Practicing
what you preach
 Rajiv
and Mukta Gupta's apartment is a living example of how
space can be utilized to the optimum — a concept that is
the driving force of the duo's working style.
Weaving an
inspiring success story of initiative, creativity and
sheer dedication to the world of architecture and interior
design, for the husband-wife duo of Rajiv and Mukta Gupta,
the most challenging assignment in their 18 years as
interior professionals has been their 10th floor flat in
Antariksh Apartments in Rohini.
"Maximum utilization
of space was the keyword for us. What we bought were just
walls and empty rooms with no modern facilities. To
convert this into a utility-based functional home was no
mean task. It took us nearly two months to first get the
thought process on track, identifying the different needs
of various family members (comprising a son, a daughter
and aged parents) to the last detail. In fact, before
shifting in, we made a number of visits to the site to visualize
how to meet our needs," says Rajiv Gupta.
Adds his
better half, Mukta, "Being a smaller apartment (three
bedrooms, a drawing-cum-dining and a kitchen), we decided
to use a single colour scheme, though with individual
touches, in order to give it a semblance of oneness. A
darker shade gives a smaller appearance to any living
space, so we opted for lighter shades like beige and white
cedar. Individual touches have been given by a sprinkle of
cherry in the children's room, shades of blue in the
parent's room and green in our bedroom."
Being on the
top most floor, the Guptas have used insulation in the
ceiling as well as pelmet lighting, which is soft and easy
on the eye. While the doors are made of a translucent
material (which lets in more light without comprising on
privacy), the kitchen has been kept open "more for
hygienic purposes and a better working environment rather
than for aesthetics." Even the washing area next to
the dining table, though open, has a glass curtain on one
side so that it is not visible to any visitor coming into
the apartment.
 "Closed
spaces are always more difficult to maintain. Areas that
are prone to being messy are surprisingly clean when they
are kept open. Which is why we do not have a store in our
flat and have not designed a place to store junk,"
says Rajiv.
As far as
structural changes are concerned, the partition wall
between the lobby and Gupta's parents room was broken to
create more space and a wooden storage unit, acting as a
partition, has been built in its place. Even in the
children's room, the wall has given way to a storage space
for winter clothes.
Says Mukta,
"Apart from this, special attention has also been
paid to detailing. For example, a minimalist approach has
been adopted while selecting furniture, where nothing is
spare, everything is useable. A painting in glass in front
of the front door lends colour to the room as well as acts
as a curtain for any prying eyes. Colours are added to the
room by way of accessories, which can easily be changed as
per the changing likes and dislikes of family
members."
While the main
electricity board is ensconced within a wooden cabinet,
there are separate cabinets for shoes and even electricity
stabilizers — so that nothing is visible to the eye.
Wooden moldings have been used for hanging paintings,
photo frames and other decorative items, doing away with
the concept of driving in nails into walls.
Truly, an
apartment with a practical touch!
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