The living room, done in tones of blue and yellow, features straight line furniture and wallpaper on an accent wall

Twelve years ago when couturier Shantanu Mehra (of the Shantanu & Nikhil signature fame) was redesigning the first floor of his grandmother’s bungalow to move in with wife Rima, he was clear about the look he wanted. It had to be something that was at once functional and elegant in its appeal.

So, when he asked product designer Alex Davis — known for his cutting-edge works in steel — to help design the furniture and installations around the house of his dreams, it had to stand out from the rest. Today the 3,500sqft space in south Delhi’s New Friends Colony is a mélange of chic furniture and stylish decor pieces.

The couple’s very lived-in, two-bedroom home is dressed up with eclectic belongings: antique silk rugs from Kashmir, glass installations from Greece and a wood-and-steel dining table.

It’s really a family home as his father lives on the ground floor and his brother Nikhil built his wing on the second floor when he got married. “When I started redesigning the first floor, I felt we needed a home with a unique character since we were going to spend a large part of our lives here,” says Mehra.

Shantanu and Rima’s home is a harmonious blend of comfort and style; (below) the Mediterranean-style patio is the kids’ secret playground and the family’s chill zone

The designer’s home, unlike his bold couture lines, is nderstated. A spiral staircase from the ground floor leads to his home where guests are greeted by a lazy golden Labrador pup, Laddoo, who isn’t at all amused at being woken up. Once inside, you step into the drawing room with the dining room to the right, down a couple of steps.

Mehra retained the layout of the home just as it was when he moved in including the brick- finished walls in the drawing room. Marble flooring, a very 1990s trend, too was retained in the drawing and dining areas. The white marble today has aged and reflects a tinge of blue giving the space a retro look. The bedroom and den, however, were given modern wooden floors.

But what the Mehras did rip out and build from scratch was the kitchen. They replaced it with a modular kitchen done in pristine white.

Straight-line furniture fills the house. From comfortable sofas to the Japanese inspired dining table (a square table with benches in place of chairs) to simple stretch-your-legs-on sink-in couches in the den — all are Davis’s designs. The couple also opted for glass doors and mirrors to create an impression of space.

The living room is done in tones of blue and yellow. What stands out here is the wallpaper — a rare sight in Delhi homes. An accent wall displays a pattern of white roses on an aqua blue background, which complements the yellow upholstery and walls.

Two steps down from the living room lands one in the dining area. An arch in exposed brick-work divides the drawing from the dining area. A wall in the dining room has been painted with yellow and white stripes, giving a defining character to the space. A simple yet attractive bar, built into the wall behind the dining table, has a Circle of Life glass artifact that the couple picked up in Athens. Another Davis creation, a steel installation of a poppy flower called Poppy, has been displayed on the wall opposite the bar.

The couple and their children — Ayan, 10 and Rishan, 5 — spend most of the day in the “warmest part of the home” — their den. An entertainment zone, the den has a large television and a Nintendo Wii for the kids. The colour palette here is bright with blue upholstery and yellow exposed brick walls.

Product designer Alex Davis’ installation, Poppy, is displayed on the wall opposite the bar

The highlight in the master bedroom is a bookshelf in the shape of a ladder. The bed — another Davis creation — is sturdy with a convex headboard. The kids’ room has a bunk bed, a study table-cum-bookshelf for two and a snooker table. The sporty feel is repeated on a wall: a framed, black felt-marker autographed Indian cricket team jersey. “This is a prized possession. The three men in my life are hardcore cricket buffs,” says Rima.

What’s distinct about this house is that it is bereft of curtains. “Most of our glass doors have blinds instead,” says Rima.

The bright yellow and blue colour palette is also the mainstay of the Mehras’ den which has an aesthetic, exposed brick wall and comfy couches

The home has ample breathing space what with two large balconies — one each in front of the drawing and dining areas. Tucked away in the back, is the Mediterranean-style patio, that was once a balcony. It has textured white walls with candle niches, a checkered green and white marble floor, wooden benches, a table and a couple of paintings. The couple likes to spend their sunny winter mornings here. When Rima isn’t looking, the children sneak into the space to hone their batting and bowling skills, much to her dismay. “I often have to plead with them to not play in the house but kids will be kids,’’ she smiles.

The couple admits to not being big on paintings and Rima says she doesn’t want to hang art that no one understands. But there’s plenty of art of a different kind — the wall-paper, the eye-catching flooring, a touch of contemporary India with Western sensibilities.