OBJETS D'HEART

I always wanted a space that was truly mine—free of interference, and calm. My house is exactly the way I envisioned it. Amit Malhotra, book designer

- ADITHI REENA AJITH

TUCKED away in the lanes of west Delhi's Vikaspuri, Amit Malhotra's home is hard to miss — resembling a thatched hut, with bamboo fencing and a tidy row of potted ribbon grass lining the entrance. At the bamboo gate, you're greeted by the barks of Malhotra's wildly enthusiastic toy poodles — Jugnu and Jigar — who double as the home's self-appointed security.

Inherited from his grandmother, who lived there from 2004 until her passing in 2019, the house was once a "functional, minimalist household". Malhotra, an independent book designer and co-owner of the clothing label Gul Sohrab (which he runs with his partner Saurabh Kumar), has since transformed it into a striking space of neutral-maximalist energy, filled with travel finds guided by his design sensibilities. "My grandmother's house wasn't decorated. She was simple and didn't like having too many things."

While she once owned several pieces of well-made old furniture, most of it was given away before she passed. "I love old furniture," he says. "Some of those pieces were really well made. I wish I'd inherited them. Now, I have only a few of her utensils, a couple of ceramics, and jewellery."

For Malhotra, designing his home since moving in has been nothing short of therapeutic. "I spend a lot of time cleaning and arranging things myself— it's my way of taking care."

Located on a busy street, the small yet modestly laid out residence feels like a private oasis. "People are always surprised when they walk in. It doesn't feel like you're in Delhi anymore." Part of that desire for peace stems from his own upbringing. "I grew up in a dysfunctional family. I always wanted a space that was truly mine—free of interference, calm, and exactly the way I envisioned it."