Project Type : 4BHK
Project Area : 3000 sq. ft.
Project Location : Bangalore

A Brief About Project:

This 4BHK home is a spacious apartment situated atop a tall tower in a plush society in Bangalore. Tailor-made for a family of 3 (a young couple with their 5 year old son) and their visiting parents, this home had a lot for us to explore in terms of space utilization and design. When we first saw the apartment, what really stood out was the deconstructed layout of the home that had three distinctively functional zones in one complete long stretch and natural light pouring into the entire space giving it a sense of oneness.

There were 2 challenges that we had to counter while designing this home. One was to make the open living plan work for differentiable functionalities without having any physical barriers (we all unanimously agreed to showcase the expanse of this space in all its rawness), while still keeping the essence of each individual space that were cohesive in appearance. Two, was to design the home with diverse moods while underlining the design aesthetic with modern luxurious elegance. We also resorted to quite some structural changes to make this home highly tailored and very livable for our clients and hence zoning was central to our design.

The entry foyer is a compact space which we designed to showcase the general tonality of the home they lay beyond – bold and glamorous. We created a niche to clone an inbuilt architectural element – making the space look a lot more interesting. With this alcove, we customized twin tall cabinets to serve functionally, leaving the space in the middle open for some drawers and seating pouffes underneath. A glitzy brass mirror sits pretty on the wall making a statement that the foyer of this home deserves. Making a show of brass in the hardware and the pouffe design was intentional to communicate the lux appeal that lay beyond. We also chose a pearlescent texture for the walls, adding that extra bit of elegance that completed the space to perfection.

The foyer opens up into the vast expanse of the public space where our task at hand was to convert this singular space into three different zones, serving different purposes – yet coming together to form a coordinated environment that is sophisticated and relaxed. We dedicated the central zone for a more formal space used for entertaining guests. Laying out the seating arrangement in a way that favored easy conversations, we started off the mood-board of this living visioning a color pop tonality and an urban finesse in mind. We chose to render the majority of the living in soft neutrals and monochromes while adding a wine highlight in the armchair fabric that exuded an opulence in the most subtle manner. Cleverly bringing in brass in the skirting of the furnitures, we brought into play the much called for glamour without making a very obvious show. Every furniture was custom made to satiate the client’s use case – be it the armchairs on a swivel base, the coffee table with camouflaged storage, matchy end tables at the corner, or the sofa designed to maximize comfort. We also designed a super slick media unit with the most gorgeous veined black marble that stood out on the wall as a panel. Trims and grooves mark other interesting details and a monochrome bottom unit served the purpose of storage. Simple but definitely high on style. Beside this unit is the pooja room with doors done in beaded panels running in from the media unit wall detail, with additional metal jaali accents. Inside the room stood a massive rose wood mandir with a surreal backdrop of ethnic motifs in the most beautiful ochre base. We had to really keep the design details understated, for the star mandir to shine in all its glory. To the right of the central formal zone, we created an informal set up to serve more like a family space. We designed the couch to be casual and unconventional with an end table couplet attached to the base. Instead of using brass highlights in this area, we went ahead to incorporate black powder coated fabrication giving the space an appeal that is cozy but different from the glitzy formal space. With 2 tan leather pouffes on the other end and a dressed down black coffee table, we completed the arrangement to reinforce a homely feel. We designed the adjacent wall with delicate trims and a minimal treatment to appreciate the simplicity of the space. Just some super cute Claymen ceramic sculptures and wall lights lighting up the space in a warm glory. Right opposite this space was an open study zone provided by the builder behind which lay the servant’s quarter. With no requirement from the clients for the external quarters, we decided to bring in that space to expand the study into a comfortable sized home-office room. To facilitate privacy we decided to give this room collapsible doors which could also open up the entire space into the family area. The doors were PU coated in black with glass panels to avoid any kind of light obstruction in these 2 areas. We used a combination of clear and fluted glass to ensure adequate seclusion for the study. We wanted this room to be warm and minimal exhibiting a monochrome sophistication and hence decided to do up this space in oak wood tones in concurrence with blacks and greys. Wooden flooring laid in a chevron pattern, clean lined study cabinet design, a striped black and white wallpaper on the opposite end – make this room interestingly put together.

On the left side of the formal living is the dining area which is predominated with a sexy black aesthetic and glamorous gold accents. Custom designing the table with the same veined black marble which we used for the TV panel and gold metal fabricated legs, we introduced the cohesiveness in our design language. For the dining chair design we were very sure of introducing 2 different fabrics – one patterned and one solid leather with black as the base. Using houndstooth patterned fabric for the seat laid emphasis on the lux appeal of the space. Piping details in black leather were some other fine touches we added to get the desired output. Above this whole set up, we introduced a brass and amber tinted glass chandelier which took the look a notch higher. We wanted the whole length of this space to have a magnificent emphasis and thus designed the mirrored wall panel with a metal fabricated grid adding the oomph. Ahead of this sat the crockery sideboard again done in black profiles and fluted glass, adding boldness and homogeneity in a manner super seamless.

Beside the dining space, we created a cozy alcove which could serve as a reading nook, coffee nook or even a nook for just some alone time. Arching out the entryway in an unconventional frame, we raised the space in a stepped platform and finished it with wooden flooring – different from the flooring type of the other living spaces, giving this nook a feel of its own.

The kitchen at the other end was initially a walled off area as provided by the builder. For the scale of this home, the kitchen looked rather small and dingy with little natural light and hence we decided to open this up by bringing down a large wall at the entry. This move brought light streaming in from the dining into the kitchen, making it feel spacious, open and convenient. It also opened up the possibility of adding the breakfast counter which the clients were more than pleased to have. The panel below the counter was done in pretty scallops and a clean lined black metal chair design were introduced here. Brass hanging lights with ribbed bulbous glass illuminated the counter in a perfect play of light and shadow. Considering the compactness of the space, we zeroed in on a color palette that is light and pleasant, making the kitchen feel larger than it actually was. We chose to do a grey-on-white kitchen rather than a complete white kitchen to avoid it from looking sterile. The color got in so much depth and made the cabinet details look much more punctuated. A modern take on the shaker style cabinetry, we designed a rather thin chamfered beading as opposed to the thick traditional ones, to add interest without making the beading detail look overpowering. Brass hardware chosen for this kitchen ensured a highlighted feature, making a slick statement. With white countertop and complimenting white backsplash laid in an interesting chevron pattern, we completed the look of this kitchen in a contemporary aesthetic.

The master bedroom as planned by the builder had a walk in closet proposed, which resulted in a smaller room space, while the clients were looking at a large open space. Hence we decided to pull down the closet wall to incorporate that space into the actual bedroom, which visually felt a lot more larger. There was another constraint we had to work around cleverly in terms of design and those were the structural anomalies with unsightly protruding beams and columns. Working with the first anomaly right behind the headboard, we had to deal with a column offset. Instead of paneling the entire wall, we decided to use this constraint as a statement feature and created an arch making a perfect cove lit backdrop where we used an abstract gold and black wallpaper – all going in with the modern luxury aesthetic. Keeping up with the monotones, we made a quilted upholstered headboard and matchy grey nightstands bringing about a wholesome vibe. At the far end of the bedroom we made closets with fine and delicate details and customized equally delicate looking brass handles exuding an understated luxury. We also designed a low dressing console in a similar fashion, above which a custom arch mirror was commissioned, to replicate the arch feature behind the headboard. Another arch accent was used behind the TV console – to hide the second column offset, resulting in a feature that was its designer best. Everything in the room was bathed in monotones and luxurious blacks and greys, helping the wooden flooring stand out, creating a striking balance of these hues.

The parents bedroom on the other hand was designed to cater to the needs of their visiting parents in a style closer to home – a modern Indian style inspired by ethnic finesse. Keeping teak texture central to the theme, we designed around it, bringing in motifs, details and colors that were enriching. Conceptualizing a dual patterned wall – with an illustrious floral wallpaper and solid paint in its base color, separated by a rich teak beading, we highlighted the front wall. In front of this, we customized a layered headboard with the back panel in teak with delicate grooved details and a simple fabric headboard in a green-grey. In this way, we broke the monotony of green on the wall and the upholstery with a well thought of wooden panel. Matchy brown nightstands were customized in the same grooved detail, above which hung beautiful glass pendants chosen in a classic ribbed dome design, completing the entire frame in a vintage flair. The closet design showcased the same classicality with wooden textures and trim details that were exquisite. This room for sure is an eclectic statement.

The bedroom for their son is a riot of different blue hues, working together to make a space that creates a sense of fun and excitement. Introducing geometric patterns in our design details, we worked out a room that fit the bill perfectly without being overpowering in any way. A 3 toned triangular fragment headboard was customized where the fragments came together like a beautiful puzzle over a fluted wooden panel. An asymmetrical design on either sides of the bed was actualized to fit functionally. To the right was a huge mirror with nightstand cum dresser and a slick wall lamp adorned the other side – making this room perfect for one. In front of the bed a low console was added, offering additional easy access storage for the growing child. Above this console, the wall was treated in a series of interesting blue hexagons which housed cute little hexagon framed artworks making it bespoke for the occupant. A compelling closet design completed the look of the room with handles customized in black triangular chunks taking the design homogeneity a notch higher.

The guest bedroom is a merry little space, bustling with the vibrancy of its colors. We wanted this room too to have an experiential aesthetic that stayed with the guests for a long time. At our disposal was a large glass wall with abundant light streaming in and a mesmerizing view from the 18th floor. Taking this to our advantage we used heavily moulded trims for the wall paneling and went bold by visually cutting down the wall vertically in 2 contrasting shades of a cupcakey pink and grey. With this color punch, we got in accents of black in the furniture and pendant lights creating a sharp distinction. We went one step further and chose a printed monochrome fabric for the headboard, which was designed in a double stepped pattern with panels running vertically. Opposite to the bed, we continued the same spunky paneling and color scheme, with a chest of drawers maximizing storage. Every corner, every space of this home is wrapped in luxurious elegance, making an expression of sass and style, while still being individualistic in its own sense.