Nature’s paradise

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Crossing the quiet Radhe Mohan Drive on Bandh road, a few miles away from the Chhattarpur temple, we are at fashion designer Payal Jain’s lush green farmhouse. She calls it a “palace away from city’s hustle-bustle”. Payal’s two-year-old house reflects her calm and composed personality. “I wanted my house

to be closely connected to nature. The green surroundings enclosing the house from every side ensure that there is a flow of natural light and positive energy that brings peace and warmth in the house,” says Payal
The designing of the house has been done by Payal. Her love for old artefacts are visible right from the entrance. There’s a huge Buddha statue in the driveway. Another huge sculpture by artist K.S. Radhakrishnan, bought nine years ago, is placed in the centre of a small pool at the entrance. Near the main door is a Natraj statue gifted to Payal by her parents as a token of luck.
The living room on the ground floor reflects her love for nature and art. Old, colourful paintings adorn the walls. Interesting sculptures and artefacts have been placed creatively. From making seats out of ceramic sculpture by artiste Vineet Cracker to turning a huge 3,000 kg natural sea stone sculpture from Bali into a centretable, the set-up reflects Payal’s desire to stay connected to nature in a contemporary way. “As Bali is known for its natural artefacts, most of the sculptures are from there. I even have an interesting shell chandelier for the main corridor. I love collecting old artefacts and handicrafts that hold a history,” she says.
The house mostly has wooden flooring, rooftops crafted from railway sleeper wood, burl wood along with Louvered wood doors sliding across all rooms. “I loved the concept of wooden cottages in hill stations, so wanted to have the same touch. It makes the rooms look cosier,” shares Payal.
The basement is what Payal calls a “family den”. It has a small glass bar in the corner and 100-year-old jackets from Uzbekistan adorning the walls.
On the first floor, one of the walls in the gallery that leads to her son’s and her bedroom, has framed collages of her family photographs. “My bedroom is my favourite place. The little corner near the window is where I start my day with coffee and meditation. It completely refreshes me for the day ahead.”
In the basement, a small office along with a little runway area and audience space has been created to organise fashion shows amid nature.