VJ Andy's home

Tranquil space

Minimalist in design, VJ Andy’s home exudes an earthy vibe, says Shilpa Sachdev

An established choreographer, a budding actor and a well known VJ, Andy aka Anand Kumar is a versatile personality. However, Andy has chosen to keep his home, a bachelor’s pad, simple and minimalist. The home is contemporary, comfortable, tranquil and an organised space, which feels welcoming and has a calming effect. Andy has ensured that the home is well decorated with right accents without letting any element over-power the other.

A rich shade of cream is the central colour of the house. The decor of the living room is modern and contemporary but minimalist. A wall has been painted olive green to add a punch of colour. Andy says, “The mood of the home focuses on relaxation and re-energising. Green represents serenity thus inviting calm and peaceful vibes and brings a flow of energy. I always try to avoid clutter and keep my surroundings clean and spacious. Clutter adds a lot of negativity and a feeling of being crowded. I like clean open spaces which are a luxury in Mumbai so I do what I can in my own space to reflect the effect of flowing space and ambience.” 

The comfortable sofa that rests on the olive green wall is grey in colour to strike a contrast. The TV unit is not over-the-top at all; in fact it is just an L-shaped wooden plank, which sits perfectly right. Low-seated in style, the TV unit is accentuated with a serene Buddha idol at one far end. The extended portion of the TV unit also acts as a partition between the living and the dining area. 

The dining area on the other side of the TV unit contains a compact four-seater dining table set. While olive green dominates the living area of the house, the dining area retains the rich cream colour, which also makes it stand apart from the living area. A dainty crystal chandelier is hung over the dining space to give it both light and an aesthetic touch. A chest of drawers sits right opposite to the dining table perfectly exhibiting the knick knacks collected by Andy over time. “The dining space is a very important part of my house; it the place where conversations take place. As for the chandelier, it is both functional and decorative as for me the sense of sight plays a huge part when enjoying food,” Andy explains.

Andy was insistent on a writing table so a study table has been provided in one of the quaint corners of the house. Designed in a heritage style, the study table made of wood is ethnic and minimalist at the same time. Adorned with a vertically standing mirror and a yellow table lamp, the space is non-fussy and makes for a peaceful study corner, ideal for Andy to indulge in some thinking for the shows.

The master bedroom has been done up very tastefully. It may be small in size but it has been well-conceptualised. The colour scheme of the room hovers between cream and brown. As a result, the bed is made up of dark wood with an ethnic print used for the headboard that adds drama to the room. The most interesting part about the bed is that it is lit up from below flushing the room with light when put on. Lights have also been provided in the form of two lamps sitting on both the ends of the headboard, while two black and white paintings sit in the middle, making the décor look even more interesting and different from the usual.

The house has a huge balcony that has been painted deep blue. A bunch of floral beauties and foliage plants occupy the balcony adding a dose of freshness to the décor. Andy shares, “The balcony brings the outside in, and breaks the claustrophobia of the four walls. I've used blue colour on the wall for this particular shade reminds me of the ink blue sky at twilight, and I associate this to magic. The painting is a depiction of Mumbai City, a work of art by artist Ram Indraneel Kamanth.”

Apart from the balcony, Andy has also used plants inside the house by placing them in different corners for visual interest. So an ethnic style stool lies next to the dining area with a small bunch of bamboo standing tall. A bouquet of fresh flowers in the living room and a potted plant next to the dining table are a few more patches of verdant greenery in the house.

While the house is small and simple, it creates moments of visual arrest. Andy has also ensured that it is well-accessorised in the right balance. So there are some contemporary shelves lined up on the wall in the passage leading to the living room and a small fish tank that adds more life to the décor. Plants, figurines and black and white paintings are some ways used to highlight spaces and corners in the house. A picture wall in the passageway gives the home a nice personal touch.

The house is devoid of extensive furniture and not profusely stuffed, which leaves a lot of breathing space. The intelligent use of colour, the ethnic motifs in design, the contemporary style of décor and a tinge of greenery only results in a space that looks peaceful and ethereal. For someone like Andy who has a creative bent of mind, the house he has put together is a cozy den to come back to – a serene retreat indeed. As he rightly concludes, “After my hectic schedule when I enter my home, the wave of serenity perfectly rejuvenates me for the next day at work.”