A simple outlook

MALLIKARJUN RAO’S HOME IN NACHARAM IS EXACTLY HOW HE WANTED IT — WITH SUBTLE INTERIORS AND A SENSE OF CALM

Step into the home of B. Mallikarjun Rao and the first thing that you experience will be the soothing ambience of the subtle interiors done up with a predominance of beige and brown. Mallikarjun Rao, the administrator of Johnson Grammar School, LB Nagar, resides in this house, an independent villa, with wife Malathi, elder daughter Dr Mrinalini and younger daughter Mrigayanani.

Simple interiors with a minimal use of artefacts, which were bought from their travels to various countries, was the basic theme for their home in Nacharam. Mallikarjun says, “Being the owner of a school I’m always surrounded by bright colours and chaos, so I wanted to come back to peace at home. So with the use of earthy colours, we have tried to introduce warmth and calm into our home.”

The 19-year-old house was renovated just one-and-a-half years ago and the whole structure was changed. Interior designer Ashwant Bassi explains how the house was renovated. “There were a lot of walls and partitions, so we broke all of that down to bring in more space. The formal living room was actually another bedroom, so that was completely changed. Most of the house has Italian marble flooring but for a few spaces, we chose wooden flooring,” he says, adding, “For the master bedroom in the South West corner of the home, we used wooden flooring on a higher platform (according to Vaastu). We decided to give a partial glass finish to the wardrobes to help bring in the illusion of space.”

Their formal living room, has a rotatable TV platform which they wanted to be remote controlled.

On the first floor, is a lounge that is also the recreational area for the family. The same floor also has the bedrooms of the two daughters, which are the only spaces in their home that have colour.

The floor above houses the terrace which has a bed of artificial grass laid out and also has a store room.

There were a lot of walls and partitions, so we broke all of that down to bring in more space — ASHWANT BASSI, INTERIOR DESIGNER

With earthy colours, we have tried to introduce warmth and calm into our home — B. MALLIKARJUN RAO

MEET THE FAMILY: From left, Dr Mrinalini, Malathi with their pup Mr Lenoy and Mallikarjun Rao

BROWN HUES: Above, the formal living room; Below, the lounge area on the first floor

MEMOIRS: Left, artefacts like these are found all around their home

A self-portrait made by their younger daughter Mrigayanani