OWNER’S PRIDE
A family of six — Adesh, Niki, son Sharan, daugther Suhani and pets Badmaash and Barfi. Adesh is Director of brand Niki Mahajan while Niki has been a part of the fashion industry since the last 25 years and is also a board member of the FDCI.
Their home: The house occupies an area of 1,200 sq.ft and has a stunning green garden Location: Ashoka Avenue, Sainik Farms, New Delhi Rooms: Living room, dining room, two bedrooms, one master bedroom, kitchen, home office.
Décor: Traditional twist to modern living
Simple, warm and immensely talented. That’s Niki Mahajan, the unassuming yet renowned fashion designer of 25 years, who sits across us in her flamboyant home. Having dedicated her life to the revival of traditional arts and crafts of India, it’s little wonder then that Niki’s home is a visual treat and commitment to the same! “My home, as a space, hasn’t been designed to please... It has naturally evolved into a style and character that soothes my senses and relaxes me,” she smiles.
As you peek past the wooden door, the living area entices you to tell its tale. “Initially, I was surprised to see the house. It was just a closed space with no doors or windows!” she laughs. And for someone who doesn’t like walls, curtains, or dividers and would like to do away with them wherever possible, it was certainly time to re-do the interiors. “I wanted the interiors to be planned with the distinct feature of being able to see every corner of the house from the centre. So that’s why you see that the bedrooms and bathrooms have walls and curtains while the rest of the house is an open story,” she explains. The Mahajans’ home has evolved since the last two decades and each corner has a story to tell. Arches abound, with unexpected niches in the walls that cleverly display souvenirs and artefacts collected from across the globe. The ground floor houses the living area, the dining room, kitchen, lounge and a home office for Niki. The master bedroom and children’s room are located on the first floor. There’s also an open space for outdoor sitting and a puja area. The living room features a mix of pieces from different eras. Most of the furniture is inherited from Niki’s grandmother while a few antique pieces — like the corner chair with shelves — were purchased from an auction in Goa! “I have just changed the upholstery of these beautiful pieces. I like taking something old and giving it a modern edge,” she explains. “It makes it exciting and fresh, yet retains the inherent sophistication.” Niki wanted to make her living room colourful and warm, so she painted the walls in three different colours to
match the wooden furniture and flooring! An avid art lover, the walls here are highlighted with artwork bought from various exhibitions and art fairs. Matching the exterior, Niki zeroes in on the colour green for the walls in the dining area. The dining table and chairs are vintage while the floor is Italian marble. The space boasts of a lot of design elements such as a vintage inspired wall clock, traditional hanging lamp, colourful bottles, Moroccan lamps, a rustic chest of drawers, glass and ceramic vases amongst others. “I like mixing old, traditional finds with ultra modern pieces and art. And I hate white! So I opted for earthen tableware from Anthropologie and Good Earth for some colours. I also have heavy vintage silver dishes which I use occasionally,” Niki explains. Located on the ground floor, the lounge is where the family relaxes and gets some down time. The green storage was Nikki’s idea to provide ample space for her books. The lounge leads to the home office, which is entirely her space. “I used the pages of my old novels as a wall covering and I have
painted my vintage work desk as well. Isn’t that cool?” she laughs. Extremely, we immediately agree! All the rooms on the ground floor open on to a garden, despite the fact that they all have huge windows that bring in the generous greens. The stairway is a prime example of Niki’s clever revamping of a conventional space. She wanted to make it a fun and relaxed area for her family, so she painted it yellow, showcased some handmade tiles and framed ferns and leaves on the wall! “Hallways and corridors are often overlooked,” says the designer, “but you can make them really dramatic.” Here, a corner shelf sits below almost 300-year-old idols. And the vibrant colour just adds to the effect. Niki wanted to make the master bedroom more neutral in terms of colour. It’s a serene space anyone can fall in love with. She positioned the bed in the centre of the room to make the most of the light. She loves the natural light coming in and flowing across it. Each furniture piece is inherited from her grandmother. The light yet bright tiles make the room look spacious. The accessories are her travel souvenirs and gifts, of course! Colours remain non-intrusive even as the mosaic pattern makes a wide statement in the bathroom. The unpolished mosaic blends well with the traditional set up of the house. Many years down the line, the house is still a work in progress. Niki admits that she is always brimming with ideas and is constantly updating her home décor! “I don’t think I’ll ever truly be done,” she says. But that’s what makes living here so refreshing, we think...