This interior designer’s expansive home includes a cosy and homely family den where they like to spend most of their time. By Shivani Kagti

Gudi Lamba (69) Interior designer and owner, Design — In Total

The horse painting above the writing desk was made by Lamba after they moved into the house. Their home is filled with oil paintings made by the interior designer. “I picked it up from my mother who was a skilled artist and could also embroider beautifully,” says Lamba, who has been painting since the age of eight.

A walnut writing desk from Srinagar graces Lamba’s corner of the den. “We bought it about 35 years ago when my husband was posted in Ludhiana,” she adds. With chinar leaf carvings on the wood, the handcrafted desk is typical of Kashmiri handcrafts. The leather armchair and footstool, a place for her husband to sit and read, is from Amar Collections on Old Airport Road.
In the centre of the family den is a 10×10 sq ft cutout or central void that connects the upstairs space with the living room downstairs. Above this void, is a skylight. “We wanted a central skylight so that there would be ample natural light through the day,” Lamba says. “Also, sitting up here, we can easily see what’s happening downstairs or call the help if required.”

The aircraft propeller is a souvenir from Ajit Lamba’s flying days. The IAF officer was teaching an aspiring pilot to fly when their aircraft lost the propeller and they had to force land in HSR Layout. The propeller landed in a marble yard there and he decided to keep it as a souvenir. Later, Lamba installed a clock in it.

A wall of mementoes and photos showcasing the air marshal’s years in service. There are also pictures of their son who is a commercial pilot.
The den overlooks a verandah lined with colourful geraniums, perhaps the most beautiful feature here. The original plan didn’t have the outside space; a fact Lamba’s husband bemoaned. When he took off for a 15-day trip to Paris, she had the walls broken down to incorporate the verandah space and made French windows to enjoy the outdoors. Needless, to say he was happily surprised on his return,Lamba recalls.

When Gudi Lamba and her husband Air Vice Marshal (retd) Ajit Lamba built their sprawling bungalow in Horamavu 14 years ago, it was literally in the boondocks; theirs was the only house for miles. Now, of course, their scenic getaway home is in the midst of several upcoming high-rise projects. Nonetheless, the house is still charming. When the gates open, a beautiful rock garden carved out of a huge boulder, which was part of the original property, comes into view. Indoors as well as outdoors, one gets a sense of the wide expanse given that the two-storied house is spread over half an acre.

Lamba’s sensibility inclines towards semi-classical design — evident in her selection of furniture, mainly understated antique-style pieces, interspersed with plenty of blue pottery and bells of many sizes and materials. On the first floor is the family den where the Lambas spend most of their time. More homely than sophisticated, this central space was planned by the Lambas keeping their varied interests in mind. So, one half of the 30×30 sq ft space is taken up by a mini golf putting set, model airplanes and books belonging to the retired air marshal, while the rest includes a writing desk, settee and easel where Lamba practices her art and does her work. “The idea was to fill the space with mementoes and personal items; for instance, there’s a collage made by our children which has all our family photographs. It’s more about preserving memories and having a comfortable homely space than anything else,” Lamba says

source: http://www.bangaloremirror.com / Bangalore Mirror / Home> Columns> You / by Shivani Kagdi , Bangalore Mirror Bureau / Februrary 03rd, 2015

Her passion for art led Bindu P.V. to quit the IT industry and start an art gallery on her terrace

Bindu P.V. is an artist. But, that’s not how she started.

Her whole family was into the IT industry and she too mindlessly followed that trail till she realised that she wanted to do something different.

Her passion for the canvas, oils and paints led her to take up a crash course in painting. She started with three traditional arts forms — Mysore paintings, Tanjore paintings and traditional mural art from Kerala.

“Once I started with the traditional arts I met a girl who was into abstract paintings. I realised that in traditional art you tend to copy a set pattern, even when it comes to designs and themes. Everyone keeps doing the same thing. With her I learnt to explore more about abstract art,” says Bindu, who then adds that she went on to complete her MFA.

“I learnt that I work better with single or double tones. I seem to have a difficulty with more colours. Though I have quit the IT industry, it does not seem to leave me as most of my themes are IT-related,” she laughs and adds that it was during this time that she came in contact with many other artists.

“One common thing that I found was that most of them struggled for gallery space, or to sell their art. I also met a physically challenged girl, struggling to sell her works. I tried to help her and realised how difficult it was to sell her works, especially when one can not afford either to exhibit in a gallery or even have access to social networking sites. Then we both tried to sell her work at Chitra Sante and found that art works are sold for a meagre Rs. 100. That was shocking and heartbreaking to see as some artists work anywhere from three hours to a month on each work. This struggle is what triggered off the birth of my art gallery — White Sanctum Art Gallery in Dodda Anekundi.”

She has built this gallery on the terrace of her home with ample space for art shows and to conduct workshops.

“It’s a platform to help popularise art by conducting workshops and introducing the common man to various kinds of arts, and to host exhibitions of artists who have absolutely no backing.”

The gallery offers a 1,200 sq. ft. area of exhibition space. “It’s a very simple gallery, which aims to provide an equal platform for any artist. The paintings here are priced at Rs. 4,000 and go up to over a lakh. We have works of budding artists and Academy Award winners too.”

Right from oil paintings to water colours, Bindu promises you’ll get something that will suit your style and budget.

“The art is priced like this so that even the middle class can afford it.” White Sanctum Art gallery was inaugurated on January 18.

“We have enquiries for workshops, especially from people from working in the IT sector. So we plan to start with water-colour workshops and then take one step at a time.”

Bindu, who has had several solo shows in Baroda, Delhi, and Kerala, now plans to exhibit her works here too.

She has also done a thesis on Ravi Varma’s life and an analysis on his work and its effect on social change, specially in Kerala.

“His works have brought a silent change in society — be it in the caste system, or in education. His works speak volumes about changes one should expect in a society. Like he would decpict a boy reading a newspaper and so spread the idea of literacy in Kerala. Artists were not allowed to sign their works and he started signing his works. My thesis focussed on the effect of his works on the minds of ordinary people,” she adds.

She talks of upsetting it is, the way society still look at artists.

“Films depict them as drug addicts or dressed shabbily. Stop treating artists as good-for-nothing kind of people. We are not prodigals who have lost our way. We too have opportunities now with animation and art shows and can generate revenue and support ourselves through our works. Artists are ordinary people who just think extraordinarily.”

White Sanctum currently has a group show, which will be on till February 15 from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.

For details call 65687209 or email bindu.vee@gmail.com

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> Features> Friday Review> Art / by Shilpa Sebastian R / January 28th, 2015