A maximalist walks into a rental

Piano room
| Photo Credit: Special arrangement

How does one convert a standard beach house in Chennai into what is seemingly an English cottage and that too on a limited budget? And what if it is a rental property to boot, where major structural changes are not permitted? Interior designer Arti Muthiah seems to have all the answers, having managed the same within two months last year. In fact, when we heard she was vacating said residence soon, we requested a tour. This former Dubai resident can effortlessly change the vibe of any living space, and some tips for a new generation of renters wouldn’t hurt, we reckoned.

On a quiet afternoon spent cruising along the coast, Muthiah’s three-bedroom house in Injambakkam is easy to find. The cheery doormat featuring Tintin and Snowy hints at the ‘Atlas of Memories’ inside. This is a customised bookcase in the foyer, stacked with everything from The Adventures of Tintin (understandably) to titles from George R.R. Martin, beloved cookbooks, and artefacts collected over the years. As we begin browsing, it is evident that Muthiah has carefully designed this residence she calls the Curator’s Homestead to be a ‘home’ for herself and her teenage daughter.

A dramatic entrance

Let’s begin with the dramatic entryway to the 2,400 sq.ft. abode. By colour-blocking blue and white paint, she has created two distinctive areas. Both are given a facelift with a crisp coat of white, layered with moldings (it appears she is partial to them) and wall detailing for heightened definition. The painted ceiling (another handy tip) in dark blue, with gold pendant lamps, creates drama and depth.

The foyer reflects Muthiah’s ability to create distinctive spaces without any structural changes. The original foyer that opened directly into the dining room, allowing the diners no privacy, was updated with a temporary partition system. “This also allowed me to position my XXXL bookcase, which is the focal point of the foyer,” she explains.

Ceilings of calm

The foyer’s blue ceilings and white walls extend into the living room and the adjacent piano room. “Ceilings are the most underrated design elements of a room,” says Muthiah, noting how her blue ceilings create a sense of calm and continuity throughout the house. Her eclectic collection of paintings provides pops of colour on the walls and a cohesive colour scheme across her home. The room has been intentionally designed for long conversations and languid afternoons. And if you are reminded of a plush ‘90s cigar lounge, put it down to Muthiah’s maximalist approach to design. A sienna Chesterfield and a reupholstered IKEA sofa here are complemented by starkly unique artworks by S. Nandagopal, Gurudas Shenoy and K. Muralidharan. A single leather armchair by The One, Dubai, a custom-made coffee table, a chandelier and nesting tables from Dubai and a concrete side table from Objectry prove that Muthiah prioritises comfort and functionality but with a stylish narrative.

Inside the piano room

Her favourite room, and ours, is the one housing the Ritmuller Upright white piano. The walls here are a dominant blue, a dramatic backdrop for a unique artwork made of recycled wood by Gregory Lent titled The Mothership. Here gold-coloured figures are assembled under a spaceship, and appear to be emerging from the wall itself. “The Mothership in the piano room resonates wherever I put it, even while we were living in Dubai,” Muthiah observes. The classic IKEA Billy bookcase holds its own, alongside a retro radio cabinet.

About second chances

The dining room, at the back of the house, features a contrasting ceiling in burnt terracotta, bringing warmth to the west-facing side of the house. A Boddhi tree by Lent, restored by him almost a decade-and-a-half later, along with quirky sculptures, makes the dining room feel like a warm hug. When Muthiah moved back here from Dubai early last year, many of her belongings arrived damaged in transit. They were repurposed or upcycled. A bar table has been reimagined as a Kintsugi-inspired piece, where the broken parts were repaired with a touch of gold, creating something entirely new and beautiful. “It’s all about giving things a second chance,” says Muthiah, her eyes lingering on this table as she speaks.

On to the next

We step into the tidy garden, where the verandah has her grandfather’s plantation chairs, repainted an inviting green. This home is where sentimental tchotchkes, refurbished teak furniture and modern accents from IKEA all have a place. There are fun pieces from Paradise Road Sri Lanka and from her many adventures, be it in a small town in Italy, or a hidden gem in France, or a bustling market in Dubai. Muthiah believes that a rental property can feel just as personal and permanent as a purchased home. “Designing this property has been a creative challenge, but also incredibly fulfilling,” she concludes, soaking up every moment here before she has to return it in its original state to her landlord.

The Chennai-based writer is a screenwriter and filmmaker.