The soft sound of water falling from a fountain on one side and the pale yellow bloom of the mango tree standing tall in the lawn are the first things I notice as I enter Eartheque, the newly opened architectural store, tucked away in a small street in Saibaba Colony.
The world map wall hanging
A sofa, made of cardboard sheets pasted together, is the next piece of attraction. I ask Samseera S, the store manager, if it will hold my weight and she says, “It can! This is a designer piece and it is to give customers an idea of the number of materials we can work with. We have in-house designers to cater to various needs.”
Semi precious stone
I am led to another room filled with imported agates that come in a variety of shades and patterns. Showing me an unpolished stone, narketing executive Chandru Selvaraj explains, “These are unpolished mineral deposits. The polished ones are smooth.” One that looks like a piece of rock has a faint purple colour. Selvaraj then shows me a polished piece against the light. It is translucent. “It works best as decoration on pillars or bar tables. With appropriate lighting, these stones can change the whole mood of the room.” Selvaraj also shows me a piece of Tiger Eye agate, a yellow stone with perfectly symmetrical natural patterns in black. There are agates in green, blue, red, white, purple rose quartz, and smoky shades.
“These are like birth stones”, says Shilpa Darshan Kumar, the director of the store, and are used for their positive vibes.
FOR COIMBATORE, TAMIL NADU, 07/11/2017: eartheque, Architecturat Stoer in Coimbatore. Photo:S. Siva Saravanan.
The store also has a landscape set up, complete with lush lawns, granite benches, pergola and wicker furniture. “Such set-ups help customers get a mental picture of how furniture or other decor look like in a landscape. Wicker furniture is mainly used outdoors, as it can withstand rain and sunlight,” says Samseera. She also adds that a pergola can be set up in gardens or on a terrace and is perfect for a casual evening conversation. Showing me a garden lamp at the end of the lawn, Selvaraj tells me that it is lit using oil, “just like the old lamps.”
Kumar started her first store in Chennai in 2012. Asked why she chose Coimbatore for her second, she says, “Since I started the store in Chennai, I had a number of customers from here. People in Coimbatore appreciate design and quality. I want to give them the best”. She is also planning to expand across India.
A white marble piece inlaid with semi-precious stones carved in floral patterns reminds me of the Taj Mahal. “The pattern and stones can be customised,” says Selvaraj. These stones range from Rs 300-550 per sq ft.
What is in store
The store offers products like furniture, sanitary wares, semi-precious stones, interior and exterior tiles, wall hangings, high density wood polymer, and home decor items
They also take up landscaping and water fountain works.
Eartheque is at Bharathi Park, 8th Cross, Saibaba Colony. Call 04224644000 for details
