The world of children

Every item and design seems to point towards aesthetics combined with functional utility. One of Asmita’s first steps was to rip out the cold floor tiles which were very old and worn-out and replace them with parquet tiles in light American Oak. “Children love to walk around barefoot and parquet is ideal as it is easy to keep clean and is warm. So no catching colds.”

The walls are a light washable cream to provide a neutral background for the riot of colours. The furniture is all adult-sized and mostly free-standing. “There’s no point wasting money on small-sized furniture which kids will outgrow in a few years. I have used adult-sized stuff so that they can go on and on. For the moment I have painted them in bright hues suitable to little ones. When they grow up they can easily change it to more sober shades.

Besides, since the furniture is free-standing they can be shifted around to break the monotony.”

There is a large walk-in cupboard for holding toys and sports equipment. Since the boy is a keen cricketer, a special-shaped niche has been provided to hold his cricket gear. The shelves are constructed in such a way that they can be later used for storing books. The doors of this cupboard are painted with a mural of a garden scene and the theme is continued on the adjacent wall which overlooks the joint study table. Two book-shelves with a hut-shaped top hold school books. The tops may be removed later for a more grown-up look.

Next to the window are the two single beds made of carved wrought iron. There’s no way these can ever break down, never mind how boisterous the users. The beds are covered with a blue and white check from Shyam Ahuja and the same is repeated in the frilly curtains on the window. In the corner next to the bed is a low curved seat covered in deep blue. On the wall behind it is painted another mural – a window with curtains drawn back, to reveal a star-studded night sky. A teddy bear and a doll, both painted on the wall, gaze longingly from either corner. This little mural has the effect of giving an interesting depth to an otherwise dull, flat wall.

Painting nursery pictures is Asmita’s signature and she has also used it on the board wooden frame of the dressing table mirror. She has also painted little animal figures on the leftover pieces of wood, cut carefully around them and used them as door handles and decoration for the wall and bulletin board. “They are not only economical, they look unusual and later they can be removed and replaced with stuff more suitable to a teenager’s pad,” says this practical young designer who has a stack of colourful fairy-tale books to give her ideas for vivid pictures.

Economy seems to have been foremost on her mind. Everything is replaceable without creating a dent in the pocket. And though the paints she has used are vibrant blues, yellows, reds and blues, they are simple polish and cost about Rs six per square feet. “Children will spill and scratch. How much can one nag them. And after all, this is their room so they do as they please. So with this inexpensive paint it can be easily retouched.”

No wonder the occupants of this room are so thrilled. It makes me wish to be a child again, if only Asmita would design such a cosy place for me too.