Buckingham Palace arrives in India

25 April 2009

By Shailesh Shah

Concept: High end home decor solutions. Retails products from 82 design houses from across the world. Collection inspired by the greatest sculptors, painters and artists of the world, includes reproductions of XIV and XV century European masterpieces.

Launched in August 2008, Elitaire is a first-of-its-kind concept in Asia, claims its promoter Dolphin Mart. The format offers customers an opportunity for possessing exquisite connoisseurs' collection pieces in home improvement.

With just one showroom spread over 22,000 square feet at Crown Interiorz Mall, Faridabad in Haryana, Elitaire, the latest from Dolphin Mart -- a company with over 16 years of experience in lifestyle retailing -- sells not only individual pieces but concepts as a whole that imitate some of the world's most beautiful palace interiors.

The concept also provides interior solutions from consultancy and designing to final execution. In the words of KV Rao, chairman, Dolphin Mart: "Elitaire is where traditional handwork meets modern design innovation defined by tailor made elegance and opulence, which lends a unique atmosphere to the art of living in an unrepeatable time frame."

The collection, inspired by the greatest sculptors, painters and artists of the world, includes reproductions of XIV and XV century European masterpieces. Effectively, the outlet showcases the beauty and elegance of European design and craftsmanship ranging from the Renaissance age up to contemporary periods.

“Elitaire offers a unique opportunity to possess works of art from antique to contemporary as it presents an exclusive ensemble of collectibles hand-picked from over 82 design houses across the world," Rao says.

Offering nine designs – concepts unfolding themes from the grand and impressive style of Baroque design and the romance and exuberance of French Rococo to the austere beauty of Neo-Classicism -- Elitaire promises to take the buyer through centuries of how generations of royalty have styled their assemblage of furniture, decorations, regalia, sculpture and interiors in a dramatic and exuberant styles.

According to Rao, "Each theme celebrates the magnificence of the most powerful and royal palaces of the world and encompasses reproductions of eternal European furniture in valuable woods by illustration of age long experience in hand carving, polishing and painting using gilded gold leaf and chiselled bronzes; complemented with vintage accessories, light fittings, artifacts, soft furnishings and curtaining with the emphasis on real attention to detail giving the furniture a touch of tradition and care, which makes each piece unique."

The artifacts and design solutions are provided by designers across the country on demand.

He further elaborates, "Elitaire celebrates the magnificence of the most renowned royal palaces of the world, which were not only symbols of prestige and invincibility but also the amalgamation of two minds, that of the master whose house was supposed to be the expression of his power and creativity, and that of the craftsmen who built it for him, often creating masterpieces."

Elitaire is spread over six theme rooms inspired from some of the great palaces of the world -- Rosenberg Castle, Buckingham Palace, Castle of Sans Souci, Castle of Prague, Palace of Wilanov, The Royal Palace of Oslo and Palace of Versailles. Each room is a peace of art reflecting opulence and grandeur of the great palaces.