An old, dingy apartment in Delhi gets a sun-kissed, elegant makeover

THE PROCESS

To convert it into an open-plan layout, the design team had to make structural modifications by removing the internal walls while adding another structural element to support and stabilise the upper floors. They did so by adding arches throughout the space that also lent an aesthetic appeal to the home. To increase the inflow of light and air, they added large windows along the periphery of the house.

The walls too at Kalkaji residence have character, achieved by manual intervention. “Usually, wall textures are created by stencils and have repetitive patterns; but the wall textures here are all organically hand-made. It's actually hard labour on walls posing as art,” reveals Kapoor.

To establish a truly cohesive design dialogue between different elements, most of the furniture was made on-site. “In any spatial design, the walls, floors and furniture need to constantly converse with one another. It’s part of crafting and delivering an overall experience,” adds the architect.

“A big space for plants, enough room for storage and very clean and minimal design is what we were looking for. We were inclined to a neutral palette with basic whites, browns and greys with an accent colour,” says Vaibhav. 

BEDROOM DESIGN

The master bedroom of the house is designed as a ‘room within a room’ concept by creating two zones, one functional and one for essence. An L-shaped circulation area featuring the wardrobe gives a walk-in wardrobe feel in a small space. Step up from the concrete, on the raised wooden level, and you enter the room inside the room with the bed. A cosy nook by the window is Kriti’s favourite spot in the home. “I love to enjoy my morning tea and evening coffee here. I also like to draw and play the ukulele in this corner,” she adds.

In the guest bedroom, aesthetics meet functionality with the use of cement and textured walls, stone flooring and wooden furniture. The idea was to keep it minimal yet appealing to the eye without going over budget.

Overall, the apartment speaks an elegant yet care-free design language with subtle boho accents.