“Like many expats, they were constantly yearning being closer to home and their roots; and they bought this place to be closer to both their parents to take more care of them as they grow older.
This led to starting her bespoke heritage-inspired furniture label, Temple Town, out of her husband’s garage, which today retails in two stores in Thrissur and Kochi.
An old wooden ceiling found in Rajasthan hangs above the monotone Fabienne sofa custom-made at Temple Town.
Justin Sebastian“The couple is very house proud, and longed for a home here, especially after their three daughters had grown up and moved out for university and work.
“The turquoise console at the entrance is the brightest colour I’ve used to open up the home.
When the Pareiras—a couple based in the United States with their three daughters—chanced upon Meera Pyarelal’s work at their friend’s home and later visited her handmade-furniture store, they were drawn to the charming colonial styles that echoed across her designs. “Like many expats, they were constantly yearning being closer to home and their roots; and they bought this place to be closer to both their parents to take more care of them as they grow older. This was tremendously heartwarming to hear and immediately told me a lot about them as a family,” recalls Pyarelal, who chanced upon interior design after designing her own apartment in 1999. This led to starting her bespoke heritage-inspired furniture label, Temple Town, out of her husband’s garage, which today retails in two stores in Thrissur and Kochi.
An old wooden ceiling found in Rajasthan hangs above the monotone Fabienne sofa custom-made at Temple Town. Justin Sebastian
“The couple is very house proud, and longed for a home here, especially after their three daughters had grown up and moved out for university and work. They wanted to build a collection of heritage pieces and art in this Kochi home, which could eventually be handed down as heirlooms in the family, or even taken back to their home in the US,” Pyarelal looks back at the Pareiras’ vision for their 5,000-square-foot four-bedroom apartment. While the colonial-style inspired space visually unfolds like an ancestral home with charming and intricate vintage designs in every corner, every form of modern day creature comfort has been quietly tucked away behind clever panelling.
Also read: Nostalgia and nature beautifully intertwine in this ancestral Kerala home
A painting by Suneesh, a local artist, depicts sisters which Pyarelal chose as a symbol for the relationship between the couple’s three daughters; an antique door salvaged from a home in Kerala has been repurposed for the top of the living’s room coffee table with legs designed by the firm’s workshop, which have been inspired by traditional Keralan massage beds. Justin Sebastian
A Haven To Grow Old In
One of the biggest asks for this Kochi home was a muted, soothing palette for a sense of calm for the couple’s now-ageing parents. Pyarelal, who has a penchant for tastefully playing with colour—adding accent points in her spaces with bright, jewel-toned pieces or textiles—achieved this by keeping the bedroom spaces neutral, and adding hints of colour in the common rooms. “The turquoise console at the entrance is the brightest colour I’ve used to open up the home. From there, you’ll see small bursts through the art or some of the upholstery, but overall, there are far more pared down hues and tones than I’d usually use.”
