A New Delhi family home personalised for every member

Beautiful Homes (BH): How would you describe this home “Midnight Sun”?

Kirti Dodeja Malhotra (KDM): A home becomes an extension of both the client and the designer—a reflection of lifestyles and taste. The son’s room reflects the subdued light he’s accustomed to in Helsinki, translated into a moody grey palette that contrasts with the otherwise bright and warm tones preferred by his parents living in Delhi. This balance captures the essence of each family member, making “Midnight Sun” a true personality extension of all. Our goal was to craft a home that resonates with each family member's emotional needs while maintaining a cohesive overall feel. So, it also depends on the kind of space it is. If it's a bedroom, it reflects the mood and personality of the person it belongs to, while congregational spaces such as the living area have a lively ambience.

BH: The chandelier in the living room is quite striking. What’s the story behind that piece?

KDM: The chandelier in the living room is a custom creation by The White Teak Company. We initially sought an off-the-shelf piece. But the room's unique architectural features made it challenging to find a ready-made chandelier. The White Teak Company's team helped design the perfect fixture for this space.

This brings me to take note of the ceiling design of the living and dining area, too. With the intersecting beams at awkward locations, it was difficult to bring the whole ceiling down (which was the case earlier before the renovation). It made the ceiling height too low and cramped up the space. We integrated details around the beam to carefully incorporate ceiling lights and maintain a high ceiling height.

BH: What’s a detail in the home that most people might overlook, but you’re most proud of?

KDM: I'm particularly proud of how the layout and flow of spaces came together in this project. The transformation from the original structure to the final design is quite striking. We focused on creating a seamless transition between areas.

A significant aspect of our design philosophy was the mindful use of resources. We upcycled existing furniture pieces by reupholstering them. This preserved the sentimental value of these items and contributed to sustainability.