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| The formal drawing room is dominated by a comfortable five-seater leather sofa set and an armchair. A glass-topped centre-table and fresh flowers complete the picture |
If there is one space in dance exponent Indrani Dutta’s house where she loves to practise intricate Kathak steps, it’s her large, 5,000sq ft terrace. Fragrant with vivid winter blooms and fairy lights that brighten up cold nights, this is her comfort zone. “It’s the best place to hang out, especially now, in winter,” says Dutta, who runs her dance school in another location in South Calcutta but manages to spend a lot of leisure time here, gardening.
Dutta and her husband, Janardan Paul, moved into this house in south Calcutta (near the Tolly Club) about six years ago. The Duttas occupy a triplex flat — that is, the third and fourth floors as well as the terrace — in this building block. You zoom to the fourth floor, which is the main entrance to the home, via an elevator and land up in the formal living room. While the floor above is a spacious terrace, a part of which has been enclosed to create an informal sitting and entertainment area, the bedrooms are located on the third floor. A staircase by the main entrance on the fourth floor connects it to the terrace and bedrooms on the floor below.
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| A golden Murano teaset is a cherished possession |
Dutta, who loves growing roses and petunias, spends a lot of time on the terrace. If she is not tending to her plants, then she’s simply chilling out in the living room. Plenty of natural light streams in here and the cheerfully upholstered sofas and settee picked up from Tag (Calcutta’s upmarket furniture store) add warmth to the semi-formal ambience of the room. A sleek console holds curios and vintage wine — the perfect ingredient for a party.
The couple loves to entertain here over weekends and on special occasions. “This is our entertainment zone. Sometimes we add zing to our parties by getting a live band to play on the terrace,” says Dutta.
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| An antique telephone is an attention-grabber in the Dutta’s master bedroom |
Adjacent to the living room is a dining room dominated by an eight-seater dining table. The look is inspired by mountain homes, what with its all-wood interiors. So much so that even the false ceiling is a decorative, wooden one. Dutta was inspired by something similar in a Darjeeling restaurant.
But for formal parties, the Duttas prefer the drawing room below, on the fourth floor. Besides the living area is a large ‘den’ where the family spend most evenings reading, watching television, or simply getting a head-to-toe massage in the massage chair.
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| A sitting room on the terrace is bright with natural light and has been appointed with a chaise lounge and a five-seater sofa set |
For convenience sake, this living room-cum-studio is split into three zones — the sitting area, the dining area and the ‘relaxation’ area. A single bed in the corner is just right for a quick nap, should it get late for dinner. A little bar overlooks the dining table, just in case the family or guests are in the mood for a quiet drink after work.
“My husband travels a lot but when he’s in town, he spends a lot of time in the den. He loves watching football or cricket or playing with our nine-year-old daughter, Rajnandini, here,’’ she says.
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| The staircase — made interesting with vases and even a chandelier — connects all the three floors of the house |
The formal drawing room is dominated by large comfortable sofas and a glass-topped centre table. There are colourful cushions on the sofas to offset the brown upholstery. Then there’s a shelf crammed with collectibles. Dutta’s favourite is a gold tea set from the Murano factory in Venice, Italy. “I picked it up for my daughter even before she was born!” she recalls.
It’s obvious that Dutta loves fresh flowers as the drawing room has a vast collection of vases that display the blooms of the season.
To access the three bedrooms you climb down the flight of stairs to the third floor. The master bedroom is occupied by Indrani and her husband, while another is used by their daughter, Rajnandini, while the third is reserved for house-guests.
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| Dutta strikes a pose in front of an antique mirror in the passageway |
Indrani’s bedroom has a well-lived in, though functional, look to it (a bed, dresser, wardrobe, TV, PC). But some artefacts do catch the eye — an antique telephone and blue pottery from China. “My daughter loves to hang around in my bedroom. She spends less time in her own room,” she says in mock-complaining tones.
Dutta likes to maintain a tidy and well-organised wardrobe since she keeps a very cramped schedule — and often in a hurry to dress — she doesn’t want to waste too much time looking for an appropriate attire.
Rajnandini’s bedroom looks funky. Dutta has played with bright orange and cream tones on the walls while the room is appointed with all that the child could need — a bed, a study table, a dressing table and a wardrobe.
Dutta takes great pains to ensure that the furniture and knick-knacks around the house are at their shiniest best. “I often change the arrangement to redo the decor. It’s my way of relaxing and I am compensated when my friends appreciate my home,” she smiles.
