SilverEnd
It is the feeling of peace and quiet
that strikes you as you step into the
home that Mohan and Priya Mascarenhas
rebuilt. The sprawling garden that
welcomes you with its newly laid
interlocking tiles houses besides exotic
and beautiful plants, a brand new gazebo
which serves to enhance the fabulous
beauty around you in an ornamental way.
The weather cock that has been
painstakingly crafted moves in the
gentle breeze of a balmy day.
SilverEnd, a heritage home which is 130
years old has been restored with love
and immaculate attention to detail. Nine
months of intense planning, styling,
personal supervision and many sleepless
nights later, there was SilverEnd
standing proud and defying time.
The bungalow has the original Mangalore
tiled roof and monkey tops which are
very ornate with vertical slats and
special designs at the end. Italian
tiles interspersed with the new
interlocking tiles make for good
continuity of the old theme. Tuscan
pillars add charm with their classic
beauty.
This was a labour of love. One can see
it in every nook and restored corner of
the home which has 20 rooms. The living
room is a visual delight with
conversation pieces like a Waterford
nativity scene, Swarovski figurines,
Lladro artefacts, Piedmont and Petit
point figurines, leather wall mounted
figures in ethnographic and authentic
art from South America and others.
Chinese camphor chests, dowry boxes,
cuckoo clocks and oriental figures find
their pride of place all over the house.
Being a staunch Catholic Priya has
picked up religious icons from all over
the world. There is an altar practically
over every door frame silently blessing
the person who enters. Images of Christ
and other scenes from the Bible are at
strategic points all over this blessed
home.
What catches one's eye is the Steck piano
almost as old as the house standing
grandly, and the dumb waiter in the
dining area which hasn’t lost its beauty
after more than a century! There is even
an original GEC fan regulator, fighting
for attention among the few modern light
switches.
The Urban Arts Commission had awarded
Silverend the ‘Pride of Bangalore’ and
the best maintained house for many years
till they wound up. Priya’s garden has
had the unique distinction of winning
the first place in the Ornamental Garden
Section, Lalbagh Horticulture Society
for 39 years straight. A remarkable feat
indeed!
Silverend stands tall and proud at the
end of Cookson Road blessed by the Holy
Ghost Church and the Nava Spoorthi
Kendra right next to it. A whisper of an
architectural legacy and a heritage home
lovingly restored and renovated amongst
the loud monstrosities of modern day
architecture!
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