Gujarat Houzz: This 60-Sq-M Flat Proves That Less Is More

Hushed palettes and eclectic prints and patterns make this apartment by Intrinsic Designs a lesson in affordable luxury

Vaishnavi Nayel Talawadekar3 November 2019

Houzz India Contributor. Internationally published architecture, design and art journalist. www.mangomonk.com

Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: Nobody; this is a show flat
Location: Rajkot, Gujarat
Year built: 2018
Size: 60 square metres (646 square feet); 2.5 bedrooms; 2 bathrooms
Interior designers: Shivraj Patel and Shruti Malani of Intrinsic Designs

Photos by Ishita Sitwala

When Shivraj Patel and Shruti Malani, co-founders and chief architects of Intrinsic Designs, read the brief for this model apartment, they were sure of one thing – they had to find a way to achieve luxury on a budget. “As a show flat in an affordable housing enclave, we were cognizant of the limited design budgets of prospective clients. We set a tight limit on our spends and followed the ‘Less Is More’ philosophy, paring down unnecessary elements and highlighting the showstoppers. With minimalist decor, we achieved a keen sense of fluidity, structure and space,” recalls Patel.

Intrinsic Designs

The front door opens directly into the living room, which is cocooned in mellow tones. The wall opposite is bathed in pistachio and accentuated by a sapphire-toned velvet sofa that adds a generous dose of luxury to the otherwise muted periphery. The wall to the left is sheathed in classic moulding, giving the room a delicate old-world spin.

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Intrinsic Designs

“The living room was a labour of love; a space that continues to be close to our hearts. Its restrained colours and bijou size make it cosy, warm and welcoming. For the floor, we chose economical double-charged tiles, which serve to please the eyes and the wallet,” says Patel.

Paint: Asian Paints; tiles: AGL

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Intrinsic Designs

The living area is flanked on the right by a corridor that leads to each of the three bedrooms and the common bathroom.

Living room sofas: custom-made; upholstery: D’Décor; chairs: Urban Ladder; rugs: HummingHaus; cushions: The India Circus

Intrinsic Designs

The living room flows seamlessly into the kitchen, continuing its pistachio palette through the walls. The white backsplash and absence of overhead cabinets offer the impression of a larger, more luminous space.

“We chose to introduce a breakfast island within the kitchen. This allowed us to unlock precious channels of negative space in the erstwhile dining area, while also creating a soft demarcation between the kitchen and the living room,” says Malani.

Dining table: custom-made; dining chairs: custom-made

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Intrinsic Designs

Enveloped by white walls and wood panelling, and punctuated by pops of green, the master bedroom channels an eclectic forest vibe. An accent chair occupying one corner of the room lends the rustic theme a touch of modish charm, while a lush floor plant supplies a fresh, organic element.

“We decided on tropical prints and splashes of emerald for the decor to break the monotony of wood and white. The aesthetic is raw yet refined. The leaf remains a consistent motif across elements,” Malani says.

Bedsheets: Malako; upholstery: D’Décor

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Intrinsic Designs

The guest bedroom is an oasis of white and silver. The headboard, featuring a concrete-esque texture, makes a fitting juxtaposition to the alabaster-toned wall. The windows are screened with long, diaphanous curtains that serve to welcome natural light indoors.

“We injected the monochrome palette with some depth and drama by cladding the wardrobe shutters with full-pane mirrors,” says Patel.

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Intrinsic Designs

Dipped in ivory and dove grey, the kid’s bedroom is a compact space measuring 7x7 feet. It hosts a single bed, a slim study table and a chair. The wall behind the bed is outfitted in a custom wallpaper, while the remaining three walls sport an unfussy white palette. An assortment of patterned throw cushions in a monochrome palette adorn the bed, enlivening the room’s subdued surroundings.

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Read more:
Surat Houzz: This Modern Home Reveals Subtle Contrasts & Small Details
Mumbai Houzz: A Palette of White & Wood Works Wonders in This Flat

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