

14 � | Jan-Feb 2018
POACHED EGG
SALAD WITH
FRIED GOAT
CHEESE
total time: 30 minutes
INGREDIENTS
¹�₄ cup olive oil
3 tbsp lemon juice
¹�₄ tsp grated orange peel
2 tbsp orange juice
1 tbsp snipped tarragon
1 tsp vinegar
4 eggs
Salt
Ground black pepper
225 gm log of goat cheese
2 eggs, lightly beaten
¹�₂ cup all-purpose flour
¹�₂ cup Italian seasoned, fine,
dry bread crumbs
4 tbsp olive oil
5 cups arugula or baby
spinach
PREPARATION
1. For salad dressing, in a small
bowl, whisk together ¹�₄ cup oil,
lemon juice, orange peel and
juice, and tarragon. Season with
salt and pepper. Set aside.
2. Line a plate with paper towels.
For poached eggs, fill a large
skillet with 2 inches of water;
add vinegar. Bring to a boil;
reduce to simmering. Break one
egg into a cup; slip it into the
simmering water. Repeat with
remaining three eggs. Simmer,
uncovered, for 5 minutes or
until whites are set and yolks
begin to thicken. Transfer to a
plate to dry.
3. Cut the goat cheese into
12 slices. Chill for 10 minutes.
In a bowl, lightly beat two eggs.
Place flour in a second bowl and
bread crumbs in a third shallow
bowl. Coat each cheese slice in
flour. Dip in egg; coat with bread
crumbs. Chill on a plate for 10
minutes. In a medium sauté pan,
heat 4 tbsp olive oil over
medium heat. Fry goat cheese
until golden, about 2 minutes
per side.
4. In a large bowl, toss greens
and dressing. Divide among
plates; top each with an egg and
three cheese slices.
Makes 4 servings.
Per Serving 205 cal., 19 gm total
fat (3 gm sat. fat), 212 mg chol.,
225 mg sodium, 3 gm carb., 1 gm
fibre, 7 gm pro.
Jan-Feb 2018 |  15
BHG special |

LEMON-DILL 225 gm fresh skinless salmon fillet towels. Place salmon on the baking

BULGUR SALAD ¹�₈

WITH SALMON
total time: 1 hour 25 minutes
INGREDIENTS
3 cups warm water
1¹�₂ cups bulgur
¹�₄ cup lemon juice
2 tbsp olive oil
1 tbsp snipped fresh dill or
1 tsp dried dill
¹�₂ tsp salt
1 cup coarsely chopped arugula
³�₄ cup chopped, seeded cucumber
¹�₂ cup thinly sliced green onions
¹�₈
tsp salt
tsp ground black pepper
¹�₄ cup pomegranate seeds
2 tbsp pine nuts, toasted
PREPARATION
1. In a large bowl, combine water
and bulgur. Cover and let stand for
1 hour; drain.
2. Meanwhile, preheat the oven to
230°C. Line a baking sheet with foil; set
aside. In a bowl, whisk lemon juice, oil,
dill and ¹�₂ tsp salt. Add arugula,
cucumber, green onions and drained
bulgur; toss gently to coat.
3. Rinse salmon; pat dry with paper
sheet. Sprinkle with ¹�₈ tsp salt
and pepper. Bake for 4 to 6 minutes
per ¹�₂-inch thickness or until
salmon flakes with a fork. Remove
from oven. Break salmon into
large chunks.
4. To serve, divide bulgur mixture
among serving plates. Add salmon to
each; toss gently. Sprinkle with
pomegranate seeds and pine nuts.
Makes 4 servings (50 gm salmon and
1¹�₄ cups bulgur each).
Per Serving: 370 cal., 14 gm fat
(2 gm sat. fat), 31 mg chol., 402 mg
sodium, 45 gm carb., 2 gm sugar,
10 gm fibre, 19 gm pro. ■
 l o ok g o od,
f e e l g o od

WE TRACK why the global

beauty industry is placing
an emphasis on natural
ingredients, and what that
means for our daily regimen.
Plus, Indian dermatologists
and their beauty secrets;
medical facials that work
miracles; and the latest
nude lipsticks in stores.
PHOTOGRAPH: SHUTTERSTOCK
beauty | allure
IN
THEIR
SKIN
Want to know what beauty and
skin routines dermatologists
follow? BHG gets four popular
names to reveal insider secrets
that will help you up your skin
and hair game.
compiled by nandini banerjee
DR KIRAN LOHIA
LUMIERE DERMATOLOGY, DELHI
DAILY SKIN
REGIME
I believe in trying things before
recommending them. Because of
this, my routine gets constantly
tweaked. Some things that don’t
change, however, include a gentle,
non-foaming face wash (twice
daily), a product containing retinol
at night, a serum that suits my
72 � | Jan-Feb 2018
skin’s needs depending on the
season (sometimes a different
serum for morning and evening),
and a thick, soothing moisturiser
to calm my rosacea (which
unfortunately flares due to the
city’s pollution and spicy food).
My favourite products: Cetaphil
Cleanser, which is super soft, can
be used on the face and body,
and is great for my dry skin; Dr
Dennis Gross Ferulic + Retinol
anti-ageing line, which doubles up
as a moisturiser and eye serum;
and my current favourite, Vintner’s
Daughter Active Botanical Serum,
which treats every skin concern,
smells lovely, feels incredible and
is completely natural.
HAIR REGIME
I apply heat as little as possible
and even try to avoid blow
drying. I never wash my hair more
than every other day and avoid
damaging treatments like Keratin.
I get my body tests done at least
twice a year to make sure that
the vitamin levels are in check,
as vitamin deficiency is a huge
PHOTOGRAPH: SHUTTERSTOCK (PORTRAIT)
cause of hair fall in women. If at all
there happens to be a deficiency,
I start taking my supplements.
And by supplements, I don’t mean
multivitamins. Treating each
deficiency individually is much
more effective.
DIET CHART
I’m a firm believer in pre- and
probiotics to keep the gut healthy.
There is substantial scientific
research to prove that imbalances
in the gut can lead to problematic
skin. I also try to stick to a
colourful diet with lots of steamed
or grilled seafood, vegetables,
L’Oréal True
Match, `�999,
healthy seeds and nuts. This way, nykaa.com
I ensure that I get all the good
fatty acids and vitamins like iron,
B12, zinc and folic acid, which my
hair requires.
 MAKEUP LOOK
Glamglow I keep my base light and don’t
Poutmud Wet Lip layer too many products. If you
Balm Treatment, start with a moisturiser (such as a
`�1,600, nykaa.com soothing moisturiser and Vitamin
C brightening serum), you’ll find
that you need less makeup to
glow. I love a little illuminator and
blush followed by a foxy cat eye
and a neutral but sultry lip colour.
I always carry a good concealer for
emergencies (L’Oréal True Match),
blush (NARS) and a chemical-free
lipstick (like VMV Hypoallergenic
Matte Lipstick). Since my skin
is super dry in the winter, I use
Glamglow Poutmud Wet Lip Balm
Treatment liberally.
TRICKS OF
THE TRADE
A quick Cryo Facial, which uses
liquid nitrogen to cool the skin, not
only drastically reduces pores and
inflammation, but also adds a glow
that lasts up to two days.

DR GEETIKA MITTAL GUPTA
ISAAC, DELHI
DAILY SKIN
REGIME
My routine is influenced by the
Korean skincare regimen. I feel that
cleansing and nourishing the skin
are the most important aspects of
keeping it healthy. I love the new
Innisfree masks, which not only
help nourish the skin but also treat
other concerns like blemishes
and dullness. I use Avene Micellar
Lotion to remove makeup, followed
by a gentle toner to help remove
oil and traces of dirt. I make it a
point to double cleanse my skin,
especially at night, to ensure that
all makeup is removed—the
SK-II Facial Treatment Essence
is a wonderful product that
regenerates facial essence and
boosts the cell metabolism.
Also, Obagi Face Oil Serum—
rich in Vitamin C Serum—works
wonders for my skin. For under the
eyes, I use Kiehl’s Creamy Under
Eye Treatment With Avocado Oil,
which offers quick-burst hydration,
and is effective for all skin types.
A sunblock is something you will
always find in my travel bag—
the Clinique Sun Protection with
SPF 50 is my favourite.
HAIR REGIME
I oil my hair once a week. If I have
more time, I apply a hair pack—
a mixture of aloe vera pulp, castor
oil or banana pulp, curd, honey and
lemon. I try and avoid excessive
heat and chemical treatments.
I have started getting Olaplex
treatments, which have helped
smoothen my hair and improve its
texture. For treating hair fall,
I use a hair supplement that’s rich
in biotin, CA Pantithenate, copper,
Di-methionine, iron, l-cysteine,
l-lysine, manganese, niacin amide,
selenium and zinc. I’ve also taken
the PRP treatment (a platelet-rich
plasma treatment that stimulates
hair follicles and promotes new
hair growth), which contains
essential proteins from your blood.
It must be done once a month for
3 to 4 months.  boost the blood flow and adds a
DIET CHART
I keep my diet as healthy and
nutritious as possible. Being
a vegetarian, I try to follow an
alkaline diet. I begin my day by
having warm water with cinnamon
powder and lemon juice. This
helps boost the metabolism and
break down fat in the body. A shot
of amla juice, high in vitamin C, is
excellent for my skin and immunity.
I eat soaked almonds and walnuts
every day—these are high in fatty “Magnesium
acids and great for the skin, hair supplements
and heart. I have a healthy bowl
of papaya or banana as my pre-
help increase
workout meal. Post workout, I drink energy levels,
a smoothie made with plant protein calm the nerves,
powder, wheatgrass and soaked encourage restful
chia seeds. My meals consist of a
healthy mix of protein, essential
sleep, improve
fatty acids, vitamins, minerals digestion
and adequate calories. Eggs and relieve
with avocado and toast or lentil muscles spasms
pancakes form my daily breakfast.
Coconut water is another regular and aches.
drink for my skin. At night, I take a Ashwagandha,
glass of hot water with a pinch of also known as
turmeric and pepper.
Indian ginseng,
TRICKS OF improves general
THE TRADE health.”
For instant brightness, do a
quick at-home facial with mild SK-II Facial
exfoliation, followed by a sheet Treatment
Essence, ` 16,955,
mask to freshen up the skin.
strawberrynet.com
Before applying makeup, use
a facial oil as a base to get a
luminous glow. Also, a splash of
ice cold water to the face helps
natural flush. My hydrating face
mask: Egg whites, oatmeal and
lemon juice. It clears my skin and
gives it a glow.
Clinique Broad Spectrum
SPF 50, `�2,390, nykaa.com
beauty | allure

apply Oclipse sunscreen by Zein usually a three-egg white omelette

DR CHIRANJIV CHHABRA
SKIN ALIVE, DELHI
DAILY SKIN
REGIME
Using five drops of pre-cleanse oil
from Dermalogica, I massage my
face when it’s dry with dry fingers.
I then massage my face with wet
fingers, so that I can take the serum
off. After this, I wash with a special
cleansing gel from Dermalogica,
and dab my skin with some rose
water, followed by a lightweight
moisturiser from La Prairie. For
under the eyes, I apply a vitamin
K-based eye cream. After this, I
Obagi (thrice a day).
HAIR REGIME
I oil my hair once a week,
alternatively with almond and
mustard oil. I like to condition my
hair before shampooing with half
a cup of milk, which I rub onto my
scalp and allow it to stay for half
an hour. I currently use Sebastian
shampoo, followed by conditioning.
I also use Moroccan oil on the
tips of my hair as I have long hair
and it helps detangle the tresses,
also leaving a lingering aroma. If
my hair is dirty, once I shampoo, I
massage lemon water on the scalp
to sterilise it and then rinse (before
conditioning).
DIET CHART
I start my morning with a glass of
warm water with some lemon juice,
followed by a shot of amla and
aloe vera to keep the skin glowing,
and also to detox. My breakfast is
with toast or a bowl of oats with
honey and fruits. I try to eat at least
4 to 5 fruits a day. Lunch is usually
a light, home-cooked meal of roti,
vegetables and curd. I also enjoy
grilled chicken salad. Around
4.30-5 pm, I have a glass of nimbu Bobbi Brown Creamy
paani or a cup of tea, I have honey Concealor, `�2,700,
on toast if I’m hungry. Dinner is a nykaa.com
light affair with soup, salad and
grilled veggies, along with grilled
chicken or fish. I also indulge in a
glass of wine every now and then. 
MAKEUP LOOK
I keep my look simple, starting
with a moisturised base. I follow
up with a BB cream or a lightweight
buildable foundation like a Dior
or Lancôme. I use Bobbi Brown’s
concealer, and the eyebrow pencil
to define and fill in my eyebrows.
A little bit of kohl and mascara, a
touch of blush and lip balm, and I’m
done. For a party, I do a winged liner La Prairie Skin Caviar
and apply a red lipstick. Luxe Cream, `�29,233,
strawberrynet.com

with Bioderma Atoderm Intensive Gel old makes it difficult to adhere to a

Moussant for face wash, VCX serum particular diet. However, I do stick
and ZO Oclipse sunscreen with to a few non-negotiables. I don’t
primer. My night routine includes miss my protein intake and being a
ZO Ossential Daily Power Defense vegetarian, I make it a point to have
ZO Oclipse Cream, Melalumin Eye Rollon and, my daily intake of pulses, cottage
Smart Tone in case of dryness, I add Sebamed cheese and sprouts. For the essential
Sunscreen, Moisturizing Cream. About thrice a nutrients, I have a handful of nuts,
price on week, I also use ZO Vitascrub for oil berries, a fruit (preferably an apple,
request, and dead skin control. papaya or pomegranate), and a
amazon.com bowl of soup.
HAIR REGIME
DR MADHURI AGGARWAL Hair products I love include TRICKS OF
SKIN ALIVE, DELHI NashiArgan shampoo, alternated THE TRADE
Kérastase Discipline with Keratase Bain Fluidealiste For instant brightening, I resort
Maskeratine Morpho- DAILY SKIN shampoo, and Kérastase Discipline to a quick ice rub and use my
Keratine, `�3,675,
cosmeticsnow.in
REGIME Maskeratine conditioning mask. Becca champagne highlighter.
My routine is disciplined—a pH- I also like to pamper my hair with a The NashiArgan instant hydrating
balanced face wash, a Vitamin C regular coconut oil massage. I use styling mask with a quick blast dry
ferulic serum, a broad spectrum our in-house treatment for lustrous helps give my hair instant shine.
sunscreen during the day and night, mane—it is holistic nutrition for Also, when I have an event to attend,
and an antioxidant with retinoid the hair, packed with essential my go-to treatment is the Yavana
cream. In dry weather, I add a proteins, aminoacids, vitamins Peau de Desse Luxury Radiante
Vitamin E moisturiser. I take an and micronutrients. treatment. It pampers the skin
Omega-3 fatty acid capsule for skin along with toning, detoxing and
hydration and an oral sunscreen, DIET CHART enriching it with nutrients and
Oscreen. These days, I start my day Being a working mother of a 15-year- brightening agents. ■

74 � | Jan-Feb 2018
beauty | trend
force of nature
With eco-consciousness becoming a buzzword, the beauty
industry—both in India and abroad—is increasingly turning
to natural ingredients. BHG tracks the trend and how this
affects your beauty regimen.
text by nandini banerjee
W
hen Delhi-based
fashion designer
Aarti Kapur, 42, was
diagnosed with breast
cancer in 2013 and was
undergoing chemotherapy, she began
creating her own beauty products with
her sister. The duo based their research
on the concoctions—made primarily
with herbs, grains and nuts, and free of
chemicals or preservatives—they had
seen their mother and grandmother
76 � | Jan-Feb 2018
STEER CLEAR OF THE
PACKAGING OF A BEAUTY
PRODUCT AND READ THE
LABEL TO SEE HOW MANY
NATURAL INGREDIENTS
ARE LISTED.
prepare for them when they were
growing up. Suffering from hair loss,
and patchy, sallow skin caused by the
treatment, Aarti tried these blends on
herself. Every day her skin improved,
so much so that her family and friends
asked for the products. This led to her
establishing her skin and haircare brand
in 2015. Marigold Naturals’ organic
range is safe even for toddlers.
Today, there are several such natural,
homegrown beauty brands in the
country that can trace their inception
to personal experiences. Just Herbs,
Just B Au Naturel, SoulTree, Organic
Harvest and Kama Ayurveda are a few
that have managed to create a niche in
India’s booming natural beauty market.
“Globally, the natural beauty industry is
estimated to reach `80,000 cr this year,”
says Aradhika S Mehta, Head Marketing
of The Body Shop India. “A decade ago,
the Indian sector was valued at `250 cr,
and with increasing demand, jumped to
`460 cr in 2016.”
join the bandwagon
It’s easy to see why. Cosmetics
behemoth L’Oréal announced last
PHOTOGRAPH: SHUTTERSTOCK
month that they would be launching
their first wholly plant-based hair dye
called Botanea, which will be sourced
from three plants found in India.
The move was one amongst several
made by reputed cosmetic companies
in recent times, to win over customers
who have become wary of chemical
ingredients. In 2017, ColorBar
launched its Earth collection, which
contains a Fruit Drop Hand Cream
that claims to be 100% vegetarian and
made with 79% natural ingredients
derived from grapefruit, apple, carrot
and kiwi. Blossom Kocchar Aroma
Magic, too, turned 100% organic a
few years ago and shunned parabens,
alcohol, petrochemicals, mineral oils,
phthalate, synthetic colours and artificial
fragrances. Even regular cosmetics like
lipsticks and nail paints today come with
tags like ‘enriched with olive extracts’
(Lakme) ‘non-toxic’ (NARS), ‘acetone-
free’ (ColorBar nail polish remover)
and ‘100% vegetarian’ (Lotus Herbals).
One of the key reasons for this shift
is the surge in awareness, thanks to
social media. “Everyone today knows
about the trends and ingredients,
and wants to look good,” says Aradhika.
“They are now more informed about
what they put on their skin. They’re
inclined towards essential oils to
cleanse and moisturise, and lotions that
come from nature instead of chemical-
based products. Parabens, used as
preservatives in cosmetics, reportedly
increase the chance of breast cancer.
Formaldehyde, found in nail products,
false eyelashes, cosmetic glues and
shampoos, have also been traced to
cancer and can damage the immune
system. And chemicals, such as sodium
lauryl sulfate, sodium lauretha sulfate,
siloxanes, cyclomethicone and colour
pigments cause skin and eye irritation,
weaken the immune system and disrupt
the respiratory tract.” The Body Shop
itself has practiced a minimal approach
towards chemical use, and now has
several products in its arsenal—such as
Amazonian Acai Energizing Radiance
Mask—that are entirely vegan.
the chain reaction
Another reason for this demand is that
more and more people are looking to get
back to the basics, and to the goodness
of natural and unprocessed ingredients.
When Paul Penders, a completely vegan
beauty brand launched in India in
July last year, celebrity makeup artist
GLOBALLY,
THE NATURAL
BEAUTY INDUSTRY
IS ESTIMATED
TO REACH
`80,000 cr
THIS YEAR. OUT OF
THIS, THE INDIAN
SECTOR WAS VALUED
AT `460 CR IN 2016.
Aradhika S Mehta,
The Body Shop India
Namrata Soni endorsed it and spoke
about how the products gave her the
same results as regular cosmetics and
by using them, her skin was secure from
the reactions to chemicals in synthetic
cosmetics in the long run.   want to know everything about a
Ragini Mehra, founder of Beauty
Source, which retails brands like
Purearth and Sans[ceuticals], is
someone committed to natural and
organic labels, and driven to educate
about the harm caused by chemical
compositions. “According to industry
sources, the average selling price in the
natural skincare range has grown by 20%
in the last one year in India, such is the
demand. But, for the uninitiated, reading
the labels is most important. Sometimes,
an ingredient that sounds questionable
is very safe. The key is to research the
company well and their ingredients and
then make a decision.”
full disclosure
And it’s here, that the main problem
with ‘going natural’ lies. Often, a brand
may seem natural or organic, but on
closer inspection of the ingredient
list, the natural components may just
be 2%. This is even more dangerous,
because a consumer has no idea who
to trust and is ill-informed whether
all natural/organic brands have
similar compositions. If the packaging
features plants, leaves, flowers, etc.,
or is in neutral earth shades, it doesn’t
necessarily mean that the product is
natural. Steer clear of the look; read
the ingredient list instead.
Gautam Dhar, CEO of the recently
launched Divine Organics, which
offers skincare, body care and haircare
products that are 100% organic and
sans chemicals, says that educating
consumers is key to the movement.
Arush Chopra of the Chandigarh-based
Just Herbs, adds that their products
have the entire list of ingredients on the
package as well as on the website. “We
disclose the list so that our clients know
the product and understand where it is
coming from. Giving them half-baked
information is as good as misleading
them.” Indian beauty e-commerce
website Nykaa, whose Naturals range
features essential oils made from
natural ingredients and specially
designed for therapeutic results, too
credits its success in a short time to the
full disclosure of ingredients. “People
product when they buy online. We give
them as much information as possible,
and then we have an interactive review
and comments section that helps the
consumer make an informed decision,”
says founder Falguni Nayar.
So, is it safe to say that natural beauty
is here to stay? Reena Chhabra, CEO
FSN Brands, Nykaa agrees. “Consumers
are opting for better quality, as well as
sustainable beauty and wellness that
has stronger efficacy and nurtures as
well. There is a conscious movement to
offer consumers more result- and care-
oriented solutions, which bring greater
quality to the table.”
While there are many myths
associated with natural and organic
products—their efficiency (guaranteed
results since the active product is
sourced from nature and not a long-
term effect), shelf life (2 years and not
6 months) and price points (similarly
priced and not all exorbitantly priced)—
the clamour for their presence in the
market busts them all. ■
� Jan-Feb 2018 | � 77
beauty | know your brand
for oil it’s worth
Beauty brand Desert Splendour is introducing the country
to the merits of pure jojoba oil.
“The best part
about jojoba oil
is that it is
closest to the oil
our skin produces
naturally and so,
gets absorbed
completely.”
— Shiv Singh Mann
T
he world has been celebrating the benefits
of jojoba oil for some time now. Known to
work wonders on hair (by making it soft and
lustrous) and skin (by hydrating, making it
glow and removing blemishes), beauty brands like
Crabtree & Evelyn, Bobbi Brown and L’Oréal have
had it in their arsenal for decades now. In 2008,
entrepreneur Shiv Singh Mann discovered that jojoba
was virtually unknown in India but had a huge market
globally. Since then, he, through his brand Desert
Splendour, the first and only exclusive producer of
100% pure jojoba oil in India, has been working on
popularising it in the country.
Shiv’s tryst with jojoba started by accident. “Back in
2008, we were scouting for land for jatropha oil (used as
biodiesel). That’s when we stumbled upon jojoba,
which was being grown by the state government near
Jaipur and Bikaner,” says the 33-year-old. On further
research, he learnt that there was a gap between the
demand and supply of jojoba worldwide. This gave Shiv
the push he needed, and with his father, Indrave Singh
Mann, he decided to set up Desert Splendour, to grow
jojoba plants and export its oil in bulk to Europe and
America. “We ran into rough waters during the initial few
years due to incorrect land and plants selection,
insufficient knowledge and improper guidance from the
government. However, we eventually found our feet
when we started cultivating faster-growing varieties
78 � | Jan-Feb 2018
text by meghna menon
Jojoba seeds in
an expeller press
before they get
crushed to
derive oil.
propagated with cloning techniques in our own
nurseries in Bikaner,” says the former banker, who also
runs other businesses. Desert Splendour established
its retail operations in 2014 and the jojoba oil is today
sold in India in an unadulterated form and a lavender-
infused form in 50 ml and 200 ml bottles. Non-greasy
and mildly aromatic, the oil can be used as a facial
cleanser, moisturiser, hair smoothener, and lip, body
and scalp conditioner.
Explaining the process, Shiv says that the plants are
grown under strictly controlled and monitored
conditions in Jhajju, Kilchoo and Kharbara villages of
Bikaner district. The seeds are then harvested in the
middle of the year, cleaned manually and crushed in
expeller presses to derive the oil, which is then passed
through filters to ensure the highest quality.
“What works for us is that we don’t source our
ingredients from a third party like other beauty brands.
Instead, they go straight from our own fields to the
bottles. We’re pure—which is why the shade and smell
of the oil may vary a tad bit from bottle to bottle,” says
Shiv. He adds that the sale of the oil has been steadily CURRENTLY
increasing due its performance: “Since, jojoba oil is retailed online on
closest to the oil our skin produces naturally, it gets Amazon, Flipkart and
desertsplendour.in, the
absorbed completely without leaving a residue.” products will soon be
He adds: “We’ll be diversifying into face and body available on Snapdeal
creams and lotions too this year. These will be jojoba- and Paytm, and in
based and made by a third-party vendor.” ■ stores and spas, too.
 beauty | makeup

refresher
course
Revitalise your makeup routine with nude
shades. Here are our favourite on-trend
blushes and lipsticks to help you go
au naturel in style.
by nandini banerjee

Clockwise from top

NUDE TRUFFLE Faces Ultime Pro Liquid Matte Lipstick, `�899 ● CREAMY CINNAMON Maybelline New York Color Show Blush, `�299
● BALMAIN INSTINCT L’Oréal Paris X Balmain Color Riche Lipstick, Price on request ● PEACH Shiseido Face Color Enhancing Trio,

`�2,550 ● NUDE PINK SoulTree Lipstick, `�550 ● PINK Elizabeth Arden Ceramide Crème Blush, `�1,990 ● BRUNE JUNGLE Chambor
Extreme Wear Transferproof Liquid Lipstick, `�845 ● PUNCHY LYCHEE Sephora Wonderful Cushion Blush, `�1,350 ● WARM ICE M·A·C
Snowball Lipstick, Price on request ● THE PRINCESS DAIQUIRIES Wet n Wild Color Icon Ombré Blush, `�299. ■

For more info, see Resources � September

� Jan-Feb 2018
2017 | � 79
beauty | fitness
make your move
Have you missed your regular workouts due to long office
hours and excruciating traffic snarls? Chalk out 10 minutes
for these simple yet effective exercises that you can easily
do right at your desk.
text by neha mehta
L
ong work hours spent staring
at the computer often result
in people giving up their
workouts, which, in the long
run, increases the risk of
heart disease, diabetes, blood pressure
and excessive weight gain. According
to a study published in 2013 in the
renowned Swiss scientific journal,
Frontiers in Human Neuroscience, people
who exercise regularly have better
80 � | Jan-Feb 2018
creativity and enhanced convergent
thinking when compared to those
who lead a sedentary life. And experts
say that one needs just 10 minutes,
right at the work desk, to do a high-
intensity workout.
GO CUBICLE-SMART
Mumbai-based fitness instructor and
holistic wellness consultant, Prameet
Kotak, suggests simple exercises that
WHILE YOU MULL
OVER A WORK
problem or think about
the next big project
idea, stretch your
arms, twist your body
and exercise that mind.
can be done while sitting. “But do
remember to take a 30-second break
every five minutes while you do these
workouts,” he advises.
ISOTONIC SQUATS
Sit on the edge of your chair and
put most of the weight on your feet.
Hold that pose for 30 seconds and
then increase the duration gradually
to three minutes.
BENEFIT: Helps in strengthening and
toning leg muscles.
SPINE EXERCISES
Sit on the chair keeping your feet
PHOTOGRAPH: SHUTTERSTOCK
firmly on the ground, facing forward.
Twist your upper body looking over
your shoulder. Try to breathe out as
you go ahead with the stretch. Repeat
on the other side, as many times as
you can.
BENEFIT: Helps mobilise the spinal
 � Since fitness is a way of life, it is more than about
hitting the gym or going for a run. You can incorporate it
while strolling through your office, too.

joints, enabling better blood circulation.
Also, good for maintaining the correct
posture as prolonged sitting compresses
our discs.
SEATED SINGLE
LEG RAISES
Choose a seated position on the
middle of the chair and raise one leg by
contracting your quadriceps muscles
(in the thighs). Try holding it for a
minute. Repeat with the second leg.
Slowly, increase the time span on both
legs. Lower them gently when you feel
tired but, for better results, try not to
let your feet touch the ground.
BENEFIT: Tones quadricep muscles.
SEATED MARCHING
Sit up straight on a chair and start
to march by raising your knees
alternately. Do this for one minute,
then increase the time span, while
taking short breaks.
BENEFIT: Makes for a perfect hip flexor
stretch, enhances flexibility and is
equivalent to a gentle cardio session
done at a gym.
SITTING SIDE BEND
Sitting, stretch your arms above and
lock your fingers. Now, bend on one
side, hold for 30 seconds and then
change the side. Repeat as many times
as possible.
BENEFIT: Plays an integral role in
opening the spine by letting it bend in
its natural position and reversing the
compression.
GET GOING
However, you will need to combine the
sitting workouts with some standing
ones. Huzefa Lokhandwala, celebrity
fitness coach and program director
of the Mumbai-centric fitness app
TrainMe says, “Since fitness is a way
of life, it is more than about hitting
the gym or going for a run. You can
incorporate it while strolling through
your office, too.” Here’s how:
STANDING CALF
Stand straight and lift both your heels
up so your body weight is balanced
on your toes. Hold for a while and
then relax. Do this 20 times without
support. You can also increase the
intensity of the workout by holding a
heavy object like a water bottle.
BENEFIT: Works on the calves and
tones the legs.
AIR PUNCHES
Stand in a boxing stance—both arms
raised to your face and one leg forward
and the other in a lunge position.
Keeping your lower body still, start
punching the air. Use the entire left
and right side of your body, moving
your arms—not by the shoulders or
triceps but by the core side muscles.
Your body should twist as you punch.
A target while punching can make this
more effective—so, aim for a tall floor
lamp or cupboard (don’t hit them and
hurt yourself in the process). Continue
punching at a fast pace for 30 seconds.
BENEFIT: Tones the oblique muscles
while providing enough exercise for
the chest, shoulders and triceps. Also,
helps in shaping the torso and toning
the sides.
STRETCHING
Raise your arms to the ceiling and
keep pushing from your shoulders.
Make sure your back is arched and
there is a concave curve at the lower
back. Let each muscle in your torso
feel the stretch. You can stretch your
hamstring by bending down to touch
your feet while your knees remain
straight. Raise your leg on a table
and bend forward to touch your toes.
Repeat this for each leg. Next, raise
your arm with your palm open and
facing up, and place your other hand
on the top of the palm and push down
while keeping your elbows straight.
This will stretch your biceps. Repeat
for both arms.
BENEFIT: Works as a stress reliever by
loosening up the muscles that further
helps increase flexibility.

EATING Make sure to grab a

healthy snack every
RIGHT
While desk exercises have their
two hours—you can opt
for buttermilk, fruits,
benefits, to make them effort more peanuts or soy nuts, 1-2
effective, watch what you eat. dates or apricots, 3-4
Mumbai-based clinical nutritionist almonds or ½ bowl of
Sneha Sadhwani shares her tips. wheat jowar puffs.
Keep a couple of water
bottles at your desk or
Walk for 10 minutes
after your meal or take
refill the bottle every
time it gets empty. Set
the stairs rather than
the elevator to reach
a target of completing your office room. Avoid
at least 2 litres of water eating at your desk as
when you are at work you may end up eating
and try making it a habit. more there. ■

� Jan-Feb 2018 | � 81
 beauty know-how
t i p s a n d p ic k s f or l o ok i ng y o u r b e s t
TRIED AND TESTED

FACE TIME
Want your skin to feel rejuvenated? Head to Calee
Wellness Clinic and Beauty Studio in Noida.
If you are someone who
hasn’t had time to address
your skin concerns in a
while, just head to the newly
launched Calee Wellness Clinic
& Beauty Studio, in Noida’s
Sector 18 market. Brainchild
of beauty expert Roma Singh,
Calee offers medical and
laser facials, instant weight
loss therapies, makeup and
aesthetics services, and nail
care and extensions. After a
detailed consultation with
their in-house dermatologist,
I was advised a medical facial
featuring oxygen infusion for
my dangerously dehydrated
skin. Conducted with a machine
called Synergy, which has tools
to non-invasively infuse the skin
with water, oxygen and serums,
the treatment began with a
cucumber cleanser that both
cooled my inflammations and
removed every bit of makeup
and dirt. The therapist then
began delivering the serums
one by one, removing dead skin
with a derma roller tool. At the
end of 45 minutes, she applied
a Skeyndor sunscreen and
advised me not to wash my face
for 12 hours. The result: My face
looks as though I have applied
a foundation and highlighter,
and to maintain it, all I have to
do is use copious amounts of
sunscreen every day. Best of
all: I was assured the result
would improve every day.
Price on request.

TRIED AND TESTED

NEW ON SHELVES
SHEET AGELESS
FEAT BEAUTY
If you are an ardent fan
Foraying into the Indian market with a
of the Korean beauty
unique, customised skincare line,
regime, head to
Mitchell USA’s Age-less range
carenclass.com, which
contains lotus seed extracts, which
retails a curation of
cleanse, tone and protect the skin
Korean sheet masks
against ageing. The range includes
from reputed brands
Age Prevention-SPF 30 Moisturising
like Cremorlab, Ariul
Sunscreen, Lineless Eye Complex
and Tony Moly. With all
Anti-Ageing Serum, Intense Dark Spot
the products said to be
Remover Fading Serum, Lift And Firm
highly result-oriented,
5 Minute Tightening Serum and Night
we tried Ariul 7 Days
Therapy Anti-Wrinkle Cream.
Avocado Mask (it made
Priced at `–550 upwards, amazon.in
the skin very soft),
PHOTOGRAPH: SHUTTERSTOCK (FACESHEET MASK)

Ariul 7 Days Lemon

Mask (brightened
instantly), Cremorlab
Herb Tea Pure Calming
Mask (reduced
blemishes), I’m Real
Rice Mask Sheet (made GUARD DUTY
the skin glow) and I’m Get the new FACES Canada’s Ultime Pro Lip Definer and never let
Real Red Wine Mask your lipstick or lip gloss bleed. Dermatologically tested and in
Sheet (hydrated and an easy retractable format, the lipliner comes in six vibrant
plumped up the skin). colours (from bright orange to subtle browns) and in a matte to
Priced at ` 140 onwards. semi-matte finish. Priced at `–549, faces-india.com

82  | Jan-Feb 2018
beauty | know-how

BOTTLED REFLECTION
The latest in the Narciso Rodriguez
repertoire is the Fleur Musc Eau de
Parfum for women, inspired by the spirit
of the new-age independent woman.
A floral bouquet—encompassing top
notes of pink peppercorns, middle notes
containing rose, peony, musk, patchouli,
violet and the base of a mix of patchouli
and soft amber—is a pleasant break for
those looking to experiment with their
scent. Priced at ` 7,999, Parcos. TRIED AND TESTED
Footloose
While most of us
limit our foot care
to pedicures once a
Lip Remedy month, the reality is
that dead skin builds
Keep the harsh winter at bay
with Just Herbs’ naturally GREEN up and is never fully
crafted range of lip care ESSENTIALS treated with a regular
products. Formulated Inspired by the rainforests, water pedicure.
with certified organic Nykaa’s Amazonian Adventure nail Margaret Dabbs
beeswax and shea enamel collection contains five shades London’s waterless
that reflect the rich flora of the area. medical pedicure
butter as the base From deep greens to earthy browns, these
ingredients, the range addresses this, with the
nature-inspired, chemical- and cruelty-free
keeps lips moisturised and nail enamels feature a two-fold plasticiser results lasting more
hydrated for a longer to make sure that your nails remain than a month. I visited
period. Priced `�345 onwards, chip-free and a UV filter that protects the Delhi-based Aayna
justherbs in
justherbs.in nails from discoloration. Priced Clinic—only one in
at ` 179 each, nykaa.com the city to offer this
service— where the
EDGE
G OOF therapist explained
that the procedure took
DESIRE
S E TOTAL SOLUTION care of the nails and
In collaboration n with Blamain, Give your face a radiant makeover with O3+’s skin, and employed
one
o of fashion’ss edgiest Sulfur Cooling Mask. Enriched with organic products enriched with
houses,
h , L’Oréal Paris has willow bark and mint, the mask helps in emu oil (extracted from
launched
lau c ed the t e limited-edition rejuvenating dull skin by getting rid of fat collected from the
L’Oréal
LO éa Paris a sXB Balmain Color unhealthy, dead cells. It lessens the chances deposits below the skin
Rich
R he Lipsticks, of acne breakouts as well. Priced at `�830, of the emu bird).
whicch include
w amazon.in She cleaned my toe
112 sp
pecial shades
nails with a mechanised
with matte
w m finish,
tool that removed
designed
d g d by Balmain
PHOTOGRAPH: SHUTTERSTOCK (FEET)

ccreative
eat e d director Olivier cuticles without
Rousteing.
R g Packed with pure damaging the nail bed.
pigments
p g for a vivid colour and This was followed by
eenriched with oils o for hydration buffing and applying
aand comfort,, th he collection emu oil, and a derma
ffeatures hues liike dusty roller which scrubbed
ggreige,
g deep pu urple and off all the dead skin,
electricc co
elect coral. P
al Priced at `�950 making the heels ultra
each, nykaa.com soft. Priced at ` 5,000.

84 � | Jan-Feb 2018 All reviews by Nandini Banerjee

 a b e t t e r l i f e e v e r y day

S
START 2018
8
on a positive note with
uplifting life affirmations
and aut
author Nandita ta
Chakraborty’s inspiring
piece on overcoming
obstacles. Plus, cool,
funky stationery,
the Japanese Diet trend,
and a tête
tête-à-ttête
ête with
actor SSooha Ali Khan on
acto
her debut
he debut boo
book.
PHOTOGRAPH: SHUTTETSTOCK
living | life lessons

Ye s I
B e l i e v e
A study published in 2015 in the research journal Social
Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience used functional
magnetic resonance imaging (FMRI) to find that
self-affirmation activates well-known reward centres in
the brain. These were the same reward centres that
responded to pleasurable experiences like spending
time with a favourite person or winning a lottery.
BHG got life coach and founder of The Life Changers,
SKG Kartha—who takes inspiration from real-life
incidents to encourage people to live a happier life—
ILLUSTRATIONS: SHUTTERSTOCK

to list 25 powerful life affirmations for 2018. Because

tuning the mind to be positive is half the battle won.

86 � | Jan-Feb 2018
 I’ll never complain,
never explain.
I’ll resist the h e r c o u r a g e t o let
I’ll ga t
temptation to t h i n g s I c a n n o t
go of the
justify my actions change.
and circumstances
or to make excuses.

When life gets My happiness does not come from others

me down, or from circumstances. It comes from
I’ll pick myself up within. It comes from the THOUGHTS
AND BELIEFS I let into my life.
by giving myself
a pep talk. Happiness
I’ll remember the When I focus depends on
times and places on problems, the quality of
where people they multiply. my thoughts.
But when I focus
have behaved on possibilities, Beautiful things
magnificently, I end up with happen when
despite the odds. opportunities. I distance myself
from negativity.
It is never too
late for me Even before I
to start over; win, I’ll belie
that I am worthy of ve
never too late the win.
to be happy.
� Jan-Feb 2018 | � 87
living | life lessons

w hen To be the
e s s w i l l b e m i n e
Succ n s i b i l ity greatest, I need
o t a k e r e s p o
I choose t r o w n a t m e . to dream the
g e s t h
for the challen biggest, think
the smartest,
work the
I won’t let my dreams remain dreams. hardest,
I won’t let small minds convince me that love the fullest
they are too big. I’LL BELIEVE IN and smile the
MYSELF even when no one else does. brightest.

I’ll dance, I believe I Between the

sing and am destined for
GREATNESS.
stream and the
shout my I won’t feel
COMPLETE until
rocks, I should
way to I SUCCEED. be the stream.
happiness. The stream
always wins—
I can either do not necessarily
Even when people around
things stressed or through strength
me are calculating their
troubles, I’ll count with confidence.
but through
my blessings. The choice
perseverance.
is mine.

Happiness is not the absence of problems,

but my ability to deal with them.
88 � | Jan-Feb 2018
 I need to decide what I must become,
what I will give to become that person,
and how I will live the rest of my life.

I’ll surround myself with positive

people. People who will support Grudges are a
me when it rains, not just waste of perfect
when it shines. HAPPINESS. I’ll
laugh when I can;
APOLOGISE
when I should.
I’ll put myself
out there;
do things
that were Progress is People may
impossible hate me, rate
never done.
without me, shake me,
Life is to be change and if break me. But
experienced. I can’t change how strong I
I’ll live a life my mind, stand is what
free of regrets. I can’t change will finally
anything. make me.
Everything that
I’ve been through
was preparation
for WHERE I AM I am not dened by my
NOW and where family or the people around
I could be. me. I am ME.
� Jan-Feb
b 2018 |  89
living | books

VANTAGE VIEWPOINT
Actor Soha Ali Khan speaks to BHG about her tongue-in-cheek memoir The Perils
of Being Moderately Famous, which chronicles what it’s like to be a lesser known
member of an incredibly popular family. Plus, an excerpt from the book.

D
aughter of to do it or not. When
actor Penguin asked me if I'd
Sharmila write a book—fiction or
Tagore and nonfiction—I thought of
cricketing first writing a chapter
hero, the late Mansur Ali and getting feedback
Khan Pataudi; sister to from family and friends.
Saif Ali Khan and sister- Since it was good, I
in-law to Kareena Kapoor agreed to write the book.
Khan; wife of Kunal
Kemmu; and aunt to little
Taimur—Soha Ali Khan
Q DO YOU WONDER
WHETHER YOUR
says that more often DAUGHTER, INAAYA,
than not, she is TOO WILL JOIN THE
recognised for being LEAGUE OF FAMOUS
related to the more PATAUDIS?
known members of her
family rather than for
A She’s so small; I want
her to be able to do
being an actor herself.
whatever she wants to
But instead of getting
do and whatever
annoyed by this, the
I couldn’t do. My job is
debut author considers it
to open as many avenues
an interesting position to
for her as possible, so
be in—one that allows
that she can make her
her to pen a tell-all,
own choices. I would
which gives a fascinating up all night. For example, that is the biggest moderately famous—like
want her to go to a good
look into the lives of the in Rang De Basanti, it challenge in writing. you can always leave the
university and get a good
Pataudis. She speaks to was where my character city and be anonymous
education. But, at the
BHG about it…
end of the day, she’s her
gets to know that her
fiancé is dead. I had a
Q WHAT WOULD in other parts of the
world. Being moderately
own person and might YOU RATHER BE:
Q DID YOU EVER want something else for
similar scene in Mumbai
Meri Jaan. Also, it can be
NOT FAMOUS,
famous also gives me a
good work-life balance,
THINK THAT YOU herself and that’s also MODERATELY
nerve-wracking to which is important to
WOULD END UP okay. This book is a gift FAMOUS,
perform all sorts of me. When you’re at a
WRITING A BOOK? for her because she INCREDIBLY FAMOUS
histrionics in front of certain level of fame, in
A I have been asked by
would read it someday
hundreds of people on a OR INFAMOUS? my opinion, your
several people to write a
and learn about her
family and her roots—
set. Writing a book, A I do enjoy this stage personal life tends to
book because I’ve on the other hand, had (moderately famous) take a bit of a hit.
a world that is rapidly
written a few columns, a different set of where you get a little bit
disappearing.
and they thought I have a challenges—ultimately, of both worlds. Where
good writing style. But it the book will be shared you’re famous enough to Q WHAT ELSE IS IN
always seemed daunting Q WHAT IS MORE with a larger audience. fly business class and not THE PIPELINE?
because it entails writing CHALLENGING— Since you can’t read it first class; to get a place A I’ll be shooting this
more than 40,000 WRITING A BOOK OR out to them and they at a nice restaurant; to month for Tigmanshu
words, signing up with a ACTING IN FILMS? can’t pick up your tone, get tickets to a sold-out Dhulia’s Sahib, Biwi Aur
publisher and sticking to A Both are challenging you must ensure that the concert; or get the latest Gangster 3. Apart from
a deadline. So, these in their own ways. With humour comes across gadgets. Super stardom that, every job I have in
things made me a little films, there’s always through your writing. comes with a lot more my hand now is ‘Project
uncomfortable— going to be a defining You can’t punctuate it challenges that you don’t Inaaya’, after which I will
whether I would be able scene that will keep you with emoticons. I think get when you’re get back to work.

90 � | Jan-Feb 2018 As told to Meghna Menon

 EXCERPT 

I
think I’ve established by now that I have properly famous parents,
and grandparents, and great-great-great-grand-uncles. My brother
Saif, who I call Bhai, is also a famous movie star and he is married
to Kareena Kapoor, one of Bollywood’s most popular and
successful actresses. Their son Taimur was trending on Twitter
before he had even opened his eyes. Has all this celebrity had any
impact on my life? I went to the same college as my father and saw his
name in brass in the locker room of the Oxford University Parks
Cricket Ground, right next to my grandfather’s. I joined the same
industry as my mother and brother and have fought hard to carve my
own identity within it. I am surrounded by my family’s achievements.
I am immensely proud of my heritage; I feel special to belong to this
family that has so much history, so much talent and virtuosity running
through its generations. I have benefited from my family
connections—they have opened doors and facilitated introductions,
provided me with a security and respect that I would otherwise have
spent many years earning, given me recognition which brings a power
that is not insignificant and afforded me financial security (that I try ` 299, Penguin, amazon.in
to keep at arm’s length—like the boy you know you can depend on to
take you to the ball when all else fails, but really you want Timothy to
ask you. Timothy in this case is my own hard-earned money). I HAVE
I remember going out for lunch with my family in Delhi as a child.
Bhai had recently started working in films and his song ‘Ole Ole’ from
ACHIEVED
Yeh Dillagi had become a big hit. Throughout the meal people kept A LEVEL OF
coming to our table to ask for autographs—from my father, my mother SUCCESS
and my brother. My sister and I could continue to eat our food AND FAME
undisturbed, which we rather enjoyed, feeling bad for the other three. THAT I CAN
I don’t recall ever wanting to be as famous as them, wanting to sign
autographs or having my hand shaken. I saw so much of it growing up
COMFORTABLY
that it didn’t seem to retain much lustre.
CALL MY
I suspect the same is true of my sister, Saba. She has always been OWN, BUT
more comfortable behind the camera, taking beautiful pictures, than THAT LEVEL IS
in front of it. Being of an artistic inclination, she chose to get her MODERATE IN
undergraduate degree from Delhi College of Arts, and then went to COMPARISON
the Gemological Institute of America in Carlsbad, California, to study
jewellery designing.
TO THE
I chose to be a film actor, not for the fame or the money—I don’t ACCOMPLISH-
mean to sound arrogant when I say I had need of neither—but for MENTS OF
the job, the creative fulfilment I get from walking in the shoes of MY VARIOUS
another person. It was not, as many people assume, the easy choice to FAMILY
be an actor. In fact, it was one of the most difficult decisions I have
ever made. Since my first film in 2004, I have tried to carve out my
MEMBERS.
own path, forge my own identity. I have achieved a level of success AND THERIN
and fame that I can comfortably call my own, but that level is LIE THE PERILS.
moderate in comparison to the accomplishments of my various family
members. And therein lie the perils. Perils which, if you were made
of flimsier stuff, would nibble away at you and leave you feeling less
than whole.
As I said earlier, this book is my tribute to my family without whom
I would not be here. Without whom I would not be who I am. With
whom I have laughed and cried, opposed and obeyed, mourned and
celebrated. With whom I have found the strength and support to grow,
to discover who I am and who I am not. And with and without whom I
am pursuing my happiness on my terms. ■
living | nutrition

small wonders
The Japanese Diet of cutting down portions and savouring every
mouthful has found a significant number of followers in India.
Aditi Sheoran Chhajta tried it and says her life changed forever.

WATCH THAT BITE!

The key to nailing
the Japanese diet
is eating smaller,
healthier portions.

I
n 2014, I made a resolution that has today
changed my life—I had told myself that before
I turned 30, I would adopt a healthier lifestyle.
Even though I didn’t suffer any major illness or
though not a new concept, is now making its way
into Indian lifestyles. In a nutshell, this diet is all
about savouring smaller yet richer portions of food.
PHOTOGRAPH: GETTYIMAGES

injury, I didn’t want to spend hours in the gym or
follow fad diets, like I had seen my friends do—it
inevitably led to them sliding into an unhealthy life.
So, I researched extensively to find a balanced diet
that was effective and sustainable in the long run.
It was then that I hit upon the Japanese Diet, which
the best of the rest
Post World War II, when Japan was rebuilding
its economy, food was scarce and meals meagre.
To make the best of the situation, the Japanese
began imbuing the best from American and
Chinese cuisines into their meals, cutting

92 � | Jan-Feb 2018
 Eating slowly helps one savour every
bite, and you eventually eat less
because it gives your brain time to
realise that your stomach is full.
down portion sizes. But they made each
portion count, filling it with nutrient-rich
ingredients.
Today, small portion eating is
considered best for losing weight and
maintaining a healthy body. It gains
even more relevance given how much
food people waste on an average and the
indulgence in all kinds of junk food.
In her book Japanese Women Don’t Get Old
or Fat: Secrets of My Mother’s Tokyo Kitchen,
Naomi Moriyama, the co-author, calls it
the ‘iPod of food’. “This diet concentrates
the magnificent energy of food into a
compact and pleasurable size. And you
don’t have to cook in a Japanese-style to
enjoy the diet’s healthy foundations—
just eat more fish, vegetables and fruits;
serve smaller portions; eat mindfully and
slowly; and add healthy options like tofu
and rice,” she says. Of course, the number
of meals, too, go up to five or six.
a matter of principle
Japan has one of the lowest rates of
obesity and the highest life spans in the
world. This is no mystery when one looks
at what they eat and how they keep their
activity levels up. The Japanese diet rests
on seven pillars:
 EAT WITH YOUR EYES  “The magic of
the Japan style of eating lies in a healthier
balance of filling, delicious and lower-
calorie foods, presented with beautiful
portion control in pretty little dishes and
plates,” Naomi says in her book. “Eating
slowly helps one to savour every bite,
and you eventually eat less because
your brain gets time to realise that your
stomach is full.”
 THE RICE FOUNDATION  Eat a lot of rice
but make sure it’s mostly brown rice.
 HEALTHY TEAS  Three to four cups
of green tea through the day helps aid
digestion. Moreover, warm water serves as
an elixir for good health.
 DESSERTS DONE RIGHT  A typical
Japanese dessert is an assortment of
seasonal fruits —peeled, sliced and
arranged on a pretty plate.
 FISH AND SOY OVER RED MEATS
Japanese meals often include more
than one soy-based dish, like miso soup
(i.e. fermented soy bean soup) and tofu
chunks. This acts as a great source of
protein and an alternative to red meat.
 LOTS OF VEGGIES AND FRUITS  Day
A typical portion includes 4 to 5 varieties
of veggies, simmered in seasoned broth or
stir-fried in little oil, or lightly steamed.
 POWER BREAKFAST  Eating a hearty
breakfast is the best way to incorporate
adequate nutrition at the start of the day.
It also provides more energy.
Compared to other drastic diets that
provide instant results, the Japanese Diet
is a sort of a lifestyle switch. There are no
side-effects like headaches, constipation,
indigestion or lower energy levels,
common to other fad diets. Neelanjana
Singh, a Delhi-based nutritionist, says
“Smaller meals throughout the day help
curb hunger, and you won’t need to go
overboard. This type of eating is called
‘grazing’. In fact, large traditional meals
of India burden our delicate digestive
system and that is what causes bloating.”
Though high on carbs, the Japanese Diet
gets all the essential nutrients from
vegetables, fruits, fish and lean meat.
In fact, the diet has almost 30% less
calories while being high in antioxidant-
rich food, like fish that is rich in Omega-3.
“If you have difficulty cutting short your
portions drastically, start your regular
meal with a glass of water (sipped slowly)
and a small bowl of fruits. This will cut
down the actual meal by half. Also, at the
end of the meal, if you don’t feel full, wait
for 10 minutes before getting a second
helping,” adds Neelanjana. ■
Diet
Another
I have been imbibing these
principles in my diet and life
for the past four years—
cutting down portions and
preparing only seasonal
food. I try to buy fresh
vegetables, preferring to
cook them the same day.
I eat each bite slowly,
savouring every mouthful,
and drink warm water and
green tea through the day.
Fruits like apples, bananas
and seasonal fruits have
become a daily habit. I put
a personal spin on things by
flavouring meals and grilled
veggies with pickles and
home-made chutneys. I
have Indianised this diet
to make it sustainable,
including milk and bread,
and using Bengali, Goan,
Mangalorean and continental
fish recipes, instead of sushi.
I always carry fruits or nuts
with me and have a ‘baby
dinner’ before heading out
for a party. I feel my body
is more active, I fall ill less,
and I indulge in what I love
without worrying about
overeating. My skin is
glowing, my mood is
upbeat, and weight in
check. What more can
I ask for?
� Jan-Feb 2018 | � 93
living | first person
It’s not about
what others want you
to be—it’s about you.
Finding your ‘how’
becomes easy when
you know your ‘why’,
and your purpose
becomes clearer.
And you learn to
love yourself.
` 195, Sanbun Publishers,
flipkart.com
94 � | Jan-Feb 2018
lessons in fortitude
Life knocked down Australian author Nandita Chakraborty
multiple times, each time harder than before. However,
she channelled all her grief into writing, and her new book
Meera Rising is inspired by her life. Here, she pens an
inspiring piece on how she battled the odds and won.
A
s the saying goes ‘When
life gives you lemons, make
lemonade’, but what price
does one pay for them? You
can cry, scream, even be philosophical.
But where will that get you?
I’ve tried all of these over the past
decade. First, when I was about 25—
fiercely independent and building a
business in Melbourne. I didn’t have
time for love, but love found me.
Initially, he was just a distraction, but
soon, this adoration from an older man
got me attention, not just from him but
also from society. So, I signed the bond
of marriage. But, the problem was that
I had mistaken friendship for love, and
this marriage was just the beginning of
my path to self-destruction.
It didn’t take long for our 30-year
age difference to create a rift between
us. Suddenly, I was 32 and divorced. I
began to jump into other relationships
to make myself feel better, but I only
felt worse. Soon, I found myself in the
arms of an abuser and caught up in his
attempted blackmail.
Eventually in 2010, in the serenity
of Lord Krishna in Vrindhavan, I
began to forgive myself. I returned to
Australia happy, but there was another
vital lesson for me to learn, the most
important one—to love myself. In
November 2011, I had a horrific rock
climbing accident, which left me
with brain injury. I still remember to
this day, lying in that hospital bed,
fighting with myself. Had the universe
conspired against me when it felt I
didn’t love myself?
My recovery was slow but steady,
but life wasn’t going to make it
easy. Five years later, I found myself
standing in the middle of a Melbourne
street staring blankly at my phone—
not knowing who or where I was.
Shortly after, I was diagnosed with a
cognitive disability. And then came the
death of my father. I was most helpless
when I lost my father. That was a
serious loss… a loss of love.
After my father’s death, for a
while, I felt like my life completely
stopped. How do you recover from
something like this? How do you pick
up the pieces and move on? I did it by
accepting love from the people around
me and I picked up the pen. I learned
to accept horrible truths about myself
and surrender myself to change.
It wasn’t easy. Sitting in my shrink’s
office, I was angry, listening to him talk
about the silver lining. But the truth
is that you really have to fail in life to
succeed. We all have the same goal—
to be happy, loved and accepted. So,
it all came down to allowing myself to
see that love starts first with me.
So, what if I hadn’t had that perfect
love or perfect life? I still had the
perfect gift—the gift of storytelling.
You can turn your hand to anything
that will help you to make a change.
It could be cooking and feeling deeply
positive when you see people enjoy
your food. Maybe you can find joy
in decorating your home or using
your creative flair to decorate others’
homes. Or maybe you can be happy
just dedicating yourself to the service
of others.  Just remember that it’s not
about what others want you to be—
it’s about you. Finding your ‘how’
becomes easy when you know your
‘why’, and your purpose becomes
clearer. And you learn to love yourself.
I took the perfect revenge on all my
failures by accepting who I am. And
life, indeed, turned out to be a tall, cool
drink of lemonade. ■
 living | experience

ideal
indulgence
Defying the city’s hectic pace, JW Marriott
Mumbai Juhu is perfect for a staycation.

I
f you live in Mumbai and are looking to escape to a luxurious
holiday, but are dreading the time wasted travelling,
JW Marriott Mumbai Juhu is the place for you. Perched on
North Mumbai’s Juhu beach and overlooking the Arabian Sea,
the hotel is set in lush, peaceful surrounds that set the tone
for your rejuvenation.
A beautiful amalgamation of contemporary and traditional
design, the property features Rajasthani sandstone and
sculptures, ornate artefacts, plush upholstery and magnificent
chandeliers that amplify the regal feel. The architecture is
further complemented with elegant pagodas and lotus ponds
that are sure to make you feel like royalty as you leisurely
stroll through its lush gardens and expansive passageways.
Furthermore, snuggle up with your loved one in one of the
gorgeous ocean-facing rooms, complete with featherbed
mattresses, crisp duvets and plush robes. Order in from the
24-hour room service, and luxuriate in this tranquil cocoon.
The dining options here will certainly appeal to the
gourmand in you—choose from Dashanzi (Asian), Bombay
Baking Company (deli), Lotus Café (international), Mezzo
Mezzo (Italian), Reflections (bar) and Saffron (Indian).
If you are looking for indulgence, head for a steam/sauna or
yoga or play a laid-back game of checkers with your family at
Club Marriott. The place also includes three outdoor pools with
beach access and the ultra-luxurious Quan Spa, which provides
a range of therapies like pranayama, ayurvedic nutrition analysis
and meditation, and therapeutic ayurvedic and Western body
and face treatments. And if you do feel like stepping out,
the hotel has a fleet of luxury cars like Mercedes Benz and
BMW 7 Series that can take you around the city or even,
eventually, drop you back home. ■

� Jan-Feb 2018 |  95
living
g | solutions

too cool for school

Ring in 2018 with chic, new and innovative stationery,
which will keep you inspired all year long.

WOO
OOD-CUT STATIONERY SET
This pack of 12 folded cards with matching
envelops is inspired by the bark of a tree.
` 1,300, Paperfields, natty.in

PROJECT PLANNER
A one-stop solution to keep all information
about your big project together. ` 325,
Creative Crazy, creativecrazy.in

GIRL BOSS PENCIL SET

Eight pastel-hued pencils with
motivational words to help perk up
PLAYPLANES CARD HOLDER your work day. ` 750, The Papier
Made of coated steel, this set of two can be Project, thepapierproject.com
used to hold a card, photograph or even a
message. ` 750, Rayden, raydendesign.com
SUNNO FAMILY PAPERWEIGHTS
Made of white marble with wooden inlayed
ALPHABET WAX SEAL STAMP eyes, these take inspiration from Russian
Add a personal touch to your letters comics. ` 2,700, Atelier DS, designowl.com
and gifts. ` 1,600, Artsy Design Co.,
scootsy.com

METAL BOOKMARK BINDER CLIPS

Ditch the boring styles and opt foor This set of eight rose gold clips make for
this 24K gold-plated bookmark instead. d the prettiest ways to secure your papers.
` 799, Letternote, letternote.in ` 400, Artsy Design Co., thestylesalad.in

96 � | Jan-Feb 2018
 HANDY
HELPERS
BUBBLEGUM BEIGE DOODLE BOOK
Not just doodling, you can even paint in
this pretty, keepsake book. ` 280, Limn,
limndesigns.com
LEATHER PENCIL
CASE
A timeless and
classy solution to
prevent losing your
favourite pens and
pencils. ` 1,050,
Brandless, natty.in
PINS WITH CHARMS
This bunch of four metal pins
double up as bookmarks. ` 200,
October Design Solutions, natty.in

Even in this
digital age,
X STANDS
A perfect size to hold pens, this set of
two adds a classy touch to your desk.
one can never PLAYBOAT HOLDER
Made of brass, use this ‘boat’ to hold all

` 490, Deniable Studio, aatachi.in have enough sorts of tiny items like pins and clips.
` 850, Rayden, raydendesign.com

of beautiful
stationery. We DOCUMENT HOLDER
A pretty, handy tool that lets you carry
love how these all your important papers around. ` 400,
October Design Solutions, natty.in

pieces inspire
positivity and
creativity.

DESK ORGANISER
Keep all your loose stationery items in
place in this rustic and minimal concrete
tray. ` 2,500, Gomaads, gomaads.in
Event

Celebrating Dutch Architecture

N
ovember 30, 2017 was a significant day for the architectural fraternity of Delhi. Architecture+Design and Crabtree (manufacturer of
home automation solutions and premium switches) organised the event, ‘Celebrating Dutch Design’, with the Embassy of the Kingdom
of Netherlands, supported by the Northern Chapter of the Indian Institute of Architecture. It was hosted at the heritage residence of
the Dutch Ambassador in New Delhi. Eminent architects and professionals gathered to appraise the recent developments in Dutch architecture.
The event unveiled the cover of the November issue of Architecture+Design, titled ‘Dynamics in Dutch Architecture’, as well as introduced
Crabtree’s booklet about its new home automation range. Crabtree had also placed a stimulating Experience Centre of home automation systems
within the premises, which was appreciated by the attendees. Dutch architect Mathias Lehner was the principal speaker of the occasion.

His Excellency Mr Alphonsus Stoelinga addresses the audience The unveiling of the November issue cover of Architecture+Design.
(L-R) Bjorn Retting – CEO Burda International, Suneet Paul – Editor-in-
Chief, A+D, His Excellency Mr Alphonsus Stoelinga and Vivek Yadav –
Senior Vice President of Domestic Switchgear, Havells India Ltd.
Crabtree Home Automation Experience Centre Architects reviewing the Crabtree Home Automation Experience Centre

Bjorn Retting, Parineeta Sethi – Director, Exposure Media Marketing Architect Mathias Lehner giving a presentation on the new
Pvt Ltd. and Vivek Yadav developments and dynamics in Dutch architecture

Concluding words by Bjorn Retting Suneet Paul introducing the theme of the evening

Mr. Vivek Yadav, Senior Vice President of Domestic Switchgear, Havells

India Ltd. presented the innovative solutions by Crabtree towards home
automation. He spoke about the brand’s history and breakthrough in
the Indian market. Reflecting on Mr. Suneet Paul’s statement, he called
for the architectural fraternity and industry professionals to join hands
for improved and eco-friendly home solutions.
As the evening proceeded, a panel discussion took place
between prominent Delhi-based architects Sourabh Gupta, Arun
Rewal, Mr. Paul and Mathias Lehner. They discussed relevant topics
in the modern architecture scene and viable solutions for the many
challenges faced by the professionals. Some points of discussion
included environmental conservation, rapid urbanization and need
for good legislation, social housing, community participation and the
growth of smart cities. Mr. Lehner gave his views, citing examples
from Dutch design, on how certain solutions can be successfully Mr Vivek Yadav – Senior Vice President of Domestic Switchgear,
implemented in the Indian scenario. Havells India Ltd. interacting with the audience
 u ick Meals
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 food f r e s h f rom
your kitchen

chef’s
f table
Celebrityy cheff
R khee Vaswanii
Ra
i
curates an exclusive
f
four-course
f BHG,
meal for t
G, to
beat the last off
t winter
the i blues.
STYLING: AKANKSHA SAVANAL; DRESS: SR STORE; JEWELLERY: ANMOL JEWELS

photographs
o o by ashima mehraa
a
creative direction by aanuradha
a a sen
n
food | celebrate

Rakhee’s food expeditions from all

over the world are being put together
on her soon-to-be-launched blog.

ROAST CHICKEN
 The Menu
Harissa Prawn Bruschetta
Fresh Mediterranean
Quinoa Salad with
Honey-Mustard Dressing
Roast Chicken
LEMON CURD
Lemon Curd Cheesecake
CHEESECAKE

A Le Cordon Bleu chef from Gordon

Ramsay’s Tante Marie Culinary Academy
in London, Rakhee Vaswani began her
culinary journey at the age of 11, observing
her aunts cook at home. Often called the
Nigella of India, she has a deep passion for
flavours and textures, and as the host of
Rewind with Rakhee on the food-tainment
channel Living Foodz, she takes the audience on a culinary journey
harking back to the 1900s, adding her own twists to classic recipes.
Rakhee is also the author of Picky Eaters, which talks to mothers
about making food fun, exciting and delicious for kids.
Rakhee’s extensive trips and encounters with top chefs from
across the globe have shaped her extensive knowledge of different
cuisines. This led to the birth of Palate Culinary Studio in 2009,
a state-of-the-art international cooking school where she trains
budding chefs, amateurs, professionals and food enthusiasts—her
students include the likes of Malaika Arora Khan, Arjun Kapoor
and Kriti Sanon. In 2017, she launched the Palate Culinary
Academy in Bandra, Mumbai, which offers not only the first-ever
UK-certified vegetarian culinary programme, and patisserie
and bakery courses, but also chef-special pop-ups, brunches,
sundowners, kids’ birthday parties, corporate sessions and
other food-based events.

� Jan-Feb 2018 |  103

food | celebrate

Rakhee has conducted over 150 one-

day cooking or baking workshops
in Indian, Japanese and Mexican
cuisines, and sugarcraft baking.

HARISSA PRAWN
BRUSCHETTA

MEDITERRANEAN QUINOA SALAD

WITH HONEY-MUSTARD DRESSING

104 � | Jan-Feb 2018

HARISSA PRAWN For the dressing: 2 tbsp desiccated coconut
BRUSCHETTA 2 tbsp honey ¹�₂ cup butter, melted
1 tbsp mustard paste          
For the filling:
INGREDIENTS ½ cup orange juice  
160 gm cream cheese
1 French loaf (cut into slices) 1 tsp mixed herbs   
120 gm white chocolate, melted
Oil, as required Salt to taste
1 cup whipped cream
2 tbsp Harissa paste (mix together 6 gm gelatin, melted
PREPARATION
1 tbsp tomato paste, 1 tbsp
1. To prepare the dressing, mix all the For the lemon curd piping:
red chilli paste and 1 tsp chilli sauce)
ingredients for it and chill for a few hours. 1 lemon rind
Salt, sugar and pepper,
2. In a salad bowl, add the salad ingredients. Juice of 1 lemon
for seasoning
3. To assemble, pour the chilled dressing on 50 gm butter
200 gm prawns, deshelled and deveined
the salad, toss gently and serve.  50 gm caster sugar
2 tbsp white spring onions
1 tbsp green spring onions 3 egg yolks
1 tbsp fried garlic, chopped
ROAST CHICKEN
PREPARATION
INGREDIENTS
PREPARATION 1. To make the base, mix biscuits and
4 chicken drumsticks with gashes 
1. Apply butter and crushed garlic over coconut. Add butter to this and mix until
2-3 cloves garlic, chopped
French loaf slices. Toast till golden brown. it all binds together. 
2-3 fresh oregano leaves
2. In a pan, heat a little oil. Add Harrisa 2. Line a 6-inch ring mould with foil from
1-2 sprigs thyme
paste, seasoning with salt, pepper and sugar.   outside and pour a layer of biscuit mixture
2 tbsp olive oil
3. Add prawns and cook for a minute. into it till it’s ¹�₄th inch thick. Chill in the
2 tsp lemon juice
Then add white spring onions and stir for refrigerator for 10 to 15 minutes. 
Sea salt, to taste
a few minutes. 3. To make the filling, in a bowl, beat
Pepper, to taste
4. On each toasted slice, place the prawns cream cheese with a wooden spoon until
1 tsp cayenne pepper
mixture and garnish with green spring no lumps remain. Add melted white
2 tbsp Mediterranean seasoning
onions and fried garlic. chocolate and ensure it’s not too hot.
2-3 tbsp stock
Mix well and fold in whipped cream.
MEDITERRANEAN PREPARATION Now, add gelatin and mix. Pour this
QUINOA SALAD WITH 1. Marinate the chicken drumsticks with all filling onto the biscuit base. Let it set in
HONEY-MUSTARD the ingredients for a few hours. a refrigerator overnight. 
DRESSING   2. Pre-heat oven to 230ºC and roast chicken 4. Now for the lemon curd piping, melt
for 35 to 40 minutes or until the juices butter and sugar on slow fire and then leave
INGREDIENTS run clear. it to cool completely. Add the rest of the
30 gm boiled quinoa (red and white) 3. Serve immediately ingredients and cook on a double boiler till
30 gm boiled barley a thick custard forms.
Mix salad leaves (baby beet greens and LEMON CURD 5. To assemble: Blow-torch the sides of
loose lettuce leaves) CHEESECAKE the mould and unmould the cheesecake.
30 gm pomegranate seeds Put lemon curd in a pipping bag and
Handful of walnuts INGREDIENTS pipe to create a marbled effect. Garnish
1 tbsp mixed seeds For the base: with blueberries, currants and fresh
30 gm boiled chickpeas 8-10 digestive biscuits, crushed fruits; serve.■ 

� Jan-Feb 2018 |  105

food | series
beyond food
CICLO CAFÉ
In the fourth instalment of our series on restaurants
championing new thoughts or concepts, we look at
Chennai’s Ciclo Café, which is popularising cycling as a
lifestyle choice.
text by meghna menon
I
t’s hard to miss Ciclo Café in Chennai’s
Kotturpuram area. A white, two-storey
with an attractive yellow signboard,
its large French windows dressed in
awnings give you a peek into the bicycles
inside. However, this isn’t just any other
theme-based café whose USP is restricted
to its décor. Ciclo Café is the first-of-its-
kind cycling café in India, that encourages
and promotes the sport too. So while one
will find bar stools made of cycle frames,
tables supported by wheel rims, framed
leather seats on the walls and chandeliers
fashioned from chains, it also houses
a full-fledged store that not only sells
world-class bikes and their components
and accessories, but also caters to their
post-sale servicing and rental. Anybody
can walk in and discuss the bikes and the
sport in general with the staff, who are
proficient in the subject. The restaurant
is also the first in the country to boast of
an elite amateur cycle racing team—Ciclo
Team Racing—that competes at national
and international races, including the
106   | Jan-Feb 2018
prestigious Indian Road Cycling National
Championships.
Established in 2015, Ciclo (meaning
‘cycle or a series of repeated events’ in
Italian and Spanish), is the brainchild of
Arun Alagappan, president of TI Cycles,
and Anil Thadani, CEO of F&B brand,
Absolute Specialties. “The idea was Arun’s
and the execution was ours,” says Anil.
“Being a bit of a cyclist myself, when
the idea of marrying the two worlds was
suggested, I immediately said yes and we
decided to set up Ciclo. Hence, it is more
of a passion than a business.”
Apart from serving a menu of
sandwiches, pasta, pizzas, risottos, salads
and hot and cold beverages, Ciclo Café
also arranges group rides. They either
gathers around 8 to 10 people on certain
days, so that the staff can take them out
for long distance rides and answer any
queries that they may have on cycling,
or connects people to the city’s various
cycling groups who may have rides lined
up. “We also have experts from TI Cycles
CICLO CAFE IS NOT
ONLY AN EATERY
but also a store that sells
world-class bikes, their
components and
accessories, and caters
to their post-sale
servicing and rental.
or companies that manufacture bike
components—like Shimano—to conduct
talks and workshops. Additionally, our
own riders, some of the best in the
country, hold sessions periodically, to
encourage cycling as a lifestyle choice.”
The restaurant also conducts a larger
format race in the city called Ciclothon,
once a quarter, which sees participation
from about 150 to 200 riders. All this
together has helped people realise the
power of the pedal.
“It all comes down to using the
space you have more efficiently,” says
Anil. “While restaurants have their own
purposes and advantages, there’s so much
more that can be done, including using the
space for retail—and that is what we aim
to do. In addition, a typical customer who
walks in may not be the kind who heads
to a bicycle shop on a regular day. So, this
way, we end up targeting a new kind of
customer altogether,” he says.
Having had a successful run in the city,
the founders followed up their first outpost
with Ciclo Cafés in Hyderabad in 2016,
and in Gurugram and Bengaluru in 2017.
They now aim to open more outlets in the
same cities as well as one in either Pune
or Mumbai. “We want to facilitate more
events, and promote cycling as a way of
leading a healthier lifestyle,” says Anil. n
 food | good to buy

pretty
in pastel MUTED TONES
These kitchen
accessories show you
Give your kitchen a makeover how pastels are not
by opting for these timeless, just meant for
understated pieces. a nursery.
photographs by irina usova
styling by mahima shukla
1
2

1.  Cupcake stand, ` 1,450,

Gifts of Love 2. Multi-
6 purpose organiser, ` 1,500,
ASSISTED BY SRI MANI RANGAN

Pepperfry 3. Bowl, ` 1,116,

LOCATION COURTESY: IOTA FURNITURE STORE
For more info, see Resources
Nicobar 4. Pitcher, ` 2,215,
Ikka Dukka 5. Coffee mug,
` 299, Peeli Dori 6. Jug, ` 510,
Crazy Daisy 7. Cake stand,
` 2,000, Navya 8. Grand
teapot, ` 4,000, Le Creuset. ■
food | experience

ciao, bellaRendezvous with authentic

Italian cuisine that is exceptional
in presentation and flavour at
Bella Cucina in Le Meridien
Gurgaon, Delhi NCR.
text by meghna menon

T
hrough lesser-known dishes, ingredients and flavours from the
Northern and Central regions of Italy, Le Meridien Gurgaon, Delhi
NCR’s Bella Cucina is busting the belief that Italian in India is
primarily about pastas and pizzas. So, not only do sous chef Amit
Kumar and his team offer authentic, flavoursome Italian specialities, but
also present them in the most interesting fashion.
My evening began with antipasti, a tiny cup of aromatic, frothy and light
Cappuccino of Mushroom Soup, complemented with a buttery Porcini
Brioche, a bread roll flavoured with porcini mushrooms. Setting the bar
quite high with its deliciously smoky flavour, the must-have soup gave way
to two other show stealers—Compressed Beetroot with Goat Cheese and
Prawn Ravioli Bisque Emulsion with Young Tomato. The former, with rocket
lettuce, jelly made of goat cheese and beets, and caramelised walnuts to
render bursts of sweetness, was topped with goat cheese snow—a molecular
twist that also made the plating look dramatic. The aromatic, fresh ravioli
stuffed with prawns and cooked in a tangy young tomato sauce, was light,
smooth and scrumptious, thanks to it being cooked in dollops of butter.
Bella Cucina in A Burnt Garlic and Spinach Risotto, admittedly inspired during a night of

Gurgaon is busting
experimenting with palak dal and rice, followed next, bringing an end to
the main course. For desserts, one couldn’t have gone more Italian than a
the belief that Classic Tiramisu, which was rich and creamy. The Lemon Tart, however,
would appeal to those who prefer it to be more sour than sweet. 
Italian in India is The menu at Bella Cucina also features meats, grills and roasts, besides a
primarily about good selection of wines. And all of it comes together at the Molteni kitchen,
which is at the heart of the dining area—after all, Bella Cucina literally
pastas and pizzas. means a ‘beautiful kitchen’. Price for two: `�4,000

108 � | Jan-Feb 2018

Chettinad by Abraham & Thakore for Obeetee

AN AVANT-GARDE COLLECTION OF C ARPETS INSPIRED BY INDIA

Offices: India - Obeetee Pvt. Ltd., A-45, Sector 64, Noida 201309, U.P.
USA - 137 West 25th Street, 12th Floor, New York, NY 10001
Enquiries: obeetee.info@obeetee.com

www.obeetee .com obeeteeny obeetee obeetee

 resources
FOR MORE INFORMATION ON SOME OF THE LOCATIONS AND BRANDS FEATURED EDITORIALLY IN
BETTER HOMES & GARDENS, PLEASE SEE THE DETAILS BELOW.
AAYNA CLINIC aaynaclinic.com
ADDRESS HOME Mumbai:
14, Raghuvanshi Mills
Compound, Senapati Bapat
Marg, Lower Parel; 022/4004-0474.
Delhi: N-3, Ground Floor, Part-1
Market, Greater Kailash I; 011/4171-
9292; address-home.com
APARTMENT 9 Delhi: N-9, Greater
Kailash-I Market, 011/3243-8224; 12,
Khan Market, 011/3266-8554.
ASRA See Flipkart.
CALI CLINIC G-7, G Block, Pocket G,
Sector 18, Noida; 0120/451-6471.
CARYSIL B-15, Laxmi Industrial
Estate, Link Road, Andheri (West),
Mumbai; 022/6758-2212.
CATH KIDSTON S-23, 2nd Floor, Select
City Walk Mall, Saket, Delhi.
CHAMBOR Available at Lifestyle,
Westside, Shoppers Stop and
Dabur NewU outlets nationwide;
chambor.com.
CRAZY DAISY 17, Anand Niketan
Market, 0/98181-21162. 24; Meher
Chand Market, Lodhi Road, Delhi;
011/2464-5087.
CYAHI cyahi.com
D’DÉCOR Shop No. 67, Ground Floor,
Ring Road, Lajpat Nagar, Delhi;
ddecor.com.
ELIZABETH ARDEN See Parcos.
FABINDIA N-14, Greater Kailash
Part I, Delhi; 011/4669-3725.
FACES faces-india.com
FLIPKART flipkart.com
GIFTS OF LOVE Saket District Centre,
Delhi; 011/4265-8155.
110 � | Jan-Feb 2018
HOME ARTISAN homeartisan.in
IOTA 1/45 WHS Kirti Nagar, Delhi;
011/4101-2280, 011/4142-0296;
iotafurniture.com.
IKKA DUKKA ikkadukka.com
ISHATVAM Delhi: 18-B, Khan Market,
011/4352-8381; 348-D, M.G. Road,
Sultanpur, 011/2680-4344.
LE CRUESET S-30, 2nd Floor, Select
Citywalk Mall, District Centre, Saket,
Delhi; 011/4102-9592.
LIMEROAD limeroad.com
L'ORÉAL PARIS Available at leading
cosmetics and departmental stores
across the country.
M·A·C Delhi: G-49, Select City Walk,
A3, District Centre, Saket, 011/4057-
5026. Mumbai: Dynamix Mall, Sant
Dhyaneshwar Marg, Juhu, 022/2670-
5603; Mélange, 33 Altamount Road,
022/ 2354-1097/98; maccosmetics.in.
MASPAR S 30, 2nd Floor, Select City Walk
Mall, Saket, Delhi; 011/4057-5025.
MAYBELLINE NEW YORK Available at
leading departmental and cosmetics
stores across the country.
MERAAS 104/10, M.G. Road, Sultanpur,
Near Metro Pillar No. 96, Delhi;
0/97171-98866.
MOON RIVER Delhi: D-16, Defence
Colony; 011/4161-7103. Mumbai:
1, The Courtyard, 41/44, Minoo Desai
Marg, Colaba, 022/5638-5460;
moonriverstore.com.
NAVYA 33, Meher Chand Market, Lodhi
Road, chand Market, Lodhi Road, Delhi;
facebook.com/nayavimi.
NICOBAR Bengaluru: Above Good
Earth, No. 4 Walton Rd, Off Lavelle
Road; 080/2211-2878. Delhi: Shop
No. 79 & 80, Above Diva Spiced, Meher
Chand Market, Fifth Avenue Rd, Lodhi
Colony; 011/4905-7343. Mumbai: #IO
Ropewalk Lane, Above Kala Ghoda Café;
022/2263-3877. 34, Guru Nanak Rd,
Bandra West; 022/4971-3678;
nicobar.com
NIVASA Delhi: 26, Meher Chand Market,
Lodhi Road; 011/4905-0421. Gurgaon:
1, Ground floor, South Point Mall, Golf
Course Road; 0124/498-5640.
NUR Delhi: 71 A, Meher Chand Market,
Lodhi Colony; 011/4905-0920. 23,
Santushti Shopping Complex, 412 Air
Force Station, Race Course Road;
011/2611-2971. nurhome.in
NYKAA nykaa.com
OBEETEE A-45, Sector 64, Noida.
PARCOS 174-175, DLF Place Saket, Delhi;
011/46102988. Also in several other
cities across India.
PEELI DORI peelidori.com
PEPPERFRY pepperfry.com
RUGSVILLE rugsville.in
SEPHORA 51-54, Select City Walk,
A3, District Centre, Saket, Delhi;
011/4134-9797.
SHADES OF INDIA 127, Meher Chand
Market, Delhi; 011/4905-3333.
SHISEIDO See Parcos.
SOULTREE soultree.in
THE PILLOW COMPANY
thepillowcompany.com
URBAN DAZZLE urbandazzle.com
WET N WILD See Nykaa.
WINDOW MAGIC windowmagic.com ■
 i did it! Having built an antique trunk that’s all
her own, this ingenious woman shows you how you can make
one too, taking a little help from your carpenter.
In a way, one of Jillian
text by kit selzer | photographs by greg scheidemann | styling by kristine kennedy
Grennon’s recent do-it-
yourself projects has
been in the works for
years. “My dad loved to
collect things and find
great antiques,” she says.
“He brought home a
great trunk when I was a
kid and we used it as a
coffee table.” As an adult
with a passion for DIY
and antiques, Jillian
pictured a similar piece
in her New Hampshire,
US, home. In just four
hours, she made her
vintage-looking version
(measuring 40½�×�24�×�20¼
inches), which consisted
of a series of 1×6s (³�₄�×�5¹�₂
inches) wooden boards
placed edge to edge,
joined with glue and
pocket holes, and with a
dark walnut stain.
The tricky part was
making the boards
identical. “For everything
to sit right, they all had
to align perfectly,” she
says. “Always measure
each piece individually
and don’t ever take for
granted that two 1×6
boards are the same
width.” Jillian relied on
metal accents to make
the trunk look like an
antique. She bought
upholstery tacks in dark
antique brass to mimic
old nail heads and spray-
painted a brass latch and
handles to match. As for
the 12 brass corners on
the base and lid, she
THIS TRUNK CAN
says, “I planned on DOUBLE UP AS A
painting them, but when GREAT STORAGE
I placed them to make SPACE.
sure they fit, my
husband said he really
liked their formal look.
So, I left them and ended
up really loving them.” ■
Share your success story to get featured! Email photographs of you with
112 � | Jan-Feb 2018 your latest home project to bhandg@emmindia.com.