The Bharatiya
September 28, 2012
In a quiet tree-lined street in the plush urban set up of Mumbai's south district in Colaba is an oasis of calm in the form of an airy, now well-restored apartment in a period style, albeit with all the modern amenities.
Old wine in modern casks
In a quiet tree-lined street in the plush urban set up of Mumbai's south district in Colaba is an oasis of calm in the form of an airy, now well-restored apartment in a period style, albeit with all the modern amenities. The proud owner Reita Gadkari walks us through the house
Treating a period property needs an enormous amount of restraint, respect for the antique and an eye for ageing beauty. This now-restored, bright and airy, interior-designed three bedroom flat, which also featured in the catalogue of Saffronart, is located in a charming period building on a treelined street in historic Colaba. The space boasts polished 16 foot high 100 year old Burma teak ceilings. This period property has been intelligently treated to minimize dampness and maximize natural light. The study/ library room has been fitted with a state-of-the-art audio visual, 5.1 theatre system and other top-of-the-line electronics fromworld renowned brands The entire house has been future proofed for automation and a server based multi-room audio-visual system which can be controlled by an iPad or WiFi touch panel.
The large main door opens on to one of the highlights of this flat - a verandah running the length of the front of the flat. Tall, stained glass windows in the verandah frame views of the lush, high-crowned trees in the street on one side, while four majestic Burma teak and glass doors invite you into the living room. Built-in seating in the verandah doubles as storage space for miscellaneous items besides being a wonderful spot for morning tea or cocktails in the evening. At one end of the long verandah is a breakfast counter. The main living room leads to a spacious library/family room which can also be used as a study or second living room. This room is done in muted earth tones that complement the eclectic collection of contemporary and period furniture. The high-spec built-in projector and surround sound system makes watching cricket or football on a large drop down screen a truly memorable experience.
Arranged around the library/family room are the three bedrooms - the guest bedroom, the children's room, and the master bedroom. The guest bedroom has a
colonial cast iron bed and a beautifully restored wardrobe with ample storage. The large en-suite guest bathroom is designed such that it can be used as a guest powder room and is finished in grey and black mosaic withelegant fittings The children's room is the most versatile space in the entire flat. It
can be converted into a home office or even a gym. The master bedroom features large windows with one way glass that floods the space with light and provides excellent cross ventilation. An elegant four poster double bed and a period reproduction fan add instant charm. A noteworthy feature of this room is the capacious glass fronted wardrobe with an interesting pattern of laser-cut wood. The cleverly designed and playful yet sophisticated kitchen is a cook's delight with its imported white goods and finishes with touch lighting.
The flat has been lovingly restored to very high standards while retaining as many of the original features as possible such as the Burma teak ceilings and original floor tiles in the principal rooms. Most fixtures are imported and wherever possible customized to suit the theme of the interiors.
>> MY VIEW
"The house is an old Kutchi Memon colonial house built in 1922 by a gentleman called Mr. Sobani. It was his guest house where he used to put up notable guests during the British time," says Reita Gadkari. "The building had many architectural details that needed to be restored. The most important design feature is the way light and air flows through this flat. The airiness had to be created carefully to allow smooth traffic flow within the home. And because of the tremendous height (over 17ft) the air volume is spectacular.
"I wanted the space to be practical, beautiful, easy to maintain,and space for storage. I wanted to maintain the majesty of the height and the beauty of the old teak beams. Every beam was painstakingly stripped and varnished. Old rotting beams had to be replaced. Also in those days there were no fitted kitchens so I created a modern, functional kitchen that was easy to clean and maintain by staff. All the windows were stripped and old teak frames were revealed. New windows were fitted with double glazing. ACs had to be managed carefully so as to section off areas that need cooling while still leaving some areas open to ambient temperature. Mirrors are used to expand the space. Plus there are wardrobes, beautiful lighting, AV systems to create a modern living space for a family.
"Modern living needs large entertainment areas which calls for sophisticated AVs systems for differing tastes in music,
large refrigerators, wine coolers, microwaves, mood lighting, staff space, children's play area, etc. and all these possibilities existed in this flat which has now been converted into a highly elegant and practical space. We wanted a look which Italians call "artiginale" which means crafted by an artisan not just made by hand.,” she concludes.
Reita Gadkari is an nternationally known philanthropist & interior designer
Old world charm. A view of the living roomand the verandah beyond
Modern heritage. the family room
Modern Dresser from Fusion Access
Colourful kitchen. A chef’s delight
Four poster in the master bedroom
Airy, ventilated, modern bathroom
