I was well aware of The Raj Company’s ability to produce the most popular colonial and Indian furniture designs (as well as restoring the original pieces that you will find on the ground floor). But what I did not know, is that the company can actually reproduce just about any design of furniture you can think of. Rohaan showed me a stunning coffee table book by top New York interior designer Tom Scheerer – which was full of specially commissioned furniture made by Raj. I saw pictures of beautiful Chinoiserie chairs, contemporary side teak side tables, conservatory furniture, enormous dining tables in bleached wood etc etc. Such diversity! Later, Rohaan showed me a room containing their latest commission – by the trendy Soho House London which opens later this year in Mumbai. The style is a sort of funky English gentleman’s club – classic furniture with a twist and I particularly liked the yellow leather dining chairs. The ability to simulate and reproduce to order and with such craftsmanship really impressed me – and all you have to do is provide a sketch or a reference image.
Some wood samples to show the kind of non-standard finishes that can be achieved. Underneath – Tom Scheerer’s coffee table book containing many pictures of Raj Company work. |
Bed heaven! |
No this is not BombayJules….but I think I was more successful at getting the photographer to pose than he was getting me to pose! |
Typical opium bed back left. |
A room full of card tables! |
Campaign desk – commissioned by Soho House |
This is not the typical furniture you will find at Raj Company but you will be able to find bone inlay furniture such as this in one of the rooms. Very popular in the UK right now. |
A badly photographed repro campaign chest – around Rs 79,000. This model of chest is also very sought after. |
Original door sourced from Rajasthan which can be converted into huge coffee tables – very popular with expats! |
Beautiful colonial chairs….. |
….and the most popular of planter chairs, the Bombay Fornicator! |
Selection of furniture being commissioned by Soho House |
I love this chair!!! |
The ‘chair room’ with a selection of models that you can reproduce to your own taste/upholstery |
More of bedroom heaven – rosewood four poster and cabinet in the foreground |
Love the carved twisty posts on this bed. |
Gorgeous arched canopy on this solid teakwood example. |
Fab art deco headboard but the feet don’t really go. |
Bed in bleached wood – popular for French styled homes and beach houses in the Hamptons! |
Another shot of ‘my’ bed. |
Huge bleached wood dining table |
Me photographing you photographing me. |
On the ground floor – a rummager’s paradise |
Art Deco sofa suite, just waiting for you to customise it! |
They chose a photo of me with a cheesy smile…. |
….but I get to share column space with Salman Rushdie! |