House Row
Homes are unique and honest vessels of various chapters of a family’s lifetime shared together. They bear heirlooms, objects new and old, and whispers of stories that are retold affectionately time and again. House Row is one such home, dreamed up to honour and celebrate a family’s transition into a new phase, one that revels in togetherness, mindfulness, and slow living.
Situated in the residential suburbs of northern Bangalore’s Sahakar Nagar, this apartment is inhabited by the Lahoti family. It was conceived in collaboration with their daughter Nidhi as the primary client.
Project Name, Location – House Row, Bangalore
Typology and Square Footage – 3-BHK Residential Apartment, 2,080 Square Feet
Text Credit – Lavanya Chopra
Photography Credit – Parth Swaminath (Photographix India)
Design Team – Nain Belliappa, Ritushree Belur (Design Lead)
With various members overseas through the Pandemic, the residence is a sanctuary of sorts for the family, posing as a renewed family home in the heart of the city. Stradling varying time zones, the design endeavour results from numerous conversations between us, Nidhi from the US, and her mum Santosh Lahoti who liaised with us within Bangalore. The family had a refined eye for detail, and we made sure that the processes of design and selections were unrushed to conjure the ideal home for the family.
The apartment’s primary residents were Nidhi’s soon-to-retire father, her mum, and her brother’s family, with the year dotted with a couple of visits of her own. The brief stitched together a vivid visual of a residence rooted in its simplicity, bearing a modern Indian design style that exuded eclecticism and timelessness.
In a multi-generational home, it becomes imperative for the design language to cohesively represent all its inhabitants while still holding strong on its own. Therefore, we collectively felt that a neutral canvas would be a fitting choice, layered and nuanced further with accents of colour, pattern, and texture that can be interacted with.
Comfort and moderate maintenance assume the spotlight within this home’s inception. Each room is steeped in a pared-down aesthetic, yet the sum of all the residence’s spaces presents the end-users with an exalted whole of repose and stillness. The home is minimal in its make, yet there is something undeniably playful about its identity. At the outset, the rooms divulge almost nothing. It takes a closer look at the details that furnish every space to ascertain just how layered and impactful the design ethos is.
The spatial layout posed a unique challenge, setting up the modus operandi. House Row came with an internal expanse of almost a whopping 40 feet which posed as the axial spine of the residence. With daylight only penetrating up to a few feet into the blueprint, the core of the home remained devoid of light and constricted in its demeanour. Consequently, the initial design changes solely concentrated on connecting the internal spaces by taking down non-load-bearing walls, swapping door swing orientations, and introducing new openings strategically to initiate the flow of light and movement between areas.
The apartment’s DNA is apparent right from the get-go! The foyer at House Row hints at what one will experience as one advances into the home’s heart. Reimagining the home intrinsically, the doors and flooring were refurbished to complement the light and airy aesthetic the design was inclined towards.
Full-bodied, vitrified tiles by Kajaria swathe the home’s entirety, establishing a seamless canvas of cream-beige tiles which mimic marble in their look. The main door was re-veneered in a rich wood tone, amalgamated with brass inlay detailing that elevates its look and feel by many notches! A teakwood carved console commands the nook, coupled with free-standing artwork, a table lamp, books, and artefacts.
The foyer’s blank wall can display a large mirror or curated art, objects that the family can wait to scout and invest in. Our creative process was cognizant of intentionally making room for the members of the home to grow into their personal preferences. We leaned into an unhurried way of imagining the residence, allowing the home and its inhabitants to evolve. Not everything needed to be styled to a T; we wanted to indulge in the idea of spontaneity.
Heading into the heart of the home, the extensive blueprint stretches the length of the house, creating an ample space which formerly lacked distinction in terms of functionality. As a result, the focus for the design studio primarily lay in demarcating various zones while maintaining a contiguous and uninterrupted sense of flow between the communal spaces. Taking its cue from this aspiration, the living room celebrates a multitude of textures, indoor greens, select art, and bold accents of colour! Anchoring the room, the emerald-toned tufted sofa commands attention, layered with botanical and abstract print cushions by Home Stories.
The duo of armchairs have been in the family for years and were repolished and freshly upholstered, ensuring that pieces holding sentimental value were worked into the mix and newer pieces were only introduced based on need. The sleek coffee table by Freedom Tree rests upon the light-toned rug by Jaipur Rugs, binding the space together. A retro-chic, tiered wood and wicker console flank the living area creating an unassuming shoe storage and seating nook that debuts as a part of the foyer and living space.
Bearing simplicity and timeless design as its strongest assets, the dining area is the nucleus of the home in every way. The spot for them to enjoy their meals and endless conversations, the space lends itself to pragmatic usage while preserving its identity gracefully. A subtly veined marble tabletop pairs with teakwood to create the dining table, while wicker makes its way into the dining chairs and upholstered bench by Tusker Katha, creating a grounding visual. The West Elm chandelier over the dining area injects a quiet opulence into the vignette, highlighting the coalition of materials raw and luxe.
Bordering the dining space, a custom crockery cum bar credenza lines the area. Juxtaposed against a chevron-patterned veneer wall, the white PU-bathed unit houses clear glass-faced cabinets on top and fluted glass-lined shutters on the bottom to store collected crockery and beverages.
Situated off to a side, a petite console was created to occupy a sequestered nook towards the common washroom. Topped off with quartz, the console can double up as a washbasin niche in the future, as the plumbing has been conserved and inconspicuously concealed.
Crisp, open, and interactive in its transformed state, the kitchen was one space in the home that experienced an intrinsic change in terms of civil changes. The initial layout of the kitchen rendered it closed off to the overall spaces and opening it out was the first step in the direction of its overhaul. Access to the kitchen was reoriented, the partition wall demolished, and its construct now melded seamlessly with the public zones of House Row to also accommodate a wee breakfast counter for one.
The materiality here is predominantly neutral, blended with a singular pop of hue. The ubiquitously employed glossy beige laminate couples with bi-fold metal and fluted glass units, and the brass hardware by Studio Made makes for the perfect addition to the minimalist kitchen. The grid of square tiles in a teal hue by Ceramique travels the kitchen’s perimeter as dadoing, hinting at the omnipresence of colour in the most subtle form. On the opposite end, the kitchen hosts a double-door fridge and a tall pantry cabinet, making the most of the available square footage.
An opening from the kitchen leads one into a utility space imagined in an area initially meant to function as domestic quarters. The deep, rectilinear volume of the utility houses the washer-dryer, concealed broom closet, wet sink, and dishwasher, stowing away the heavy-duty tasks out of sight!
The far end of the home’s layout is punctuated by the family room, an oasis for the Lahoti’s to gather and unwind in each other’s company. Flushed with eastern light through the day, this portion of the home sits on the other side of a massive, 12-foot-wide sliding glass partition finished in a warm white hue. The intent with the family room was to give it a feeling of privacy without disconnecting it visually from the other shared areas. The partition system we designed fulfils that brief adeptly, framing slivers of the lounge and the balcony it flanks while creating a subtle transition amid space.
Laidback and a beacon of India-Modern design, the family room comprises a roomy, taupe sectional sofa positioned against a tropical-inspired wall bedecked in a Kalakaari Haath wallpaper. The plush rug in the lounge is by Rugberryand echoes the cameo of chevron patterns through the home. On the other end, a textured wall mimics a lime-plaster finish, framing views of the grooved television console in deep green with prominent, brass-sculpted legs.
Occupying a light-laden corner, the pooja nook is composed of a carved teak unit with warm-hued marble over its top and backing in conjunction with brass inlay details. The provision of hidden electric sockets for lighting and speakers makes the unit a highly versatile addition to the space while harmoniously complementing the lounge’s look and feel.
Such a large part of the experience of any space is to be attributed to the choice of materials, hues, and objects that inhabit it. The ensuite primary bedroom at House Row does precisely that! We have indulged in a palette of warm materials, fine finishes, and an earthy milieu to create a space that expresses a quiet, retreat-like peace that comes with the transition into retirement.
The upholstered teakwood bed with brass details takes centre stage and rests against the focal, panelled PU-finished accent wall. The wall-mounted nightstand on one end builds on the overarching materiality and merges to become a part of the niched bookshelf in one nook, creating an unmissable design detail!
Timber veneer rules the room’s entirety, manifesting as the finish on the bedroom’s wardrobes and other essential furniture. The wardrobes display panels of banana fibre encased between glass panel infills, lending a gritty yet polished touch to the space. An ornately carved teakwood daybed belonging originally to the set of furniture in the living room has been kept against the tall windows of the bedroom, creating a whimsical perching spot to take in the views of the lush landscape outdoors. Tucked into the dressing area alcove on the other end, a minimal mirror crowned over by a wall sconce by The Purple Turtles sits beside a veneer-clad chest of drawers. The old-world charm of the corner is further heightened by including curated antique knobs and framed mythological prints collected by Santosh.
The master bathroom was given a complete facelift, with a deep blue feature subway tile tracing the walls in unison with a muted grey tile and sanitary fittings by Kohler. The floors are tiled in a printed variety, adding a dynamic touch to the space. The vanity in white laminate finishes the bathroom, paired with a glass pendant by The White Teak Company. Umpteen storage plays a universally important role in all bathrooms, presenting itself as generously sized cabinets, niches, and drawers.
Used primarily by Nidhi and her family during their visits home, the daughter’s bedroom expresses an organic, free-flowing, and airy feel effortlessly! Oriented in devotion to the views of the greenery outside, the bedroom’s design elements are suffused in minimalism. The bedroom features a spindle-back bed crafted by Freedom Tree, with nightstands in a light and similar make. The bedding here is by House of Ekam, adding a punch of monochromes into the pared-down canvas with the reversible print.
The abstract, geometric rug by Jaipur Rugs doles out doses of modernity, balancing the warm furniture tones with its cooler colour palette. The art over the bed picks on the subdued cameos of monochromes and presents a bold composition with its geometric forms melded into one another.
A quaint reading corner has been designed for the avid reader that Nidhi is, making sure she has elements of her personality duly represented in her space. The Ballygunge Chair by Tusker Katha occupies this silent corner, accompanied by a floor lamp and accent table, to make reading in her bedroom a cosy and snug experience!
Incorporating additional space into the bedroom’s floor plan, the dressing and wardrobe alcove was extended beneficially. Finished in a warm white tone, the PU-washed wardrobes also sandwich floral motif-dotted fabric by Home Stories between glass. In addition, a long dressing mirror and reeded glass wall sconce create a simple vanity nook.
The position of the room and bathroom doors were reworked to amplify circulation within. The ensuite bathroom is a tropical paradise of sorts with its vertically stacked peach subway tiles and hexagonal frangipani-printed tiles lining Nidhi’s vanity within. Cream-toned PU paint bathes the vanity unit, envisioned with roomy drawers in lieu of shuttered cabinets. The rustic mirror here by Mianzi and the wall light by Lap and Dado embellish this corner.
The guest bedroom incorporates a resting area, wardrobe space, and a dedicated study for visiting family and friends. The common bathroom accessed through the guest bedroom embraces a play of contrasts. The veined marble-finished subway tiles envelop the walls, while a darker floor tile in a charcoal grey hue adds visual impact to the compact bathroom. The modest vanity has a countertop floral basin bowl from Hindware’s collection.
A cocoon for the family, House Row has been an exercise in endurance which attests that good things take time! We couldn’t be more elated with the outcome. Seeing Nidhi’s eyes light up over the virtual walkthrough and her family’s reaction to the finished residence in person made every challenge worthwhile! I hope the space becomes the epitome of just what they need a home to be and feel like at this juncture in life.
With a design journey driven solely by trust and a shared, nurtured vision, House Row is a testament to the family’s eventful journey into their new phase of living together. The residence makes simplicity its most reliable virtue, ensuring that each space relishes in the more profound sentiment of coming together.