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A poster bed at Furniture Boutique. pics/ Aanchal Kurmi | OLD WORLD CHARM
WHAT'S ON checked out an antique furniture store at Koregaon Park and fell in love with a wooden dowry chest and its hidden drawers
It is not often that people from different professions come together because of a shared passion. But that was the case with physiotherapist Moushumi Kuvawala and dentist Anisha Kanjilal, the duo who have started a lifestyle store to nurture their mutual passion for antique furniture.
The Furniture Boutique offers antique furniture restored to suit today's lifestyle. It houses an exclusive collection of original antique furniture, art and artefacts from different parts of India.
From the palatial antiques of Rajasthan to the intricate craftsmanship of Kolkata and from Irani-tiled tables to Gujarati jhoolas; you can find them all here.
"We have original furniture dating back almost 50 to 60 years. We had to hunt in the interiors of Gujarat, Bengal, Goa and Rajasthan to retrieve these antiques," says Anisha.
The furniture available is predominantly made of teak, rosewood and mahogany, enhanced by natural French polish to maintain its exquisiteness. What adds to the uniqueness of the furniture is the ornamentation that provides character to each piece and the intricate inlay work of white cedar, marble and brass.
"When a piece comes in, it is age-old and weather-worn. The process of restoration, which is done by our skilled artists, is important for recreating the past and keeping the piece intact," informs Anisha.
ambience: Basically, a typical 2 BHK flat, Furniture Boutique does not offer much in the name of ambience. But the handpicked collection of furniture makes up for the deficit. They have track lights, which give a spotlight effect to the paintings.
Range: Apart from the wooden furniture, there is also a wrought-iron collection, which adds a contemporary look to the boutique. Check out the photographs and paintings by upcoming artists. The store encourages local artists, by organising exhibitions. They also conduct interactive workshops.
We liked: The wood dowry chest exuded the strong aroma of camphor. It had secret compartments (to hold the dowry of a bride in the 1930s) and was delicately carved and polished. Another brass-inlaid dowry chest in teakwood, almost 65 years old, caught our eye. The small carved Jharokha from Gujarat, was just right to be used as a wall-hanging or a photoframe. Also, there were chakkis which could be renovated as coffee-tables for low seating, or could be converted into cushion-filled chairs.
At: 2, Nishant, opposite PMC Garden,402, South Main Road, Koregaon Park. Call: 9890041101/ 9822308301. Open from Monday to Saturday from 11 am to 7 pm | 
