Aathma Colombo House: The Art of Personal Maximalism
Words & Photos by Kerol Izwan
Stepping inside Aathma is a sensory awakening. Every corner offers an explosion of curated taste, balancing colourful traditional motifs with modern design. Meticulous ceramic details trace their way from the floors to the walls and across the tabletops of this high-ceilinged mansion, which features nine rooms overlooking the deep forest-green waters of Diyawanna Lake. The calm, algae-tinted water feels entirely serene—an instant relief after a hectic day in Colombo. Situated on a private peninsula in Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte, right next to the Beddagana Wetland Park, the property is vast, wrapping guests in a genuine sanctuary.
The soul of the house belongs to its founder, Dushy Kumar. What stands today as an artistic, bohemian boutique hotel was originally her private family residence. Rather than diluting its domestic warmth during the transition, Dushy leaned entirely into an eclectic, highly personal design language. During my quiet rest days at the property, I would occasionally bump into Dushy as she tended to her garden or simply unwound on the patio. These casual encounters evolved into wonderful exchanges, mapping out the stories and inspirations that birthed Aathma. Having travelled to over sixty countries alongside her previous career as a fashion designer, her global, tactile perspective makes complete sense here. The house is, quite literally, her autobiography in physical form.
A day before checking in, I had the opportunity to meet her daughter, Niyo, who serves as the Director. Their family anchors a beautiful portfolio of independent hospitality ventures across the island, managing the historic Sun House alongside The Galleon Bar & Restaurant in Galle, as well as The Sanctuary, Beverly Arcade, and the nearby Kotte Coffee in Colombo. During our conversation, Niyo shared a brilliant piece of trivia: the very room I was staying in the magnificent Rajkumari Suite, had previously hosted Hollywood actress Margot Robbie during a vacation in Sri Lanka. It was a delightful bonus, a reassuring sign that my taste in design is in excellent company (haha!).
Dushy’s canvas is defined by a fearless embrace of colour. Moving from bright green to deep orange, sunny yellow, and rouge red, Aathma showcases maximalism at its absolute best: curated, intentional, and never overwhelming. The interior boasts a striking, almost organic fluidity, where vibrant mosaic tilework nods subtly to Gaudí’s Barcelona, yet feels entirely anchored in contemporary Sri Lankan life.
The Rajkumari Suite itself spans a generous 70 square metres on the first floor of Aathma’s Lake House. Designed as an expansive, open-plan split-level, the suite features a spacious lower floor and an upper mezzanine level. Both levels are furnished with plush bedding—including a king-size setup on the mezzanine—making the layout incredibly versatile, whether used as a family suite or an intimate couple's lounge complete with ample seating and a flat-screen TV.
What makes the suite truly exceptional is its connection to the outdoors; large private balconies on both floors step out directly to frame breathtaking, panoramic vistas across the pool and the quiet expanse of Diyawanna Lake. The lower level is anchored by a massive, open-plan en-suite bathroom that boasts a large whirlpool bathtub and a hidden rain shower, beautifully adorned with custom ceramic pattern tiles that vividly recall Portuguese-style mosaics.
Mornings here move at a wonderfully unhurried pace. For breakfast, guests can choose between a traditional Sri Lankan spread or a classic Western menu, both prepared entirely from scratch. Because the kitchen operates on a purely à la carte basis for its limited nine rooms, preparation is crucial. The native Sri Lankan breakfast requires a bit more extensive care, so it is best to inform Shandeep and the team the evening before.
I chose to have my breakfast by the lake, comfortably shaded beneath the canopy of large trees. Mid-meal, a caterpillar unexpectedly swung down right in front of my face—not that it startled me, but it was certainly a charming surprise. It is exactly the sort of unscripted, natural encounter you welcome during an al fresco morning by the water. The atmosphere remained completely calm and quiet, capturing the very essence of slow living that defines Aathma.
To close out the trip, Aathma organised a private four-hour tour of Colombo. Since it was my final day in the capital, I decided to lean fully into the classic tourist experience, galavanting through the bustling streets and hidden alleyways. My guide was exceptionally eloquent, guiding me through iconic landmarks, museums, and historic districts while remaining incredibly patient with my specific editorial request: halting almost every hundred metres so I could capture frames of the passing architecture.
Back at the house, the feeling of being at home is immediate. Shandeep and the team took exceptional care of me, remaining incredibly accommodative throughout my stay. In a thoughtful gesture, I was treated to a street food tasting curated straight from Aathma’s own kitchen, where traditional Sri Lankan dishes are given a modern twist to cater to worldly travellers. The experience was a complete, well-paced meal, accompanied by a curated selection of tailored mocktails. It opened with a clever take on rasam, the traditional soup usually served with mains, reimagined here with a thicker, black-peppery consistency that instantly ignites the palate. This was followed by a trio of appetizers: crisp fried cuttlefish paired with a sweet and sour sauce; manioc, a boiled cassava covered in grated coconut that offers a beautiful contrast of soft and firm textures when dipped in a sharp, tangy sauce; and kadala, a classic preparation of chickpeas tossed with warming curry notes, chilli, and fresh herbs.
For the main course, a hearty, home-cooked plate of chicken kottu—the iconic street food found across every corner of the country—was served alongside a comforting dhal curry. The menu concluded beautifully with a dessert that felt instantly familiar, closely resembling the Malay kuih ketayap. The delicate rolled pancake, stuffed with a deeply sweet, caramelised coconut filling, was elegantly drizzled with kithul treacle, Sri Lanka’s beloved indigenous jaggery syrup.
