DurGa Interiors

Indian Essential Oils - Ruhs & Attars

  For the past few years, I had been playing around with the idea of introducing exotic essential oils from India to my clients, but wasn't sure if people were going to love them as much as I do.   I wasn't sure whether people were going to appreciate the unconventional nature of these oils and was worried that these might be construed as a "little too exotic."  However, I was pleasantly surprised when people expressed strong interest in them after smelling them burning in my diffuser at the store and asked me to bring some for them the next time I travelled to India - which I have - and it's amazing how popular they really are. 

I have been bringing these traditional oils, called Attars (extracts with a sandalwood base) and Ruhs (pure botanical extracts with a water base), from India for quite a while now and have been using them in my diffuser at home and at the store.  I also much prefer wearing these oils as opposed to the conventional colognes because of their natural scents and healing properties. 

The remarkable thing about these oils that I find so attractive is their organic nature and the fact that most of them are created using no modern technology at all. Unlike synthetic fragrant oils which usually have a glycerine or alcohol base to them, these oils are very organic in their base (water or other botanical oils) and for this reason smell very natural.  I find that when using them in a diffuser, you don't have to deal with the "chemically" alcohol smell or heavy glycerine film that is so common in many conventional oils.  Don't get me wrong, I'm sure that there are quite a few synthetic oils that are out in the market that are very high quality, but I'm not sure how many of those can you actually wear on your skin as well. 

This March I travelled back to India for yet another buying trip and had the pleasure of going to the old cities of Lucknow, Kannauj and Kanpur.  Lucknow, Delhi and Kannauj have long been known in India for their Attars and Ruhs and oils from these cities are highly prized.  Alchemists, called Attar-wallahs (Attar-makers) in these ancient cities have been making essential oils, using botanical extracts of plants, roots, woods, resins and spices employing traditional techniques, for hundreds of years.  The traditional technique continues to this day making these authentic oils.  There are traditional blends and newer blends developing all the time. 

At the moment we have quite a few different types of Attars, Oils and Ruhs from India.  The Attars, oils and Ruhs we carry at Durga are generally all traditional blends.  I find the old recipes to be a lot more appealing than the newer stuff - however, some new stuff is quite nice as well and I am thinking of bringing some in the future.  I also have brought in some prayer oil, called Sri Laxmi Oil, from the State ofTamil Nadu, South India which is a blend of many botanicals; namely rose, jasmine, sandalwood, hibiscus and many other "secret" roots and herbs that I will never be privy to.  The end result is amazingly light and smells fantastic and is one of the most popular South Indian oils that I have. 

Next time you are at Durga Interiors, check out these fantastic oils and take your olfactory senses for an amazing ride.

India's Billion Dollar Home...

Inside the World's First Billion-Dollar Home  by Matt Woolsey

While visiting New York in 2005, Nita Ambani was in the spa at the Mandarin Oriental New York, overlooking Central Park. The contemporary Asian interiors struck her just so, and prompted her to inquire about the designer.

Nita Ambani was no ordinary tourist. She is married to Mukesh Ambani, head of Mumbai-based petrochemical giant Reliance Industries, and the fifth richest man in the world. (Lakshmi Mittal, ranked fourth, is an Indian citizen, but a resident of the U.K.)

Forbes estimated Ambani's net worth at $43 billion in March. Reliance Industries was founded by Mukesh's father, Dhirubhai Ambani, in 1966, and is India's most valuable firm by market capitalization. The couple, who have three children, currently live in a 22-story Mumbai tower that the family has spent years remodeling to meet its needs.

Like many families with the means to do so, the Ambanis wanted to build a custom home. They consulted with architecture firms Perkins + Will and Hirsch Bedner Associates, the designers behind the Mandarin Oriental, based in Dallas and Los Angeles, respectively. Plans were then drawn up for what will be the world's largest and most expensive home: a 27-story skyscraper in downtown Mumbai with a cost nearing $2 billion, says Thomas Johnson, director of marketing at Hirsch Bedner Associates. The architects and designers are creating as they go, altering floor plans, design elements and concepts as the building is constructed.

The only remotely comparable high-rise property currently on the market is the $70 million triplex penthouse at the Pierre Hotel in New York, designed to resemble a French chateau, and climbing 525 feet in the air. When the Ambani residence is finished in January, completing a four-year process, it will be 550 feet high with 400,000 square feet of interior space.

The home will cost more than a hotel or high-rise of similar size because of its custom measurements and fittings: A hotel or condominium has a common layout, replicated on every floor, and uses the same materials throughout the building (such as door handles, floors, lamps and window treatments).

The Ambani home, called Antilla, differs in that no two floors are alike in either plans or materials used. At the request of Nita Ambani, say the designers, if a metal, wood or crystal is part of the ninth-floor design, it shouldn't be used on the eleventh floor, for example. The idea is to blend styles and architectural elements so spaces give the feel of consistency, but without repetition.

Antilla's shape is based on Vaastu, an Indian tradition much like Feng Shui that is said to move energy beneficially through the building by strategically placing materials, rooms and objects.

Pricey Pad

Atop six stories of parking lots, Antilla's living quarters begin at a lobby with nine elevators, as well as several storage rooms and lounges. Down dual stairways with silver-covered railings is a large ballroom with 80% of its ceiling covered in crystal chandeliers. It features a retractable showcase for pieces of art, a mount of LCD monitors and embedded speakers, as well as stages for entertainment. The hall opens to an indoor/outdoor bar, green rooms, powder rooms and allows access to a nearby "entourage room" for security guards and assistants to relax.

Ambani plans to occasionally use the residence for corporate entertainment, and the family wants the look and feel of the home's interior to be distinctly Indian; 85% of the materials and labor will come from outside the U.S., most of it from India.

Where possible, the designers say, whether it's for the silver railings, crystal chandeliers, woven area rugs or steel support beams, the Ambanis are using Indian companies, contractors, craftsmen and materials firms. Elements of Indian culture juxtapose newer designs. For example, the sinks in a lounge extending off the entertainment level, which features a movie theater and wine room, are shaped like ginkgo leaves (native to India) with the stem extending to the faucet to guide the water into the basin.

On the health level, local plants decorate the outdoor patio near the swimming pool and yoga studio. The floor also features an ice room where residents and guests can escape the Mumbai heat to a small, cooled chamber dusted by man-made snow flurries.

For more temperate days, the family will enjoy a four-story open garden. In profile, the rebar-enforced beams form a "W" shape that supports the upper two-thirds of the building while creating an open-air atrium of gardens, flowers and lawns. Gardens, whether hanging hydroponic plants, or fixed trees, are a critical part of the building's exterior adornment but also serve a purpose: The plants act as an energy-saving device by absorbing sunlight, thus deflecting it from the living spaces and making it easier to keep the interior cool in summer and warm in winter. An internal core space on the garden level contains entertaining rooms and balconies that clear the tree line and offer views of downtown Mumbai.

The top floors of entertaining space, where Ambani plans to host business guests (or just relax) offer panoramic views of the Arabian Sea.

Indian Baby Girl Worshipped as Goddess Durga

Two-Faced Baby Worshipped As Goddess

Girl In Northern India Born With Rare Condition - Except For Ears, Has Duplicates Of Everything

SAINI SUNPURA, India, April 8, 2008

(AP) A baby with two faces was born in a northern Indian village, where she is doing well and is being worshipped as the reincarnation of a Hindu goddess, her father said Tuesday.

The baby, Lali, apparently has an extremely rare condition known as craniofacial duplication, where a single head has two faces. Except for her ears, all of Lali's facial features are duplicated - she has two noses, two pairs of lips and two pairs of eyes.

"My daughter is fine - like any other child," said Vinod Singh, 23, a poor farm worker.

Lali has caused a sensation in the dusty village of Saini Sunpura, 25 miles east of New Delhi. When she left the hospital, eight hours after a normal delivery on March 11, she was swarmed by villagers, said Sabir Ali, the director of Saifi Hospital.

"She drinks milk from her two mouths and opens and shuts all the four eyes at one time," Ali said.

Rural India is deeply superstitious and the little girl is being hailed as a return of the Hindu goddess of valor, Durga, a fiery deity traditionally depicted with three eyes and many arms.

Up to 100 people have been visiting Lali at her home every day to touch her feet out of respect, offer money and receive blessings, Singh told The Associated Press.

"Lali is God's gift to us," said Jaipal Singh, a member of the local village council. "She has brought fame to our village."

Village chief Daulat Ram said he planned to build a temple to Durga in the village.

"I am writing to the state government to provide money to build the temple and help the parents look after their daughter," Ram said.

Lali's condition is often linked to serious health complications, but the doctor said she was doing well.

"She is leading a normal life with no breathing difficulties," said Ali, adding that he saw no need for surgery.

Lali's parents were married in February 2007. Lali is their first child.

Singh said he took his daughter to a hospital in New Delhi where doctors suggested a CT scan to determine whether her internal organs were normal, but Singh said he felt it was unnecessary.

"I don't feel the need of that at this stage as my daughter is behaving like a normal child, posing no problems," he said.

Holiday Shopping at Durga Interiors

Once again we are in the midst of the holiday season and some of us (as always) are running low on time as to what to get for those who "have everything." Here are some fantastic gift ideas that are not only unique and practical, but are also easy on the pocketbook:

1950's Vintage Perfumed Boxes

We came across these amazing little vintage painted boxes from the 1950's while we were in Lucknow, North India.  The boxes range in all sort of sizes and have beautiful old paint and patina on them.  What's so special about these small painted boxes, you say?  Well, there was quite a tradition in North India back then to apply fragrant oils to the interiors of containers that would hold letters, jewelry or other personal effects.  The boxes we found had all been perfumed with sandalwood, jasmine or champa oils.  With time the perfume is not as heady and strong as it probably once was, but the fragrance is still there - as is the romance of India. With such an extraordinary romantic history attached to these beautiful boxes, we couldn't resist and tried to acquire as many as we could get our hands on. We find that these little boxes make great gifts since they are all unique and versatile and also come in a range of great prices.

Rajasthani Music Men

These charming music men hail from the State of Rajasthan in Northwest India.  Wearing their traditional colourful garb, they are each playing regional musical instruments such as the bansuri (flute), dholkis (drums), sarangi (Indian violen) etcetera.  We acquired these little guys from small towns scattered all over Rajasthan such as Kota, Pali and Bikaner from estate sales and private collections.  Perfect little conversation pieces!

Glass Candle Holders

Who can resist these handcrafted little glasses with such an Old World charm!  We were introduced to a lovely couple in Delhi who had their entire inner courtyard in their old mansion lit with these amazing glittering lightholders.  The soft colourful light imparted by these glasses transported us to another place and we decided that we had to have some for our store back home.  We like the fact that these candle holders are rustic looking and the metellic trims are done by hand.  They are simple and unpretentious, but are definitely exotic and create quite an atmosphere!  These "accent" candle holders come in a variety of colours and textures and are great throughout the year for any part of your living space.

Old Delhi Horses

The fact that we personally love horses made it easy to look for and collect a variety of old wooden horses from North India.  We found an amazing variety of graceful old toy horses from Old Delhi from the 1940's.   These horses come in a variety of styles, colours and sizes and all have beautiful original paint.  These figurines are sophisticated would make perfect gifts for others and for yourself!

Rajasthan Elephants

On our last trip to Rajasthan, we found a great collection of vintage wooden elephants from the cities of Jaipur and Jodhpur from private collections.  We love the bright colours and the impressive details of these regal animals and made sure we collected those that have their trunks lifted up for good luck!  These elephants are also from the 1940's and some are even older.  A fantastic variety of elephants in stock to pick from.

Winter 2007/2008 Collection

Residential Inspiration

Summer Trip to India

On a lighter note, as you may already know, we here at DurGa InterioRs are having a summer sale on almost all our stuff. Initially when we received our first container from India in April of 2007, and opened DurGa InterioRs' doors beginning of May, we underestimated the volume of business that we were soon going to be blessed with. By mid June, it was evident to us that the April container is not going to take us to January of 2008 (when we had planned to go to India for a buying trip). With Christmas in mind and requests from our customers for specific pieces, it was clear that one of us would have to go to India right away. We quickly made plans and within less than a week I was in India. Despite the extreme heat (47 degrees at times) some amazing pieces were sourced.

I was in India for only two weeks or so, but thanks to my many hardworking sourcers who track down pieces for me in India while I am here in Canada, the trip was well organized and we didn't waste too much time locating items. Ultimately it was a tremendously fruitful trip and well worth the heat and dust. I truly believe that India must be experienced in all seasons - granted summer is not the most comfortable season to travel in India - it has a certain charm that can only be enjoyed in the summer heat.  Winters in India are comfortable, but also packed with tourists (local and international).  You can almost say that India gets "culturally diluted" in the colder months.  When you hear more German, French, English and Italian (among other languages) on the streets of Pushkar (little holy city in Rajasthan) than Hindi, you know you are not getting the real picture.  You are constantly battling throngs of people in restaurants, historic sites, bazaars, and sometimes trying to figure out if a certain ceremony is an actual event or just a "show" for the tourists gathered around taking pictures.   Summers are when the country returns to the locals and the country comes alive with brilliant colours and traditional festivals to venerate the many deities and welcome the rainy season - they are ceremonious, but still manage to remain untheatrical and refreshingly simple.  And that experience, of course, can only be enjoyed when you are in the midst of the monsoon weather. 

It was, however, nice to return home after all the excitement of the trip and enjoy the cool (almost cold) weather again. We at that time decided to have a sale to make some room in the store for the upcoming container (expected to arrive about mid September) and to bring forth more stuff from our warehouse to showcase what's more to come in the future. The sale has also proven to be quite an incentive to many to finally treat themselves to that certain piece they had been eying for a while.   It's fun to be indulgent sometimes and a sale always helps!  The sale lasts for about another ten days, so come on down and check it out!   

Thank you!

Saturday, 4th of August, marked DurGa InterioRs three month anniversary!  We would, first and foremost, like to take this opportunity to thank all those wonderful people who have come to our store and supported us in these first three months of business.  Opening a brand new business can be such an intimidating experience for many and we had our share of fears and doubts when we ventured out to open DurGa Interiors.  However, we have received nothing but enormous amounts of encouragement and love from all those that we have encountered and for that we thank you.  We cannot express to you how much we appreciate your patronage and support.  We look forward to serving you for a long time to come!

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