Actor Honey Rose’s home at Moolamattom, Thodupuzha, is a verdant abode oozing radiance. When she decided to build a house, white was Honey Rose’s obvious choice. White, according to her, permeates peace and happiness.
Honey also reveals her passion to grow plants since her childhood. Plants account for the lion’s share of her expenses, says she. It is only natural that this trait is reflected in her elegant home.
That is also why she spends more time outside than inside her abode. That joy when you spot flowers and plants is priceless, Honey says.
Honey Rose was born at a place called Cheppukulam, where her little home was on the banks of a rivulet. It was to enrol her in Lower Kindergarten that her parents shifted to Moolamattom. They first stayed at a rented place in Moolamattom. Honey has lived in many such places, she says.
It has been some years since her present Moolamattom home was constructed. At that time they also had a residence in Aluva, where the family spends their time mostly. She used to visit her Moolamattom residence often, and it was during that time that she had a desire to have a white-themed house.
Though they had a flat in Aluva, Honey liked the view from her Marine Drive flat. During the renovation of her Aluva flat she had rented the present house. She liked the house and bought it.
White House inside greenery
At one look, Honey’s Moolamattom residence can be termed a White House inside lush greenery. The outside view isn't prominent apart from the fact that it is entirely coated in White. Inside also, the floor, ceiling and walls are all soaked in White. After the huge compound wall and the gate, you are ushered into the car porch. Near it, an area has been envisaged as a hangout space. Birds come and make chirpy noises here, enlivening the ambience. This provides a good vibe, along with the lush greenery, during mornings and evenings.
The home is divided into living space, dining area, a kitchen, four bedrooms and a work space. The lush green sit-out grooves into the beauty of the white house. Everything is overwhelmingly white here– the living room, furniture, ceilings, and even the small idol of Jesus. That also comes with the added responsibility of maintaining the White, which is a difficult task. But Honey contends that if we keep the home clean mostly, it wouldn’t be much of a toil, and will offer a nice look-and-feel.
The dining table is also White. The facilities are arranged in such a way that it is ideal for a small family. A white coloured Island kitchen beckons you when you enter the kitchen from the dining area. No wonder, as Honey loves cooking, she spends most of her time in the kitchen when she is at home. She dabbles mostly with local delicacies like kappa and fish curry. The wash area is a bit far from the kitchen.
The Balcony
When you climb the stairs, you reach the first floor where a nice painting of Jesus grabs your attention. Suffice to say that the top floor also basks in White. Two bedrooms and a balcony which opens into a fruit garden are the main attraction here.
Honey also has a special liking for the balcony on the first floor, from where she can enjoy the green shoots of bamboo and the lovely chirping sounds of little birds. This has also prompted her to do her workouts here.
For the uninitiated, Moolamattom-Thodupuzha area is a lucky location of Mollywood, or the Malayalam film industry. Co-stars often drop in when they come for shoots. Some parts of the mega hit Mohanlal-starrer Drishyam were shot near here. Honey Rose's upcoming film is Rachel, in which she dons the lead role of a butcher and she swells with pride as she says about her strong character in the movie.
A factory
Not many know that Honey’s family has a small business venture. Vetiver, or ramacham, and cotton is mixed to manufacture bath scrubbers at a small facility in her house. Honey has been using these bath scrubbers for more than two decades now. These bath scrubbers are excellent tools to nurture your skin, especially for women. The idea is also to provide a lifeline for many women in the area. Many women labourers who work with the small factory are considered as family by Honey Rose. That gives her immense satisfaction.
The fruit garden
One of the most fascinating places in the house is the fruit garden. Honey recollects that she “morphes into a Nagavally” when she is in the garden, a pointer to her adoration for the place. That is why she takes visitors first to the fruit garden. It is a small forest with ample presence of crickets. Her dad has done some work here or else it would resemble a small forest, she says.
The Family
Our home has a special place in knitting together the small family that includes her parents. And Honey’s mom is the pivot in the family. She always carries something which helps her clean the place, Honey points out. Cleansing is her all-time vocation, you may say. Her mom says all the responsibilities are on her shoulders and the other two–Honey and dad–just stay as onlookers. That is not a complaint, we can make out.