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    Oriental Living turns a Hyderabad home into a tapestry of antiquity and heritage

    SEP 15, 2023 | By Esha Shah
    This passageway includes a pair of ‘Portugese chairs’ and chandeliers from Goodearth exuding elegance. The ‘urli’ and ‘nandi’ are both antique pieces and have been certified. There is also an Asthalaxmi Tajore painting which sits in the middle; Photography by Phosart Studio
    This is the family lounge area where the chairs are part of the Huanghuali furniture that has been carved using wood and lacquer. The style was inspired by the song — ‘Ming Dynasty’. There is also an opium bed on the left-hand side which was sourced from the Suzhuo province in the 20th century; Photography by Phosart Studio

    Relocating from the cosmopolitan address of Singapore to the culturally prolific city of Hyderabad, often referred to as the ‘city of pearls,’ a couple’s search for their private cove finally concluded at a 5,000 sq ft residence, nestled within the lush greenscapes of Banjara Hills. 

    This is the drawing room which consists of an old-style ceiling from Kerala. The three artworks on the wall is an old tangka which was sourced from Nepal and Tibet and it also consists of manuscripts from Indonesia; Photography by Phosart Studio

    The dwelling stitched to perfection by Manisha Gandhi of Oriental Living emerges as a testament to the homeowner’s refined tastes, with global design seamlessly interwoven with local heritage. “They are avid travellers. With their travels across the globe, they’ve collected a significant amount of heritage furniture and art. Together with these pieces, we could bring out a confluence between their tastes and aesthetics,” reveals Manisha. 

    The wallpaper stands out the most in this shot which consists of an old Chinese panel sourced from Guangzhou province in China in the 20th century which showcases a scene of a royal palace; Photography by Phosart Studio

    Manisha likes to describe this space as a soothing apartment with a flair of flamboyance and some dramatism. Each wall, akin to a fresh page, narrates a story of its own, celebrating the beauty of tradition and keen affinity for details.   

    Native nuances   

    Stepping through the aged entrance door, a relic sourced from Kerala, one sees a small corridor that guides to a formal living room, an informal lounge as well as a bar space. Progressing along the corridor, one finds their way to the kitchen and a dining room. With swaying crystal chandeliers and classic ‘ming-style’ chairs and furnishings, this house keeps up to its expectations. 

    This is the dining area that consists of a red crystal chandelier from Taherallays which complements the rug. The dining table and chairs are Ming style and have been purchased originally from Singapore; Photography by Phosart Studio

    The dining area seamlessly extends to a capacious balcony, thoughtfully designed as a verdant oasis with an array of potted plants. As you proceed, the drawing room showcases an antique ceiling panel refurbished from an existing residence in Kerala. 

    This is the bar area whose top unit has been designed in a Chinese-style pagoda. Using JJ valaya tiles from FCML to merge the traditional and oriental themes and weave them together. There is timber that has been used on the ceiling and flooring to exude warmth; Photography by Phosart Studio

     

     

    This perspective shot of the bar area adds a dramatic oriental setting with the wine bottle sitting on the table and using JJ Valaya tiles from FCML to blend in the Indian touch as well; Photography by Phosart Studio

    Tapestry of traditions 

    Dark neutrals like black and maroon with a vibrant touch of green came together seamlessly to achieve the primary goal of infusing this opulent colour scheme with a sense of Asian tradition and essence within this classic dwelling. 

    The lights on the ceiling and side walls along with the intricate textures on the wallpapers and furnishings brighten the entire ambience, creating a sensory experience and displaying the interplay of colours and lights. 

    This is a bedroom consisting of a large antique bed that sits in between two hanging chandeliers and other furniture pieces which was passed down from one generation to another; Photography by Phosart Studio

     

    This is the balcony that is opened through the living room that has a Buddha statue and has plenty of space and greenery around it; Photography by Phosart Studio

    “The most challenging aspect of this space was to create harmony. The pieces of furniture, textures, and art  in the home are a mix of Asian and Indian. Blending these together, given that these are very different, was challenging,” states Manisha. The residence not just brings out the couple’s taste for design and everyday lifestyle, but also indicates the curator’s arrangement of merging both their style and interests rather astutely.

    Also read: A spark of art and traditionality meets minimalism in a Hyderabad home by Beyond Spaces Design Studio