"I wanted a home that would soothe me when I walked in," says dilettante
Kalpana Kutty. And the calm yet colourful interiors of her modest 700 sq.
ft. two-bedroom apartment in suburban Mumbai corroborate this belief.
Quiet, curious shades of slaty green, vertical stripes in silvery grey and
an unusual collection of paintings set the tone in the living area that
has fundamental furniture. Practical, tastefully attired and simply
modern. With the startling hues of picks from across the world dotting the
space sparingly. "I love cooking for my friends but dislike the idea of
being cooped up in my creative corner.
So I pulled down the dividing wall
to make way for an open plan kitchen," says Kalpana. The dining table,
positioned to the right of the lounge, has supplementary wooden cubical
seats, and is a step away from the multi-purpose worktop interface with
the kitchen. On a camphor chest rests the telephone. But clearly the large, bleached birch stalks from Sri Lanka form the focal
point in the living space.
It's the consistent use of wooden flooring throughout the home, except in
the kitchen and bathrooms, that gives an impression of flowing space.
"I'm obsessed with harmony and symmetry," reveals Kalpana. And her
penchant finds expression in the muted pinks and greens that define the
clean, simple lines in the master bedroom. Unfettered, full of sunshine
and fresh breeze." I live for the light that the morning ushers into my
room. The sunlight picks up every colour and makes it bloom," she
enthuses.
The home steers an appealing mid-path between the stark and the zen.
"Every object in my home serves a purpose or it doesn't find place here,"
she says, explaining the absence of closets and pregnant lofts. And the
presence of blushful organza curtains, fragrant candles and a treasured
collection of CDs and black and white mounted pictures on the walls.
Crushed rose motifs speckle the feature wall. In the guest bedroom, the
floral extension makes a mark through the tiny, white blossoms sprayed on
the soft green walls. Accomodated here is the spacious, mirrored closet.
For Kalpana, home is a work in progress, forever. And living in a
personally designed residence gives her the sheer pleasure of immersing
herself in space. Virtually. |
