Though a fairly compact space, the overall impression is that of warmth.
When actress Sonali Bendre asked long-time friend and interior designer Sussanne Roshan to renovate her Mumbai home, she discovered in her, a sister in style and spirit. No one will believe that the girl-next-door has a Goth fetish. “Sussanne was one of the few people who understood the Goth in me,” says the mother and actress.
The two have known each other for more than a decade and share a bond so deep that when Sonali’s space needed to be renovated, it was understood, without any actual words exchanged, that she would be the one doing it. “I would just say things like, ‘I want this feeling’ and I don’t know how she managed to translate that into reality but she did and she got it bang on!” says Sonali.
OFF THE MAP
Located on the fifth floor of a standalone building in Juhu, an elevator lets you into a home that has dark, walnut-wood floors. “They require a bit of maintenance, but I knew I wanted this,” says Bendre, adding, “Being in an industry that requires so much travelling, I associate marble flooring with hotels.” Though a fairly compact space, the overall impression you get is that of warmth, rather than smallness. The work on the house began about three years ago, the designer reveals, “When I first saw the house, there was a feeling of it being a little closed. I wanted to open it up and make it more airy and spacious, but without losing its warmth,” adds Sussanne.
DESIGN EQUILIBRIUM
Sussanne calls Sonali a dream client, “She was very clear about the needs to be met and that really helped us provide better design,” says Sussanne. On her part, Sonali had told Sussanne, ‘Whatever else you do, my heart is Indian and my art is Indian and I’d like the space to reflect this.’
Sonali was initially worried, that creating a space to combine both her’s and her husband Goldie Behl sensibilities was a close to impossible challenge. She has a Goth streak, which is counterbalanced by her extreme practicality; he is more laidback and favours an industrial aesthetic. In addition to this, both of them are extremely social and love entertaining. “We also realised that we have a lot of friends!” says Sonali, laughing. The space, therefore, also had to be friend-friendly.
More in the November-December issue of Architectural Digest India, which hits stands today.
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