Concept Furniture

Beyond the usual

Give your home a personality that makes it stand apart, says Shilpa Sachdev

A home offers a wide canvas that can be decorated in a myriad ways. Forget the interior designer and try your own hand at giving your home a new picture. Adding a touch of fusion décor is a good way to start because it enlarges the scope of things you can do. And it need not be something very drastic or big; one can start with small and simple changes or simply keep an eye on interesting innovations hitting the market and include them as a part of the grand design.

The charm of handicrafts is something that never goes out of style. Full of colour and craft, these products add warmth to any home. Vina Mody, the founder-director of Contemporary Art and Crafts says, “It is important that your home looks lived in. Try and buy Indian, buy local products and support local craft. Don't worry too much about what's in style or what's in fashion at the moment as these will keep changing. A home needs to grow organically and needs to be filled with things you love- not things that are in fashion. The difference comes about when you are not scared to mix and match - place an ethnic Indian dhurrie under a modern industrial table or maybe combine some contemporary screen printed cushion covers with a beautiful Ikat bed cover.”

Formally trained in product design, designer Manasi Manjrekar recently launched her store Confluence Elite that houses an eclectic range of furniture designs. In her opinion, concept furniture is a growing trend and an excellent medium to bring home something different and unique. Manjrekar shares, “Furniture is a basic need in the house. The importance of a well-designed space is assuming importance especially today when the buyer is well-travelled and has a particular need. Concept furniture is a borderline art piece, which has a strong story and reason to exist. The attempt is to combine utility with art and offer it at an approachable price but since it is not your usual piece of furniture, there is a price tag attached. For those who are looking out for something different and particular, concept furniture is something to look out for.”

Some of the pieces that stayed with us were the huge open showcase wherein the lower three racks came off to make a stairway to help shorter people reach the full height of the display. The Vajrasan chairs were an absolute ergonomic delight. The Red Indian themed chandelier was a nice change. Made from glass bottles and infused with bright colour feathers, the chandelier can be nicely hung loose to ornament a central place in the house or beautify an odd pillar. The simply enchanting popsicle can be carried wherever one goes. Plant it into the floor and you have made yourself a place to sit just about anywhere. A set of boxes placed one over the other in a corner also caught our attention as an interesting corner piece; you can choose the number of boxes you want to stack up.

The beauty of concept furniture is that it cannot be replicated or mass produced, which makes it very extra-ordinary and special. It is not your regular idea of a table or chair. Every piece has an inspiration that is the unique to the artist behind the piece of work.

Imagine a traditional trunk customised to your choice? If you have loved the timeless appeal of the traditional Indian trunks, there are some chic and functional varieties for the connoisseurs to choose from. Each trunk by the Trunks Company, Jaipur – makers of avant-garde luxury fashion trunks, is a unique blend of aesthetics, legendary charm and contemporary usage. What’s more - they can be customised according to dimensions and leather colours to suit the décor, but keeping in mind the functionality and grandeur of the trunk. Says designer Livio Delesgues, “Apart from their delightful appearance that renders great aesthetic value to an available space, these trunks are extremely functional as well. The Bar Trunk is an epitome of luxury personalized to match the requirements of its connoisseurs. The Safe Trunk cherishes valuables with strong vault and is an ornament in itself. The other bespoke trunks such as the Wardrobe Trunk, Vanity Trunk, Dressing Trunk are an amalgamation of whimsical architecture and design to adorn oneself with exclusive luxury. In fact, the Watch Trunk is a cherished possession for all watch collectors across the country.”

The furniture and accessories for the home are getting quirky, experimental and thought-provoking. A simple change of motif or colour or even a rare piece of accessory can elevate the depth of your home décor. The trick lies in how you do it differently!