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Vintage, yet contemporary

Souk in Nungambakkam specialises in furniture — antiques as well as reproductions

PHOTO: R. RAGU

ECLECTIC COLLECTION Some of the pieces at Souk

Dressing up homes is more than a passion... it's become a way of life. Interior designer Soumya Keshavan has gone a step further and opened Souk, a furniture store in Tirumurthi Nagar, Nungambakkam.

So, what makes her ware any different from what's available in the market today? "It is vintage with an edgy feel and a contemporary look," says Soumya, ensconced in a Calcutta sofa of the Raj days.

Most of the pieces have been sourced from all over South India. Some are genuine antiques, while some are reproductions. What Souk has done is lend a contemporary touch to the eclectic collection. "Take the sofa, for example. It originally had traditional deep blue velvet upholstery. But I gave it a lime green cover to add that dash of cheer," she says.

What led to opening Souk, you wonder. She replies: "Actually, while redesigning a 110-year-old British bungalow in Coonoor for Nandan Nilekani, I sourced a lot of furniture from all over. I retained some of the pieces for myself. And soon realised I had one too many and had to give them away. Well, that's what led to the launch of Souk."

Keeping with her `fresh feel' mantra, most of the furniture on display has been worked on. Two Victorian chairs are scraped of their polish and redone with striped and floral printed upholstery, to give them a modern look.

Says the post-graduate in anthropology, "I feel people take their living spaces too seriously. Everything looks grand, straight out of a magazine. I feel we need to lighten the atmosphere."

Among the unusual pieces is a low Naga bed with an uneven surface. It can be used as a centre table as well. A wooden screen in green makes a stylish statement. "The design is a replica of Chinese tiles which I found in Gables, the house in Coonoor."

There's a comfortable planter's chair with Kerala-style painting adorning the headrest and the legs. A chest gets a makeover with floral and geometric patterns painted all over it.

Other interesting pieces include a Parsi cot complete with glass painting on the headboard, a Dutch colonial chest with intricately carved doors, a Chinese camphor wood chest with Art Deco detailing, elegantly framed Buddhist tablets and an ethnic roll top desk.

SAVITHA GAUTAM

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