Gauri Khan to design couture penthouses in Pune

Mumbai, April 21 (IANS) She has a keen aesthetic sense and has designed interiors for her own bungalow 'Mannat' and made homes beautiful for many of her friends. But star wife and film producer Gauri Khan is now cranking it up a notch.

Khan, married to superstar Shah Rukh Khan, has recently signed her first commercial interior designing project with Pune-based Kolte Patil Developers Ltd (KPDL) for designing couture penthouses in Pune. She says it's a new challenge.

"I have designed interiors of my own home and homes of friends. But this is my first commercial project. This is the first time I have been signed on by a company," Gauri told IANS.

"This will be a project with real deadlines and budget. Here I will be answerable and accountable for my work," she added.

Titled Glitterati, the project consists of haute, high-end signature homes envisioned by 24K, the luxury homes vertical by KPDL. To be developed in Pimple Nilakh in suburban Pune, the project comprises of five towers with apartments ranging from 2,000 to 6,000 sq ft.

Gauri is currently designing six penthouses of 6,000 square feet each with Mediterranean landscaping, ample open spaces and fascinating designs.

"Not only will this take my creativity to another level, but it will also help me keep in mind the client's needs and preferences," Gauri said.

"It will help me be professional enough to keep the clients' likes and dislikes on the fore over my personal taste," she added.

Gauri's association with 24K and KPDL will help add brand value to the Glitterati project, says Yogesh Mehra, senior vice president (Business Development), Sales and Marketing, KPDL.

"With the river-facing couture homes, coming up in the vicinity of Hinjewadi, that houses IT Parks and big names in the auto industry, these designer homes will make one experience the aura of a true premier home par excellence," Mehra said.

Costing in the range of Rs.70 million to Rs.80 million, these couture penthouses will be a majestic five-bedroom duplex with private pools, Jacuzzi, elevator, sun deck and landscaped gardens.

"The Glitterati project that also houses Prive Homes of three and four bedrooms, has seen an approximate investment of Rs.150 crore (Rs.1.5 billion). They will all be ready by December this year," Mehra said.

Speaking about the company's future projects, Mehra said 24K also plans to beautify the area and develop the streets in the region.

"Pimple Nilakh is an upcoming suburb, but with a fantastic accessibility to the business hub in Hinjewadi. This will be the best place to live if developed aesthetically," he said.

KPDL's 24K is also coming up with another untitled project that will house 50 apartments of 3,000 square feet each.

"These four bedroom apartments will be complete with modern amenities including staff homes and concierge services," Mehra said.

"This project will see an investment of around Rs.85 crore (Rs.850 million) and will come up in two and a half years," he added.

The company is also planning several tie-ups with international brands for these two projects.

"We are in talks with professional boxer Evander Holyfield for our fitness centres within these projects," Mehra said.

"Several such tie-ups are on the anvil," he added stating that it was premature to divulge more details about them.