June 30, 2005 Space combined with aesthetics By Marium Nazir Most people living in large houses clutter up their interior. Marium Nazir writes about a house which has numerous collectibles in spacious surroundings A semi-detached house with an English façade, slanted red-tiled roof and French windows is pleasing to the eyes as you enter a white-tiled driveway, giving an eyeful of the lush green lawn and seasonal flowers. It is from the very entrance that the owner’s fondness for art and sculptures becomes evident. Hence the whole house has been decorated with artifacts and souvenirs acquired during visits abroad by Naureen and Ikhtiar. The wood and glass main door leads to a spacious foyer with drawing and dining rooms having sliding French doors on each side. A textured, rustic earthen tone with a wooden border has been used on the walls throughout the house. The colour scheme and the use of wood and plants give the house an organic touch. Minimal wall and ceiling fixtures, lamps and candles serve the purpose of soft lighting while emphasizing the painting on the walls and decorated corners. The artwork, the green of the indoor plants together with the rustic shade of the walls bring colour and brightness to the ambience. The emphasis is on open space, keeping in mind ‘less is more’. The drawing room has been done in mellowed hues of crème with windows covered with drapes in the same shade. In place of thick carpets, oriental rugs and centerpieces have been used complementing the bare beige marble flooring. The foyer ends in an archway opening onto the living room with huge carved wooden candleholders on each side. An eye-catching, black, marble wall fountain with etched sculptures of women welcomes the visitor. The wall beside it has a glass panel overlooking plants thus enhancing the capaciousness. In the very centre sits the life-size sculpture of a woman carved in wood. This room is sparsely, yet elegantly decorated. A black granite staircase leads to the upper and basement level. The basement has an indoor swimming pool and the den where the Baig family unwinds after a hard day’s work. The walls around the swimming pool have mirrors creating visual space. Inspired by Egyptian mythology, murals have been etched on the mirrors surrounding one side of the pool. The upper floor where the family spends most of the time has a TV lounge and bedrooms. The master bedroom is English-styled, decked with wooden furniture, a four-poster master bed and plush leather sofas. The house speaks volumes of the owner’s aesthetic inclination. Due to its resort-like serenity and comfort, and the couple’s penchant for giving parties, the open space is usually filled with people.

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