Traditional touches to modernity
With an aim of marrying tradition with modernity, Ramchandra Reddy brought down the interiors of his 30-year-old house and gave it a contemporary theme.
A builder himself, (owner of RV Nirman Pvt Ltd), Ramchandra lives in the newly renovated house with his wife Sirisha and daughters Chaitra and Abhignya.
Once inside, what impresses the visitor is how the artefacts and furniture of the house — mostly from the old property — fit perfectly in the modern settings.
The antique carved door opens to a small living room which gives an illusion of space thanks to a mirror on one side. The curtains for the room have been custom made to match the old yet very well-kept sofas. “We have preserved the old artefacts from the previous house,” says Sirisha.
A glass door opens to a spacious hall whose corner serves as the dining hall. On the same line is the prayer room of the family, which has a huge glass painting by artist Kameshwar Rao. On the opposite side is the media room which is the favourite corner of the family. Plush white sofas designed to give a home theatre touch, a surround sound system and sliding doors complete the room. “The white sofa is in accordance with the light-coloured walls and the Italian marble panel next to the television,” says Ramchandra.
A flight of stairs with a Tanjore painting on one side, leads to the three main bedrooms. While Chaitra’s room has a low bed with a black and white contemporary theme, Abhignya’s room is adorned with her favourite brown all over.
The master bedroom, meanwhile, has a lot of wooden panels which imparts a warm feeling. An interesting feature is the use of mirror murals in all the rooms. The wardrobes have mirror finishes and the master bedroom has a mirror-cum-wooden partition door. The lounge on the same floor boasts of a ‘Gangalam’ which has been with the family for over 100 years.However, Sirisha’s favourite are her gardens. From her own vegetable garden to the lush green lawns, she pours her heart in their maintenance. “My mom does everything. She was the one who was involved in every step of the renovation” says Chaitra. A smiling Sirisha adds, “Well my husband is a builder and has all the knowledge, that just made everything easier.”
