She's to the manner born. Luxury, class and grandeur are her best friends. Raised in the posh surroundings of London, Sophie Choudry is a perfect glamour doll. But there's a warm, earthy person hiding behind the sheen. Her house reflects her personality. With all the ornate furniture and antique artifacts, it retains the basic vibe of a home; it's peaceful, soothing and comforting. Sophie's current Bandra apartment is the first ever property she bought in Mumbai. She says, "This home will always be special to me and my mother. It was extremely difficult to find this place. Manish Malhotra, Tusshar Kapoor and Urmila Matondkar were the first people I invited over for dinner here.
I remember Tusshar saying that this house is like a spa, nobody would want to leave it." She continues, "I love my home and I'm proud of it. Some people say that it's a bit opulent but it represents my family and me. At the same time, it's not a museum. It's a place you can feel comfortable in. It's not easy having a nice home in Mumbai...
So I feel lucky to own it."
Grand designs
As soon as you step into Sophie's house, the grandeur of paintings and carved furniture overwhelms you. "Our London house had cream, beige and a little touch of gold. Here, we wanted to be a little more dramatic. Drama adds value and makes your place look different from everyone else's. We have a wall, which is made out of gold leafing. The daybed is cool and simple. But the person who did the house with my mom suggested that we put crystals around it. It reflects light and looks grand. It worked big time. My mom has this keeda (bug) of redecorating the house every two months. So, every two months, new furniture comes in. The house may seem lavish but it's not gaudy. We are not flashy people. We are understated. But when people visit my house for the first time, they are taken aback. I have a different standard of living. This is how I have been brought up.
The Buddha connection
The most prominent thing about Sophie's house are the Buddha statues lined-up in every nook and corner. Right, left, centre, bedroom, balcony, living room... You look anywhere and you will spot one. If you think she follows Buddhism, you are wrong. She says, "Somehow Buddha statues find a place in my home. I have an antique Buddha piece, which is almost a 100 years old. Earlier, we used to have Lord Krishna on the wall. We thought nothing would ever replace it. But Buddha found a place in every corner of the house. Buddha symbolises peace and has a calming effect. Mumbai is full of chaos and that's why I wanted my home to have a serene vibe."
Fresh air
One of the most enviable places in Sophie's house would be her balcony. In Mumbai, where there's a space crunch, having a balcony is pure luxury. Sophie says, "The balcony is one place which everyone wishes was bigger. So I feel good about having a big balcony. It's a pretty area with a beautiful view. We decorate it with lanterns and plants. We have been used to having a garden in London too. The balcony's ideal to sit and have chai. It looks beautiful in the rains and the best part is that the water doesn't come in. So you can actually sit outside and savour the raindrops."
Pink power
A girl's bedroom is the most interesting part of the house. And the most fun too. Sophie's room stands out because it's different from the rest of the house in colour and dcor. "When the house was being designed, the colour scheme chosen for my room was green and blue. My mother even picked up furniture and lamps matching that. But overnight, I decided that my room would be pink and red. I believed it would work better. I wanted my room to be vibrant. I have a lot of DVDs and books stacked up in my room because I like to read and watch movies. My room is girlie but not over the top. It's vivacious and goes with my personality."
Picture Perfect
Photographs always bring a smile. They bring back sweet memories. That's why most homes have a family picture wall. She says proudly, "I have deliberately kept my graduation picture as proof of the fact that I have graduated from the London School Of Economics."
http://www.filmfare.com/features/sophie-invites-us-home-5117.html
Shiv Shakti
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