Page 63 - MASALA Vol 8 Issue 6 June-July 2017

From left to right: The TV room; The bright yellow Indian fresco

Once through a heavy wooden studded door with enormous
brass leaf door handles, we enter. The immediate feeling is one of
relaxation, spiked by interest. We’ve spotted what appears to be a
large antique Tibetan cabinet just inside. Except it isn’t. “This is my
favourite piece,” says Kanika. “Do you see the painted design of
the cabinets? It contains eight emblems of good fortune.” We start
touching and admiring it, and are shocked to hear our host say: “Of
course it isn’t real. I don’t believe in antiques. I wouldn’t like to bring
something into my home whose origin I was unsure about.” This
beautiful piece had taken about a year to make, and has clearly
been fabricated with love and care.

Another lovely piece in the main hall is an ancient looking gold
pattern edged bar, complete with wooden compartments for bottles The kitchen features white topped counters and glass fronted
and glasses. It is a beautiful looking thing. But what of the overall display cabinets
décor? Modern contemporary with a high spec finish that lends itself Through to one side sits the TV room with windows for walls,
beautifully to its Indian accents and lovingly added fixtures. looking out onto the garden and its bright yellow Indian fresco –
one of the few spots of colour in this otherwise dark enclave. The
statement piece is a dark grey sofa, adapted to fit the space with
an additional section. The cushions of three shades of gold remind
us that not a single detail has been overlooked. Two additional
leather chairs, of Swedish design, provide sink in yet long-lasting
comfort, and the Indian design wood coffee table breaks up the
modernity with a long breath of culture.

Back through the main hall, we enter the open-plan dining room,
whose robust square wood table and cushioned upright chairs
are lit up with three Moroccan-style pendant lamps. Like in the
TV room, the outside space is invited in here, with floor-to-ceiling
windows overlooking pebble-lined decking.
Modern the design most definitely is, you won’t find the
predictable large kitchen-diner here. Though separate, the kitchen
is every bit the design that Kanika had in mind. From the white
topped counter, to the glass fronted display cabinets Kanika found
The beautiful bar and copied from a magazine, everything is beautifully presented.
She even got the separate counter for the help-yourself coffee and
toast corner she wanted. A downstairs bedroom, designed with her
mother-in-law in mind, completes the space.

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