A Home Tour of colourful proportions

Came to this blogspace after years. Importantly, because I felt the need of space to say what I want to say (not ideal on Insta). And, possibly, also as the circulating hormones of a brand new 2023 are in play. 

Cutting to the chase, onto the tug of space that inspired me today, we are just back from a holiday in KL, Malaysia, graciously hosted by our friends Vernika and Anshu Nahar, their kids Ira and Viraj and Bagel, their darling fur-ball. Their home is located in the quietly posh Mont Kiara, (often stylised as Mont' Kiara), an affluent suburb at the northwest of downtown Kuala Lumpur, consisting mainly of high-rise residential condominiums and office complexes, with a robust ecosystem to support all daily and social needs. 

Their home-apartment, that they invested in and moved into recently, is spread over 4000 + square-feet of space, in a layout that lends as much credence to the living and kitchen or utility spaces, as to the  well-appointed bedrooms, lobbies, balcony and landing areas. For someone used to the pigeon holed expectations of Mumbai-living, it was a delirious entry into this home.

My attempt here is to share the rest of the drama of this home, in photos— the drama as much in the choice of colour on the walls, as in the choice of upholstery, contrast and detailing, and in the staging of art & artefact— a collection that they say, they are keenly building.

Mixing feminine flourishes with chic elegance into a vibrant, kaleidoscopic living space. From dramatic pops of pink, delicate tape trim details, jewel tones and florals, plush velvet, to lacquered, oriental console and sideboards, porcelain garden stools placed casually, embroidered throws for contrast and cosiness, to gorgeous Srinathhji on Pichwai -welcoming you at the entryway. Yet, the best part about this home for me is the sparse, uncluttered quality to the interiors, the unhindered flow of energy and vibe it lends to its spaces, despite the deliberate riot of colour, texture and form.

Eclectic, bold, brave and thoughtful.  

As always, I am ruing the many corners and rooms that I did not click photos of. Nonetheless... enjoy the visual splash!

Photo-Mural from my Mauritian break

Kite surfers abound, and a beach picnic

The romance of waiting for nothing

{Morne Public Beach}

Hotel Riu Creole : Stunning Orchid prints and cushions to match, merging outside with inside

The gorgeous coral rock formation; a snorkler's paradise

Welcome lobby auguring much stillness, the Buddha way

Thank You SriLanka

The desk that started it all

I’d first visited Srilanka /Jetwing Lighthouse at Galle exactly 10 years back, on a trip visiting friends in Colombo. We’d stepped in for tea on our way back from Galle on a day-trip from Colombo and the surreal closeness of the hotel to the sea and the near gothic impact of the, much known, staircase have been the visual imprints that I carried back home with me. I do remember saying (or at least telepathizing with N) – I want to visit again and stay in this hotel! Through years, ever so often, we’ve pondered and almost booked ourselves a SriLanka holiday. Almost!

What has to happen will happen when it will.  And finally this June of 2016, we found ourselves back in SriLanka. Nothing had changed much, in fact, the characteristic #timestoodstillness of the country, the gentleness of its folks, the gorgeous benevolence of landscape and the majestic presence of the Indian Ocean like the consistent beeping lifeline on the heart-monitor, all along the journey – everything about it was there! (not merely imagined in multiplied magnificence as memory makes it look). What was different for me was the sheer immersion that I was able to experience in all of SriLanka’s glory - Yala, Galle and finally, Colombo.

This post, however, is a rounding-off of that wish, an eulogy to Jetwing’s Lighthouse property in Galle—its  charming elegance and my expression of yayy at finally spending nights within its formidable walls.

Pic courtesy Jetwing

Perched on the Southwestern edge of SriLanka, in the former Dutch Colonial town of Galle, stands Jetwing Lighthouse, an immaculate testament to the iconic work of the revered Sri Lankan architect, Geoffrey Bawa. The hotel, to me, is a beautiful contradiction - between its inherent tranquility and in the way it sits besieged on a rocky outcrop overlooking the rough Indian Ocean that noisily crashes at its edges. If I had the allowance of renaming the hotel I would name it “Sounds of the Sea”.

In 1640, the Dutch captured Sri Lanka's second city, Galle, from the hands of the Portuguese. It is said that some 2,500 men stormed the fort, which, today regains its beautiful Dutch architectural style, and is one of the islands most visited attractions.

At the Jetwing Lighthouse there's a reminder of this rocky history of Galle. Entering the hotel a stairway looms where a striking depiction of the Portuguese landing at Galle, led by Lourenço de Almeida, who conquered the city in 1505, is crafted in metal, winding its way up to the top floor. The hotel is majestic in its setting and the spiral staircase in the entrance hall is powerful and telling.

The Staircase Sculpture 

{As described by JetWing : Designed by Geoffrey Bawa and sculpted by Laki Senanayake, the staircase monument at the entrance has its origin in a drawing the artist had done in 1961 entitled “The Portuguese arriving in Ceylon under a cloud”.  The sculpture, which is made out of copper and brass beaten and welded, depicts the arrival of the Portuguese invaders being repulsed by the Sinhala King and his army. At the foot of the staircase, Lorenzo de Almeida, the Portuguese General is surveying the scene through his telescope, while his soldiers disembark from his galleon and proceed upwards with horses and cannon while battling with the native warriors armed with spears and bows. At the top of the staircase, the Sinhala King sits on his throne playing his flute.}

Water-pond Courtyard leading to the Cinnamon Room

I’ve come back enchanted with another part of the property best described as the Water-pond Courtyard (in front of the Cinnamon Room). Geoffrey Bawa is known for his classic traits of openness to nature and large spaces and the inclusiveness of the outdoor within indoors. One such beautifully designed inclusion is the water-pond courtyard, which remains open to the sun and natural light. An enclosure designed to induce peace and quiet and allows you to absorb the natural breeze blowing in from the open corridors. The courtyard looks surreal by dusk when all the hanging lamps are lit up, with myriad reflections in the water.  

The courtyard lit up in myriad reflections

Floor tiling around the pond

The Desk by the Sea

I have spoken above of the surreal proximity of the hotel to the sea. I’ve lived next to the sea, with the Arabian Sea barely 100 metres away from all the windows of my home; but this proximity­ is something else—perhaps because of the way the sea sounds lashing into the rocks right below the 1^st/ 2^nd floor height of the hotel. Geoff Bawa’s visual creativity works brilliantly in making the best of this vantage closeness and in the appointment of the solo writing desk in the room as close as possible to this magnificence. You’ll almost feel criminal for not putting the pen to your life’s memoir (or at least start working on it) sitting right there! (pic at the top)

For more on the various themes inside the suites:

http://www.jetwinghotels.com/jetwinglighthouse/galle-5-star-hotel-suite.html

All images (with exception to Jetwing images) copyrighted to www.limegreenwalls.blogspot.com

Did you miss my article on Huffpost on Diwali DIYs !

Please read : http://www.huffingtonpost.in/homzin/8-ways-to-get-your-home-d_b_8449332.html?utm_hp_ref=india

On my way to Yoga on Diwali day

Trust you had a wonderfully lit Diwali. Have a Year ahead full of lightness & glow!

I ended up spending time with the two boys in my life in one of the most beautiful hotels in luscious Goa. Didn't really click pictures with an intent to post though am sharing some, more to be able to rewind later - for my own self.

Never imagined that simple leaves in an Uruli can create such magic

Beautiful floral Rangolis were created overnight, in every possible open public space that the hotel has. Yes, we were met with such resplendent glory on the Diwali morning

At the Foyer

Beautiful Bliss 

An Indian Summer In France : A Home Tour

Many youthful summers, many evenings loitering the local colony parks & lanes, many Autumnal days & nights during Pujo - year on year- were spent together with her. Ritu, didi (my big-sis), me and a gang of some others (who I am missing terribly as I write), had totally inseparable growing-up-together years, replete with escapades, incidents, some accidents, beguiling and widely discussed crushes (at times on the same boy), sharing of beds, food, sarees & clothing, shoes & secrets and just about everything else that early and teen years are romanced for! The perfect pre-20s of our lives which would not be half as memorable or wild without each other.

Cut to 2014, and I write this post today as a commemorative of our French summer soiree, and the last phase of that vacation spent in the absolutely idyllic city of Nantes, located on the Loire river, in the west of France. (In 2004, Time named Nantes as "the most liveable city in Europe").

Ritu (Ritu Bernaerts now) lives here in Nantes, with two lovely daughters Fiona & Ilona, stunningly gentle & genial Nicolas (her husband), and graceful Twix (the first cat I ever tried to love)!

And she lives!  Ritu and Nicolas have built their cherished home in this urban isle, in its untouched 18th century-character-quarters,  known as the Feydeau quarters. Unlike centuries back, the Ile (Isle) Feydeau is today joined to the main town and to the Ile Gloriette where the river Loire freely flowed back then. (Ile Gloriette of today is a grand parking area giving way to a local market on Saturdays, very much a colourful & vibrant dry/wet market of fresh produce, nick-knacks and all variety of essentials). 

The Feydeau quarters are built mainly in limestone, with ornamental faces framing the facades and wrought-iron balconies, inner courtyards and vaulted staircases. The pomp of these houses are classically expressed as they stand white and serene against the centuries-old milieu.

And visualise this! As you enter one such apartment inside these stylish French Quarters, a blast of India surrounds your senses, almost overwhelmingly - a platter full of colours, engravings, wood, textile, art, craft, sheer warmth & radiance and dotted with stories personal, Indian & French ! 

I'll let the pictures speak for it.

Ritu's favourite seat in this theatre:)

Read the story of the Sewing machine, below

Of the many stories contained in this household of treasures this one is my favourite. In Ritu's own words "My Grand mom's USHA sewing machine which I got shipped from India...When one of my French friends saw it she gladly donated her Grand mom's SINGER sewing machine-table lying in her attic for a long time. The machine & the table fitted perfectly!! Indo-French relations you see..."

 

This beautiful piece of art on leather is a collectible from India, handed down from Nicolas' Great-Great-Grand mom

Love those tomato red covers on those couches

 

An inherited piece from Nicolas' Grandmother

   

Carved ornamental faces that frame every doorway and hang over each balcony... surreal !

The centuries old fireplace : heartwarmingly beautiful despite it's purely decorative functionality today

And meet Mr. Twix, the most French of 'em all

India lined on shelves

The story continues :

We learnt that restructuring the historical city for urban living took nearly 20 years (since 1926), especially to fill-in the parts of the rivers Erdre and Loire that flowed round the ile Gloriette. The areas where the river once flowed is today recognisable in the strips of lawn bordered by granite.  

Where the renovation story gets legendary is that the architects forgot that the houses are built on sandy foundations, and years later, as a result the Feydeau quarters don't stand straight ! Standing crooked, unaligned, though later-on reinforced for their stability, built mainly in limestone, the majesty of these houses indicates the importance of the city's former commercial trade status.

Tilting, unaligned gorgeous Feydeau Quarters

The balconies indicate how distinct each floor was; the ground floor was for commercial use only and is dominated by arched windows and reception rooms. Above were the refined & decorated private apartments. 

Ritu's patch of green - a balcony of potted greens, veggies and herbs 

The facade characterised by ornamental faces and wrought-iron balconies

Classic ceilings

Original tiles at the entrance of the Quarters

These cobbled lanes have braved centuries of walking & trampling by people, horses, carriages & cars

Look who we found, lived here! 'Twenty Thousand Leagues under the sea'

Footnotes  

FOOTNOTES 
Some Sources if you wish to know more:
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Nantes-France/110077065688527#
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nantes
http://www.vjoncheray.com/photo-library/photos-nantes/nantes-district/feydeau-island/7122.html

Nantes slave trade port
The opulent life-style in 18th century Nantes was guaranteed by 2 main sources: Africa and America. Ships built and fitted in Nantes ran the triangular trade between France’s number one port at the time, the Guinean coast and the West Indies. The principle was cruelly simple: buy Africans and sell them on for sugarcane to be refined in Nantes. This is how colonial products like coffee, cocoa, pepper, indigo and exotic wood came to be unloaded along the quayside of Quai de La Fosse and île Feydeau. It was here, in particular, that the shipbuilders built up their dynasties, leaving behind magnificent examples of the city's architecture

The isle evokes the extravagant way of life the maritime traders led in the 18th century, when the port of Nantes was the biggest in France and one of the most important in Europe.

All photographs in this post are taken by me & copyrighted to : limegreenwalls.blogspot.com. 
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