An American Home with a South Indian Heart!

“The magic thing about home is that it feels good to leave, and it feels even better to come back.” Have you noticed that the most you think about home is when you’re not at home? Students in hostel, young professionals in new cities, or expatriates living abroad all know this feeling too well. And it may not be possible to come back when they want. However, that isn’t an issue when you recreate the magic of home wherever you are. Ask Nithya Karthik – she’s done it!

Nithya is a software professional settled in US, and she lives with her husband, Karthik, and 7 year old twin daughters. Besides her day job, Nithya is a home décor enthusiast and an artist who loves DIY with a passion. Having a large part of her early years in Kerala, Madurai, Mumbai and Karnataka, she has tried to imbibe parts of all these cultures in her beautiful home, where every corner echoes the rich culture of traditional Indian art forms and textiles.

“I truly believe that your home is true reflection of who you are. I want to bring in the flavor of Indian traditions and heritage and thus started my home décor journey with antique collections, traditional paintings and classical arts and crafts. Over the years, I have inherited and collected many brass and vintage items.” Nithya displays these items with pride across her home, starting from her entry way and spreading to all parts of the house.

A big part of this collection are Nithya’s beloved Idols. “I am particularly enamored by the depiction of deities especially by the crest jeweled, peacock feathered blue eyed boy Lord Krishna.” This love is obvious, from the Krishna painting series in the living room to a stunning idol of the blue God and a cabinet that features a cute baby Krishna.

And it’s not just Krishna, Nithya also loves the other Gods. She has an idol of Nataraja and a beautiful idol of the Goddess Shakthi flanked by two candle stands. There is also a mural painting of Lord Maha Vishnu with Goddess Lakshmi, which has been hung in a strategic position so that it is visible from all parts of the home – the living room, foyer entrance and even upstairs.

Navrathri is Nithya’s favorite festival. She goes all out during this time, setting up her golu, or traditional doll display in lots of detail. The result is truly an impressive setup, and everything is arranged very neatly!

Buddha is also a common feature in Nithya’s home, and makes a presence in various spots. The Buddha idols are usually accompanied by plants or flowers, whether they’re in a corner of the home or out in the garden.

Speaking of plants, Nithya has quite the green thumb! “I love having colorful floral and green plants sprinkled amidst the ethnic Indian décor.” Her home is proof of how well these various decor elements go together. What’s more, she also has some really cute planters that add a quirky charm to her spaces!

As mentioned earlier, Nithya loves art, and is particularly passionate about traditional Indian art forms. “I admire all Indian art forms and get inspired by it. So far, I have tried my hands on Kerala Mural art, Madhubani art, Kalamkari art, Pichwai art, Warli art, and other modern and traditional art forms. From a very young age, I had always had a passion for art. I do that mostly to relax and unwind myself from my routine. Every wall of my house has a story to tell.” We can attest to this fact, as the house is covered with evidence of Nithya’s artistic spirit! Her Kolam DIYs showcase the lessons she learnt from her grandmother, while the many fabric frames she has made display her love for Indian textiles.

She also works with other crafty knick knacks to create unique decor items, like a craft stick wall hanging, a tape resist artwork and even a chandelier!

Nithya’s main love is painting, and she has many of her own pieces around the home. From cute little trays to framed Warli art, she has done a lot of work, and many of her pieces find pride of place on a special wall she calls her DIY wall!

It’s probably this love for colors that reflects all across her rooms. Just like her beautiful saree she wears, she also infuses her home with colors in many forms. That’s why every room looks so bright and cheery as soon as you enter!

As soon as you enter, you’re greeted with lots of greenery and color in her sunny and cheerful living room. Bright cushions make the sofa all cozy, while the coffee table has pretty traditional decor elements that go perfectly with the aesthetic.

A staircase goes up from the living room, and even this usually ignored place is filled with art in this home. It’s true! Whether it’s a me-space Nithya has carved out for herself or a zen-like, relaxing backyard, there’s not a boring spot in this home!

With so much greenery, traditional idols, shiny antiques and charming knick knacks, Nithya has carved out a cosy, beautiful and welcoming home away from home. Even though the house is physically in the United States, you can see that the hearts of the homeowners are still in their homeland. This is a home where the old lives with the modern, where heirloom antiques go side by side with DIYs and all kinds of festivals are celebrated. A true embodiment of how different things can come together to create something stunning!