JOIN USAccessories that add colour
The first time I saw this home, the beauty of the potted flaming red anthuriums that made a great contrast with the green leaves at the entrance struck me.
Again, what I noticed was that each of the pots was placed over a small iron black stand that ensured there were no marks on the floor.
Marvelling at the attention to detail, I stepped into the first floor home of R Narasimha Murthy and his wife Jayanthi.
As we got talking, I quickly realised that what has worked for this home is that the couple thinks alike and chooses every accessory together. “It’s important that we agree, as otherwise there could be a lot of unnecessary arguments on what to buy and what not to,” they explain.
What helped them build their dream home is that they had the concept very clear and their architect Arundati was able to translate the same into reality. The hall is fairly large and also houses the dining area leading into an open kitchen. The colour scheme in the hall is in hues of browns, beiges, copper and gold.
“I like antiques and hence we have made a conscious effort to buy accessories that have the heritage look,” explains Murthy. This is also why there are pillars sourced from Kerala with brass hanging lamps that adorn the hall. The main attraction of the hall is a hollow area on the wall that has textured paint and a host of interesting artefacts that serve as the highlight in this space. This space incidentally opens to a skylight.
Simple yet functional
The furnishings are simple yet functional and because the dining and kitchen areas are seamlessly integrated, there is a good sense of space created. The modular kitchen is done up with woodwork and there are cupboards to store not just provisions but also the utensils. “On a lighter note, we can quickly stash everything inside if we have unexpected guests,” says Jayanthi.
The kitchen also has food related knick-knacks that are placed interestingly to accentuate the look of the space. Going with the overall theme, drinking water is actually stored in a copper pot! Attached to the kitchen is an outdoor utility area. All the accessories have been picked up from different parts of Bangalore and at the various exhibitions that are regularly held in the City.
This is a two-bedroom home. The one used by their daughter Meghana is done up in hues of blue and saves space using an interesting elevation where the study area is on one level and the bed is a pull-out unit under the study. This room has two washrooms on both ends and cupboards with a built-in mirror. The other room used by the couple again makes use of a small space in an innovative manner.
A small stairway leads you to an area that has a treadmill and also doubles up as a meditation area. A small balcony with a recliner provides a bit of the outdoor feel as well. This space has a wooden flooring and is used as a relaxing zone. A special mention also needs to be made of the light fixtures in this home. From a chandelier in the hall to new-age light accessories that drop from the ceiling at varying heights, the interplay of light is used interestingly. Because Murthy runs a catering business, his office is housed in the mezzanine floor of this building.
Lawn on the terrace
The highlight of this home is the terrace that houses a guest room, kitchen garden and a terrace garden complete with a perfectly manicured lawn! A portion of the wall has a beautiful terracotta mural and this space also has a separate counter to serve food and drinks when this family entertains guests for their private parties and functions.
“We can use this space to entertain about 100 guests,” they explain. The kitchen garden is a treat and you get to spot fruits such as anjeer, pomegranate, chikoo and mangoes. You also have many greens like spinach, fenugreek and even basil here. Varieties of flowers add a dash of colour here. Moreover, there is a compost unit that converts all the wet waste generated at home into manure for use in the garden - this is certainly a great example of growing green in the organic way! There are two benches and a swing as well in this space.
“We have a gardener who comes in every day to maintain this space. Re-potting is done typically once a year and the medication and manure regime is carried out monthly. “I always wanted a garden and because we did not have much space, we opted for a terrace garden after doing the appropriate water proofing,” says Murthy.
There is also a whole lot of delightful bonsais that add a touch of charm to this charming garden. The house took a year to be constructed and is six years old. “You would find it hard to believe this, but almost every day for the first five years, we had someone or the other coming by to see our home,” says Jayanthi.
This home is a reflection of the sensibilities of its owners and in their own words, “we feel like we are in heaven, when we come back here.” Incidentally, the only aspect that could not be accommodated for lack of space is a swimming pool but Murthy signs off saying, “I am sure we will have an opportunity to build another house where we can fulfill that dream.” And knowing the couple’s passion for doing up their home, it seems that this dream is not too way off.
Space matters
* The furnishings are simple yet functional and because the dining and kitchen areas are seamlessly integrated, a sense of space is created.
* From a chandelier in the hall to new-age light
accessories that drop from the ceiling at varying heights, the interplay of light is used interestingly..
* The main attraction of the hall is a hollow area on the wall that has textured paint and a host of interesting artefacts that serve as the highlight in this space.