Decorating & Design
A Multigenerational Home With South Asian Influences
Published on June 14, 2021
Dr. Radha Kohly doesn’t have a lot of time to fret over interior design details. Along with being an academic ophthalmologist at University of Toronto’s Department of Ophthalmology & Vision Sciences (where she also serves as the department’s vice-chair of Faculty Development, Equity, Diversity & Inclusion and Global Health), she’s also a busy mother of four and an attentive daughter. But Radha certainly knows what she likes.
At the end of an extensive structural renovation of her 4,234-square-foot home in Toronto’s Rosedale neighborhood, Radha needed a designer she could trust to create beautiful, family-friendly rooms that had a South Asian feeling. She found her perfect collaborator in Ali Budd, the president and principal designer of Ali Budd Interiors. “I didn’t have details, and I didn’t want to micromanage,” says Radha of her extremely hands-off approach to decorating. “I told her I wanted color and a South Asian essence in our home. She came in, listened and got it right away.”
Ali’s solution was to fill the five-bedroom, six-bathroom home with surfaces, art and furniture that blend South Asian tradition with modern functionality. The trick to executing all of this successfully, says Ali, was finding a way in which traditional and modern, fun and function, and East and West could harmoniously coexist. “It’s a fine balance,” says the designer. “It can get cheesy and thematic very quickly so, in this case, it was about being very thoughtful with our selections.”
The resulting spaces in this color-filled family home that feels like an elevated playhouse, distinct from its surroundings, perfectly suited to its inhabitants and, most importantly, exactly what Radha wanted: “I like that Ali wasn’t afraid to take risks.”
Scroll down to tour this vibrant multigenerational home!
A secret mirrored closet off the home’s entryway is playful and practical.
Of equal importance to the colors, patterns, textures and South Asian elements she wanted, Radha also needed practical, multipurpose living spaces to accommodate her family, including herself and her husband, Dr. Rajeev Muni, also an academic ophthalmologist, their children Krishan, 12, Roshan, 9, Anjali, 7, Ishaan, 3, and her mother, Gita, as well as visiting friends and relatives.
Swings are often found in the courtyards and verandas of South Asian homes, says Radha. Including one in the family room embraces tradition in a modern way.
The look of this family room was inspired by the muted colors of the rug, which was handmade in Jaipur. “It helped explain where we were going with the room,” says Ali.
This sculpture of Saraswati, the goddess of knowledge and truth, is a souvenir from a vacation to Rajasthan, India.
A custom 14-foot-long table with plenty of room for extended family is the centerpiece of the dining room.
An elephant sculpture in the dining room symbolizes luck.
The kitchen, designed before Ali and her team started working with Radha, is a natural gathering place for Gita and the family.
Modern wallpaper and a low-slung table surrounded by floor cushions create a cheerful yet practical space for the kids.
Larger-than-life wall-mounted rulers are fun growth charts for the kids.
The powder room proves that wildly contrasting pieces can create an inviting space.
Bright colors are common in South Asian homes, so Ali suggested this candy-pink runner for the staircase.
In the principal bedroom, a geometric rug and cream and white scheme help balance the eye-catching velvet headboard.
Modern sconces echo the shape of the headboard, and stand out against the vibrant fabric.
The curved tête-à-tête sofa in the principal bedroom had to be hoisted in through a window. “Radha and her husband sometimes work in their bedroom, so this is a way they can have a comfy seat and both have their own space,” says Ali.
The architect installed glassed-in storage for Radha’s extensive bangle collection.
Two stone-topped vanities with a furniture feel continue the elegant, airy vibe in the principal bathroom, designed by Alicia Sass of Harrison Fae Design.
Ishaan and Roshan share a bedroom on the second floor. Colorful patterned wallpaper and yellow and white stripes on the ceiling bring a fun vibe to the space.
Wooden double doors lead to Krishan’s room, which is decorated with moody blue-blacks, luxe accent pillows and patterned drapery.
Special touches like a tassle-trimmed blanket and faux fur chair are grounded by hits of black in Anjali’s bedroom.
Geometric prints and pops of color carry seamlessly from indoors to the home’s lush backyard.
Alex Lukey
House & Home January/February 2021
Ali Budd; Architecture by Anna Voineskos