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Houzz Tour: A Light-filled Home Packed With Space-enhancing Ideas
Clever design tricks, greenery, soft tones and well-thought-out areas give this home a warm, welcoming vibe
The owners wanted a home that was clean, modern and filled with break-out areas that let nature and views in. They also wanted a design that hinged on ‘less is more’.
Designer Vinithra Amarnathan of Weespaces was more than happy to take up this project, since it was already a “bright home that received ample natural light, had a great open floorplan and a clean, modern structure – plus the owners were very discerning and willing to take design risks,” she says.
Designer Vinithra Amarnathan of Weespaces was more than happy to take up this project, since it was already a “bright home that received ample natural light, had a great open floorplan and a clean, modern structure – plus the owners were very discerning and willing to take design risks,” she says.
Past the entrance, the empty space under the staircase has been converted into a bar area. The white cabinets merge into the walls, saving the unit from looking bulky.
“The bar utilises the dead space and doubles as a spot for entertaining,” Vinithra says. “We used a large part of the area to create a bar and the rest of it to provide closed storage for shoes and other hallway essentials.
“One of my favourite elements here is the shiplap walls that set the bar area apart,” she says. “It’s lined with pine, which adds a whole lot of warmth and texture to the space. We used gold hardware here.”
“The bar utilises the dead space and doubles as a spot for entertaining,” Vinithra says. “We used a large part of the area to create a bar and the rest of it to provide closed storage for shoes and other hallway essentials.
“One of my favourite elements here is the shiplap walls that set the bar area apart,” she says. “It’s lined with pine, which adds a whole lot of warmth and texture to the space. We used gold hardware here.”
The double-height living room opens up views to the outdoors, and helps ample sunlight stream into the room. “The custom-made furniture is modern and clean-lined,” Vinithra says. “The navy-blue sofa packs a punch in spite of being compact. The custom armchairs are sleek, with bentwood arms upholstered in pale grey linen.
“A round, solid-wood coffee table adds weight and grounds the space, offering a contrast to the whites and the gold. We added neutral ivory curtains that bring in light,” she says.
“The rug is one of my favourite pieces,” she adds. “It has subtle hints of colour with shades of blue, light beige and grey, and a bohemian touch that relaxes the entire space and brings in that easy casual chic vibe.”
“A round, solid-wood coffee table adds weight and grounds the space, offering a contrast to the whites and the gold. We added neutral ivory curtains that bring in light,” she says.
“The rug is one of my favourite pieces,” she adds. “It has subtle hints of colour with shades of blue, light beige and grey, and a bohemian touch that relaxes the entire space and brings in that easy casual chic vibe.”
The natural wood rafters on the ceiling and the white brick walls lend warmth and an inviting feeling to the room. “The space is complemented by a custom-made light fixture of hanging gold pendants,” Vinithra says.
The living room opens out to a small, cosy outdoor space enhanced with furniture, plants and lights. “A chandelier with hanging chains is used to amplify the double-height ceiling here,” Vinithra says.
“Given it’s a tight spot, we decided to add an oversized mirror on one side,” Vinithra explains. “This mirror is framed in recycled wood, giving the space a rustic chic feel, perfect for the outdoors,”
In this open-plan space, the dark wall helps define the dining area. “We kept the lower half panelled white for contrast,” Vinithra explains. “This modern take on wainscoting adds much interest to the small space.
“The natural wood of the dining table and bench inject an organic feel, while the sharp black chairs add a modern contrast,” she says. “We kept all the colours neutral and there’s a textural play of all the elements, from the metal candle stands to the jute runner to the wood bowl.
“The space is complemented by a peony print that adds a punch of colour and a hint of a feminine touch to this otherwise neutral space,” she adds.
“The natural wood of the dining table and bench inject an organic feel, while the sharp black chairs add a modern contrast,” she says. “We kept all the colours neutral and there’s a textural play of all the elements, from the metal candle stands to the jute runner to the wood bowl.
“The space is complemented by a peony print that adds a punch of colour and a hint of a feminine touch to this otherwise neutral space,” she adds.
The kitchen is a sleek space, enhanced with white quartz worktops and black cabinets. “We felt the place lacked storage, so we added a sleek pantry unit in steel grey and gold pendants over the island. The natural wood bar stools stand out perfectly, adding warmth to the black and white space,” Vinithra says.
On the ground floor is a guest bedroom, a soothing, white space. “We chose a solid wood bed in a medium teak finish with a simple headboard and added a decoupage cabinet on one side, which brings both colour and pattern to the space,” Vinithra says.
“The rest of the space is open and houses a modern white wardrobe that stands out against the warm wood. The wall lights are a modern take on the Indian jali or Moroccan lattice patterns, letting light to come through when lit,” she says.
“The rest of the space is open and houses a modern white wardrobe that stands out against the warm wood. The wall lights are a modern take on the Indian jali or Moroccan lattice patterns, letting light to come through when lit,” she says.
The staircase runs along white walls, where a black railing adds contrast. A gallery of family photos lines the stair wall. “Behind the staircase was a large wall that we wanted to convert into a feature wall. I found a beautiful suzani runner and got it framed and hung it up. It makes such a bold statement,” Vinithra says.
The landing area upstairs is made into a large, open family room, separated from the staircase by a glass partition.
In one corner of the room is a play area, enhanced with a tent, a blackboard and a small table with stools for all those arts-and-crafts afternoons.
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The master bedroom has a cool, soothing scheme, where dark tones are offset with light furnishings. “The colour palette is predominantly grey and blue, with a sprinkling of blush,” Vinithra says. “The upholstered bed is custom-made with a hand-embroidered fabric in shades of blue, anchored by a charcoal seagrass wallpaper.”
The corner wardrobes are made in chestnut veneer. “This was a challenging and tight spot to design. The leftover space was too narrow and I thought a wraparound corner mirror would be a great way to maximise the space,” Vinithra says.
“The mirror is framed in a slim brass profile and is another of my favourite features in this house,” she adds.
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“The mirror is framed in a slim brass profile and is another of my favourite features in this house,” she adds.
Tell us…
What did you like most about this home? Tell us in Comments section.
Who lives here? A couple and their child
Location Bangalore, India
Property A two-storey flat in a modern apartment block built in 2017
Size Three bedrooms and three bathrooms; 250 sq m (2,700 sq ft)
Interior designer Vinithra Amarnathan, founder and principal designer at Weespaces
Photos by Parth Swaminath
The entrance to the home is marked by a narrow passageway – the hall leads to the dining area, living room, kitchen and staircase to the master bedroom and family room.
“We wanted to make the most of the narrow hallway,” Vinithra says. “We used a large brass-framed mirror with a sharp and slim matt black ledge below to hold small items.
“The ceiling has a beautiful perforated metal pendant light in silver and the play of mixed metals adds a lot of interest to this little spot,” she says.