This Instagrammer's Delhi Home is a Treasure Trove of Memories
Jasleen Singh of The Ketli Home lives in a well-curated nest, filled with antiques and new treasures from hidden stores and thrift shops
Aditi Sharma Maheshwari
11 January 2019
Blogger, dog mom
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: Jasleen Singh with her husband and two children
Location: New Delhi
Size: 92 square metres (1000 square feet); 3 bedrooms; 2 bathrooms
Interior design: Jasleen Singh of The Ketli Home
Photos by Prashant Bhat Photography
Who lives here: Jasleen Singh with her husband and two children
Location: New Delhi
Size: 92 square metres (1000 square feet); 3 bedrooms; 2 bathrooms
Interior design: Jasleen Singh of The Ketli Home
Photos by Prashant Bhat Photography
There’s a world of things one can do within a limited budget – all you need is a keen eye and a good sense of design. This is the philosophy Instagrammer Jasleen Singh follows. Her home in New Delhi is an carefully accessorised earthy multihued haven.
“We moved into this DDA apartment about 13 years ago. It was an old building which had never been renovated and so, our first task was to change the layout to open up spaces. We did away with the inner wall of the third bedroom and converted it into a half kitchen, half TV room. The original kitchen, which was a small, dark space, was converted into a bedroom for my son. The wiring, bathroom tiles and windows were changed. We brought a few furniture pieces from our previous home and the rest were slowly added over time. Steadily, over the years, this home’s design unfolded – the curation of each space was an organic process,” says Singh.
The flat opens up to a well-lit open-plan living-cum-dining room. Plenty of art, curios, distressed furniture pieces and plants dot the area. The flooring of the home was changed from the dark cement with coloured chips to non-skid, textured ceramic tiles. “I like warm, earthy, lived-in spaces – ones that also tell a story. This is why every decor piece and accessory in this home was either carefully retained (some pieces are almost two decades old) or bought over time,” says Singh.
The entrance has double doors, the outside (not photographed) is a solid iron grille one, provided by the developer; the inside one was changed to a clean wooden design, chosen to match the warm, earthy aesthetic of the home.
Tiles: NITCO
“We moved into this DDA apartment about 13 years ago. It was an old building which had never been renovated and so, our first task was to change the layout to open up spaces. We did away with the inner wall of the third bedroom and converted it into a half kitchen, half TV room. The original kitchen, which was a small, dark space, was converted into a bedroom for my son. The wiring, bathroom tiles and windows were changed. We brought a few furniture pieces from our previous home and the rest were slowly added over time. Steadily, over the years, this home’s design unfolded – the curation of each space was an organic process,” says Singh.
The flat opens up to a well-lit open-plan living-cum-dining room. Plenty of art, curios, distressed furniture pieces and plants dot the area. The flooring of the home was changed from the dark cement with coloured chips to non-skid, textured ceramic tiles. “I like warm, earthy, lived-in spaces – ones that also tell a story. This is why every decor piece and accessory in this home was either carefully retained (some pieces are almost two decades old) or bought over time,” says Singh.
The entrance has double doors, the outside (not photographed) is a solid iron grille one, provided by the developer; the inside one was changed to a clean wooden design, chosen to match the warm, earthy aesthetic of the home.
Tiles: NITCO
“I love the colour grey. While getting my home repainted, I decided to have one full and one half wall in this shade in the living room. Most accessories and furniture are either thrifted, gifted or bought on sales or online. Take, for instance, the cushions – they were bought over the years, from annual sales at Shades of India and Good Earth. The couches were purchased from expat sales. And, we bought a few pieces from shops at MG Road that offer old, thrifted, distressed furniture pieces,” Singh says. The two bulbs behind the long sofa were DIY, made by Singh’s elder son, who used glue and wrapped a rope around them.
Paint: Dulux; artworks: Chumbak, Playclan, Art&Found; coffee table, side table, console, lighting piece above coffee table: Fabindia; cushion covers: Shades of India and Good Earth
Wondering how to pick the right shade of grey?
Paint: Dulux; artworks: Chumbak, Playclan, Art&Found; coffee table, side table, console, lighting piece above coffee table: Fabindia; cushion covers: Shades of India and Good Earth
Wondering how to pick the right shade of grey?
“I love block-printed fabrics, so I picked up some from Jaipur and got them stitched as blinds for the windows. For plants, I prefer to keep those that don’t require much upkeep. So in my home you will find palm, spider plant, rubber plant and money plant,” she says.
The bookshelf is a built-in one. “A niche in the wall was provided in the original design; we just added shelves inside it, painted it in distress style and used it as a bookshelf,” Singh says.
The edge of the wall between the living and dining rooms is adorned with dainty little red-on-white motifs. “I bought a stencil and painted these designs,” Singh says.
The dining space has an old-world charm to it, thanks to the brick wall. “I am obsessed with the look and feel of bricks – it reminds me of old homes and heritage places. I always wanted a brick wall for my home but all the walls were the regular white cement walls. A while back, I chanced upon brick slips, which are more budget-friendly and a thinner version of bricks. So we cemented these brick slips onto the wall. The dining table and chairs were bought almost 19 years ago from an architect and furniture-designer friend, Ravi Sikri. To add to the earthy aesthetic of the dining area, I added a bench that I recently bought from Amar Colony market,” Singh says. The blue-framed mirror on the wall was actually a window that Singh found, totally weathered. She cleaned it and got mirrors put in them.
See how exposed brick makes these homes shine
See how exposed brick makes these homes shine
One of her recent purchases is this dining room sideboard from the Thrift Shop at MG Road, chosen to complement the old-style look and feel of the space.
Outside the dining room is the balcony, peppered with plenty of plants and seating. “The rocking chair was gifted to me by my mother, some 20 years back when I had my first child – naturally, it has sentimental value. About eight years ago I got it painted in distress-style to match the theme of the home. The woven charpai is a piece that we put together. My husband picked up the four legs of the charpai from Saharanpur and then we got it woven here,” she shares.
Rocking chair: Cottage Emporium
Rocking chair: Cottage Emporium
The open kitchen carries forward the earthy feel of the home with the terracotta tiles. “These tiles have a slightly rough surface and each tile is different from the other. We quite liked that non-uniformity, which gave the kitchen a dynamic look,” Singh says.
Tiles: NITCO
Tiles: NITCO
The guest bathroom has a wide band of handmade coloured tiles that enhance the look of the space. “I’m a big Bollywood enthusiast, which is why the movie posters,” Singh says.
The master bedroom is enhanced with terracotta floor tiles and plenty of artworks. “I wanted my bedroom to have the same warm, inviting feel as the rest of the home. I painted the feature wall grey, to tie in with the living-room theme. The bed was bought when we got married – it’s a very old piece. Above the bed is a mirror that I used to keep in my dressing area but I felt it served a better purpose here,” Singh says.
“I love hunting for old, worn-out pieces and giving them a new lease of life. While on a trip to Saharanpur, some 20 years back, we picked up this chest. I found this mirror frame at a thrift store and repolished it,” Singh says.
Take a look at these modern dressing tables
Take a look at these modern dressing tables
This seating area is a picture of comfort and relaxation. “I wanted to create a small reading corner inside our room. So I used wall art and a chair to demarcate the area. The chair is a gift by our friend Ravi Sikri. Two artworks here are from Art&Found, and two from an Instagrammer called @MakeGoodShit. The rest are from our travels,” says Singh.
Read more:
Mumbai Houzz: A 3-BHK Gets a Winning Design on a Shoestring Budget
Tell us:
What did you like most about this home? Tell us in Comments below.
Read more:
Mumbai Houzz: A 3-BHK Gets a Winning Design on a Shoestring Budget
Tell us:
What did you like most about this home? Tell us in Comments below.
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Beautiful and captivating..one waits to see wot unfolds next. this is a home made over years with a lot of detail and love.. has a lot of personality...
This is a unique home, unique to those who live there, tailored by them over a period of time with their artistry, creativity and not by some high end interior designer, whose work will not reflect the personalities of those who live there. Absolutely lovely. This is how I have put together my home, not according to the fashion of the times but according to what what I love and want to see around me.