Anoop Menon is not someone who lives his life according to a definite plan. Everything happens. Even the new flat, Anoop says, happened just like that.
This is Anoop's second flat in Kochi. What attracted Anoop first was the balcony of this duplex in Kaloor.
Anoop does not differentiate between house and flat. But both his purchases have been flats. Anoop also lays down the reasons for it. “A flat best suits my bachelor life. Maintaining a house is beyond me. Then there is the cost of buying land and building house in Kochi. With the money for the land one could buy a flat. The view obtained from flats is also a reason. Sitting in this duplex one gets a lovely view of the city of Kochi. Need one make special mention of the mosquitoes of Kochi? Mosquitoes are generally less in flats.
Minimalist Interior
According to Anoop, communication was easier as he entrusted the interior design of the flat with a friend’s company. Even in the midst of hectic work, Anoop’s eye for detail was unwavering. He also found time to fetch things for the house.
Anoop’s inclination is for minimalist interiors. This was taken care of while the flat was being done. He did not stuff the rooms with fancy objects. He was also keen on spacious rooms with plenty of air circulation.
The two storied duplex has 3,000 square feet area. The highlight is the provision to enter the flat from both floors. The different sights of the flat begin from the main doors made of glossy laminates.
The downstairs floor consists of living area and adjoining family living area, bar counter, powder room and master bedroom. It is only in the matter of the Chesterfield sofa in the living room that Anoop and the designer had a difference of opinion. The designer’s pick was a sofa in minimalist style. But Chesterfield sofas had long back entered Anoop’s mind after seeing them in many English movies. The designer had to give in. Anoop says that Chesterfield sofa syncs up with any style of house.
Family living area can also be described as Audio visual area. This is Anoop’s favourite spot. While around, it is usual for him to sit here watching TV or reading. Silver and black coloured wall papers are pasted here. Wooden pattern work was done on the gypsum false ceiling and LED lighting given here.
Books are Anoop’s weakness. Therefore a library was set up adjacent to the staircase. The walls of the library were given texture finish.
On one side of the living is the bar area. Here the ground was raised a bit above the living level. Wood was used for flooring. The floor was also beautified using LED lighting. Korean top was given to the acrylic finished bar counter. Toughened glass makes viewing outside sights possible from here. The roof has glass as well.
Bar area opens to the outside terrace area. There is no dearth of air here. It anything it is in excess. There are granite benches here to sit and enjoy the sights. Plants gently sway in fibre pots that look like granite ones. Cane chairs of PVC look natural to the eye. The advantage is that it is rain proof.
The bedroom is pristine white. The cot with storage facility and the cupboard in laminates are all clad in the beauty of white. The wall of the attached bathroom is completely glass. The bottom half of it is adorned with frosted sticker.
Glass fabric is stuck to the staircase walls. The new star in the market, glass fabric, when stuck on the floor can prevent dampness. Another novelty is the staircase steps made of laminated wood. The downstairs floor including bathrooms speaks of the luster of vitrified tiles of Italian marble finish.
Kitchen Upstairs
The upper floor has kitchen, dining and two bedrooms. Anoop barely gets time to spend in the flat, free from the hectic schedules of cinema. It is when his father, mother and younger sister come from native place that the flat comes to life. Anoop had not even wanted the kitchen. Finally he decided to provide one in the upper floor. Deviating from the usual pure white Korean stone, the kitchen countertop is made of brown coloured Korean stone. This colour was chosen and white was easily prone to dirtying. The cabinets were given acrylic finish.
The upper floor has metallic finish vitrified tile. The ‘gripping’ experience coupled with aesthetic appeal makes in noteworthy.
Homes that touched the heart
Anoop is someone who believes that a house is not just its pleasing appearance but the positive energy and the inhabitants’ love that it oozes. That is exactly why the Basheer-Sheeja couple’s house in Dubai and the farm houses in Bangalore and Mullassery Rajuettan’s house are close to Anoop’s heart.
A roughly 15,000 square feet house made of wood and granite in a frozen lakeside in Kazakhstan’s Almetti is an unforgettable experience for Anoop. The scene of the unending pathway between snowcapped pine trees on either side enjoyed from the bedroom balcony still totally envelops Anoop’s eye and mind.