Creative expression

When K V Sridhar, national creative director, Leo Burnett moved to Central Mumbai from South Mumbai, he was happy. "The reason we came to Wadala because it is relaxed like a holiday home – calm and serene," says Sridhar.

Architects and interior designers, Ashutosh Wad and Manjunath Hathwar of Space Dynamix, were given a clear brief by Sridhar. "He wanted a contemporary design with a warm, rustic feel," say the duo.

For a family of four that includes his wife, son and daughter, the Sridhars had enough space for a lot of their requirements. "We got a puja room in this flat, a bigger kitchen and I got the bar!!" he laughs.

The kitchen was given special emphasis as everyone frequents this area of the house. Since two flats were combined, and the existing kitchen was a tad bit too small, one of the bedrooms was converted into a kitchen. "Here Ashutosh did help by adding that since the flat was spacious the kitchen had to match," says Sridhar.

Each member of the family of four believes in self-expression and they were all excited about doing up the new place.

It was a mutual understanding between the Sridhars and the architect-interior designers when it came to what the home would be all about. "Symmetry and alignment for me was the most important thing and attention to details," explains Sridhar.

"I told them that they are the specialists. I have built many sets but this is your area. You do the way you want, total freedom but understanding the family was a must," laughs Sridhar. So Ashutosh was invited for breakfast with the family so that he got to know the family and way the Sridhars lived, ate and how they gelled as a family.

Sridhar's son who is seventeen-and-a-half is into Astrophysics and his room is in white and black, stylish and contemporary. The sanitised, futuristic look here caters to his interest in space and science and science fiction.

Simplicity is expressed in the flooring in polished Kota stone in a majority of the areas in the flat. There is rough Kota stone cladding on the entrance as well as living room walls that adds a rustic feel.

Posters from the Coca-Cola factory at Atlanta are framed for an unusual look at the bar. "I got all of them together and framed them making it an unusual artwork," says Sridhar.

The lighting was designed to provide direct as well as mood lighting (by means of diffused cove lighting) while the furniture is predominantly walnut veneer with plenty of stainless steel and glass.

In the kitchen, stainless steel and white laminate provide an interesting contrast to the Kota stone flooring and silver slate stone cladding.

A personal touch is added to the house with artifacts and frames, some of them which are very artistic and reflective of the family's tastes.