With Dassera and Diwali around the corner, Khursheed Dinshaw picks out home décor and gift ideas you can use

Light Up!
Boocha Electric Stores stocks a wide range of lamps from hanging handmade paper lanterns in enchanting shapes, hues and sizes, clip-on jute or cloth shades lined with plastic which you can use directly on light bulbs, to fancier shades and chandeliers. They can also customise shades for you. Festivity always calls for the warm glow of candles. D-light’s range of candles is a real mood-setter for dinners or to simply light up your home. The cheerful glow of their outdoor candles lend the right touch of festivity.

Price range:
Hanging paper lanterns Rs.100 onwards.
Bulb clip-on shades Rs. 80 onwards.
Candles Rs.30-100 for regular sizes.

Boocha Electric Stores,
14-B, M.G. Road,
Pune – 411 001,
Phone: 26131360.

D-light,
Super Mall, Shop No. G-21,
Ground floor, Salunke Vihar Road,
Wanowrie,
Pune – 411 040,
Phone: 56208915.
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Jute, Beads and Bells
For unusual torans and curtains, check out Osmose. They use beads and brass bells woven with jute. They’ll custom-make them for you too.

Price range:
Jute torans Rs.150-400.
Curtains Rs. 400-1,000.

Osmose,
Taha House, Salunke Vihar Road,
Pune – 411 048,
Phone: 26811635.
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Wood Cheer
Visit Timber for their eclectic wall brackets, magazine and newspaper racks and their inventive portable bar. This dinky bar in teak wood has enough space for a couple of your favourite liquors, two glasses, soda, water or soft drink. It has a drip tray, compartments for your ice-pail and bottle opener and even space for hand napkins and coasters. A set of matching wooden coasters comes free.

Price:
Portable bar Rs. 3,000.

Timber,
93, M.G. Road,
Pune – 411 001,
Phone: 26346156 / 26333041.
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Ceramic Creations
Dalip Daswani is now well-known for his colourful range of handmade designer pottery. His ovenproof ceramic tableware in interesting shapes, glazes and embellishments will certainly make your festive table look striking. Check out his quaint ceramic foot scrubbers in creative shapes. These are high fired and sturdy for heavy-duty use.

Price range:
Tableware Rs. 100 onwards.
Foot scrubbers Rs. 80-100.

Dalip Daswani,
The Alchemist, 6, Sind Hindu Housing Society,
Lullanagar,
Pune – 411 040,
Phone: 26832659 / 26830117.
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Nature Indoors
Plant murals by Madhavi Chandan allow you to bring greenery right inside your home. These thematic works of art are delightful and unique.

Price range:
Rs.1, 500 onwards.

Madhavi Chandan,
B-4, Maurya Apts,
Naylor Road, Off Mangaldas Road,
Near Madhumilan Karyalaya,
Pune-411 001,
Phone: 31022100.
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Green Essence
Chinese Money Trees and Fortune Bamboo are said to bring luck and prosperity, making them perfect gift ideas. The braided variety of the Money Tree and the dancing, spiral or braided variations of the Fortune bamboo are now available at Shamun’s and Jagtap Nursery. Bonsais too make attractive and unusual gifts.

Price range:
Lucky plants Rs.130 -2,800,
Bonsais Rs. 100 upwards.

Jagtap Nursery,
3, Phayre Road,
Behind S.M. Joshi Hindi High School,
Near Golibar Maidan,
Pune- 411040,
Phone: 2636343.

Shamuns,
93, M.G Road,
Pune-411 001,
Phone: 26333091.
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Funky Beads
Check out Zot – a line of bead jewellery available at Osmose. Young designer Jaya Dange’s combinations and colours range from the funky to the classic. Earrings, bracelets and necklaces are available in sets. Jaya will custom-make jewellery for you too. Price range: Rs. 100-500.

Osmose,
Taha House, Salunke Vihar Road,
Pune – 411 048;
Jaya can be contacted at 92255 28458.
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Chocolate Delights
Sweeten the festive season with a delicious range of assorted chocolates from Choco Bliss. Available in 7 flavours, you can place orders for larger quantities.

Price: Rs.500 a kg.

Choco Bliss,
3, Krantiveer Tatya Tope CHS,
Pune – 411 040, Phone: 56221449.
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Box Perfect
Dress up your gifts with chic handmade paper bags and boxes. Smita Bafna and Pooja Botra use shells, sequins, mirrors, ghungroos, candy sticks and other charming touches.

Price range: Rs.20 onwards.

Smita Bafna & Pooja Botra,
Beyond Horizon
“Padmohan”, Plot No. 63,
Vidyanagar Society, Market Yard (Gultekdi),
Pune – 411 037,
Phone: 24261729 / 9822602406.