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| The living room has everything from silver accent pieces and glass kerosene lamps to bright upholstery on display |
Actress Sushma Seth has always loved the finer things in life. So, her chic home in Delhi’s New Friends Colony is tastefully embellished with artefacts, paintings and collectibles that offer a coordinated contrast to the pastel coloured walls.
“At times, I was so head over heels in love with the colour scheme of the house that I used to create paintings in hues that would offset the home décor,” confesses Seth, who’s a self-taught artist and has mastered the art of creating elaborate Tanjore paintings.
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| Intricately crafted brass sculptures occupy pride of place in a corner of the lounging area |
Her passion for colour coordination extends into the three first-floor bedrooms that Seth shares with her daughter Priya, son-in-law and granddaughter Ananya. So, while Seth’s own room is a study in beige, including the lustrous silk upholstery of the furniture, Priya’s space boasts of a delicate blue colour scheme.
But the most exuberant colour story is played out in the drawing-cum-dining room which has everything from intricately handcrafted accent pieces and glass kerosene lamps to dry floral arrangements and upholstery done in several tones of turquoise. “This is the winter mood while I play with a black and white shade card during summers,” she says.
Seth’s very fond of silver metal objects and that’s prominently visible in the sitting room. On the coffee table are displayed antique silver collectibles that have been passed down as heirlooms. One spectacular item in the collection on the coffee table is an antique silver incense box embellished with delicate filigree work. It’s polished regularly to maintain its untarnished look.
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| On one wall of the dining space there is a collection of antique brass betel nut crackers |
An old silver hand-held fan catches your attention with its elaborate hand carvings of peacocks and bell adornments along the edge. Flanked by the incense box and the fan is a traditional paan-daan that’s delicately etched with elaborate floral motifs. “I try to make things work together. These silver trinkets don’t share a common origin but somehow complement one another beautifully in this display,” explains Seth.
The walls too haven’t been given a miss. In the sitting room behind the seat area there are Tanjore paintings, mostly etched by Seth. She’s worked her fingers to the bone depicting Puranic deities on the Tanjores in golden tones contrasted sharply with other vibrant hues. “It’s not an effort when you are passionate about something. I love doing the Tanjores when the sun is streaming in through the windows,” she says.
A turquoise conch shell as well as glass candle-stands that are tinted blue are additions to the colour scheme of the space.
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| Elaborately designed silver knick-knacks are exhibited on the coffee table |
Just next to the seating area is the actress’ own bedroom elegantly done up to suit her personality. Seth has created a subtle harmony between the white furniture and the beige silk furnishings. On the walls are huge family photographs, where coincidentally every member is wearing shades of red and beige. “I’ve never realised until now that the colours people were wearing on special family occasions were all coordinated,” she says.
Handicrafts and antiques are high on Seth’s list of favourite things. At the entrance of the house is a small space earmarked for worshipping gods of the Hindu pantheon. Watch out for the exquisitely handcrafted wooden figurines of Vishnu, resplendent in his 10 avatars. At another corner of the room several brass sculptures have been placed tastefully. A dancing damsel shares space with brass aarti lamps and a mother and child sculpture casting a golden hue on the area.
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| Actress Sushma Seth’s forte lies in colour co-ordinating her home accessories |
The balcony is an oasis of green and, in fact, all over the house there are ornamental plants in interestingly shaped planters, sometimes colour coordinated with other accessories placed next to them. “My driver possesses a green thumb. So, everything tended by him flowers well,” explains Seth.
Seth says she loves antique sculpture as well. So, an antique four-armed Ganesha, sculpted out of stone and mounted on a tall ornate pedestal, occupies pride of the place in the house.
The interiors of the house are a reflection of the owner’s passion for the crafts of India and Seth has taken care to showcase them in strategic locations of her home.
