Espacios De Vida - Part I, The Hall

As many of my friends and relatives are (painfully!) aware, I spent almost a year renovating my home interiors... while living in the same apartment all that while! I guess growing up in a house that was always under renovation (from an almost crumbing edifice into the beautiful home it is today in Goa) made me pretty much impervious to the smells and dust of construction, so I am super grateful to my wifey, kiddo and cattie for putting up with it, too!

Finally, by the end of May this year, we formally declared "code complete"!

And now, since I am considering interior design and renovation as a serious alternate profession, here's my "portfolio" :)

We got this beautiful hand made wood and cast iron metal fan for the main hall - complements the wood book case and black and white theme for the sofas very well. While it is heavy, it is the only accessory for the otherwise clean ceiling.

Plain white curtains frame the large window, coupled with two pretty white puffies. The greenery provides the perfect view, and the early morning sunlight streaming through the window makes it the best place to have your morning chai with the day's newspapers.

The dining table was sacrificed so we could have this book case, while is kept absolutely plain and simple, with dark veneer which plays the perfect background to the vivid colors of the extensive book collection, and some very special and minimal curios from some of our travels. The raised wooden platform satisfied our wish to have split levels in the house, without requiring an additional floor :) A couple of bean bags or large pillows can be added for that extra something.

The hall is minimalist, with just the handmade fan and a simple red and white painting adding color. The far wall has a beautiful "tiled" wallpaper, and the white lamp standing in the corner is the perfect accompaniment to the large, comfortable black sofas. The large 3x3 white tiles lend a clean and spacious look to the overall decor and make the rooms look much bigger than they are.

A simple Buddha fountain adds a wonderful, peaceful touch to the atmosphere with the beautiful sounds of flowing water. Dim the lights, add a scented candle, and the hall transforms into a wonderful restful place to shrug off the day's tensions.

The framed cat photo to the left of the door leading to the kitchen is actually a touch panel containing switches for the lights illuminating the book case.

The sunlight streaming through the living room window reflects on the white floor of the kitchen, lending a beautiful touch to the overall atmosphere during the day.

LED lighting creates beautiful shadows and highlights the book collection, while the Onyx marble basin converts the dull corner into an attractive showpiece.