The main living-room is a study in design. The Ashwood walls complement the green carpet. Goldish-cream Italian upholstered sofas lend richness. An exquisite glass table with lamps at its four corners was picked up from Harrods. Indian artefacts grace the window.
As a young girl, Meena would pass by the house in Ickenham, in North West London, and gaze at it dreamily. “I always had a sixth sense I would own this house one day,” says the wife of Vikram Tah. Five years ago, when she saw a sale sign outside it, she wasted no time in turning her dream into a reality.
Situated near the Swanley Roundabout, the house is a sort of landmark in the area. Built about 30 years ago by the well-known merchant, W.H. Hansen, its most distinguishing feature is the Oriental-style roofing.
“The house was in a dilapidated state when we bought it,” recalls Meena. So she herself turned into an interior designer, her main source of inspiration being books and her penchant for art. She spent weeks doing up the decor and, of course, didn’t forget to add a nostalgic Indian touch.
The entrance to the main living-room is through a mini-hallway. A wooden stairway fitted with a bright blue carpet leads you to three bedrooms and a bathroom upstairs. To the right of the hallway, next to the entrance to the kitchen, is another stairway which leads down to the basement.
The exquisite and spacious living-room is a blend of the past and the present. The walls are built with Ashwood — a particular kind of wood shipped from South Africa by Hansen in the ’60s. However, it hardly looks three decades old. “I was lucky I didn’t have to touch the walls,” says Meena. Regular wiping and cleaning ensures that the wood adds grandeur to the living-room.
Meena searched London’s High Street finishing stores for upholstery.
The dining-room, situated at the right-hand corner of the living-room, overlooks the lawn. An octagonal Italian dining-table is fitted with eight chairs. The cabinet against the wall stocks cutlery, while a mirror enhances the length of the dining area. The white furniture against the green backdrop of walls and curtains makes a palatable combination.
The bar, Vikram’s brainchild, is at the basement. It leads to a snooker room, which is converted into a dance floor while entertaining.
To match the wooden backdrop.
“I’m a Leo and I love rich and bright colours,” she says, and that is reflected in the princely goldish cream Italian upholstery which complements the green carpet.
At the centre of the room is an exquisite glass table with lamps below, selected by Meena from Harrods. It serves as a platform for some of the Indian artefacts she picked up from India.
Throughout the room, artificial flowers are displayed with subtle elegance. “I make the flowers myself. This happens to be one of my hobbies,” discloses Meena. An Indian touch is added with two brass statues of Indian goddesses, on the left and right-hand sides of the fireplace, and a couple of Mughal paintings on the wall — all bought by Meena from Jaipur. Above the fireplace are abstract pieces of crystal, which she has a passion for.
The living-room also has huge bay windows to the left, which open towards the main entrance. It is hardly surprising that you get a feeling of warmth as you step in. The dining-room is at the right-hand corner of the living-room, overlooking the lawn. It has eight chairs with an octagonal Italian table. The furniture is deliberately white in colour, to brighten the room. Most of the cutlery is stored in a cabinet which stands next to the wall.
The children’s room with Amit, the youngest son, comfortably ensconced on the bed.
The bedroom is made warm by the presence of a green carpet and floral curtains. Flowers, the central theme here, are seen on the bedcovers, the upholstery of the chair and the wooden cabinet.
The Tahs have two daughters and a son, and have been married for 17 years. Both Vikram and Meena lead busy lives. While Meena is with the immigration department and also works part-time with a music company, Vikram owns a recording label (Gemini records) and is the authorised agent for T-series cassettes and CDs in the U.K.
Consequently, they do a lot of entertaining. And the bar in the basement serves the purpose. Built recently, it is Vikram’s brainchild. To the left-hand corner of the bar is the entrance to a snooker room, which is converted into a dance floor during Vikram’s many parties. The Tahs are a hospitable couple. “Gulshan Kumar and Anuradha Paudwal are my guests whenever they are in the UK. Even Jagjit Singh has stayed with us,” boasts Vikram.
Incidentally, the living-room also happens to be the family’s favourite room. “We spend most of our spare time there — though we hardly get any,” says Meena, who loves her home. Dreams, after all, do come true!
The dramatic stairway at the entrance, covered with a deep blue floral carpet, leads to the bedrooms upstairs. A stained-glass window in the landing catches the eye. The kitchen is to the right.
Text: Kevin Rego (London)
Photographs: Angus Thompson