Project Type : 3BHK ( Master + Guest + Study)
Project Area : 2200 sq. ft.
Project Location : Bangalore
An enduring love for minimalism, the outdoors and the eco style inspired the design of this bachelor pad – a 3BHK home which is also a home to 6 pet cats. Our entire design is centred around our client’s personality, lifestyle and ethics. His ask for a home that has a unique natural atmosphere where he could rest in body and soul, led us to create a space that emphasised eco-minimalism.
We borrowed the characteristics of the minimalist style by creating well defined spaces with a composition that is almost laconic and blended the eco-style by choosing lines, forms, colours and materials from nature, encouraging lots of greenery and natural light. And hence we created a home that is comfortable, warm and functional and has nothing superfluous about it.
As one walks into the foyer, it would take a heartbeat to understand what this home would be all about. We established an effortless looking backdrop with the IPS flooring and the grey washed half walls to highlight the hero element of the space – the warm, honey-hued wood. Wood crafted pieces like the cabinet, wood framed mirror and the wicker stool bring about a sense of warmth that instantly makes the space look inviting despite being absolutely minimal. Prioritising the essential and stripping it to its core function, we designed the shoe cabinet with handleless details and simple forms. A minimal art piece is hung above the cabinet, giving a subtle insight of the owner’s style and taste. A perfect sized stool was chosen for the corner and the mirror not only enhances any light coming into the space, but also doubles up as a decor element.
We added a pendant light made with concrete and jute that augments the character of the room in a satisfying symphony.
The living is all about the purest form of elegance, which was achieved by designing with limited materials, neutral tones and simple forms. A plump L sectional and armchair make up some comfortable seating. We designed these pieces (much like the rest of the furniture in the house) keeping in mind the pet cat family which was sure to grow in number. We chose to do wooden supports and selected upholstery that could endure scratches, after due deliberation with the client. We also added an accent chair to break the monotony that the off-white fabric brought in. Rich tan and a beautiful jute weave as the back rest adds character to the space. We commissioned end table and centre table made of wood which seamlessly complete the look. We wanted to introduce a bold element into the space and decided to colour block a chunk on the wall in dark grey that became a feature in itself. We leveraged this textured block to act as a backdrop for the large plant that brought in some freshness.
On the other side we designed the television cabinet adhering to strict minimalism, juxtaposed it with some open shelves for the curios – here the red cat figurines – an ode to the other occupants of this home.
From the living, what opens up into the dining space is an expansive dining zone with a large attached balcony throwing in abundance of light. The client wanted to not only use the dining table for the purpose it was built, but also wanted to use it occasionally as a work station. Hence we decided to do a chunky wooden table to make a statement. We wanted to do chairs only on one side and have a bench on the other to avoid disrupting the beautiful balcony view at all times. The chair design is a visual treat with its near form and we knew we wanted a fabric with neat geometrical patterns too. And for this, a classic monochrome chequered fabric is what we loved. It so perfectly depicts the minimalistic design grammar of the entire home. We also custom made the bench with a woven cane seat which perfectly compliments the look. To make this set up feel cosier, we decided to do a veneered patch on the ceiling right atop the dining. Adding to the drama is the linear concrete and jute light doing absolute justice to the aesthetic.
To one side of the dining is the kitchen done in collaboration with Nolte kitchens. This open kitchen vibes well with the rest of the home with its minimally designed and textured grey cabinetry. For the open end where the counter extends out into the breakfast bar, we designed 2 exquisite breakfast chairs. Carrying through the colour palette of the kitchen. The chairs were done in black and grey. We wanted no compromise on the comfort hence upholstered the chairs, yet to keep it as cat friendly as possible, we decided to do a wood panel behind the back rest, the side where the cats would be enticed to scratch.
Towards the other end of the dining sits a clean lined, uber minimal bar cum crockery unit. Similar to the rest of the furniture, functionality drove the design of this unit. Stark black base shutters in combination with black tinted glass shutters for the top unit complete the structure. To make things interesting, we decided that pop colour hardware would work a charm. Hence came about the customised sleek red knobs which pack a punch to the design.
The clients love for plants, his pet cats and everything eco-style is reflected in the way we designed this balcony. We started with choosing bamboo as the primary material for our designs here. Bamboo trellis features on the wall on one side and is hung from the ceiling on the other, maximising space to add planters. While the side of the balcony rail is filled with various types of potted plants , we also added floating shelves on the wall, again designed with bamboo, leaving no space unused. In order to have a peaceful moment in nature, we added a chair and end table crafted with bamboo, where the client could comfortable sit and enjoy a read or a cup of coffee. Cane pendant light fixtures where chosen to add a warm, patterned glow when lit in the evenings.
However, whats most interesting is the way we weaved in a cat play area in the design, almost camouflaging with the aesthetic. Scratch pad posts, shelves to perch on. Even cute little jute hammocks for naps were thoughtfully included for the comfort of the cats.
The study which is now an open extension at one side of the dining was previously a walled off room. Taking down this adjoining wall aided in an unrestricted flow of natural light which fills up the space with so much energy and expanse. We ofcourse did add in a glass slide and fold partition instead, for facilitating privacy when needed.
Keeping it extremely simple yet upscale, we layout-ed the room to have a study by the window and a reading set up with a library at the other end. Our posture conscious client had already invested in a sit-stand table mechanism and we designed the counter for it in the same veneer running throughout the home, to make this table inclusive in our designs. The bookshelf on the other end was designed to fulfil multiple functionalities. We conceptualised this unit that was part open and part closed. Veneer, profiled glass shutter and metal were the chosen elements of this design. The idea was to use the closed cabinets to store books while the open shelves could hold curios and accessories. Some shelves also served as perch spots for the dear cats, which was our inclusive take on this design.
A short corridor led to the bedrooms where we lined the wall with photographs from the client’s collection which were self clicked. We wanted to do more than just hand these beauties with a cliche wooden frame, so we went ahead to custom design the frame with a black double border, spliced with cane webbing detail.
The guest bedroom was predominantly meant for the client’s visiting mom and sister, so we decided to keep this room fresh yet chic. We designed a teak bed with matching pair of nightstands, but what really made a statement was the wall hung headboard.We upholstered the cushion in grey adding a neat and dainty detail with contrast tan piping and hung this on 2 wooden pegs. Table lamp on one side and a beautiful wall lamp on the other complete this zone in picture perfection. Much like the headboard, a gorgeous console makes a statement opposite the bed. Delicately detailed with banana fibre and teak, this console doubles up as a dresser beside the sleek arched mirror.Circular framed artwork comprising of muted florals adorn the wall above the console perfectly.
The master is a large room where the wooden flooring formed a great base for our design. When we moodboarded this room, we knew we wanted grey to be the driving colour here as well, but to add in some life to it and to enhance the idea of psychological restfulness, we decided to bring in a green colour. We did a dual tone wall treatment where we added textured grey to the walls till the lintel level and left the top portion white to blend in with the ceiling, making the room feel snug.
The bed and nightstands were detailed with teak and banana fibre, while the headboard was upholstered in a gorgeous sage green suede fabric. We wanted to bring in the eccentricity of asymmetry and hence decided to do pendant light on one side (much for the look of it) and wall lamp on the other side that worked well functionally.
For the available corner of the room we conceptualised a sort of a reading nook. Calling out the space by colour blocking it in green, we marked one side with photographs that make up the client’s childhood memories. A comfortable armchair in soft blush fabric with ottoman in strict geometric pattern amp up the quirk. We also provisioned for a floor lamp to light up the space in a warm glow.
Similar to the other balcony, we designed an elaborate cat play and rest area in the master balcony so that the cats could comfortably enjoy their hooman’s company here in this room as well.
