Heritage homes bring with them a rustic charm that no contemporary house can match. Located in the city that never sleeps, actress Malavika Mohanan’s Mumbai house exudes luxury. This oasis-like Kerala-style home, surrounded by bustling Mumbai lanes, sets the tone right for welcoming guests.
The wood accents, artistic flow, and green nooks make Mohanan’s space breathable. A perfect resemblance to its owners, the Mumbai home reflects its bibliophile residents and is governed by nostalgia. Giving a tour to the Architectural Digest, the family home reflects their origin, and their love for arts and heritage. “We were very particular about the fact that we didn’t want the space to look like a cookie-cutter home,” Malavika shared.
Athangudi-style tiles, Tanjore paintings, and more
The house opens to a stunning Athangudi-style tiled floor featuring a confluence of wooden and metallic features. “This is one of my favourite features of the home,” Malavika explains, “I think it’s a very interesting colour to have on the floor and it’s very interesting to have the signature piece of your living room be the tiles.” Welcomed by an alley of Tanjore paintings, you can spot religious figurines and a personalised nook for photographs.
The living room is lined with a minimal couch, cabinet, and a coffee table adorned with statement centrepieces. There is a beautiful display of Indian textiles throughout the home, and green pots bring a breath of fresh air into the room. The paintings have been sourced by Malavika and her mother. Influencing the design of the space, her parents were the guiding force of the aesthetic. Mohananan shared, “They didn’t just walk into an interior decor store and pick up pieces that would go with a certain corner of the house or with a certain wall in a room.”
The Malabar influence on the home is seen via a small temple tucked in a small corner. It was the first space of the home to be designed and features an extravagantly carved brass lamp, called Vilakku, and is a family heirloom.
All that you see is intentional, carefully thought out, and planned to merge global and local influence, while blending the family’s personal heritage. The family’s love for literature is also neatly displayed in a glass cabinet, creating the perfect reading spot, situated in a well-lit spot in the living room. ““I love reading when having my coffee, so I go into a corner of my balcony, and sit down with my book. Those 20 minutes are one of the favourite parts of my day,” Malavika shared.
Inside Malavika’s room
Describing herself as a ‘homebody,’ her room is bound to be the spot she spends most of her time. Extending the Athangudi tiles in the passage, they connect to Greek-style tiles. However, the highlight of the room is her walk-in wardrobe, which is as big as half a room. Calling it her ‘prized possessions,’ Malavika showed her vanity. The wooden table with a deep green tint was designed specifically for the place it is located and according to personal needs.
Several home decor pieces carry the Moroccan and Greek aesthetic, she likes to stay connected to her family. The actor remains against moving away from her parents, calling them her ‘support system.’ Her home means a lot more than a roof over her head, keeping her rooted and giving a dose of creative nourishment.
