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Clean lines, uncluttered, a monochromatic palette and a ‘less is more’ philosophy. These words best describe Tanvi and Abhiroop’s 2,850 square feet, seventh floor Bangalore home. The apartment, which originally had four bedrooms, was modified to facilitate an open plan living with a focus on form and functionality. Replete with understated luxury, the apartment's design has a mix of mid-century modern and contemporary touches.
Wooden accents with cane, jute and rattan textures lend a warm and sophisticated vibe to the entire house. Purposeful furniture, simple art, classy lighting, sleek storage, artefacts collected over travels, a gallery wall of personal memories and the generous use of rugs are some highlights of this aesthetically designed space. The apartment has a predominantly white theme with pops of grey, blue, black, sepia, ochre and rust. This ties in the diverse elements beautifully bringing in a sense of calming cohesiveness. The house, which also has two balconies, receives plenty of natural light and ventilation that helps blend the indoors and outdoors seamlessly.
A view of the living space that has mid century modern and contemporary nuances.
Beautiful Homes spoke to principal designer Plavita Borah, founder and creative director of Plavi Design Studio, about this project that is aptly called the Earthy Urban Residence. Edited excerpts:
Beautiful Homes: Tell us about the project and the brief you received from the owners.
Plavita: The owners Tanvi and Abhiroop, a young couple with their eight-month-old daughter, acquired this home during the pandemic. Considering they work mainly from home, they wanted a space that was comfortable and open yet functional. The primary brief focused on creating a home design that would be organised, capable of addressing their myriad storage needs while being an elegant and stylish space.
BH: What changes did you incorporate into the floor plan and were there any challenges in executing them?
Plavita: The apartment's original plan had four bedrooms along with a living, dining and kitchen area. One of the walls of the fourth bedroom was opened up to convert it into an entertainment space. So, the living, dining and entertainment room was integrated into one large open space. Also, the walls separating the kitchen and the utility were demolished for a unified room. Structural changes are a messy affair, especially for first time home owners as it is difficult to look beyond the mess and visualise the end result. Ultimately, it is all about education and reassuring them to trust the designer to bring their vision to life.
BH: How would you describe the design philosophy behind this home?
Plavita: Sensibility of luxury without formality. The design keeps things simple, chic and functional. Neutral textures, white walls, shaker style cabinetry, an open kitchen in a soft palette of white and grey and the constrained use of art and artefacts have helped achieve the minimalistic aesthetic. The idea was to create a home which exudes understated luxury but is neither opulent nor austere.
The console and mirror in the entryway form the perfect prelude to the entire house.
The brick cladding on the dining wall helps break the monotony.
Aesthetically designed work desks add a modern touch.
BH: Tell us a bit about some design elements like lighting, furniture and art.
Plavita: We have used different light fixtures like hanging lights, wall sconces, table and floor lamps. The metal mesh black pendant light above the dining space adds a contemporary appeal while the cylindrical cane pendants above the breakfast counter brings in a rustic touch. We have used a mix of materials in the furniture. For example, the puja unit almirah is made of rattan and wood, the ottoman has a rope finish while the bar unit has fabric-front shutters. Floating shelves for books, compact work desks and large mirrors enhance the sense of space. Hand tufted and hand knotted rugs have been used in every room as it helps ground the space. The art is limited to the Van Gogh inspired cityscape piece that was painted by me.
BH: What did you enjoy most about this project?
The fact that the apartment was pretty bare bones provided me the ideal platform to execute the design from the drawing board to reality. The blank canvas was perfect to bring together the clients’ ideas and my own sensibilities to create a home that is much loved by the owners.
Will you be living in your space during the renovation ?
DEC 2023
Please Select Date and Day
Appointment Date & time
17 Oct 23, 03.00PM - 04.00PM