life's a beach: Actor Sammir Dattani gazes at the awesome view from his 'patio'

Many of us dream of a home with a sea-view and if one could have it on the swank Napeansea Road where lovely sprawling old villas rub shoulders with uber luxurious apartments, then one would be truly blessed as is actor Sammir Dattani.

What strikes one, as soon as one exits the lift on the breezy eighth floor landing, is the understated elegance of the muted white walls with rich dark brown textured wood and a bronze Ganesha in its alcove as the only embellishment. Sammir opens his door to our readers:

The house hunt... It was crazy deciding on the perfect home, as it was a family decision and everybody had to like it. It took us forever to find it, but now that we have, we are ecstatic! We moved to this home three years back.

Choosing the location... I have always been a South Mumbai boy, having spent my childhood largely in Malabar hill. So when it came to buying a new residence there was no doubt in my mind about the locality.

Neighbourhood bliss... What I like about this neighbourhood is the casualness in attitude and also the old world charm. A lot of people feel that South Mumbai people are snobs, but that is so untrue, especially today.
However, I travel so much to Lokhandwala because of work that I have been toying with the idea of buying a home in Bandra, but only after the Bandra-Worli sealink is ready.

My favourite corner...  is the glassed-in corner I call my patio. The area has a couple of very comfortable sofas upholstered in white and plenty of light. This is where I read the morning newspapers and scripts over tea. I don't allow anyone to pile up stuff here and the patio is always kept uncluttered. It is my 'space beyond.'

The décor... Ajit Shilpi is the man behind the interiors. He had also designed our last home, so he knows our taste and always comes up with the perfect solution for our needs. I am very involved in the interior decoration and I love clean straight lines as you can see. Pristine white walls with polished wooden flooring and French windows are the prime feature in my home.

I favour the minimalist Zen look. There is a stately head of a Buddha in the living room, which is dominated by a large white sofa with muted antique gold cushions. I love coming back to my home to unwind after a long days work.

specialfeatures@mid-day.com