Artfully Artless

"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.