Bangalore Houzz: A Modern Home With Old-World Charm
This home designed by Houseof9Design intersects farmhouse aesthetics with urban sensibilities
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: A young couple and their little daughter
Location: Bengaluru, Karnataka
Year/decade built: 2021
Size: 149 square metres (1604 square feet); 3 bedrooms and 3 bathrooms
Interior design firm: Houseof9Design
Photos by: Nayan Soni
According to Nain Belliappa, founder, designer and editor, Houseof9Design, “The homeowners desired a residence that was inspired by classic cottage-style homes often situated in the quaint countryside.” With that brief in hand, she set out to pay homage to the design nuances that are to be found in quiet and charming English dwellings steeped in centuries of history, paired with a lived-in warmth, which eventually led to the home being christened ‘The Kew Home’.
Belliappa used generous amounts of teak wood, wood veneers, cane and jute fabrics for furniture pieces, wood rafters on the ceiling, light neutral paint finishes, and brass and black accents in lighting and fittings.
Who lives here: A young couple and their little daughter
Location: Bengaluru, Karnataka
Year/decade built: 2021
Size: 149 square metres (1604 square feet); 3 bedrooms and 3 bathrooms
Interior design firm: Houseof9Design
Photos by: Nayan Soni
According to Nain Belliappa, founder, designer and editor, Houseof9Design, “The homeowners desired a residence that was inspired by classic cottage-style homes often situated in the quaint countryside.” With that brief in hand, she set out to pay homage to the design nuances that are to be found in quiet and charming English dwellings steeped in centuries of history, paired with a lived-in warmth, which eventually led to the home being christened ‘The Kew Home’.
Belliappa used generous amounts of teak wood, wood veneers, cane and jute fabrics for furniture pieces, wood rafters on the ceiling, light neutral paint finishes, and brass and black accents in lighting and fittings.
A sleek wall-mounted shoe storage unit in white creates an
ingeniously concealed space for
functional needs, while a banana-fibre pendant lamp lights up the space.
ingeniously concealed space for
functional needs, while a banana-fibre pendant lamp lights up the space.
Round the corner of the passageway is a wooden unit that serves as the puja space. It is bound by two symmetric panels that echo the foyer ceiling, with teak grid frames inlaid with an array of fluted glass infills. Belliappa explains, “The clever positioning of the prayer niche at a step-level higher is to ensure that inhabitants of the home don’t walk in with shoes on”.
The living area plays host to a melange of warm and cool tones. Says Belliappa, “The focal wall is clad in lava stone, creating sinuous forms that are reminiscent of cosy country homes in the usage of earthy materiality.”
The deep-toned veneer-wrapped console beneath the television culminates in a wood-and-metal bookshelf that poses as a divider between the living and dining areas. The handmade patterned rug in neutral shades defines the living space, complementing the heavy plush drapes that are paired with linen sheers.
Rug: The Rug Republic
Rug: The Rug Republic
The channel-tufted blush-pink sofa, the custom navy armchair (from Aanai Design Studio) and the ochre upholstered wooden bench make up a mix of seating styles in a playful yet restrained collage of soft hues. The pair of teal tray coffee tables, the brass pendant lamp hanging in the corner, and the planter below it, each adds to the fabric of the living space, marrying functionality and aesthetics.
Coffee tables: Freedom Tree; planter: Studio Palasa
Coffee tables: Freedom Tree; planter: Studio Palasa
The dining area, which is separated from the kitchen by an island, is peppered with accents of wood and brass. A six-seater dining table in acacia wood is flanked with mid-century modern chairs upholstered in black fabric – a nod to the large raw wood dining tables in country homes. The three-lamp brushed-brass chandelier presides over the dining area, elevating the subtle palette with its muted lustre.
Chandelier: The Purple Turtles
Chandelier: The Purple Turtles
“The crockery-cum-bar unit is the true jewel here. It restates the narrative of the modern farmhouse. Its body swathed in
deep-stained veneer, it creates a welcome contrast to the exaggerated grain laminate of its backing,” Belliappa says.
deep-stained veneer, it creates a welcome contrast to the exaggerated grain laminate of its backing,” Belliappa says.
She continues, “The wainscoting enveloping the perimeter of the dining space affirms the English
cottage atmosphere that is the underlying theme in this home”.
cottage atmosphere that is the underlying theme in this home”.
The kitchen, a monochromatic space, is separated from the dining by a a peninsula breakfast counter that offers additional seating and storage. A solitary glass pendant over the breakfast counter creates an inviting corner for a quick bite.
Check out inspiring breakfast bar ideas for a social kitchen
Check out inspiring breakfast bar ideas for a social kitchen
White quartz countertops that merge with the backsplash are the perfect foil to the black matte PU-finish cabinets. The lighter wood finish that marks the under-counter units creates a subdued palette in unison with the monochrome.
The kitchen sink has been
relegated to the adjoining utility area to maximise counter space.
relegated to the adjoining utility area to maximise counter space.
Explains Belliappa, “Despite its small scale, the kitchen provides for effective corner-
access storage, an oven-microwave combination niche, and a capacious pull-out pantry unit.”
access storage, an oven-microwave combination niche, and a capacious pull-out pantry unit.”
The master bedroom is airy and bright, relying on symmetry for its design aesthetic. The focal wall, behind the bedhead, is adorned with a row of tall vertical panels in a light buff shade, imbuing the space with an additional sense of dimension and visual height.
The wardrobes on the opposite wall bear an artisanal quality thanks to the shutters of jute-sandwiched glass set in warm white PU frames.
A beechwood bed and a set
of nightstands with brass detailing take centerstage in a mostly-white milieu, which is punctuated with colour via tropical-themed cushion covers. Mirrors in metal frames and brass pendants that flank the bed
introduce understated elegance to the space.
of nightstands with brass detailing take centerstage in a mostly-white milieu, which is punctuated with colour via tropical-themed cushion covers. Mirrors in metal frames and brass pendants that flank the bed
introduce understated elegance to the space.
The daughter’s bedroom was conceptualised keeping a growing child’s needs. The custom trundle bed makes for a versatile and space-saving piece of furniture. There is ample free floor space for play and lots of storage in the form of open and closed niches to hold baskets and boxes for the toddler’s toys and treasures.
The bedroom also doubles as a study for the parents, and the cantilevered wooden window ledge has been fashioned as a
work desk. A rope-seated study chair and the ebony floor lamp
(from Freedom Tree) complete the study nook.
work desk. A rope-seated study chair and the ebony floor lamp
(from Freedom Tree) complete the study nook.
The wall-length wardrobes are finished in a soft peachy tint and are detailed to perfection
with jute-wrapped handles that add a sense of tactility to the palette.
Discover drool-worthy wardrobe designs that make room for more
with jute-wrapped handles that add a sense of tactility to the palette.
Discover drool-worthy wardrobe designs that make room for more
The guest bedroom stays true to the neutral palette that permeates the home. A row of grey wardrobes line the wall, with a niche for the television.
A seat below the window tactfully houses storage underneath, lined with woven wicker drawer fronts. Printed yellow and grey Ikat fabric blinds layer the windows,
building on the colour scheme in this serene guest bedroom.
building on the colour scheme in this serene guest bedroom.
Floor plan
Read more:
Bengaluru Houzz: This Apartment Brims With Chic Comfort
Mumbai Houzz: Nordic Nuances in a Suburban Apartment
Tell us:
What aspect of this home did you like the most? Do tell us in the comments below.
Read more:
Bengaluru Houzz: This Apartment Brims With Chic Comfort
Mumbai Houzz: Nordic Nuances in a Suburban Apartment
Tell us:
What aspect of this home did you like the most? Do tell us in the comments below.
creating a bespoke design element. A large antique wood-framed jharokha mirror adorns one of the walls of the vestibule, striking a rustic note in the largely contemporary setting.
Looking to include Indian heritage accents in your decor? Read this for ideas