Houzz Tours
Colour and Eclectic Style Bring an Actor's Home to Life
Traditional design and personal style collide in Indian actor Irrfan Khan's vibrant and eclectic family home
Embellished with floral motifs, sculptures, decorative frames, intricate art and traditional furniture, the home of this actor – famous for his roles in Life of Pi and Slumdog Millionaire – has a delightful other-worldly quality. It is filled with detailed accessories and drenched in rich blue, green and grey hues. “Irrfan Khan and Sutapa Sikdar wanted a place that is welcoming and one that makes you forget about the outside. They wanted to create a world of their own within this chaotic city of Mumbai, where they could be connected with everything, yet stay away from the noise,” says Shabnam Gupta of Mumbai-based interior and architectural design firm The Orange Lane.
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: Actor Irrfan Khan, his wife Sutapa Sikdar and their two sons, Babil and Ayan
Location: Mumbai, India
Size: 340 square metres; 4 bedrooms; 5 bathrooms
Designer: Shabnam Gupta of The Orange Lane
That’s interesting: The entire home has been built as an ode to Indian aesthetics and art, and is populated with unique travel finds, accessories and paintings. Each room in the house has been designed and curated to suit its individual inhabitant, yet the entire home reflects a cohesive design plan.
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: Actor Irrfan Khan, his wife Sutapa Sikdar and their two sons, Babil and Ayan
Location: Mumbai, India
Size: 340 square metres; 4 bedrooms; 5 bathrooms
Designer: Shabnam Gupta of The Orange Lane
That’s interesting: The entire home has been built as an ode to Indian aesthetics and art, and is populated with unique travel finds, accessories and paintings. Each room in the house has been designed and curated to suit its individual inhabitant, yet the entire home reflects a cohesive design plan.
Photos by The Orange Lane
This fifth-floor apartment opens to a vast living room. The space is flooded with natural light through floor-to-ceiling windows. On the left, as one enters, is the dining room and four other rooms – one with an attached study, belonging to Irrfan, the other to Sutapa and the third and fourth respectively, to their sons. All rooms have attached bathrooms.
“Our aim was to design each space as a representation of its inhabitant’s distinct personality. We also wanted to bring in a seamless connection with the public spaces,” Gupta says.
The colour palate of the living area is vibrant with the use of blues and greens on a backdrop of grey. “The living room, inspired by garden spaces, has an exposed ceiling with a floral light installation that almost looks as if a creeper has naturally clung to the slab and spread across the expanse. A deep-blue waterbody, with the gentle sound of water overflowing from the urn placed at the centre, adds a sense of serenity to the space,” Gupta says.
This fifth-floor apartment opens to a vast living room. The space is flooded with natural light through floor-to-ceiling windows. On the left, as one enters, is the dining room and four other rooms – one with an attached study, belonging to Irrfan, the other to Sutapa and the third and fourth respectively, to their sons. All rooms have attached bathrooms.
“Our aim was to design each space as a representation of its inhabitant’s distinct personality. We also wanted to bring in a seamless connection with the public spaces,” Gupta says.
The colour palate of the living area is vibrant with the use of blues and greens on a backdrop of grey. “The living room, inspired by garden spaces, has an exposed ceiling with a floral light installation that almost looks as if a creeper has naturally clung to the slab and spread across the expanse. A deep-blue waterbody, with the gentle sound of water overflowing from the urn placed at the centre, adds a sense of serenity to the space,” Gupta says.
Inside this vast, ornamented living room are artefacts sourced from around the country as well as those collected by the homeowners over time.
The home stands out for its eclectic vibe, brought about by the combination of traditional Indian furniture and design elements with a modern layout. A charpai (a low, wood-frame bench with a seat of woven rope, usually found in homes in rural villages), the Gond painting (Indian tribal art), an intricately carved wooden screen framing a mirror on the wall reminiscent of Rajasthani jharokhas (enclosed balconies, windows in ancient forts) and colourful locally sourced jute rugs are just a few of the many examples of the age-old vernacular elements that have been given a contemporary lift.
A very traditional jhoola (a swing; a staple in many Indian homes, installed especially in courtyards and gardens) has been placed almost right in the middle of the space and immediately draws one’s attention. “This two-seater swing was created from a plank of wood and hung from teal-blue ropes,” Gupta says.
The home stands out for its eclectic vibe, brought about by the combination of traditional Indian furniture and design elements with a modern layout. A charpai (a low, wood-frame bench with a seat of woven rope, usually found in homes in rural villages), the Gond painting (Indian tribal art), an intricately carved wooden screen framing a mirror on the wall reminiscent of Rajasthani jharokhas (enclosed balconies, windows in ancient forts) and colourful locally sourced jute rugs are just a few of the many examples of the age-old vernacular elements that have been given a contemporary lift.
A very traditional jhoola (a swing; a staple in many Indian homes, installed especially in courtyards and gardens) has been placed almost right in the middle of the space and immediately draws one’s attention. “This two-seater swing was created from a plank of wood and hung from teal-blue ropes,” Gupta says.
The corner pillar of this large space has been judiciously used to display more accessories that give this home its unique character. Mirrors of different shapes and sizes are hung along with terracotta panels here.
The living room is surrounded by balconies on two sides. “These balconies feature tall greens and act as screens blocking the outside world,” Gupta says.
The living room is surrounded by balconies on two sides. “These balconies feature tall greens and act as screens blocking the outside world,” Gupta says.
On the left of the living room lies the dining area with a flooring of polished, sea-green river wash stone that continues through the rest of the house. “We have designed this as a more stately and formal space,” Gupta says.
While rich blues are echoed in the upholstery of the chairs, the reigning hue is a quiet shade of white. This is lifted by warm notes of brown wood and a cluster of sharply styled black wire lamps, suspended above the table. The wall inset of panelled mirrors, which was built on site, brightens and expands the room. A second inset of windows opens into the living area, connecting the two spaces.
While rich blues are echoed in the upholstery of the chairs, the reigning hue is a quiet shade of white. This is lifted by warm notes of brown wood and a cluster of sharply styled black wire lamps, suspended above the table. The wall inset of panelled mirrors, which was built on site, brightens and expands the room. A second inset of windows opens into the living area, connecting the two spaces.
Irrfan’s bedroom is a tranquil, white space that is accentuated with bright blue cushions and a bedhead of the same colour.
A Gond painting (a form of tribal art from India) is drawn on the wall behind the bed to immediately catch the eye. “Both Irrfan and Sutapa are very artistically inclined and creative in their outlook. Here, we have created a focal point with a drawing on the wall that was done by the in-house artists at Peacock Life,” Gupta says.
A Gond painting (a form of tribal art from India) is drawn on the wall behind the bed to immediately catch the eye. “Both Irrfan and Sutapa are very artistically inclined and creative in their outlook. Here, we have created a focal point with a drawing on the wall that was done by the in-house artists at Peacock Life,” Gupta says.
On the other side of his bedroom is a bay window through which you can get a view of his private study. “This is a spot that combines a multitude of spaces – a tall library wall, comfortable seating, a reading nook and a study room tucked away at the back,” Gupta says.
Sutapa’s room is also tailored to her likes and tastes. “This room displays floral motifs, more Gond art, antique pieces and is an individualistic area that stands out on its own, in a house accented with varied knick-knacks. This room also has a tiny balcony, just big enough to hold a round yellow table and two chairs,” Gupta says.
The four-poster bed was sourced from Peacock Life, the table lamps have been made by artisans from Jodhpur, and the Gond art is from Sutapa’s personal collection.
Next to the parents’ bedrooms and adjacent to the kitchen are the children’s bedrooms – this area gives a peek into Babil’s room.
“This was one of our most creative and challenging projects, and it shaped up very satisfactorily with a unique end result,” Gupta says.
“This was one of our most creative and challenging projects, and it shaped up very satisfactorily with a unique end result,” Gupta says.
Irrfan Khan, already well known in his native India, received a Screen Actors’ Guild Award for his role of the police inspector in Slumdog Millionaire. This helped to launch him onto the world stage.