The hustle and bustle of India Gate is left behind as one exists the busy roundabout onto Tilak Marg, in one of the most picturesque parts of Delhi. With its wide roads, open spaces and tiled walkways lined with trees, the area echoes the tone of Lutyens’ Delhi. A little ahead is the double-storeyed home of Ms Monika Kumar, who lives here with her husband and daughter.
It was only a year ago that the family moved into this beautiful new house, in one of the most tranquil parts of central Delhi. Ms Kumar works in Noida and is a self-confessed handicrafts enthusiast. Her home has a careful curation of all the pieces she has collected during her travels.
The Kumars are blessed to live in the part of the country where a sprawling garden is not just a luxury! The moment you enter the huge gate leading to the house, you are greeted with a sea of green in their lawn.
Dotted with dahlias, poppies, pansies and chrysanthemums, the carefully manicured garden is a sight for sore eyes. That’s not all. Ms Kumar also has an enviable collection of trees - jamun, amaltas and gulmohar!
The verandah outside the main door to the house is the perfect place to relax, kick back and catch up on your reading, with your cup of tea. Adorned with statues, stones and plants, this sitting area is perfect to enjoy a quiet moment on a breezy summer evening.
From here, you get a peek into the Kumars’ living room through the large window at the front of the house. As one enters the living room, the auspicious Ram Durbar catches attention. Similarly, the southern side of the house is flanked by two elephants carved in stone, for good luck.
While muted tones are the dominant theme in the house, they come alive with an occasional dash of colour. Diverse styles from across the world flow seamlessly into each other, be it the Tanjore paintings in the living area or the framed Iranian rug (a gift from Ms Kumar’s mother), or the painted plates from Europe and knick-knacks from Denmark and The Netherlands. Together they give a semblance of coherence, lending the house its unique flavour.
This Photo Essay was made exclusively for Housing.com for their campaign 'Houses of India'.
