Karnataka - Bangalore

For a serious interior makeover

— Photo: Sampath Kumar G.P.

Exquisite: Silver furniture displayed at ‘Society Interiors’ in Bangalore on Friday.

Bangalore: Home décor, with its association with aspirational lifestyle, runs parallel with the booming property scene.

And to cater to the niche are exhibitions aplenty in the city, the latest being the Society Interiors at the Kanteerava Stadium here.

All the inputs for a serious interior makeover are here though the show, to a large extent, conveys the feeling it is directed at a bursting wallet. Voluptuous leather sofas for nearly Rs. 1 lakh, co-ordinated bedroom and drawing room sets, seven-foot grandfather clocks for Rs. 30,000, steel sinks for anywhere between Rs. 20,000 and Rs. 40, 000 depending on the features, a feng shui water feature priced Rs. 5,000 upwards, brass artefacts such as lamps to six-foot Buddhas for nearly Rs. 1 lakh and brass and silver jhoolas that swings from Rs. 4 lakh to Rs. 10 lakh.

And then of course you have H.M. Manchanda from Missouri, who is a regular at interiors shows, and this time his show of seasonal variety antiques that charms. After the classic Rajasthani work on cushion-like floor dhurrie last year, Mr. Manchanda this time has English and Swiss-style clocks harking back the Victorian age, Sheffield cutlery, candle stands and white metal bowls, are economically priced.

The glitter of the silver jhoola at K.K. Arts and Crafts from Udaipur is a focal piece, particularly for its intricate workmanship.

“It is ancestral skill at work and our products — be it mirror, jhoola or the dining table — handmade with the base being Burma teak which is clad with intricately carved silver sheets,” says Pankaj Paliwal, owner of the stall.

The jhoola with broad pillars and floral and peacock motifs, is eight feet high and weighs 300 kg, 24 kg of which is taken up by silver.

“It takes four months for half a dozen artisans to make this piece and the normal silver liquid polish (four times a year) available in the market is enough for maintenance, says Mr. Paliwal.

One of the star hotels of Bangalore is sure to have it packed and delivered during the weekend, he says, because “Rs. 10 lakh is worth all the workmanship and the silver!”

The exhibition is on till August 4.

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