BCBSMaxazria, From the Fall 2013 Collection, shown in New York.

BCBSMaxazria, From the Fall 2013 Collection, shown in New York.

BCBSMaxazria, From the Fall 2013 Collection, shown in New York.

BCBSMaxazria, From the Fall 2013 Collection, shown in New York.

BCBSMaxazria, From the Fall 2013 Collection, shown in New York.

BCBGMAXAZRIA’s Runway Collection on Lyst.

The home and lifestyle brand was created by Sachin and Babi Ahluwalia, individuals who have provided their art and couture hand embroideries and textiles to “esteemed” fashion houses. In other words, the textiles and the beading behind many great fashion and couture brands.

The stores carry textiles, pillows, table settings, furniture and each piece is stamped with Sachin’s and Babi’s unique view of textile and detail.

There are touches of India throughout. We’re not sure how one marries such obvious Indian influences with contemporary design and decor, but these two do. And BohoMamma must tip a hat when artists and creatives are able to look at something, see it differently and then translate their vision into goods we’ve not seen before. Unique is a good word for the brand; and well, BohoMamma does appreciate uniqueness in any form.

BohoMamma first fell in love with the Sequined Happy Buddha Chair, the Buddha Head Chair and the sequined Skeleton Head Chair in Green. (The  images on the Ankasa website do not do these chairs justice).

And the pillows! The pillows! The detailing is art.

Ankasa Christmas Stockings with Fur, Pearls, Stones and Leather Detail.

Customization is available, so if you find a color of fabric or a bead that you prefer, pillows and other items can be custom ordered from the stores. Just think, one can create that pink sequined skull pillow that you never knew you wanted until you see what these two do with sequined skull pillows.

BohoMamma also fell in awe with the brand’s pillows, because so many of the pillows mix materials.

Not many lifestyle brands put such effort and thought into the details of pieces that we can now assume (with the opening of the Soho Store in April) is growing into a brand that will one day expand outside of Manhattan.

One of our favorites is the Silver Sequin Pillow with silver sequins and chocolate leather.

Ankasa is that beat one step ahead of what some of the other designer home brands offer (and the prices are similar, if not in some cases, less than the other designer home brands).

But the reason we are here.

BohoMamma sometimes walks into the Madison Avenue store when we have a few minutes to spare before after school pickup and there in the window were these stockings.

These are not ordinary Christmas stockings: these are stockings with faux fur, pearls, leather straps… These are heirlooms. Beautiful heirlooms that I want to pass to our daughter and our son.

So, I bought two and when we said that we would like to feature the stockings on BohoMamma, we were invited to the opening of the Soho store, where even more heirlooms disguised as Christmas stockings were awaiting us.

We had a moment to speak with Babbi and I said, “I love the stockings.”

And she said, “Oh, aren’t they cute?”

And I needed a moment to process cute,  because under no circumstance are these stockings ever, ever to be referred to as cute (unless you designed the stockings, in which case, feel free).

One of ours setting up lights and her Ankasa Stocking (deep blue with jewels).

Honestly, we have just shifted from shoe obsession to stocking obsession and are a little concerned with the 11-months of the year that we will not be able to get our hands on these things. BohoMamma wants to collect these stockings and to pass these stockings to our grandchildren.

If you’re interested in seeing a fuller selection of the home furnishings, including the stockings, visit the Soho store, but Miquel in the Madison Avenue store, loves what he does and he can tell you anything about the product or the brand.

The stockings carry names such as Blitzen, Comet and Dancer and prices range from $125 – $150. See Ankasa for more information.

Many of the murals available today are peel and stick, making installation much easier than a coat of paint, and the impact greater.

For those who prefer to display their own photographic art, Easy Wallz allows customers to upload an image and have the same created into a mural to their size and dimensions (the minimum is 12 Square Feet).  Eazy Wallz reviews the image to ensure a resolution suitable to the dimensions you’d like to order and then sends a link within a day or two, which then allows the customer to proceed to purchase.

And we have absolutely fallen in love with the Neon Indoor Swing.

Work No. 992, 2009 by Martin Creed

• Work Number 992, 2009, Artist: Martin Creed.

Neon Green Yellow Pendant Light by Earth Sea Warrior on Etsy

• Neon Yellow Green Pendant. Available at Sea Warrior on Etsy.

Loui Vuitton Spring 2012

• Louis Vuitton Overnight Bag in Neon. Spring 2012.

Neon Highlighter Pencils. Available at The Fancy.

• Neon Highlighter Pencils. Available on TheFancy.

Neon Swing by Cirkus.

• Neon Swing. Available at The Collection.

Neon Handmade Page Journals. By Cathy Durso on Etsy.

• Neon Handmade Page Journals by Cathy Durso on Etsy.

Browsing kitchen appliances I realized there has been a shift in the sensual factor to the bean machines that sit atop a counter.

Presovar Coffee Machine. Design by Martin Necas.

Conceptone Coffeemaker. Design by: Nico Tritschler

Bistro Coffeemaker. Available at Bodum, $250

Bodum Coffee & Tea Maker. Design by Sunny Ting Wai Wong.

So, I’m always on the hunt for furnishings and decor that have style, on a budget. When thinking about dorm room furnishings, here are a few of my must rules:

Price: Price. Well, you understand why price is important.

Functionality: In no other space is function quite as important as in a room where there is no space. Every piece of furniture should have purpose and if possible, should serve multiple purposes.

Light Weight: Furniture in a dorm room needs to be able to be able to be moved quickly and stored efficiently. Mom and Dad love their college careerists, but the furniture, not so much.

Neutral Pieces with Pops of Color: A college freshman’s tastes are going to change as he or she make their way through their college career. Pair quality pieces in neutral hues with what I call “color bombs”  (splashes of color via a lamp or painting). As the college student ages, he or she can replace the colorful pieces as their style and tastes change, but still have the basic pieces from which to build upon.

Everything Becomes a Part of the Decor:  Really…notebooks in bright pinks lined on a shelf are a part of the decor; as are the pencils in a cup. If one is looking to save money and to create a style, look for colorful pencils and notebooks and shelves. Or create an inspiration board with Washi tape. The idea is to use the items that a college student must have, as part of the decor.

•  Abstract Neon Yellow Ikat-Inspired Painting, 24″x30″, ChrisLovesJulia on Etsy, $125
• Black Stripe and Border Orange Washi Tape, ShopSweetLulu, $4.50
• Colored iPhone Alarm Docks available at Uncommon Goods, $30
• Love Candy Letterpress in Lemon, 16″x20″. Available at Jenniferramos on Etsy, $25
• Graphic Watercolor in Dark Teal, 9″x12″. Available at GalleryWall on Etsy, $10. Editor’s Note: West Elm has some very simple, chic white and black frames.
• Create an inspiration/calendar board with Washi Tape. Photography via Irideen on Blogspot.
• Be Somebody Poster. Available at Honeycombprintshop on Etsy, $45
• Crystal Pencils Set of 12 at Russell and Hazel, $72
• City Slicker Hot Pink Side Table at CB2, $199. Use as a TV stand, extra seating or to stack books.
• Think Big Pillow at One Kings Lane, $59.00
• Carpenter Bright Orange Table Lamp at CB2, $69.95
• Acapulco Chair at YLiving, $475
• Bella 3-Ring Leather Binders at SeeJaneWork, $55. Editor’s Note: I have these in orange and each member of our family has their own – in a different color. Chic, simple and colorful!
• White Fox Yellow Mini Refrigerator at M2cmart, $133

BohoMamma is still trying to determine how we feel about the color pink these days, what with the Susan G. Komen’s recent decision to stop offering grants to Planned Parenthood. So, we are now inspired by blush – a deliciously ladylike combination of pink and white and coral. Still beautiful. Still feminine and a bit of a modern update to traditional pink. 

And if you are so inclined, follow BohoMamma’s Pinterest Board, Blushed.

1. Skintronic iPhone 4S Pop Art Light Pink and White Phone Guard
2. Valentino Retrospective
3. Versace Campaign, Photography by Tobias Lundkvist
4. ‘Pink Amuse’ by Kirsten Hassenfeld
5. Source: Pink Cob Web
6. The Goethe Institute in Prague via Pinterest
7. Versace Campaign, Photography by Tobias Lundkvist
8. Cacharel Spring/Summer 2011
9. Christian Dior Fall/Winter 2012
10. Prada Saffiano Patent Leather Bag
11. Photography Credit: Style Me Pretty Photography