Ahmedabad Houzz: The Bungalow of Gardens, Fresh Air & Sunlight
Sunny colours, pocket gardens and breezy al fresco spaces collide in this nature-kissed home by Design Box
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: A couple and their daughter
Location: Ahmedabad, Gujarat
Year built: 2018
Size: 650 square metres (6997 square feet); 5 bedrooms; 5 bathrooms
Interior designer and architect: Swapnil Sharma and Vipul Sharma of Design Box
Photos by Nupur Shah
When the brief for renovating this home came to Swapnil Sharma, founder and chief design architect of Design Box, the guidelines were crystal clear. “The clients – a young family of three – wanted an imaginative design, something that straddled their functional and recreational needs. They wanted an aesthetic that was warm yet uncluttered, eclectic yet subtle. Most importantly, they underscored their need for natural elements, to create a welcoming yet low-maintenance design scheme. We instituted a series of civil changes to incorporate all these requirements into a Vastu-compliant shell,” recalls Sharma.
Who lives here: A couple and their daughter
Location: Ahmedabad, Gujarat
Year built: 2018
Size: 650 square metres (6997 square feet); 5 bedrooms; 5 bathrooms
Interior designer and architect: Swapnil Sharma and Vipul Sharma of Design Box
Photos by Nupur Shah
When the brief for renovating this home came to Swapnil Sharma, founder and chief design architect of Design Box, the guidelines were crystal clear. “The clients – a young family of three – wanted an imaginative design, something that straddled their functional and recreational needs. They wanted an aesthetic that was warm yet uncluttered, eclectic yet subtle. Most importantly, they underscored their need for natural elements, to create a welcoming yet low-maintenance design scheme. We instituted a series of civil changes to incorporate all these requirements into a Vastu-compliant shell,” recalls Sharma.
The main entrance leads into a sweeping double-height courtyard that serves as the heart of the home. The space, dominated by cheery seating and pockets of verdure, is enveloped by windows on three sides, granting a view from every courtyard-facing room.
Bring nature home, beautifully, with help from these pros
Bring nature home, beautifully, with help from these pros
“The house has many outdoor projections, including this entrance courtyard, a private backyard garden, a kitchen gazebo and a small open-to-sky area in the cellar,” shares Sharma.
Take a look at more courtyard designs
Take a look at more courtyard designs
The living room is flanked by the courtyard on one side and a lush garden, accessed by glass sliding doors, on the other.
“The room is an eclectic potpourri of colours, finishes and styles. Considering its size, we divided the seating into two sections, keeping the furniture simple and contemporary,” says Sharma.
True to his words, the room showcases a visual polarity. One side is highlighted in mellow tones, using a white low-height sofa, a handcrafted corner book unit and two ethnic accent chairs.
“The room is an eclectic potpourri of colours, finishes and styles. Considering its size, we divided the seating into two sections, keeping the furniture simple and contemporary,” says Sharma.
True to his words, the room showcases a visual polarity. One side is highlighted in mellow tones, using a white low-height sofa, a handcrafted corner book unit and two ethnic accent chairs.
The other side is characterised by heady splashes of blue. A royal-blue patterned carpet anchors the surrounding elements, while allowing the cobalt Winchester sofa to take centre stage along the main wall. A vivid fuchsia seat cushion exactly complements the blue, and a casual tan industrial chair balances the striking palette with a dose of minimalism.
“The furniture is primarily made of natural wood and veneer, and the fabric palette is composed of raw silk, cotton, linen, faux leather and jute. The floor features stone-finish matte tiles and the walls are sheathed in wood panels,” notes Sharma.
Paint: Asian Paints; living room sofas are custom-made
“The furniture is primarily made of natural wood and veneer, and the fabric palette is composed of raw silk, cotton, linen, faux leather and jute. The floor features stone-finish matte tiles and the walls are sheathed in wood panels,” notes Sharma.
Paint: Asian Paints; living room sofas are custom-made
The dining room continues the blue palette established in the living room. Moroccan-inspired arched screens, with metal-and-turquoise pendant lamps, separate it from the central courtyard. The room hosts an eight-seater dining table with assorted chairs.
The Moroccan pattern on the ceiling has been created from waste cutouts left over from fabricating a partition screen.
Find out how you can use glass, resin or metal partitions to aesthetically divide spaces inside your home
The Moroccan pattern on the ceiling has been created from waste cutouts left over from fabricating a partition screen.
Find out how you can use glass, resin or metal partitions to aesthetically divide spaces inside your home
“The dining room lies at the centre of the home and serves as a gateway to other areas. On one side are two guest bedrooms and the puja room; on the other, the kitchen and living room. Behind the dining table is a staircase connecting to the basement and first floor,” says Sharma.
Dining table and dining chairs are custom-made
Find the answer to your furniture needs here
Dining table and dining chairs are custom-made
Find the answer to your furniture needs here
The first guest bedroom mirrors the wood tones of the living and dining areas. White walls and muted window shades channel attention to a classic headboard reminiscent of traditional window shutters.
Bedroom furnishings are custom-made
Bedroom furnishings are custom-made
The second guest bedroom doubles as an informal living area, with a low-height divan easily capable of accommodating two people.
“The room is commonly used by the family for lounging, resting and day-to-day activities,” shares Sharma.
“The room is commonly used by the family for lounging, resting and day-to-day activities,” shares Sharma.
The kitchen island (made after eliminating a bedroom on the ground floor) offers generous views of the private backyard garden.
“The kitchen brims with natural light and air. The dining arrangement for three at the far end is rooted in form and function, and is my personal favourite feature of the entire home,” says Sharma.
“The kitchen brims with natural light and air. The dining arrangement for three at the far end is rooted in form and function, and is my personal favourite feature of the entire home,” says Sharma.
The central staircase connects the dining area to the first floor lobby, which acts as the access point to the master bedroom, its ensuite walk-in-closet (converted from a bedroom, with an independent door), and the daughter’s bedroom.
The master bedroom, defined by a blue-and-wine palette, has been created by clubbing two adjoining bedrooms.
“This room is divided into zones. The bed and sleeping areas are demarcated by a wooden deck, the lounging area features a cosy sofa and coffee table, and the reading area has a wall-mounted library. There’s also a provision for an under-the-counter refrigerator for midnight indulgences,” says Sharma.
The adjoining room, separated by a 7-foot-wide glass opening, has been converted into a walk-in-closet. This section also houses the master bathroom.
“The master bathroom has a functional design, with separate areas for the shower and water closet. The large counter hosts two sinks, and a 12-feet-wide linen closet provides maximum room for storage,” notes Sharma.
The daughter’s bedroom is a melange of dove grey and dusty pink. It hosts a queen-sized bed with a dreamy diaphanous canopy.
An ample shelving unit and an A-shaped wall-mounted library offer the room’s pint-sized resident enough space to store books, toys and trinkets.
“The room opens out into a balcony with French windows, promising plenty of fresh air and sunshine,” adds Sharma.
“The room opens out into a balcony with French windows, promising plenty of fresh air and sunshine,” adds Sharma.
The basement is designed as a knock-back zone, complete with a home theatre, petite library, bar, lounge and pool table.
The bijou bar channels an industrial vibe, thanks to minimalist bulb pendants, a lone daylight umbrella and an assembly-line-esque pipework ceiling.
The home theatre takes on a cinematic avatar, with black upholstered walls and a light-box display.
“It is a weekend hub for family and friends,” says Sharma.
Read more:
Mumbai Houzz: A Contemporary Home for a Family of 10
Kerala Room: A 341-Sq-Ft Bedroom Suite Channels an Elegant Vibe
Tell us:
What did you like most about this home? Tell us in Comments below.
“It is a weekend hub for family and friends,” says Sharma.
Read more:
Mumbai Houzz: A Contemporary Home for a Family of 10
Kerala Room: A 341-Sq-Ft Bedroom Suite Channels an Elegant Vibe
Tell us:
What did you like most about this home? Tell us in Comments below.
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