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Homing in on a warm statement
Kamayani Kanwar?s Shanti Niketan home has a classic appeal, without being loud.
Much like Kamayani Kanwar’s fashion sense, her Shanti Niketan home too is classic without being too intimidating and over-the-top. With warm interiors by Vikram Singh, the Kanwars’ meticulous home hardly gives a look that a five (Aryaan) and four year old (Zefaan) live in it too.
“My husband Raja (MD, Apollo International) is an art connoisseur so you can see the works of Anjolie Ela Menon, Neeraj Goswami, Vaikuntham and Dhiren Choudhary displayed in our living and dining room. These have been picked by Raja himself. He has an eye for detail and his collection also boasts of Raja Ravi Varma and some exquisite Tanjore paintings that we are planning to put up in our new home soon,” explains Kamayani.
A Welhams product who studied law and crooned in the all girls music group, Models, Kamayani shifted to her present home seven years ago. Her main interest till today, though, is teaching yoga and this mother of two is also planning to start a yoga centre equipped with state of the art spa facilities. “The spa will be professionally managed and will have all the facilities to pamper you, and we will send you back rejuvenated,” promises Kamayani with a smile.
Interestingly, all the odds and ends like the ornate lamps, sculptures and books have been collected from the couple’s various trips, from France to Italy. The house is strewn with scented candles, though it’s balanced out beautifully by the antique Persian carpet that complements the paisley upholstery in the living room.
“My sister Priya (now settled in the UK), who studied at the Delhi College of Art, and Raja often have these interesting discussions on art and they both share a common passion for beautiful works. So acquiring art remains one of our major interests even today,” admits Kamayani.
The Kanwars also have an informal living room where the family chills out and they also enjoy the garden. You’ll find a variety of music from Disney’s new films for her two sons to the latest Bollywood hits for her to World music for Raja.
The dining room has an eight-seater table (that can take up to 10 guests) and wooden chairs and has been tastefully designed by Vikram Singh with the upholstery on alternate chairs done in different colours, adding a new dimension.
“It’s not only beautiful things that make a home, it’s people who live that do. We all long for home after our annual vacation (most recent was Italy), because its warm and inviting,” concludes Kanwar.
