The Serene Transformation of a 150-Year-Old Home in Madh Island

There was also an existing retaining wall that the team reinforced and “brought back to life”, while also repurposing elements from the family’s ancestral home in Mangalore—such as traditional columns, wooden rafters, and 150-year-old window frames—which were used to extend the entrance foyer, and played a crucial role in staying true to their heritage. While the rest of the façade and exterior of the home remains unchanged, the soffit of the roof now bears Mangalore tiles, with river-washed and mirror-polished Kota being laid out across the floors.

Beauty in Simplicity

The entrance foyer opens into an airy living and dining space, where large windows and the expansive deck bring in an abundance of natural light and ventilation, and frame the scenic views of the outdoors. An open kitchen, fitted with an island counter for family cooking, is the heart of the home; and the bar cabinet—designed with dark wooden polish and multi-coloured stained glass—is a nod to the family's priority for practicality over frills and fuss. 

The colours and hues across the tropical home are soothing, with shades of white and earthy tones being paired within ethnic patterns, such as Ikat, on natural materials like rattan, which were all chosen to create a harmonious blend of simplicity. “The clients did not want any loud colours, textures or styles. They wanted a humble home with white walls, minimal furniture and wooden finishes. We used a distressed finish for the door and window frames to add a touch of old-world charm,” explains Dudhe.

The firm’s biggest challenge was bringing the entire home together with all the creature comforts of modern life without demolishing or relocating a single internal wall since “each of them were load-bearing, and removing even one would make the entire structure unsafe or even collapse! It was tricky to work around this and also achieve the bounty of circulation we see here today,” he says, as we take in Mangalore Grove—which stands as a reminder of the beauty of simplicity and the value of reconnecting with one's roots—one last time.

A Quick Guide for Anyone Looking to Restore a Heritage or Ancestral Home:

1. Pay close attention to the existing constraints because building around it can be tricky, and needs a lot of foresight in planning and design.
2. Make the most of the original designs and features of the house to retain the existing charm as much as possible.
3. Less is always more, and a little restraint goes a long way!

Photographed and styled by: Wabi-Sabi Studio by Janvi Thakkar