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Heights
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Design -
Indian Design & Interiors
(2002) |
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Says Pradeep: “This house is very
special to me and my wife. It gives us a deep sense of
achievement.” While the clever culling out of space creates a
roomy feel, the lush colours and textures find an aesthetic
setting against an all-white background. The floors too are
covered with large white tiles with the black skirting for an
understated definition of space. As one enters, the stairs leading
up to the living quarters are to the right of the large space
which is Pradeep’s Office. At the top of the stairs, a glass panel
with a colourful peacock, executed by Anshu, ushers the visitors
in to a tidy dining area with a cane table and chairs in fiery
red. The carved, Rajasthani mirror on the wall is an interesting
focus. |
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The well-demarcated living space is
a short flight up from here. The interiors are a fine fusion of
the ethnic and the contemporary. Fresh greens and plenty of
flowers arranged in artistic abandon go with all the overall mood
of casual chic.
One wall is taken up almost entirely
by a wooden mural executed in mirror and zinc oxide paints –
another of Anshu’s creations. A similar mural goes alongside the
stairs leading from the living space to the master bedroom. Says
Anshu: “I love the mirror work that one sees in the rustic huts in
the Rann of Kutch. The nomads create works of art from mud and
tiny pieces of mirror. I coundn’t wait to try out something in my
own home. Also, I read somewhere that Fengshui experts say mirrors
bring about positive energy flow.” At the far end of the living
space, a couple of steps down is a charming verandah complete with
a curvaceous garden seat built into the wall. Hardy outdoor
cushions and potted plants dress up this area. |
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On the same level as the dining
space, through a small door, is the spacious kitchen. The hues
here are white and canary yellow. Yellow, because it is
associated with the element of earth which is said to impart a
harmonious sense of unity and wholeness to living spaces. The
breakfast table corner shows off sunshine yellow tiles with a
delightful outburst of flowers and cherries painted by Anshu.
The greens are evident here too – in little pots, a copper
lota; even a broken cup sports a sprightly twig of
moneyplant. A happy corner to start the day. Akshar, 11, loves
to spend a little time here every morning before rushing off
to school. |
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Says Anshu: “I enjoy cooking for the
family, so this is an important space for me. We entertain a lot
and that’s when the adjoining wash area comes in handy and keeps
the kitchen clutter-free.” Utility spaces such as these
interspersed into the bigger areas go a long way in rendering this
small house a comfortable home to live in.
The levels are interconnected with
short flights of stairs which have been kept deliberately narrow
to enhance the feeling of space in the living areas. Says Pradeep:
“I wanted to duplicate the experience one has, when, after having
driven through a narrow lane, one makes a sudden entry onto a
broad highway.” There is a definitive psychological approach to
design. Contrasts in volumetric area abound. For instance, while
the kitchen and dining space have a seven ft high ceiling, the
living room has a 13 ft high ceiling. The bedroom looks down onto
the living room through a huge window which creates better
ventilation and connectivity. The adjoining bathroom too is at two
levels. |
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The children’s bedroom, a short flight up from
the main bedroom, opens out to a sunny verandah and is a riot
of colours. The yellow and white bunk beds and full-length
mirrored almirahs look good and allow plenty of floor space
for Akshar and his sister, Praachi, to use as they please. The
under-bed area too has been converted to closets to put away
play things. Say Anshu: “My kids hardly spend time on the beds
or their desks. They move so naturally to the floor while
working on puzzles, painting or even studying.” |
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The walls have been transformed
into vast canvasses for the children’s creative outputs. From
cartoon characters and models of cars and dolls to pin-ups of
drawings and sketches that are changed frequently, this is an
ideal getaway, far from prying adult eyes.
The room opens to the terrace
secured on three sides are presenting a great view of the
Aravali Mountains dotted with the ruins of the Delhi
Sultanate. Done up in lush greens and pretty terracotta
images, this is a quiet area to mediate in, while away a
winter afternoon reading or just to relax in with a cuppa and
watch the sun do down on the capital, before the evening
lights beckon you in. |
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