The Hindu : Kerala News : Design globally and buy locally

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Saturday, Apr 02, 2011
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Kerala

Design globally and buy locally

Home interiors in Kochi are in step with those of the developed world if one takes the recent trends.

The exposure the local connoisseurs have to world-class interiors has created a new demand for imported interiors.

All the brands in Europe and the U.S. have their presence in the Kerala market. The spendthrift attitude of Malayalis in doing up their home interiors in the past has given way to the use of expensive European brands.

A furniture showroom recently opened in Kochi has sofa sets with prices starting from Rs.2 lakh to Rs.35 lakh, which still attracts many customers and clocks sales.

Despite these facts, we do nurture a secret ethnic and rural taste in our hearts. The rich and the famous do have a taste for styles that are Indian, antique, traditional and culturally symbolic.

This is nothing new. The number of antique furniture shops in Kochi will vouch for the trend.

Some architects even import these kinds of furniture from Bali, Indonesia, for their projects, says L. Gopakumar, Kochi-based architect, during an interaction with The Hindu-PropertyPlus here recently.

Talking about the recently opened ‘Zing,' a lifestyle home interior boutique of Asset Homes at Chembumukku in the city, Mr. Gopakumar says that as a concept, it is not new. But the difference is that the idea is promoted by a major player in the building industry and it stands better chances to succeed.

As far as the architects are concerned, there are distinct styles for many designer houses. Some passionately promote the contemporary and the modern with glass and metal as their raw materials. But quiet a few architects satisfy the wish of their clients by making traditional interiors, says Mr. Gopakumar.

K. VENKITESWARAN

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