I don’t think I make a good host: Fleur Xavier

Walking into model-turned-interior designer Fleur Xavier’s 1,200 sq ft home which she shares along with her mother is like stepping into a clean, elegant and serene oasis. A set of beige velvet sofas add a nice contrast to the lemon yellow drawing room walls.
A striking feature about her home is that all the furniture is extremely sturdy — be it the broad-based lamp stands, the sleeper wood stand, the teak wood centre table or the dining table. “The reason being they are durable, non-fussy and easily maintainable, just like me,” says Fleur, laughingly. Guys  take note!

Could the sturdy furniture be a metaphor for the lack of a man’s presence in the home? “Artifacts aren’t bought off the shelf from any boutique,” says the lady, adding, “But rather each piece in my home holds special significance because it’s always bought only when we travel.” For instance, the Rajasthani painting in the drawing room was picked up from the School of Art in Udaipur along with the Rajasthani  doll when she and her mum went on a holiday; an ornate mirror from Delhi, a Rosewood antique statue from Pondicherry, etc.

Yellow lighting is the preferred choice throughout her home. Does she use candles while entertaining people? “I don’t entertain at home because I don’t think I make a good host!” confesses Fleur.

So how did the transition take place from a model to an interior designer? “For the first five to six years I slogged really hard to give my 100% to modelling, but after that I realised that I had an inclination towards interiors and started dividing my time between the two, gradually increasing my time towards interiors,” she says. She got architects and interior designers to give her lessons at home.

Very unlike a model’s bedroom, Fleur’s space doesn’t have any trappings of a diva. In fact it’s in sharp contrast of it, ruled by simplicity. It has got a single bed, traditional brass ceiling lamps, a single seater sofa and a TV set. She got her room divided in order to form a work area where she has a laptop, tombs of books and other odds and ends. The bathroom is also very normal except for a frilly white shower curtain which adds a feminine touch.