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December 29, 2005
Simply charming
This week Gloria Caleb visits a house that follows the ‘less is more’ philosophy
Most homes give the appearance of being over-crowded showrooms rather than warm abodes that welcome both family and friends. It’s very rare that one finds a tastefully decorated house that is free from clutter. The home of Saba and Afzal Khan is a breath of fresh air, owing to the fact that the nooks and corners have breathing space.
As one stands outside the gate one can’t help but admire the use of plants. A nearby manhole has been sensibly covered with pot plants just as the space outside the boundary wall has lush green grass. However, strangely enough, as soon as one enters the gate not many plants are seen inside the house.
While moving through the main door there are two passages, one that leads to the lounge and another to the drawing room. The drawing room is adorned with lovely crystal pieces and carved cream furniture with a very light touch of gold at the edges. An extensive use of pale pastels are obvious in the house.
The TV lounge greets one with a view into the kitchen through an open window bar. A small breakfast room is accessible through a passage on the left.
In the lounge there is an exquisitely designed table which gives the impression of a glass top resting on a huge candle stand. In the dining room, there is an appealing mahogany dining table with a Chinese tray on it. The lighting is warm and a chandelier provides a glow that gives the place a cosy look.
Up a whirling staircase one finds loads of family pictures that give the place warmth. There is a bookshelf with a number of interesting books which invite visitors to sit and read. The bedrooms break the colour norm and one finds a sudden shift
from pale pastels to a bold and bright look. The décor here, too, is very practical and sticks to the no clutter philosophy.
One thing that was very striking in some rooms of the house was that even though the use of pale pastels was extensive, a single wall in the room was painted orange and red. This added colour and accentuated the pastel shades used in the room.
On visiting Saba’s house, one thing that becomes extremely evident is that a house need not be furnished elaborately to look good. There is charm in simplicity.
Photographs by A.S. Ahmed
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