Nostalgia is the starting point for this Onam tablescape

Born and raised in Chennai, for Varsha Menon Kerala lives in the finer details: in the flavours, flowers, fragrances and stories that have travelled with her through family traditions and memories. Many of those details she also borrows from her two Malayali friends (also stylists), Fymin Naif and Nimitha Harith, who spent years in Kerala before moving to Chennai. The trio comes together every year for Onam when they find a way to bring these shared memories to the table. “No matter where we've been, we are all Malayalis so we gravitate towards each other anyway, and we're all good friends, so this was our way of bringing a little bit of Kerala home,” says Varsha. It’s the sense of nostalgia that has shaped this tablescape just as much as the materials did.

BH: Tell us about the brass accents that you have added to this table.

VM: The brass pieces felt like a natural addition to the table because they're inspired by things you see every day in Kerala. The banana bunch and banana flower are so closely associated with Onam and the harvest, and the brass dabba reminds me of traditional kitchens growing up. We wanted to take these familiar elements and present them in a slightly unexpected way, adding a bit of richness to the table while keeping the overall feeling rooted in nostalgia and tradition.

BH: Is there an heirloom, handcrafted object, or personal keepsake on the table that holds a special story?

VM: At the heart of the table is a handcrafted wooden Kerala boat, and it's probably the most personal piece in the setting. I bought it when we built our home, knowing it was something I wanted to live with for years rather than simply style for an occasion. To me, it represents craftsmanship, heritage and the quiet beauty of Kerala's waterways. I hope it becomes an heirloom that my daughter will one day take with her into her own home, carrying not just the object but the memories and traditions attached to it. I love the idea that meaningful design should be lived with, passed down and continue telling its story across generations.

BH: How can people incorporate regional craft into their festive tables without making the setting feel overly styled?

VM: My advice is to simply look around you and observe what feels personal and rooted in your region. It could be something as humble as a terracotta pot made by a local potter for serving a dish, a handwoven basket from a nearby artisan, or even a regional flower, fruit or vegetables incorporated into the tablescape. These pieces don't need to be expensive or perfectly styled, they just need to feel authentic.

BH: If someone wanted to recreate this look, which are some of the studios or local markets you'd recommend they explore?

VM: If I had to recommend one place, it would be an early morning trip to Chennai's Koyambedu Market. The sheer abundance of flowers, fruits and vegetables is incredibly inspiring, instantly getting your creative juices flowing. Beyond that, I always encourage people to explore what's local. Wander through your neighbourhood market, stroll through your own garden, and see beauty in what's already around you. For textiles, I love sourcing fabrics from Nalli 100 in Chennai and then having a simple table runner stitched by a local street tailor. For handcrafted Indian accents, The Vyala Store, HB Studio, Nicobar and Good Earth have wonderful collections. The key isn't to buy everything from one place, but to mix and layer pieces from different sources.