Sudhir Diwan’s home boasts of ornate furniture, Mughal-inspired motifs and exquisite inlay work.
We feel almost sorry, stepping on intricate onyx and mother-of-pearl inlay which is so beautifully and meticulously crafted on the milk white marble flooring. But it’s a sin that has to be committed in Sudhir Diwan’s home, for even the elevator that brings us to his home from the ground floor shimmers brilliantly, created richly and flamboyantly in a combination of wood, glass and more inlay work and patterns in different coloured stones.
The photographer and I mumble a sincere apology to the elevator’s sparkling clean flooring that bears the weight of our shoes that look so completely worn-out and pale in comparison, but almost laugh out loud when we find ourselves thumping down on a sun motif at the main entrance painstakingly crafted to perfection.
Diwan, the man at the helm of Diwan Sahib, a brand which literally defines the term “trousseau” for so many Indian weddings, has opened his door for us, a beautiful large wooden door resting atop on which is a traditional “toran” with a Ganesh motif to bring in good luck. We have to get over our guilt of plastering our feet down on his rich flooring but Diwan simply laughs and leads us to his living room, a lavish setup swathed in a combination of silks and leather and rich embroidered work in zardozi.
Silk throws with patterns clearly influenced from the bygone Mughal era in green, red and turquoise combinations rest casually on the sofa set where we sit. It’s an extension of your business, I remark when Diwan orders cups of steaming hot ginger tea. “Our brief to our architect was clear; we create princes and princesses for weddings, we create a rich look for everyone and we wanted our home to reflect that statement,” confirms Diwan.
And one just has to look around Diwan’s home to see what he means. Seated in an intricately carved wooden chair that’s done up in turquoise silk fabric with embroidered pattern done in the centre, Diwan prompts us to take a closer look at his centre table, for instance.
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Rich and bold, the table is a mix of dark wood and gold-plated décor, just like a Victorian mirror that has silver patterns on the edges. For a majority of designers who continue to look at straight lines and minimal look, Diwan’s place will come as a shocker, but having said that it’s a home that despite its obvious opulence has a cosy feel and tremendous warmth.
Speaking of which, we thoroughly enjoy gulping down the hot cup of “chai” that rests on the table, yes the same one which is dusted with gold. But the design aspect aside, Diwan’s home, says its proud owner, is earthquake resistant. “God forbid,” he says, stretching the curtains to reveal a stain glass painting on the three sides of the windows, “if we are ever hit by a quake, our home will continue to stand.”
The reason why this will happen is because Diwan’s home has been constructed with ample steel beams. “Curious neighbours often joked if instead of constructing a house, I was building a flyover,” remembers Diwan. No expense, he adds, was spared to create a safe construction. So much so, that in the past eight years, since he moved to the first floor of this New Delhi home, there’s invariably renovation taking place every single year. “I’m finicky,” he admits, “I cannot compromise on safety.” His brother and his family plan to move within the next four-five months, once their ground floor gets ready too.
There aren’t too many columns in Sudhir’s home. This essentially means that there’s no clear partition between a living and dining room or, for that matter, a corner which is an extension of the living room; one which has a regal-looking seating space with innumerable cushions that rest on a thick silk sheet. It’s this corner which Diwan wants to transform into a bar, it’s also one which he describes as a favourite and an area where his daughter often strums her guitar.
His master bedroom, also his favourite, is draped in thick curtains — like most other areas of his home — but gets a clear edge because of a canvas of Roman ruins that runs on either side of the two wooden columns which lead us to his walk-in closet. It’s a beautiful way to create a partition, a far cry from drab wooden panels that we usually hang our painting on. Instead, the painted canvas lends an aesthetic charm in a room that otherwise gets its signature inlay work in semi-precious stones.
“Each door panel for this closet took many days to be constructed; it wasn’t as simple as placing wooden panels to complete the wardrobe. First the basic panel was created, then the fabric was placed, then, in some portions, patterns of sequins were created and placed on the fabric and then, in some portions, the inlay work was completed,” he explains, as we come out to take a look at a fresco which rests in the centre of Diwan’s home, atop a tiny dome structure. It’s a leaf pattern, simple uncluttered but very effective especially when the little crystals on the chandelier shine once the lights are turned on.
“I didn’t want anything too flashy but yes, I made it very clear to the architect that I wanted a very royal feel in the house,” Diwan tells us, pointing to a textured wall, an inspiration that came from his visit to Scotland. He, along with his wife, was clicking pictures, even making notes and drawing rough sketches of whatever he liked abroad and wanted in his home.
My eyes wander to another textured wall, one which bears the traditional “ambi” pattern. It’s a typical Indian design, one that we’re sure to see embroidered on fabrics in Diwan Saheb. It looks jarring, that’s my first thought, especially because I see it in isolation. But, to be fair, it is a wall that merges so nicely with the overall ambience of Diwan’s home. It’s this effect in totality that is charming; it’s regal at once, very royal in its thinking and sensibility.
The opulence in Diwan’s home is engaging. After all, it’s a slice of royalty in the otherwise busy and maddening rush of south Delhi.