EExxcceerrppttss::

Growing demand for luxuryfurnitureThere is an undeniable growth in thepopularity of luxury furniture in India,reflected even in the success of our store inMumbai. The Indian consumer isextremely aware ofinternational home fashiontrends. Our target clientele inIndia are open-mindedglobetrotters, who have realappreciation for French designand fine details. Andpeople’sinterest in design will continueto grow as the economy growsstronger.

The USP We have a long history ofembodying French art de vivre inboth, creativity and quality of ourdesigns. The company boasts of a long-established network of Europeanmanufacturers and fruitful relationships withrenowned designers like Cédric Ragot, Ora Ito,Sacha Lakic, Christophe Delcourt, StephenBurks as well as with global fashion houseslike Jean Paul Gaultier, Sonia Rykiel Home,Missoni Home, thus bringing the brand to theforefront of the luxury furniture industry. Ourfocus on encouraging collaborations withinternational designers, Europeancraftsmanship and boundless creativity iswhat defines our position as a luxury lifestylebrand.

Furniture trends of 2015There are two sides to the aesthetic look ofthe 2015 collection: one is strict and edgy,playing with angles and diagonals; the secondemphasises on comfort, capaciousness andconviviality, using bright colours that resonatea rather retro, 50s aesthetic.

Defining luxury homesA luxury home, like any home, is primarily a

place where you feel good and inharmony with the space, shapesand materials. The materials andluxury pieces can help transform asimple space into a ‘luxury’ home. Aspace can also be luxurious usingmore accessible furniture andmaterials as long as they areassociated with fine taste and

originality. A principle of designthat always works for a luxury

home is ‘less is more’approach. It isn’t

necessary to fill spaces withornate decorations or to add

brighter colours; subtlety isthe key to finer homes.

Evolvingfurniture marketHistorically, one wouldinherit the furniture boughtby parents and it would be

passed down from one generation to the next.We now have more purchasing power, andtherefore, can afford to choose the styles thatbest express our personalities. Furniture hasdefinitely shifted from something essential tosomething fun.

Mumbai as a luxury marketMumbai is a cosmopolitan city with afascinating history. It is also the country’sfinancial capital and home to Bollywoodglamour, providing an ideal target market forthe luxury players.

Favourite décor destination in IndiaAs one of the seven wonders of the modernworld, the Taj Mahal has always beenemblematic of the luxury and diversity ofIndian culture for westerners. The gardensand reflecting pool provide the perfect idyllicsetting for its luxurious marble walls, and giveus a taste of the country’s great architecture.We’re always looking for new inspiration andthis UNESCO world heritage site is aninspirational place for many designers.

TTeellll uuss aabboouutt yyoouurr pprrooffeessssiioonnaall aannddppeerrssoonnaall bbaacckkggrroouunndd..I graduated from the National Institute ofDesign (NID) with a dual degree in lifestyleproduct design and film direction. Ajji-TheOdd Product Company is my brain-child. Theidea of starting Ajji in 2013 was simple—toconstantly support and fostersustainable innovation andoriginal design, one ideaseeding another idea andso on. The company isbased on the belief that aproduct worth making isnot merely decoration ofan old concept; it is anoriginal approach to asituation, seen throughto its best possibleconclusion. Wespecialise in creatinginspired pieces that arenot stand-alone, they

need user interaction. Forexample, the iconic Dot Chair,

the Pink Sink chair, the BentLight and Kiku Chandelier, the

recently launched AtomCollection—a fundamental system of basicsoft cubes that stick to each other via a neodymium magnetic structure that can mouldinto any kind of furniture.

HHooww ddoo yyoouu ddeeffiinnee yyoouurr ddeessiiggnnsseennssiibbiilliittiieess??Idea centric with tongue firmly in cheek! Iam a big advocate of original design takento its best possible conclusion, and workingon it till it’s absolutely perfect.

WWhhaatt ffaasscciinnaatteess yyoouu aabboouutt pprroodduuccttddeessiiggnniinngg??Creating something that has not been seenbefore is incredibly stimulating. Hittingmany brick walls to finally see your ideacome to life is quite a journey.

WWhhaatt kkiinndd ooff mmaatteerriiaallss ddoo yyoouu uussuuaallllyy wwoorrkkwwiitthh??Usually the idea dictates the medium.However, I do have a soft spot for

fibreglass resin. The transparency of itreally draws me.

HHooww ddooeess iinnnnoovvaattiioonn ssuussttaaiinn??The model I believe in is that onegreat idea, once actualised, can fund awhole host of good ideas.

DDeessiiggnneerrss wwhhoo hhaavveeiinnfflluueenncceedd yyoouu tthhee mmoosstt??

Dali, Edgar Allan Poe,Zaha Hadid—I aminfluenced fromvarious sources—frompoetry to comic books.

ART has the ability to transcend allboundaries and touch our lives in asignificant way. The beauty about interiordécor with art pieces is that such elementsrarely dominate your room’s theme.

Trending nowA popular notion most people believe is thatart needs a fancy pedigree or is availableonly at an exorbitant cost. Art is vast anddefined by personal tastes. From amuseum-worthy painting to a child’shaphazard drawing—everything creativeand different can come within the ambit ofart. Naresh Kapuria, artistand art curator, says,“When we speak of artdécor, the scenariodefinitely has changed.The walls that onceadorned calendars,

wallpapers andposters are nowreplaced by works ofart that include wallmasks, sculptures,contemporary andabstract paintings andsouvenir plates. Over the last decade, thelove for art and aesthetics has certainlyincreased, especially in our country. Ibelieve, apart from travel, the fact that art is

seen as an investmentthese days is one of the

major reasons whypeople don’t shirkaway from spendinga fortune onmasterpieces andworks of art.”

A few mix and match accessories,vintage items remodelled and contemporarydesigns are all trending in the market today.Artist Kamlesh Sharma adds, “Old andantique collections are making a specialspace in homes these days. Be it an oldpiece of furniture like an armchair, wallclock, table or a bed—vintage and classicpieces have their own appeal. Things likecharkha, Victorian lamps, kettles, oldradios, and gramophones can be beautifullyused to lift the mood of quiet corners.”

Homes come aliveInfusing art into your home décor is allabout giving it an identity. Interior designerChandni Nath Israni avers, “One way to add

colour and elegance to your home is tohang gorgeous wall paintings. Each roomcan tell a story with captivating images.Adding oil paintings is a great way to turnan ordinary wall into an eye-catching focalpoint.” Once you determine the style of yourhome, you can surround yourself with itemsof interest. Rohit Kapoor, founder andprincipal designer, NIVASA, says, “If

chosen and placedcorrectly, art can liven up aspace.”

An arty entranceOpen your doors to all that’sbright and beautiful. Afterall, the first impression laststhe longest. “The entrance isthe prime area to splurge onsome custom-madeaccessories. Focus on oneor two key pieces such as aporcelain jar or vase, an

attractive mirror orunique handcrafteddecorative items,”suggests IsabelleVernhes, co-founder,My Tailor Home.Modernistic designs,sculptures, artefactsand masks can all be apart of the entrancedécor; these are saidto bring homepositivity.

The bedroomHanging collectables like photographs andsketches is a good way to draw attention toa specific area. If your room has a longvertical section, like a telephone area or abay window wall, consider hanging avertical painting. “The bedroom is the mostprivate space and should be done up in away that it looks warm. It could just as wellbe a bunch of bright flowers to lift yourinner soul,” opines Sharma.

02 FFRRIIDDAAYY,, FEBRUARY 13, 2015

Products of prideLekha

Washington,artist and product

designer at Ajji-The Odd Product

Company, talksabout her career

and the fascinatingfield called design

Gilles Bonan,CEO, Roche

Bobois, gives usa peek into the

ever-growingluxury furnituremarket in India,and his love for

all things Indian

A harmoniousarrangement of

paintings andsculptures—big or

small add to thecreative vibe of a

home

“It isn’t necessaryto fill spaces with

ornate decorations;subtlety is the keyto finer homes”

“I am a big advocateof original designtaken to its best

possible conclusion,and working on it till

it’s perfect”

YOUR home should endorse twoessential ideas—comfort and style.A smooth combination of the two,and an ideal abode is born.Designing your home into avivacious and beautiful living spaceis easy if the central interior elementis chosen with some thought. Floorscan inspire the décor and theme of aspace, and of course, lendcharacter to a home. Wooden floors,for example, take us back to the old,colonial homes of Mumbai andKolkata. Marble flooring transportsus to public offices and buildings.Those looking for inspiring flooringdesigns, the trends of 2015 areunique, smart and out-of-the-box!

On the groundLLiivviinngg aarreeaa:: If you are looking toreplace your old floors, think of astarting point; a colour or print thatmatches your existing theme.“Living areas always have room forstriking designs. You can go witheither Origami-themed designs, oreven with something that is Zen-inspired like Japanese Line by Sian

Pascale. Natural shades and neutraland pastel colours are popular,”says Firdaus Variava, vice chairman,Bharat Floorings and Tiles. KKiittcchheenn:: The colour palette, texture,pattern and quality are features thatcannot be overlooked whenchoosing floor tiles. “Kitchens aremore prone to fire, that is whyhaving a fire-proof material ispractical. The kitchen is also a placewhere there’s clutter; frompreparing the food to cooking, thefloor is bound to get dirty. Ceramicand porcelain tiles are also non-porous, thus do not absorb stains,keeping your kitchen odour andstain free. Because tiles haveassorted colours and designs, youcan match your floor tiles with thekitchen walls. You can even choosetiles that look like brick or stone fora rustic vibe,” advises AbhishekSomany, joint managing director,Somany Ceramics.BBaatthhrroooomm:: Colourful tiles, pouredterrazzo flooring, hand-paintedfloors, or porcelain tiles look good inbathrooms. “In the bathroom, playwith the flooring in the dry areas vsthe wet areas. Bring the outsideinside with fossil/pebble-like flooringor even rough wood-like flooring forthe dry areas to add a touch ofsophistication,” avers TanushreeBasu, owner, Salva Terra Home.

Green groundsToday, the world works on uniqueideas that serve multi-purposes.Eco-friendly flooring is going to bebigger and more prominent in 2015.

Kavita Chaudhary, design director,Jaipur Rugs, shares, “The new-agedesigners are committed tosustainability—the reuse andreduction of waste and breathingnew life into existing materials areimportant. Reusing old leather andrubber is not a new idea, butcombining it with natural fibres suchas jute and hemp is something thatwill continue to be in vogue.”

Colours, graphics andmoreThink beyond the straight andnarrow, neutrals and basics.Somany avers, “Digital tiles comewith unlimited design possibilitiesthrough high resolution printing.Leather, metal and other naturalhues and surfaces have been indemand in recent years. Along withbeing functionally advanced,metallic tiles are a popular choice,especially when used as decorativeembellishments for creatingluxurious spaces. Taking thetechnologically-driven route, 3D tilesadd a new perspective to a space.These tiles have started to getnoticed and are expected to do wellin 2015.”

Designer Speak Experience luxury while

taking a walk around yourhome. Replace your oldfloors with beautifulflooring designs en voguein 2015

To India, with love!

THE ARTY SIDE OF LIFE

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