The corner: Shamsha Hashwani

The talented luxury designer walks us through her favourite corner, her guestroom, and shares why it holds a special place in her heart

On a warm sunny afternoon, we visit Shamsha Hashwani’s beautiful home in Karachi. Upon arriving, we are warmly greeted with fresh apple juice and delicious homemade wontons. Then begins our tour.

As we step into her recently renovated guestroom, we notice a beautiful Tussaduq painting on the right. The colours in the painting complement the theme of the room, giving it rich definition. The painting is simple, yet makes a bold statement. We come across two large windows overlooking a luscious garden. While we take a closer look, Hashwani shares that the garden includes a walking track, where her husband goes for a morning stroll. A bed from Larry with a brown leather, cushioned headboard catches our eye, complementing the sunlight coming from the windows. We then eye the smaller details and unique furniture around the room, such as the turquoise, suede two-seater, a brown wooden centre table trunk and two versatile marble tables used as coffee tables by Zeh. An intricate Persian rug by Afghan Carpet under the centre table, adds elegance to Hashwani’s marble floor. “My vision behind this corner was to utilise the space as best as I can, to make it look spacious, modern and most importantly, comfortable for my father who stays here often,” says Hashwani.



As she continues to show us around, she mentions the hard work that went into this room and how the design by Naheed Mashooqullah makes the room her favourite spot for her father to stay in. Hashwani adorns the seating area with monochrome striped cushions along with a brown leather panel, holding a plasma TV. A white ottoman finished with brown polish, sits in front of the bed adding more seating space, and style, to the room. Her love for experimentation is evident in the way she plays with various colours and materials. As we look around in awe of the spotless space, Hashwani informs us that the room is still not complete! She has more décor and furniture coming in. We spot a vase of lilies, and some candles used as decoration. She claims that she uses these pieces to spruce up the room, but we conclude that they also add warmth and depth to the area.

“This room has changed a lot over the past years. A few years back, before I had opened my boutique, I began my business from home in this very room. Therefore this corner has a lot of meaning to me. After I shifted to my boutique, I thought I would change it completely and customise it for my father. He has supported me throughout my business and this is my way of showing appreciation. It also makes me realise how far I have come,” explains Hashwani. Now, this corner is primarily used as her father’s bedroom. The large windows serve as a pathway for her father to feel close to nature and enjoy his stay. “In his room I have also created a lounging space for when he has guests over, so they can comfortably enjoy themselves,” she says.



Key elements found in Hashwani’s corner, such as jute, grey wallpaper and photo frames, do justice in brightening up the space. We wonder which components are her favourite, so we pose the question: “My favourite element is the desk, as my father always enjoys sitting on a spacious desk where he can work. It is a simple yet modern wooden desk, placed in such a way that he can watch television if he needs a break, or enjoy the beautiful view of our garden outside.” Cherishable memories of her beloved father, associated with this room, explain why this corner happens to be so special to our kind-hearted host.

Hashwani’s warm and compassionate nature, strong bond with her father, and love for art and experimentation shines through in her favourite space. As we say our goodbyes, we walk out of the room admiring how well this corner depicts Hashwani’s personality, interests, and emotions.