By Suchita S.
If there’s one thing I’m always looking out for, it’s a good home décor store. Yes, you have mainstream stores, with their products exhibited in every single house in Delhi {guilty as charged}. But then there are those, and at the risk of sounding really cheesy, that make a house a home. And to add to my go-to stores for eclectic décor finds, I bring you The Hidden Gallery and The Wishing Chair.
THE HIDDEN GALLERY | Lado Sarai
I stumbled upon ‘The Hidden Gallery’ on a recent trip to Lado Sarai. I was pulling out of one of the many galleries, and saw this beautiful jaali-work laden screen standing behind a display window… Then I noticed a sign that read ‘30% Off, Sale!’, and next thing you know I was darting out of my car to see what this store had to offer. The beautiful space is done up the way a good home-store should; with a ‘room section’ hosting a beautiful four-poster bed and side tables, a drawing area with a set of couches and interesting accessories, and a lounge-ish section, with a few really interesting chairs and an exquisite low table with a natural wood finish- you see what your rooms could actually look like, and that’s when the day-dreaming begins.
‘The Hidden Gallery’ is the brainchild of Preeti & Mike Knowles, and the furniture and most of the accessories are designed by the duo. That they come with a stellar background in interior & design doesn’t surprise me one bit! Preeti studied at New Delhi Polytechnic {Interior Design} and then did her BA in Interior Design at The American College in London. Mike has worked as design director for several companies in UK including Roche Bobois. They opened their own interior design firm in London and worked there for several years before relocating to Delhi 13 years ago. And with an array of projects under their belt, THG opened its doors in January this year.
Working with teak, sheesham and mango wood, or whatever the design lends itself to, expect to find casual-chic furniture at the Gallery. Chairs in bright colors with upholstery in beautiful patterns, tables for your room and dining areas, an ‘Ali Baba’ inspired line of bowls, plates and accessories designed by Mike, and a collection of mod hanging lights {special mention for this exquisite overhead and arching floor lamp}, the furniture collection at the Gallery is fairly affordable starting at about inr 10,000 for a chair and inr 65,000 for a bed. The quality and finish is impeccable, and I found the designs really different and unique- contemporary classic is how I’d define it. Apart from their Lado Sarai, they have an outlet in Asola farms as well which houses a larger collection. The next time I’m venturing out to Chattarpur, that’s where I’m heading!
For more details, have a look at their Facebook Page here.
Where |
F 322A Adarsh House
Lado Sarai
A-6, Asola Homes
Near Shanidham Temple
Fatehpur Beri
Contact | 26653968/69, +91-9810124917
THE WISHING CHAIR | Shahpur Jat
The Wishing Chair has been on my list of ‘must see’ stores for a while, and last weekend I decided to brave the winding streets of Shahpur Jat to check it out. Two things: a. the store is actually pretty easy to find, and b. this is a store every 20-something, décor-obsessed girl/boy will definitely enjoy coming to. TWC houses a range of really fun and quirky home accessories. Think inscribed tin cans in pastel hues, ‘magic potion’ jars in silhouettes of blues and greens, cushions and mirrors, kitschy trunks, a ‘tree hugger collection’ dedicated to eco-friendly products, and more super funky ways to brighten up a space. The biggest USP of this store is the way it’s done up itself- and kudos to the founders, because it’s magical! A chalk-board wall that has racks of jars, a winding staircase that separates their newly opened café from the rest of the store, a wall covered with mirrors in different shapes and sizes with floral-patterned borders- you can see influences of French design & décor, hints of kitsch, and plenty of character.
The store is owned and run by a group of friends and you’re likely to find Vivita Relan {one of the co-owners} welcoming you ever-so-kindly into their space. While the owners may not have a ‘background’ in design, what they do have is impeccable taste and knack for understanding what their audience and customers want; in a short while, the store has gained immense popularity. It’s budget friendly, but over and above the collection they store, I reckon it’s the warmth and charisma of The Wishing Chair that’ll have you coming back again to shop for something special and add more of you to your space. And whether you buy something from here or not, you’re definitely going to be inspired to bring a little bit of TWC’s magic to your room.
The products come in a range of prices, starting at about INR 520 for glass vases, INR 2000 for lamp shades and INR 890 for frames. Prices vary with size and nature of products {but obviously}, but all in all, you’re not going to be breaking the bank!
Have a look at their Facebook page here and be inspired!
Where | 86A (GF) Shahpur Jat, New Delhi
Contact | 011 4657 2121
