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November 17, 2005
Creating one’s own niche
By Gloria Caleb
This week Gloria Caleb visits an apartment which is tastefully decorated in a limited budget
“The accessories in one’s house need not be expensive, they just need to blend well,” says Nazia Mushtaq whose home embodies her belief. The spacious corridors and rooms create the ambience of a townhouse rather than an apartment.
As you enter the house you are welcomed by the warmth of the drawing room that is at a split level, thus separating it from the rest of the house. The room is adorned with many crystal decoratives but the bone china pieces make the room colourful. On the walls hang paintings of famous artists, giving a rich look.
The tiled floor with a lovely rug in a dark shade of maroon and crème accentuate beautifully the colour of the upholstery of the room that is also crème in colour. The central table has a very interesting design. The table top is of glass with a frame that has carved horse-heads at each corner.
The passage is adorned with attractive antique furniture on which are kept exquisite pieces of Chinese art. The walls are adorned with papyrus paintings and wood carvings that Nazia bought from Nepal and Hong Kong.
On the left there is the dining hall, the walls of which are festooned with Chinese frames made of soap stone and mother of pearl. These are again in dark hues that complement the sideboard which is almost of the same shade. On the left there is a doorway that leads to a balcony with a fascinating view of the sea. There are a few cane chairs and a small settee that give the place a very comfy feel.
As we move through the passage that leads to the TV lounge we find its walls decked with photographs of the Northern Areas that were taken by Nazia’s father in the 50s. In the lounge there is a nice combination of ethnic and contemporary furniture.
The TV trolley and sofas are carved, and the upholstery used is beige and brown. Spread out on the floor is a dark maroon rug. The walls are adorned with hangings from Sri Lanka, Nepal and Indonesia, giving the room a Far Eastern look.
The television is placed in between two beige seats. In a corner we find a very interesting telephone table with a seat where one can sit comfortably while making a call. It also has a little cabinet that can be used to hold telephone directories and diaries. A lovely Hala vase with an exquisite colour combination and design sits at the side of the table.
As we move further we find the bedrooms; here again we see the use of pale hues and shades at their optimum level, making these rooms look very spacious.
Nazia claims that she did not spend a lot of money while decorating her house. She feels that everyone likes decorating their house, but if you can manage it economically there is nothing like it.
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