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    Arti Muthiah’s maximalist Chennai home stands at the cusp of traditional and modern

    JUN 7, 2024 | By Pooja Prabbhan Srijith
    Replete with cherished arts, books, music and memorabilia that would take one back in time, the revamped living room features noteworthy additions like a leather sienna-hued Chesterfield sofa from Marina Home, Dubai and a single leather armchair by The One, Dubai; a custom-made coffee table, a chandelier from Luxe Lighting Dubai, along with paintings from S.Nandagopal, Gurudas Shenoy, K.Muralidharan; a trio of vases from Anissa Kermiche, and nestling tables by Interiors UAE. The concrete side table is from Objectry, while the TicTacToe is from Paradise Road Sri Lanka and the girl head vase by Onassis; Photography by Gautham Krishna
    The trusty IKEA Billy bookcase in the piano room stands tall, housing well-aged reads, sentimental tchotchkes, and grayscale photographs that double as familial memorabilia. A vintage leather armchair defines a snug reading nook—the vignette feels complete with a floor lamp and retro radio cabinet; Photography by Gautham Krishna

    Located on East Coast Road, this Chennai home bears all the makings of a vintage cottage beach house from the 1980s — a retro radio cabinet, gilded chandeliers, suave leather furniture, wall art and a lofty bookshelf that becomes a treasure for bibliophiles.

    Curating soulful spaces that are suffused with culture has always been at the core of designer Arti Muthiah and her design philosophy So, when life took a detour that pushed for a geographical relocation to her hometown, she decided to channel her innate flair and give this 2,400 sq ft abode a maximalist facelift. “The brief to myself was to transform this rental house into a cosy and chic space for my daughter and myself, to settle back into the city, after several years of being away,” the ex-Dubai resident states. 

    Arti Muthiah
    Replete with cherished arts, books, music and memorabilia that would take one back in time, the revamped living room features noteworthy additions like a leather sienna-hued Chesterfield sofa from Marina Home, Dubai and a single leather armchair by The One, Dubai; a custom-made coffee table, a chandelier from Luxe Lighting Dubai, along with paintings from S.Nandagopal, Gurudas Shenoy, K.Muralidharan; a trio of vases from Anissa Kermiche, and nestling tables by Interiors UAE. The concrete side table is from Objectry, while the TicTacToe is from Paradise Road Sri Lanka and the girl head vase by Onassis; Photography by Gautham Krishna

     

    Arti Muthiah
    The abode is a mosaic of some exquisite art; Photography by Gautham Krishna

    Contrast play

    A quick home tour makes one thing certain — Arti doesn’t believe in doing things in half measures. A wave of calm reverberates across the interiors, where the chosen choice of colour palette is predominantly blue and grey with neutral whites and a terracotta contrast.

    Arti Muthiah
    The dining room features a boddhi tree by Gregory Lent, three little piggies by Sunil Kumar Das, dining chairs from and table from IKEA and vessels from West Elm; Photography by Gautham Krishna

     

    Arti Muthiah
    The fiery terracotta tint livens up the dining area and offsets the room’s neutral palette. The family’s dining table and chairs were infused with a new lease of life, positioned under the gilded chandelier. The dining chairs and table are from IKEA; Photography by Gautham Krishna

    Upon entering the foyer, the presence of a console table on the right and a sturdy bookshelf provides visual interest.

    A Sanctuary Of Artefacts  

    Reminiscent of plush cigar lounges from the 90s, the living room has a distinct personality, with the inclusion of passionately collated art and suave leather furniture like a classic, sienna-hued Chesterfield and a niftily reupholstered ivory sofa. 

    Arti Muthiah
    Reminiscent of plush cigar lounges from the nostalgic 90s, the living room emulates a heady alchemy between the south-eastern sunlight, passionately collated art, and suave leather furniture; Photography by Gautham Krishna

     

    Arti Muthiah
    The living room features an opener by Bikram Das, a bench from Afday, a sofa from IKEA, rugs from Genesis and Jaipur rugs and a marble side table from Muun Home; Photography by Gautham Krishna

    Raw and tactile materiality assumes the forefront here and natural stones, jute, sisal, and wood take centre stage. 

    Arti Muthiah
    The muted white walls with simple grey wall trim mouldings and a deep blue ceiling serve as the backdrop for a refurbished teak console table and mirror; Photography by Gautham Krishna

     

    Arti Muthiah
    The Billy bookcase is from IKEA, while the coolie metal sculpture is from Pushpa Devi. The cymbal angels by Lladro, collectible Danish wooden figures and Ginger jars add an aesthetic elegance to the room; Photography by Gautham Krishna

    Earthy and rustic — these words aptly describe the dining area. A fiery terracotta tint veils the ceiling, and the choice of colour feels like a refreshing change from the domineering blues, giving rise to a playful contrast between warm and cool tones, breaking the overall monotony of the space.

    Arti Muthiah
    Raghava KK’s earlier work of a self-portrait is flanked by Oja’s paintings—both come with a storied past; Photography by Gautham Krishna

    Finding Solace In A Piano Room

    “The room is a sanctum for my daughter, who has been ardently honing her musical mastery over the years,” Arti reveals.

    Arti Muthiah
    The Ritmuller Upright white piano is an instant standout; Photography by Gautham Krishna

    On days when the urge to press pause, a makeshift escape-esque nook is all one yearns after. The piano room was created as a result of a similar train of thought, with an organic feel to it through its materials, art, furniture and decor accentuated through a focal wall and ceiling of a blue canopy. 

    Arti Muthiah
    The outside seating consists of an umbrella from Ace Hardware; Photography by Gautham Krishna

     

    Arti Muthiah
    Garden chairs (refurbished)and collapsable table are from IKEA; Photography by Gautham Krishna

    A Verandah With A Storied Past

    The verandah embodies the calm and grounding energies of a slow Sunday morning. Overlooking the lush garden amid thickets of bamboo, this nook makes for an ideal alfresco dining area, enveloped in sunny ochre and white stripes for languid brunches. 

    Arti Muthiah
    An array of colours bathe in the outside sunlight; Photography by Gautham Krishna

    A set of carefully handpicked plantation chairs in the verandah, painted in emerald green, trace their lineage to over 100 years ago. “Belonging to my grandfather, etched with his initials, the chairs serve as a reminder of my ancestral home in Chettinad,” concludes Arti, as she takes us through this architectural masterpiece that hadn’t sprouted out of a work commitment, but was rather born from a yearning for a life well spent, aptly reflective of the phrase that states, “There’s no place like home.” 

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