100 Years
100 Stories

Aarti was drawn to the structure during her visits to her uncle’s home in Brady’s. She has been involved with her family-owned press since she was 16. A modern-day entrepreneur, Aarti has dabbled in online retailing, but her first love remains print-making, a field she was introduced to as a teenager. Today, she works with a PR agency, curating PR hampers for brands like H&M, Sabyasachi and Falguni Shane.

So what is it about this 100-year-old construction that appeals to Aarti, the modern Bombay entrepreneur? Unlike modern-day luxury apartment towers, Brady's apartment evokes a visceral feeling of admiration.

Before making Brady’s her home almost 10 years ago, Aarti was hunting for a place that was rooted in Heritage. Everything about the Colaba neighbourhood - which is a time portal to a bygone era - to the design the building appealed to her. She says, “We loved the locality, the name and the houses, the high ceilings - Everything about this place was just gorgeous”.

A home is an extension of the people who live in it, of their tastes, desires and interests. Aarti’s home in Brady’s, which is a charming mix of victorian elements with local aesthetics, is a reflection of her individuality - if the living room is anything to go by. Tiled with Bharat’s iconic Stars and Stripes patterned tile, Aarti refused to do away with the flooring. According to her, “the floor has so much of character in this that it speaks, the flooring speaks for the decor of the house.” It is unique to Brady’s house and gives personality to the full place.

The house was designed around the floor, for Aarti. She says, “I like prints, I would use it on a wall, but since this (patterned floor) was already there, I've kept the walls very plain.” Even the colours chosen by Aarti for the furniture and walls were monotones, selected based on the floor because it would elevate the flooring more. The only spots of colour in the space was the ochre chair at the corner of the room and her favourite painting. The entire personality of the house is communicated through the floors and there was no need for other decorative elements. Letting the floor shine through, Aarti says, “We haven't used these fancy rugs, we haven't covered anything, we just left the design as it is.”

Aarti, like any true heritage enthusiast, envied those who lived in iconic buildings like Brady's apartments because of their “High ceilings, heritage tiles and how it's got its own charm.” For it is difficult to find spaces with such distinctive floors that will help your vintage dreams come true. These tiles, a timeless architectural element, provide a classic look and feel of yesteryears while allowing for an opulent style, maintaining a balance between old and new. Living in a heritage home has it's own set of challenges - for Aarti, it might be climbing two flights of stairs after a late night but her love for the property's aesthetics, charm, and sense of cosiness it brings outweighed the niggles.