It's true that most people who've spent even a part of their life in Mumbai, find it hard to leave the city. And when they do leave, they find it difficult not to miss it. Designer Viveka Kumari is no exception. The baby-faced lady was a permanent figure in Mumbai's page-three circuit, thanks to her royal lineage, her bohemian wardrobe and her British husband Paul Smith's diplomatic designation. Currently in Cairo, where the family moved following Smith's posting, the mum of three feels that living in Mumbai makes it easier for one to absorb differences in people at every level.

But she does admit that living in the Egyptian capital has perks of its own. "My children are learning about a very relevant world religion which is so important," she says. "This is a liberal Muslim country where people are free to choose and practice their form of their religion and I feel very lucky that our children have been able to experience and imbibe this in their formative years."

Wise words from one who grew up in a city which is a veritable salad bowl of cultures. She reminisces. "By the age of eight, I had pretty much been to nearly any kind of ceremony and celebration India had to offer as it was such a fabulous amalgamation of the country in our building."

Kumari is here with a home décor collection, available at Yamini, that includes runners and cushion covers with a parallel range of beaded accessories and draws its inspiration from her trip to Maheshwar in 2004. "Sally Holkar of Women Weave took me there as my 40th birthday present. It was the gift of a lifetime as I fell in love and have been hooked since."

Kumari says has always had an inclination towards design. "I have always loved visual stimulation and expression," she informs, "My mother was an interior designer so I guess I always grew up around beautiful things and homes. Family events were always in Saurashtran and Kutchi ghagras and odhnis - hand woven brocades, beautifully embroidered and bandhnis."

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