Salman Danish Khan, Founder, Virasat GalleryVirasat Gallery is the brainchild of Salman Danish Khan (L) and Akbar Khan
With off-the-shelf and bespoken interior solutions, Jaipur-based Virasat Gallery beckons architects, interior designers, aesthetes, homemakers, and décor lovers. Salman Danish Khan, Founder, Virasat Gallery, writes on the interior design trends that are influencing modern spaces in high-end homes, resorts, and star hotels

Indian homes have shed stereotypes. No doubt that they reflect Indian-ness, but, they have beautifully adopted the hues and shades of their global peers. Astonishingly, interior decoration is no longer a takeaway only for the upper-class. Increasing purchasing power, backed by the zeal for visual appeal, continues to encourage even the middle-class to make a beeline for it.

Two dreamers took a cue from this new normal and came up with a home interiors outlet in the heart of Jaipur. Launched this August, Virasat Gallery is the brainchild of Akbar Khan and Salman Danish Khan, who portray their showroom as an exponent of legacy. No wonder they christened it ‘Virasat’.

What’s on display is an idyllic and chic setting dotted with unorthodox vases, artistic lamps, vintage lanterns, ceiling lights, bespoken wall-décor, off-beat figurines, artificial plants, and wooden furniture. If gifts are what you seek, then the options range from blue pottery and metallic cutlery, to fragrances and handy artefacts. Peppered all over are beams of incandescent light that make you sink into the visual appeal.

“It’s all a manifestation of your creative streak. Aesthetics are intrinsic and should be brought to the fore - time and again. There’s no better way than to adorn homes or any liveable area for that matter,” says Co-Founder Akbar Khan, an old-hand at home-improvement. “Home-décor is not merely decorating your house; it’s a reflection of your persona.”

When asked about what’s in vogue with the Pink City’s interior lovers, Akbar informs: “Well, the concept of home décor is fast changing. People don’t just want a decorated house: what they seek is the right decorative item for a particular place. In my opinion, architects and interior designers have played a vital role in helping the clients to go for most visually appealing and befitting interiors.

“Wall-art, for example, is no longer clichéd. Recently, one of Jaipur’s most renowned hoteliers shared with us the proposition of decorating the hotel lobby with metallic dragonflies. And we churned out exactly what he was looking for. Rustic wall-mirrors, antiquated platters, treelike wall-hangings, and murals are our specialties as well.” Talking about a residential apartment, which he recently decorated at Sirsi Road, Akbar says: “The client wanted a creative but off-beat wall hanging. So, we customised a Budhha mural that was made with MDF panels.”

“Lamps,” he adds, “are a sensation. From prisms and cuboids, to monuments and animal themes, they now come in innovative shapes.” He shows a horse lamp where a stallion with uplifted front hooves is shadowed by a white shade. Next to it is a golden dolphin lamp crested with a black cover. A pair of miniature Eiffel Towers rises from the backdrop. Akbar advises: “From an aesthetic point of view, two lamps are better than one; so I tell my clients to go for a pair.”

This trend is visible in lanterns too. “At Virasat, we design both indoor and outdoor lanterns with vintage as the unwavering theme. While antiquated lanterns continue to enjoy popularity, bird-nests and cocoons are making their presence felt too,” he says.

As the probing gaze wanders across the gallery, an optical illusion of sorts catches the attention. It’s accompanied by uncanny swirls, curls, and kinks. “That’s what we call modern figurines. Steel is their basic component, as it can be moulded without much fuss. And it’s immune to rust and weathering. At times, even we are astonished by the quirky patterns that can be given to figurines.”

Virasat Gallery

Hanging from the ceiling are bunches of conical and spherical lights. Crafted with cast metal, their diverse colour themes and focused illumination is befitting for cafés, parlours, and restaurants. “We have designed conical lights for a nearby café in C-Scheme, Jaipur’s most plush locality,” informs Akbar.

A pair of teakwood chairs in dark brown and quaint seat covers dominate the furniture contingent that comprises couches, poufs, nesting tables, chestnut drawers, bedside tables, and centre-tables. Akbar informs: “We are going to add bars soon to this segment. Be it readymade or customised, Teakwood furniture is in vogue these days.”

Since interior décor is an inexhaustible category, change is the only constant. So, what can we expect in the near future? “Well, you can expect innovation, novelty, and a fusion of contemporary with the quaint. We will keep diversifying our offerings in tune with the clients’ requirements,” he concludes.