Loch Ness monster comes to life in Versova

You are unlikely to find Rare Thought on a map of Four Bungalows, if it is laid out in front of you. You are unlikely to find the place even if you hover around the area, asking around. But if you ask for "Rustom", it's likely that you will be led down a narrow pathway opposite Good Shepherd Church into a clearing that's nothing short of an oasis just minutes away from the madness that governs the main road.

The front porch of the decrepit house Rustom Dara Gowadia works in, is like a dismantled film set from a period film; replete with fallen wooden columns from ancient cities, metal scraps and the strong smell of varnish; all of which give you a feeling of having entered a place where something is constantly being cut, welded or polished.

Something out of nothing: Rare Thought specialises in customised furniture and interior accessories. Thirty three year-old Rustom, who chucked his engineering studies 8 years ago to pursue his passion, started from scrap. He began collecting waste metal and wood from dealers to mould, shape, cut and paint to transform trash into minor art works. What makes his work unique is that buyers can walk into his studio and choose metals that they want meshed to form their ideal product.

So, you'll find a grandfather clock atop a 200 year-old wooden pillar, its dial carved to form a crescent moon and sun (Rs 28,000). Japanese prints on silk, locally painted and turned into a lampshade (Rs 2,400) lies beside a jungle of animals; cylinder cats with screw whiskers (Rs 1,100) and frogs beating a metal drum (Rs 1,600). Masai tribesmen ready to assault you with rusty spears come for Rs 3,000 a pair.

Word of mouth is only promotion: The nondescript location and not a single signboard to flag the place's existence in the midst of Versova's madness, makes it a lesser-known option. "We've been showing at Society magazine's annual Home & Interiors fair for a couple of years. I worked with artists Dominic and Dilshad to create a centrepiece horse for the Kala Ghoda Festival three years ago. That got me a lot of steady clients, and business has grown through word of mouth," he says.

A client walks in to request him to colour the Loch Ness artefact he is shaping for her. She doesn't quite like the pale steel finish and wants more gloss. It comes as no surprise then that his work was spotted by the Ambanis. From delivering four metal trees to their roof, to wrought iron railings for Vijay Mallya's sea-front bungalow, to even carving name plates for Lokhandwala celebs, Rustom need not advertise. His hands are full. Juhu's upmarket home store, Tresorie stocks his products too.

Call: 9223413684.

log onto: www.rarethought.com or mail rustom_gowadia@yahoo.com