Houzz Tours
Vadodara Houzz: This Home Celebrates Emerging Artists of the City
Large airy spaces, plenty of sunlight and the beautiful art dominate the interiors of this Gujarat home
For industrialist Akshay Shah, spending time at home with his family, surrounded by beautiful art, was paramount. “Our client strongly believes in encouraging local talent and wanted a home that was filled with works of renowned artists from Vadodara and upcoming artists from the Faculty of Fine Arts of MS University. So, with this brief in mind, we met around 150 artists and selected works which suited the home. He also wanted to be close to nature in a house that had a simple grid structure. He insisted on not using any artificial treatments or claddings in any part of the house,“ Yatin Kavaiya of Usine Studio says.
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: Akshay Shah, his wife and their two children
Location: Vadodara, Gujarat
Year built: 2016
Size: 930 square metres (10,000 square feet); 3 bedrooms; 4 bathrooms with attached dressing room and toilet; 2 living rooms; family living room; a library area; an entertainment area; prayer area
Interior designers: Yatin Kavaiya and Jiten Tosar of Usine Studio
Photography by Tejas Shah
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: Akshay Shah, his wife and their two children
Location: Vadodara, Gujarat
Year built: 2016
Size: 930 square metres (10,000 square feet); 3 bedrooms; 4 bathrooms with attached dressing room and toilet; 2 living rooms; family living room; a library area; an entertainment area; prayer area
Interior designers: Yatin Kavaiya and Jiten Tosar of Usine Studio
Photography by Tejas Shah
The main door of the home has an eye-catching wooden mural by artist K.K. Mohammad. “Upon entering the house, one is also welcomed by a multi-hued Japanese artwork installed on the wall,” Tosar says.
The foyer is a long, double-height space with the formal living room on one side, besides having a small seating area of its own. On the other side it flows into the dining room, family living room and kitchen.
Flooring: Rak ceramics; wall paint: Berger
The foyer is a long, double-height space with the formal living room on one side, besides having a small seating area of its own. On the other side it flows into the dining room, family living room and kitchen.
Flooring: Rak ceramics; wall paint: Berger
“In the entrance foyer is a gold-engraved wooden human figure sculpture by artist Ashish Dash, installed on a stand with an array of masks surrounding it; a subtle take on the multiple personalities we don in our social lives,” Kavaiya says. The seating here has a neutral scheme with a cream-toned sofa, white rug and curtains, and a bright artwork that lends a pop of colour to the area.
The sculpture also acts as a demarcation point. It diverts us into the formal living room.
The sculpture also acts as a demarcation point. It diverts us into the formal living room.
“The fawn-coloured sofas here are teamed with plain walls in order to intensify the dramatic character of the two purple armchairs and the Kodanda Rao painting on the wall that shows an image of people at the seaside, their thoughts surrounding them,” Kavaiya says. All the lighting pieces in the living rooms were sourced from retailers in Ahmedabad.
See how Indian arts and crafts light up 12 modern spaces
See how Indian arts and crafts light up 12 modern spaces
On the other side of the sculpture is the dining room, kitchen and family living room. Sliding doors at both ends of the foyer open out to the lush gardens.
“The family lounge shows playful cooling blues on the sofas and the coffee table. The client wished for a whole wall to be dedicated to his family portraits; this feature lends an intimate and emotional overtone to this space,” Kavaiya says. The kitchen space lies just behind this hall in an almost open-plan layout. Inside, the space has white walls and dark counters that are lit up by broad bands of cheery yellow.
Wondering how to design a family photo wall?
“The family lounge shows playful cooling blues on the sofas and the coffee table. The client wished for a whole wall to be dedicated to his family portraits; this feature lends an intimate and emotional overtone to this space,” Kavaiya says. The kitchen space lies just behind this hall in an almost open-plan layout. Inside, the space has white walls and dark counters that are lit up by broad bands of cheery yellow.
Wondering how to design a family photo wall?
“The dining area houses a custom, muted eight-seater dining table with glass human figurines hovering over it, by artist Himanshi Shah,” Tosar says. The area is lit by ceiling spotlights.
Art finds pride of place on the kitchen counters and “the wall next to the dining table is accentuated with Shivlings by artist Vinod Darod in bold and distinct textures on glass, ceramic and metal,” Kavaiya says.
The first floor has all the bedrooms, the reading room and a multipurpose hall. Each bedroom is assigned a unique colour palette. “The master bedroom sports the occasional bold red on plain beiges and has an artwork by artist Pankaj Vishwakarma,” Tosar says. The room’s beige walls and ceiling ensure that the ambience is calm and relaxed.
“The son’s room has a sophisticated pairing of yellows with greys,” Kavaiya says. The wall behind the bed has a symmetrical collage of framed black-and-white images by artist Rutwa Gajjar.
“The daughter’s spirited nature called for a vivacious mix of greens in her room,” Kavaiya says. A graphic multi-hued artwork by artist Mallika Rangwala complements the bright bedding.
The reading space shows a combination of a smoky beige sofa with colourful cushions and a faded-olive armchair. “Next to the chair is a wall dotted with artist Radhika Wader’s rendition of her thoughts at different occasions, in 150 unique pieces on Italian paper; it suggests how reading evokes a multitude of emotions within us. The artist is a student of Fine Arts at the M.S. University of Baroda,” Tosar says.
The multipurpose hall or entertainment area is a space for the family and close friends to congregate – all of whom happen to be avid card players. “Artist Mallika Rangwala was commissioned to create a special installation for this room; it’s an abstract version of a deck of cards,” Kavaiya says.
The clean, straight lines of the facade highlight the contemporary architecture of the home. “A front porch and a large parking space is provided in the plan. All public areas in the house give uninterrupted views of the lush expansive garden outside,” Tosar says.
Read more:
Houzz Tour: Art Takes Centre-Stage in This South Mumbai Home
Tell us:
What did you like most about this home? Tell us in Comments below.
Read more:
Houzz Tour: Art Takes Centre-Stage in This South Mumbai Home
Tell us:
What did you like most about this home? Tell us in Comments below.
The ground floor has three living rooms, the kitchen, the dining room and a bathroom, and the first floor houses three bedrooms (the master bedroom and children’s rooms, with attached bathrooms), a library, an entertainment area and a puja room.