March 31, 2005

Most houses possess a colour theme of mellow hues. Erum Haque finds one which uses a unique colour scheme

In our urban centres, where most of the houses follow a conventional colour scheme, Zeba and Javed Iqbal’s residence stands out due to its brown-brick facade and greenery.

The house is built on a large plot and half the area is covered with a well-maintained lush green garden.

A majestic wooden door serves as a perfect ingress. Carved in squares, the door has patterned frosted glass with wooden borders around it in the same shape. Both the glass and the door form a kind of a grid that gives a dramatic effect on the overall look of the house.

As one enters inside a large mirror surrounded by intricately carved black coloured wood, welcomes the visitor. The owners have used neutral hues on the inside walls that serve as a perfect backdrop for their cherished collection of paintings. These along with indoor plants, bring colour to the house.

The upholstery, drapery and the cool marble flooring complements the pale shade of the walls. The creme colour scheme makes the interiors look spacious, bright and cheerful.

The foyer leads to a large space that serves as a breather between the sitting and the drawing room. This area leads to the garden where seasonal flowers are in full bloom.

Natural light flows through a skylight in the roof adding to the openness of this area. Directly below the skylight, the pattern of the floor changes according to the sun’s moods thus breaking the monotony of the marble.

The interiors are modestly done with only the corners decorated with various artefacts. Lamps have been kept in the corners that enhance the overall look. The windows in the sitting and the drawing room are almost wall-length giving a fabulous view of the lawn.

The formal drawing room is elegant and capacious. The front wall has an intriguing painting of horses in between two wall-length windows. Arabian sofas are part of this room with bright red cushions.

Wrought iron tables with glass tops have been kept in the corner with lamps on them. The tables in the centre have crystal bowls, candles and books are placed strategically. In one of the corner stands an intriguing sculpture of hands joined together to form a wreath.

Another awe-inspiring piece is a woman’s face carved in fibreglass depicting womanhood. Light ema-nates from the pedestal on which it is kept adding orange and yellow shades to the sculpture.

The dining area is not interlinked with the drawing room as it is at the far end. A polished sheesham dining table stands in the centre. The windows in this room are also wall-length, covered with floral drapes.

A staircase with wrought iron green banister, adding a touch of colour to the house, leads to the upper floor. Underneath the staircase, a wooden breakfast table with a glass top has been placed essentially to fill the space.

The upper floor leads to the private space of the owners containing bedrooms and a TV lounge.

Devoid of gaudiness and unnecessary embellishments, the abode epitomizes elegance in the true sense of the word. It gives the feeling of being in another world where one can luxuriate in space and comfort.

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