There is no dearth of e-commerce sites that specialise in products for the home: Be it furniture, décor or curios. But what sets ‘The House of Things’ apart is the design and rarity of the products they stock. “There is a gaping hole in the luxury furniture and decor market in India and we are here to fulfil that need,” says Astha Khetan, founder and creative head of this online store. Khetan has spent most of her life in Rajasthan, and has been surrounded by art, craft and culture since childhood. “I have always loved collecting quirky and unique pieces for my home,” she says. “Even as a student, I would save up for a painting or a curio.” So when she came back to live in Rajasthan after working for a few years in London, she decided it was time to do something that revolved around her passion. She saw the potential in an online store that specialised in luxury home products and as she had the necessary funding, she began work immediately. Since it went live last year, the website has been steadily gaining popularity. Along with Sarita Handa for luxurious home textiles, and Nishita for fine dinnerware, you also find antique stemware and lights from Taherally’s, crystal and glassware by Moser, and work by renowned iconographer Paul B. “Many of the brands curated have a rich history and their products can be found in the homes of the rich and famous, collectors and design aficionados. We also showcase a range of undiscovered brands and products,” says Khetan. “Some discovered on our travels, and some that we have developed with local artisans and craftsmen.” She works with artisans who specialise in tapestries and Tikri inlay work to give their designs a new twist. Ask her what some of her favourite pieces on the site are, and she mentions the Airdiem Etoile Shisha, designed by Jean-Philippe Martin, that’s made with obsidian (volcanic glass) from the mountains of Armenia. Another piece she mentions is the sculpture, ‘Radha My Beloved’ by Shail Choyal. Because of the rarity and pricelessness of many of the products, Khetan is very particular about packaging and after-sales service. The service providers have a background in interior design which is particularly useful. You can show them images of the room you want to do up and they can help you pick the right pieces. The products on the website start from Rs. 5,000 onwards and can go up to many lakhs.
To visit, log on to www.thehouseofthings.com .
