What you can learn from a billionaire’s world of décor extraordinaire

Everyone would love to live in a billionaire’s home and in India’s financial and entertainment capital Mumbai, there are many such homes, owned by the Who’s Who of corporate India and Bollywood. Very few of us will become billionaires, but there is lots to be learned from such ultra-luxurious homes—tips and techniques that can be replicated even in middle-class homes at middle-class prices. One such paradise for billionaires is the popular Mumbai address for the rich and famous, Carmichael Road in South Mumbai. This one-kilometre long road houses the elite from India Inc., Kumar Mangalam Birla, a corporate leader whose family legacy is one among India’s most respected industrial empires, is an occupant of one such home on Carmichael Road. While the Birla family has been known for their sharp business acumen for generations, they have also done a lot of social good—ranging from community, rural development and CSR initiatives. And given their legacy that’s generations old, their inherent Indian values of blending modernity with age-old tradition is reflected not only in their professional values, but also in their aesthetically designed mansion on Carmichael Road. An Illustrious Heritage The three-storey building is nothing short of palatial grandeur and awe-inspiring craftsmanship, and was earlier known as Anand Bhavan. Another historical facet of the home is that it was the birthplace of India’s former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi. With spectacular, well-maintained lawns adorned with fountains, massive arch windows and doors, large pointed arches all around, a swimming pool on the terrace, a private theatre that can accommodate 20 people and an underground parking arrangement, the present abode of Kumar Mangalam Birla and his family is all about luxury blended with heritage and values. Where exterior infrastructure meets interior grandeur This one-acre plot is as magnificently built from the outside as it is contemporary, aesthetic and stylish from the inside. Behind a gigantic wooden gate, the entrance is marked by a stone canopy. [caption id=“attachment_2439022” align=“alignleft” width=“279”]  Image Courtesy: Getty Images[/caption] Ganesh idols and long mirrors are an intricate part of this house, while the lounge area leads to one of the dining rooms. Large spaces both for personal and professional use, multiple grand areas for living and dining rooms are all brought together in this home and so beautifully that each space calls for its own privileged environment. While the ground floor houses a formal living room, the casual living room, the dining halls and an entertainment space for guests, the upper floors boasts of several lavish bedrooms, richly private spaces with striking features and a well-equipped gym. A beautiful spiral marble staircase with a dark wooden animal-carved railing connects these floors, and is in sync with the family’s aesthetic sense. [caption id=“attachment_2439028” align=“alignleft” width=“328”]  Image Courtesy: Getty Images[/caption] Such animal and bird carvings are a salient feature of Victorian Gothic architecture, a style that the Birlas have wisely exploited in this mansion. On the wall outlining the staircase are wall lamps, paintings and a marble statue of Buddha meditating, while the entry marks the ancestral roots of the oldest and wealthiest business families of the country with a large striking portrait of Aditya Vikram Birla along with his grandfather, the pioneer of Birla industries, Ghanshyam Das Birla. Perfectly Indo-European! [caption id=“attachment_2439034” align=“alignleft” width=“349”]  Image Courtesy: Getty Images[/caption] There are intricate designs on the floor tiles and stairs. Papered or textured walls with wood panels are adorned with either colourful paintings or carved, wooden frame mirrors. With much drama and elegance in the brightly-lit rooms and decorative patterns of this house, the Indo-Gothic décor of this dream abode uses bold, deep and rich colours that add the much-adored splendour and grandeur to this historic building. The silk draperies on the huge arch windows and glitzy fabric used on the sofas give this house the majestic aura that befits the persona of the business magnate, Kumar Mangalam Birla himself. Further, antique tapestries, porcelain figures and wrought iron chandeliers add to the old-world elegance, much in tandem with the old-world charm Carmichael Road itself is known for. How to achieve the fusion style for your home Indo-European architectural finesse might not be the style on your mind but décors like these bring out the extraordinary element in homes, and homes should not just be nice, but extraordinary, according to experts in décor from Asian Paints. Taking inspiration from the colour splattered around in nature to something as ordinary as stones, gems and accessories, there are abundant reasons to pamper your personal space with hordes of bright, dramatic colours to spice up that otherwise dull, boring and clinically-adorned house. [caption id=“attachment_2439038” align=“alignright” width=“295”]  Image Courtesy: Getty Images[/caption] A well-balanced arrangement of furnishings can also add the right flavour to your rooms. For instance, Kumar Mangalam Birla’s mother Rajashri Birla, who is a famous Indian philanthropist in her own right, has a favourite space in the mansion–a small wooden table and a wooden armchair with a corner tasselled lamp amid the grand suite of rooms. If however, you are all for the Victorian Gothic or Indo-Gothic styles, go for the right texture and bright jewel-tone colours or brocade patterns for your walls and add earthy elements with dark wood furnishings, ornately carved lamps and heavy rugs to balance the bold accents throughout. Wood or wrought-iron carved candlestick chandeliers would add all the drama, richness and elegance that the Victorian Gothic style exudes. Silk drapes and decadent fabrics or glitzy prints on sofas and upholsteries can also act as embellishments to achieve this look. Stone relics and wooden animal statues, on the other hand, can add austere hints of this architecture in your home space. Such small design changes and some experimentation with paints, textures, fabrics, wall aesthetics, drapes, lighting and furnishings can inspire and impress, say the paint experts. After all, you need not be a billionaire to have a happy, signature style dream abode. Just a look at these ideas and voila—you’ll be ready for a beautiful home makeover in the most elegant, extraordinary style possible and one that matches every budget. This is a sponsored post.