June 07, 2007

There is a general feeling that adhering to the same colour scheme and style throughout one’s home puts a strain on the eyes, however, this house has proven otherwise

Many homes have rooms following different themes, be it colour or style, but few have the same theme running through the entire house, as does Naseema and Farooq’s abode. Although its brick lined boundary walls and carefully manicured sprawling lawns show attention to detail, they do not prepare you for the heavy stress that has been laid on both style and colour within.

From the black doors leading into the entrance foyer decorated with an impressive mirror framed in antique, carved black wood with a black console beneath, the theme is obvious. Every room has period furniture in black, and even if there are pieces of furniture thrown in to add another colour, the room remains predominantly charcoal. On the right of the foyer is a cabinet in matching wood, and to the left, a black antique sofa.

The foyer leads to a study done up with black shelves adorned with books and music system. Carved chairs with wicker backs offer a break from the monochromatic scheme. French windows offer a view of the garden -–– a vista that the owners have made sure is available from most rooms of the house.

The foyer opens on the right into a guest room occupied by a black, carved four-poster bed. Massive antique side tables with marble tops adorned with a number of decorative items demand your attention, as does a carved sofa at the foot of the bed.

The extended foyer is also a visual delight with carved pedestals and corner stands boasting silver and Gandhara pieces. To the right of this area is the dining room, the glass-topped dining table complemented by chairs with blue printed upholstery. Flanking the wall facing you is a majestic, black antique dressing table, complete with folding mirrors that allow the viewers to see themselves from any angle they choose.

Another wall is adorned with a mirror framed within the quintessential black carved wood, a console standing beneath. A burnished gold divan is placed before it and a round table boasting vintage blue crystal.

The left of the extended foyer area opens into the formal living room, perhaps the only room in the house that has furniture in more polishes than just the ubiquitous black. Two distinct seating arrangements mark the area -–– one comprising fully upholstered off-white sofas with marble-topped, black antique side tables embedded with hand-painted tiles, and the other comprising a sofa set in chalk polish. A burnt gold divan and console also add colour to the room.

The living room opens into a smaller and informal sitting area with rough-finished stone walls. Here, too, the furniture is predominantly black. The TV lounge has a niche with a rustic looking stone wall, the focal point of which is an elaborate jhoola. A dark, large table stands before it decorated with cushions and curios.

One would have thought that adhering to the same colour scheme and style throughout one’s home would be a strain on the eyes, but the Farooqs’ residence has proved otherwise.