Asim & Tamreez

My parents moved into a new house this year and they took great pains renovating, designing and decorating it. My mother, who has a passion for interior design, transformed the house into a ‘home’. In her emails she describes the tranquility and happiness the home brings her. The emails are so beautifully written that I’m transported home… leaving me with a wonderful sense of calm.

With her permission, I reproduce excerpts here:

“A new day gives me a visual check on my world- the weather, the garden through my bay window, the newspaper’s arrival.

As daylight springs, I amble through my home- lifting shades, drawing back curtains, as if i am awakening each room. You know our tendency has been to enter into the morning drowsily. We didn’t create day and we cannot uncreate day but we can join daylight hours with an uplifted heart. I try to be grateful for the moments alloted to me.

You know for me, cosy corners are a must, a friendly chair with pleasurable belongings at my fingertips- items that please my mind (which you think is clutter, hehe). Our home is not, nor has it ever been, perfectly ordered. It is a mix of neatness and disarray. Maybe because of my health or maybe I’m like that.

Baba loves ceiling lights, with a flick of a switch he floods every corner with visual clarity. I however prefer soft pools of lamp light. So baba and I have conceded to each other and our home now offers both types of light. Depending on what evening you visit and who is there to greet and seat you, you will either be blinded by floodlights or find yourself stumbling to a chair!

As you know along with my passion for lamps, I’m also an avid candle collector. Somebody said that overhead lights are like shouts while candles are whispers.Whether they are short, spiralled, tapered, I am a fan.

In addition to candles, I also appreciate fireplaces. When I’m ill, then I prefer a gentle lamplight to be aglow in my room. I find waking up in pain in the dark disconcerting, if not frightening. Whereas, when I wake up in lamplight, I can more easily gain my bearings.

I’m much better at decorating than I am at cooking. I have often found that the most satisfying touches are things I already have in my home or yard (pine cones, flowers, leaves, branches etc). I have drawers full of goodies I have collected and received from friends.”

“Today for the umpteenth time rearranging my living room, a thought struck me: I always stand to make a decorating decision. It prompts me to arrange somethings in ways and poositions that I hadn’t tried previously. I move from chair to sofa to table asking myself, “what do you see”? Really Tam adjustments in heights and angles cast new light on each room and I decide if it pleased me.

But due to my health, my energy is dwindling and my unfinished room is a constant drain on my brain (even if I forget about it for a few hours). Because when our home is in order like our room’s bookshelf area, I seem better able to sort out the rest of my life. When it is attractive I am more motivated, encouraged and even relaxed. But when our home is suffering from doldrums, I tend to trudge in melancholy response. So I could say the environment is an emotional investment (Wow phillosophical!).

On our wall from my bedroom door to the stairs is like our family gallery with all the Disney frames and little girls which makes me smile. It is not a dream-come-true home because I never dreamt about a home. God gave me more than I desired. It is not a palace but a snug home in a cosy community. The ambience pleases my heart and provides a sense of belonging. I just love it.

Sunrise stirs a bright horizon

As morning taps on entry doors

Windows wide, anticipating

daylights dance across wooden floors

Summers breadth blowing lace curtins

Gardens balm soars throughout the room

Rejoicing prayers offered up,

For day spring bride and even tides groom