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Bangalore Houzz: Radeesh Shetty's Home Gets an Island-esque Update
Home to co-founder of The Purple Turtles, this renovation by Studio Ruh is all about creating a tropical modernist vibe
Who lives here: Radeesh Shetty, founder and director of The Purple Turtle and Beruru
Location: Bengaluru, Karnataka
Year built: 2021
Size: 163 square metres (1750 square feet); 2 Bedrooms, 2.5 Bathrooms and terrace
Interior designers: Kavya Sheth, Vasundhara Shiva Kumar and Priyanka Singh of Studio Ruh
Photos by MEISTER MEISTER
Virtual Styling: Samir Wadekar
Nestled on a verdant street in Bangalore’s posh Indiranagar neighbourhood, this twenty-year-old townhouse breathes a tropical modernist air. For its owner, design entrepreneur Radeesh Shetty, the house is a tapestry of his travels, a curator’s sanctuary full of heritage artworks, antiques, artefacts and souvenirs that hold a mirror to bygone journeys.
“Reminiscent of the tropical modernist style of Geoffrey Bawa and Minnette de Silva, this home derives its inspiration from the mystic island of Sri Lanka. The intent behind the renovation was to allow nature to engulf the home in its entirety; where the glinting sunlight, pattering showers, and surrounding sights and sounds would coalesce fluidly with the interior,” says Kavya Sheth, founder and chief interior designer of Studio Ruh. Besides Sheth, the project team included Vasundhara Shiva Kumar and Priyanka Singh.
Location: Bengaluru, Karnataka
Year built: 2021
Size: 163 square metres (1750 square feet); 2 Bedrooms, 2.5 Bathrooms and terrace
Interior designers: Kavya Sheth, Vasundhara Shiva Kumar and Priyanka Singh of Studio Ruh
Photos by MEISTER MEISTER
Virtual Styling: Samir Wadekar
Nestled on a verdant street in Bangalore’s posh Indiranagar neighbourhood, this twenty-year-old townhouse breathes a tropical modernist air. For its owner, design entrepreneur Radeesh Shetty, the house is a tapestry of his travels, a curator’s sanctuary full of heritage artworks, antiques, artefacts and souvenirs that hold a mirror to bygone journeys.
“Reminiscent of the tropical modernist style of Geoffrey Bawa and Minnette de Silva, this home derives its inspiration from the mystic island of Sri Lanka. The intent behind the renovation was to allow nature to engulf the home in its entirety; where the glinting sunlight, pattering showers, and surrounding sights and sounds would coalesce fluidly with the interior,” says Kavya Sheth, founder and chief interior designer of Studio Ruh. Besides Sheth, the project team included Vasundhara Shiva Kumar and Priyanka Singh.
In this image, to the left of the main door are the living room, dining room and kitchen. To its right are the master and guest bedrooms.
Find an interior designer on Houzz
Find an interior designer on Houzz
In the living room, an ivory shell provides a backdrop for white and deep wood tones. The terrazzo flooring, scuffed from years of use, was repolished to its original sheen.
“Major internal walls were demolished to create a free-flowing layout for the living and dining areas. The living room can accommodate an intimate gathering with ease and is ideal as a den for unwinding or as a lounge for hosting. Solid wood, natural cane, stone and metal are mainstays here,” says Sheth.
“Major internal walls were demolished to create a free-flowing layout for the living and dining areas. The living room can accommodate an intimate gathering with ease and is ideal as a den for unwinding or as a lounge for hosting. Solid wood, natural cane, stone and metal are mainstays here,” says Sheth.
“The Balinese lotus leaf artwork, created by a Vietnamese artist, acts as the focal point of the room,” adds Sheth.
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The dining room and open kitchen lie adjacent to the living room.
In the dining room, a live-edge dining table with ornate brass joinery takes centre stage.
“The mirror is upcycled from a antique carved door frame. It does a wonderful job of visually amplifying the dining chamber and multiplying the natural light. Native materials with flawed, distressed finishes dominate the material palette,” says Sheth.
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In the dining room, a live-edge dining table with ornate brass joinery takes centre stage.
“The mirror is upcycled from a antique carved door frame. It does a wonderful job of visually amplifying the dining chamber and multiplying the natural light. Native materials with flawed, distressed finishes dominate the material palette,” says Sheth.
Here’s how to accent your home with live-edge wood
Symmetrical alcoves background the dining area. The left-hand-side alcove features an artistic montage of traditional Southeast Asian attire.
The alcove on the right hosts a hand-chiselled stone sink.
The original kitchen was stripped down to a bare minimum before being restructured in layout. A central island was introduced, while walnut and white finishes were chosen for the cabinetry.
“The island optimises function, storage and circulation. The asymmetric chandelier is an organic offset to the linear profile of the kitchen,” says Sheth.
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“The island optimises function, storage and circulation. The asymmetric chandelier is an organic offset to the linear profile of the kitchen,” says Sheth.
What are the key measurements for a kitchen island? This guide breaks it down
The master bedroom is layered with furnishings, antiques and artworks, and channels a quaint presence. The solid-wood headboard sweeps across the wall, doubling as an accent piece. Beside the window, a cosy nook, anchored by a period bookcase, provides a restful reading retreat.
“The balcony was absorbed into the revised bedroom layout to maximise its footprint. The room was designed as a sanctuary for Radeesh, where every square inch echoes calm and tranquility. The accents and artworks – from the Gond art pieces to the origami-inspired lanterns – each carry a cultural significance,” Sheth says.
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Bedside lanterns: Oorjaa Design
The ensuite bathroom is cocooned in stucco-finish walls and earthy tiles.
“The bathroom has been reworked to introduce glass partition walls that promote an open concept,” says Sheth.
“The bathroom has been reworked to introduce glass partition walls that promote an open concept,” says Sheth.
The guest bedroom is a melange of monochrome hues and tropical motifs. The accent wall is of special note, hand-painted by a local artist to evoke the home’s tropical spirit.
“The colonial-era-inspired cane and wood bed is flanked by stacked antique trunks that act as nightstands. The black-and-white cane wardrobe shutters nod to the home’s native material scheme,” Sheth says.
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“The colonial-era-inspired cane and wood bed is flanked by stacked antique trunks that act as nightstands. The black-and-white cane wardrobe shutters nod to the home’s native material scheme,” Sheth says.
Bring in the rush of flowers, foliage and island colours to recreate the tropics in your home
“The guest bathroom is evocative of pristine oceans and balmy beaches, with its pistachio stucco walls and pearlescent wall tiles,” says Sheth.
The staircase, located to the immediate left of the front door, serves as the architectural spine of the home and links the lower level to the private terrace.
“Miniature prints from the Chinese calendar line the double-height stairwell and guide the eye to the upper volume,” says Sheth.
“Miniature prints from the Chinese calendar line the double-height stairwell and guide the eye to the upper volume,” says Sheth.
Antique double doors herald the transition into the terrace.
The former terrace was overhauled to create a lush, sunlit conservatory.
“Here, the diagonally laid Shahabad stone flooring conjures visions of picturesque cobbled gardens from Sri Lankan villas. The space can be used for calm yoga mornings or to host guests over an evening soirée,” notes Sheth.
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“Here, the diagonally laid Shahabad stone flooring conjures visions of picturesque cobbled gardens from Sri Lankan villas. The space can be used for calm yoga mornings or to host guests over an evening soirée,” notes Sheth.
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A grid-roofed pergola, brimful with greenery, occupies one corner of the terrace.
“The pergola is a stage for morphing shadows, luxuriant greens and charming relics,” says Sheth
“The pergola is a stage for morphing shadows, luxuriant greens and charming relics,” says Sheth
A little way away from the pergola, a beach-style slatted bamboo roof casts slants of sunlight over the bar, while an intricately carved wooden tableau backdrops the area.
“The bar console is composed of solid Shahabad stone and has a granite top with a waterfall edge. We fitted antique lamp holders into the existing wall recesses to further the trad theme,” says Sheth.
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“The bar console is composed of solid Shahabad stone and has a granite top with a waterfall edge. We fitted antique lamp holders into the existing wall recesses to further the trad theme,” says Sheth.
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The adjoining powder room is a cornucopia of nude stucco surfaces, herringbone tiles and stone finishes. “The monolithic stone pedestal sink is an objet d’art,” says Sheth, and also points out the arrangement of framed Sri Lankan miniature illustrations on the wall.
Refurbished wooden louvred shutters screen the powder room, while letting in light and air.
This floor plan illustrates the layout of the lower and upper levels.
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Tell us:
What did you like most about this home? Tell us in Comments below.
Read more:
Bangalore Houzz: An Understated Elegance Defines This Contemporary Home
Bangalore Houzz: A Spanish-Style Casita With an Indian Heart
Tell us:
What did you like most about this home? Tell us in Comments below.
“The foyer is enhanced by a Ganesha mural by artist Adil Writer. Its sculptural detailing makes it the pièce de resistance of the entrance realm,” says Sheth, adding, “Radeesh’s homegrown decor ateliers, The Purple Turtles and Beruru, were instrumental in sourcing statement pieces, furniture, bric-a-brac and planters for special corners throughout the home.”