The corner: Samra Khan

Samra Khan, Manager IT, Finance and Accounts at UBL, welcomes us into her favourite space, her indoor garden, and gives us a lesson on how to make a corner truly special

As we walk into Samra Khan’s home, we instantly feel a sense of warmth and comfort. We can’t help but observe the quirky details around us, like a vintage telephone, tasteful artwork and large glass doors. One such door opens into our host’s most treasurable space, her fascinating indoor garden.



An array of vibrant plants adorn the area, also home to a grey, stone waterfall. The wooden walkway, leads to a wooden bench, adding to the earthy, natural feel present in Khan’s entire home. We start to question her about the vision behind this corner, and she explains: “We actually bought this house, so we were lucky enough to have a space like this present, that we could enjoy. I still remember the first time I came here. You know those two feet at the entrance? Those really moved us, and are my first memory of this house.”

Khan tells us that her favourite elements in this corner are the plants that make her feel at one with nature. As an outdoorsy person, she enjoys the natural feel she gets in this space. We look around to observe various species of plants, in all shapes and sizes. As we start to wonder how they are kept in such pristine conditions, Khan prophetically answers: “My husband does the maintenance in here, which takes about a couple of hours a day. His part of the family is very into gardening, and I think we take a lot of our liking for plants from them.”



The corner is primarily used as a relaxation spot where the couple read the morning paper, have a cup of coffee on occasion, or spend time in the evenings after along week to rejuvenate and feel zen. “Though we have had people over who like this space and want to sit out here, perhaps it is more personal because we don’t entertain in here much. It’s more our space,” she says.

We feel a fresh breeze and quickly look up to find a beautiful, yet efficient ceiling which periodically lets in fresh air. Although the space has several refreshing characteristics such as privacy with an essence of the outdoors, and uplifting details like a waterfall with an almost musical sound of running water, the fresh air is perhaps the most striking element in here — we are indoors after all.



Though small in size, Khan’s abode is one we will remember. Amidst all the palatial homes, a home with character is hard to find. We are in awe of the attention to detail the couple put in creating their home, and are captivated by its understated charm. As we bid our host’s farewell, we conclude that this home was truly built in reflection of its owners — amiable, charismatic and authentic.