Hitting the home run with home décor

Owners of new outlets in Lahore offer modern ways of accentuating the classic

LAHORE:

Not everyone may know how to pick the right accents to decorate their home but experimenting with the living space can make all the difference. Statement pieces can define your aesthetics by adding a pop of colour and pattern to your home. If the usual Pakistani decadence is not your go-to décor style, there’s a new crop of outlets in Lahore catering to people with a range of fresh ideas on the art of interior decoration.

An easy and inexpensive way to revamp a living space is to mix the old with the new. Nyla Amjad Asghar launched a home accessories store, The Lounge, earlier this year and offers conversation-starter pieces that are unique in their use of bold colours and inspirations. They can be added to existing furniture to uplift their appearance. Another interior design store called The Loft, led by Amina Rehman and Marium Atif, makes customised furniture that’s all about recreating the classic with a contemporary spin.

Asghar is currently running The Lounge in Fortress Square and is on her way to opening a furniture outlet. Dealing in customised furniture, her style of work exudes a retro appeal paired with the whimsical and accentuated with a dash of bold colours. “Home décor trends were traditional for the longest time but now people are more inclined towards contemporary furniture,” says Asghar. The label houses digital-printed cushions, leather trays, lamps, candle stands, place mats and ottomans and tables, among other things.

Read: 6 ways to make your home look cozy

Known for its luxurious furniture and sensible fusion of the vintage with the avant-garde is Marina Home Interiors. Among the leading players in the market falls Khaadi Home, which shows how inspiration derived from art and cultural motifs is a trend worth following today. Boasting traditional elements and vivid colours, the brand offers a limited product range to experiment with.

The Loft, Marina Home Interiors

Rehman and Atif of The Loft, who both work from home, deal with customised furniture, working with materials, such as wood, stainless steel, chrome effect, glass and mirror. “These days, I am working with brass, which I feel is the material du jour when it comes to furniture,” states Rehman. “Being a mother and a family-oriented person, I think of durability, price and safety and that’s what one thinks of when buying furniture,” she adds. Rehman feels that in terms of affordability, them working from home is what gives them an edge over other home décor outlets.

Marina Home Interiors aims at striking a balance between sophistication and youthfulness. “Our new collection has a number of musical instruments as decoration pieces as well as other rustic and modern mixes. People love the exotic pieces we have from all over the world, including fossilised tables and railway tracks wood,” says Shahzad Malik, director of the flagship store in Lahore.

The importance of crafts has generally been on the decline but stores such as Khaadi Home are making a conscious effort to revive the trend. This is evident in all their offerings, including cushion covers, rugs, throws, crockery and furniture pieces. Syed Farooq Hussain, concept manager at Khaadi Home, says, “We launch two collections each year but traditional crafts never go out of fashion. People in Lahore particularly love vibrant colours.”

On what each entrepreneur feels are among their popular items, Asghar shares that a black-and-white checkered console she designed for her first exhibition is still in demand. At Marina Home Interiors, a coffee table with a steel propeller for a base and ropes with lights attached to them is considered as one of their most captivating designs. Khaadi Home’s cushion covers and bed linen are some of their bestselling items.

With the price tag starting from Rs2,000 for accessories and Rs1 million for furniture, Marina Homes caters to a niche clientele. Khaadi Home’s furniture line is priced between Rs12,000 and Rs40,000.

At The Lounge, home accessories are priced below Rs10,000, while the prices of furniture start from Rs15, 000 and go up to Rs1,50, 000. The Loft makes customised items, which is why their prices are subject to change.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 8^th, 2015.

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