Back to the '50s

Classic and unapologetically stylish, the pieces at this furniture store in Mumbai are reminiscent of a time gone by

If you miss the minimalist sign outside, you might wonder why the snug office of a production house is bursting with exquisite chairs and desks. Since August last year, the workspace of Highlight Films within the Mathuradas Mill Compound in Lower Parel has doubled up as a retail location for a furniture company, Highlight Living. Daily operations and meetings unfold amid creations that look straight out of the 1950s. The tall chairs in the pantry, the telephone desk by the reception and the buxom couches in a conference area are all for sale.

The pieces are simple and functional but also unapologetically stylish. The store was launched by production designer Siddharth Sirohi with Srila Chatterjee, executive producer at Highlight Films and a partner at blueFROG. The latter, who had tired of advertising, shared a mutual interest with Sirohi in furniture. While working on an assignment in Udaipur, the duo collaborated on a home interiors project Chatterjee was doing for a friend. A few more such jobs followed. Eventually, they decided to set up shop.

The style of the in-house creations is predominantly mid-century modern, which developed around the 1950s and is known for clean lines. Sirohi, who dabbled in teaching geography before taking up production design for films like Deepa Mehta's Water, was drawn to this design movement because of its "timelessness" and understated flourishes. He points, for instance, to the cheeky slant in the legs of armchairs or the gentle tapering in the thickness of a table top that makes them appear light and less obstructive. Much of it is reminiscent of popular home decor from the 1970s, when the movement had caught on in India.

Notable among its creations is the chair Ambrosia. Upholstered with lavish trimmings, it is a splash of colour that would instantly perk up a staid room. The fabrics used usually come from an old Kolkata-based store, Anokhi. A new addition to the portfolio is Sinker, a couch that eats you up but surprisingly is not made of down or feather. Sirohi uses memory foam, which is soft and also more durable because it retains its shape for years.

Besides original designs, the shop sells second-hand pieces after sprucing them up with coats of linseed oil, beeswax and turpentine. Multiple dashes of bright paint are added to revamp old dressing tables or cupboards at the store's workshop in Goregaon. The restored offerings include both mid-century and the art deco styles. Mumbai is a huge market for second-hand furniture in various styles and items land up here from various source cities, says Sirohi.

The fledgling furniture store's challenges are those common in small businesses. It has not yet managed to get word out in a systematic way, relying only on a Facebook page. It is also fighting to maintain a balance between price and quality. It does so by keeping overheads low. Using reclaimed teak, which is both ethical and economical, helps. While its products are not as costly as those of Herman Miller, Highlight Living's founders maintain that its quality is higher than that of chic budget offerings by online retailers like UrbanLadder or PepperFry. Now, customers have also started approaching them for help to do up entire spaces, says Chatterjee.

Chairs begin at Rs 25,000. Couches are priced close to Rs 90,000, plus taxes. Desks and shelves cost between Rs 45,000 and Rs 90,000

SAAB
Some of the wood used to create this TV unit reportedly came from discarded planks once used at the Mantralaya library. There is space for a TV and music console, while sleek drawers on either side allow for storage of DVDs and vinyls. Seated next to it is Srila Chatterjee, co-founder of Highlight Living
Price: Rs 65,000 plus taxes

TAJ
A delicate vitrine (glass display case) restored with duco paint and natural polish. The Art Deco-style piece bears simple wood carving.
Price: Rs 60,000 plus taxes

AMBROSIA
The chair fashioned out of reclaimed teak and high density foam is made funky with a patchwork of assorted rich fabrics. Each piece in this line bears unique patterns.
Price: Rs 35,000 plus taxes

SINKER
The couch is modelled after the popular sinking sofas that are typically made of down or feather. To eliminate the tedium of refilling these, Sirohi created the piece with memory foam that sinks but also retains its shape.
Price: Rs 90,000 plus taxes

MEMSAAB
This old-school telephone table comes with a chest of drawers and a cosy, cushioned seat attached. It is made from reclaimed teak.
Price: Rs 65,000 plus taxes

BEGUM
The work desk features a sleek bookshelf along one side, which is functional and aesthetically appealing.
Price: Rs 45,000 plus taxes

TREASURE
A side table with a very tiny storage space. The original Art Deco piece features light and dark wood with heavy carving.
Price: Rs 25,000 plus taxes