This 11,000 Sq Ft Home In Kasaragod, Kerala Is Every Art Lover’s Dream
“Fanciful details and a pop of colour” – this is what homeowners Mr and Mrs Ashraf asked for when they first called designers and co-founders, Afnan and Arun of Humming Tree. Thereafter, almost every conversation between the four ended with the words “positive, joyful, spirited.” It’s safe to say that with its distinctive details and statement furniture the home, aptly termed ‘The Art Mansion’, is as close to the brief as it could be! The house is a stone’s throw away from being a gallery – it’s brimming with art, curios, and collector-worthy furnishings. Almost all the paraphernalia used contributes to the 11,000 sq ft space being every art lover’s dream!
What takes centre stage in the living room, is the exotic, luxurious marble that lies behind the curvy mustard couch. In a room that’s otherwise a culmination of geometric patterns in subdued whites and blacks, this bulbous couch in an eclectic shade is quite the welcome addition. Upon closer inspection, it’s noticeable that the same hue of yellow can be found meandering in the marble, as the one on the couch. It’s these intricate details that help tie together the entire space along with a little help from the Noctambule floor light from Crema, which instantly illuminates the living area.
The designer duo divulges trade secrets as they tell us about the distinctive details that set apart each area of the home. Here, for example, it’s the grand arches that act as seamless “transition points” and help “define one area from the other.” It’s “just a psychological understanding from the past”, they say! With lots of space to experiment with shapes, forms, and colours, the designers mixed, matched, and strayed away from conventional norms. An electric blue is paired ever-so-easily with metallic gold, and the two come together to complement a timeless wooden flooring. It’s truly a “yin and yang situation altogether.”
Handpicked at Marche de la Creation, the art objects in this home are unlike any others! While some were carefully selected at a local flea market in Mattancherry, Cochin, others are truly international, with Timothy Harney’s crayola coloured collection being the perfect topper! The collection comprises a range of varied works, crafted in oil or acrylic mediums, in all sorts of sizes. A visual treat awaits one upon walking in, with specially curated design furniture being placed artfully against modern mirrors and thematic floorings. The art and decor are highlighted by subtle backdrops, herein being the translucent curtains that allow Faye Toogood’s Roly-Poly chair to be in the spotlight. An embodiment of the concepts of sculptural furniture, the chair is warm and welcoming with its bowl-shaped seat and cylindrical legs.
A timeless grey floor covering from Jaipur Rugs juxtaposes the dopamine inducing tans and blues. It is these “sensuous furniture pieces” that are imagined to be “conversation starters” since they’re such a welcome contrast to Kasaragod and Kerala’s otherwise conservative context. In the background is a decorative fixture. Mirrored panels hang parallel to each other, accented in gold. These very fittings add just the right amount of luxury to the home.
The variety of marbles at Stone Yard left the designers smitten. A set of 6 chairs in a broody olive green complement a grey marble table, with white veins all over it. This play of colours is something that’s quite common even in the rest of the house, contributing to its modern-day charm. Arun says, “We like to teeter-totter with spaces, materials, textures, and colours.” which explains all the contrasting pieces in the home that still sit wonderfully together. The set has been mounted on chestnut brown wooden flooring, the mesmerising highlights of which are clear since natural light seeps in, in copious amounts from large windows and translucent curtains.
Decorative lights from the likes of Aura from Calicut add character to this living space. Circular bubbles are suspended from a rod and clumped together, resembling a cloud. The curvy additions are a recurring theme in this room! Herein, two statement seating options come together to create the perfect little nook. A single coffee table rests on a round rug. The use of mirrors helps the space look large, simultaneously making it seem more modern and sleek. Arun even goes on to tell us that the use of black in the bedrooms allows its inhabitants to “be their authentic selves and alone with their thoughts in the privacy of their home.” It’s the finest example of colour psychology!
Since bedrooms are supposed to be personal, it’s been a conscious choice to make them feel like safe-havens. The use of minimal tones, sleek furniture, and subdued hues create a sense of tranquillity. Each of the bedrooms is as serene and calming, as the rest of the house is eclectic and exciting. An amalgamation of different tones of grey, this bedroom is a tad bit more serious than the rest of the rooms. Its sleek and linear interiors are a welcome change from the rotund pieces that make up the rest of the house. This room is industrial, modern, and monochromatic.
Straying away from the monochromatic theme, this bedroom plays host to textures and colours aplenty! One area transitions to another, as the slightly curved headboard, helps section off the bedding from the seating. Hues of wine and turquoise sit skillfully together with creams and greys. Every part of the house has a story to tell and is reflective of the owners’ personalities.
Complete with shades of pinks and whites, this room caters to the needs of a much younger inhabitant! As a result, it’s softer and calmer. Fluffy, decorative accents that have been handpicked locally breathe some spunk into the setting, while a panelled headboard supports a grand grey bed. Crafted and created entirely on site, it’s an in-house labour of love. A subtle piece from Jaipur Rugs lies beneath the bed and bench set. Similar to the rest of the house, the wooden flooring is a welcome texture and contributes to the room’s modernity.
A myriad of curvy curios, this little nook is packed with punches of style. From the decorative lighting to the two statement chairs, it’s clear that this corner is no casual one. Set against a thematic marble flooring, the two velvet chairs are the best of shapely additions. They’re fun, full of spunk, and are inherently gallery-worthy! The voluminous ‘matka’ in the background brings sustainable style and contextual warmth with it and is an ethnic iteration of a timeless vase. The three contribute to the artsy appeal of the home. More importantly, these additions help achieve the Ashrafs’ vision of “a home that reflected their flamboyant personalities”, them being “ardent admirers of art and architecture alive.” The designers’ unmatched philosophy and ability to experiment does the most to keep the home’s location in Kasaragod, Kerala a secret!
The bathrooms are a realisation of the maximal dream. They’re deeply international, adding a touch of global charm to the home. From the exotic white marble that features veins of grey in a winding course, to the exquisite sink that’s a total showstopper, the bathrooms too are works of art. Romantic details like round mirrors and strategically positioned bulbous vases make the two bathrooms as luxurious and art-oriented as the rest of the house. They’re definitely not an afterthought!
Humming Tree effortlessly translates their international, artsy vision into a space that’s almost gallery-like – bursting with art and layered with thoughtful design. Their ability to experiment aids in the creation of a one-of-its-kind home, that’s as high on fashion and style as it is on functionality and sensibility. Arun and Afnan’s The Art Mansion in Kerala is definitely the best space for art aficionados, Mr and Mrs Ashraf to call home!
