Houzz Tours
Kerala Houzz: A Mix of Vernacular & Modern, This Is a House of Memories
Designed by Babu Cherian, this bungalow is built with local materials, and has an undeniable old-world quality to it
The interiors open up to a large double-height living room. The shell is kept white so that the flooring and the light installation can take centre stage. “The living room is a long, vast space and is divided into two seating areas. For the flooring, we’ve used Italian marble and wood, and laid it in a criss-cross pattern. All the furniture pieces are modern and comfortable,” Cherian says.
“We specially created a wooden grille and hung lights on it to create an impactful design feature for the double-height space,” he adds.
Paint: Asian Paints
Paint: Asian Paints
A passageway from the living room leads to the dining room, which is constructed on a raised platform; a small courtyard is built on one side. “Most spaces in the house are enhanced with wooden ceilings work to break away from the uniformity of the white walls,” Cherian says. The eight-seater contemporary-style dining table was custom designed for the room.
The small courtyard is filled with black and white pebbles with a planter with a granite base in the middle. “The top is covered with a louvred aluminium railing that can be opened and closed at will,” says Cherian. The chains direct rainwater from the sloping roof to the pebbled floor of the courtyard, evoking memories of the traditional nalukettu homes of the owner’s childhood in Kerala, where much home life revolved round this courtyard water feature.
Take a look at these courtyards that mesmerise
The small courtyard is filled with black and white pebbles with a planter with a granite base in the middle. “The top is covered with a louvred aluminium railing that can be opened and closed at will,” says Cherian. The chains direct rainwater from the sloping roof to the pebbled floor of the courtyard, evoking memories of the traditional nalukettu homes of the owner’s childhood in Kerala, where much home life revolved round this courtyard water feature.
Take a look at these courtyards that mesmerise
The living room leads to another passage inside the house – on one side is another inner courtyard, this one with a small puja room. “This room is built like a traditional Kerala temple; we’ve used granite and wood for its construction. Brass lamps are kept inside and outside the space. The stand-out feature is the mural drawn by a local artist on the double-height wall – it took him 40 days to complete it. Through this painting, we have tried to create an ode to the dying local arts of the region,” Cherian says.
The dining room leads to a U-shaped kitchen, which, too, has abundant woodwork.
Find out if U-shape is the most efficient layout in kitchens
Find out if U-shape is the most efficient layout in kitchens
“The modern bar room is a space semi-detached from the rest of the house – it has an entryway from both inside and outside the house. This place, with windows all around, offers unending views of the home’s landscape,” says Cherian. The bar counter is made in plywood and veneer and all the furniture is sourced from retailers in Bangalore.
The master bedroom is on the ground floor. It is a large space with ample walking area, storage and an intriguing wooden installation on the ceiling that stirs memories of the solid beams that support the roofs of old Kerala houses. “This place is designed in a way that when you lie down on the bed, you can see the big sit out, the balcony and the views of the meandering lawn from here. In fact, every room in this house shows different views of the home’s landscape,” says Cherian. All furniture is sourced locally and the tone of the room is kept calm and relaxing, with just the addition of the sparkling backlit wall murals in front of the bed.
The bathroom is designed as a his and her space, with twin basins and mirrors, so both the husband and wife have their own space. “This is a clean, non-cluttered space – we’ve provided enough storage via the floating vanity,” says Cherian.
Fittings: Grohe
Fittings: Grohe
The guest bedroom on the ground floor follows the simplistic theme of the home, where the wooden flooring and furniture take centre stage, and the furnishings are kept light so as to create a calming atmosphere. A guest room is also located on the ground floor.
On the first floor are the children’s bedrooms. The son’s room is a large, airy space that is enhanced with many utility corners. “The palette is clean and the space uncluttered. All furniture here is imported,” says Cherian. To make this room a fully-equipped, functional space, a small study space and a computer table are set against two of the walls. The room also has a large wall-to-wall wardrobe (not photographed).
The daughter’s bedroom is adorned with a custom bed and a light-pink palette. “We specially designed a small, compact dresser for her next to the bed so it doesn’t look too imposing and bulky for the room,” Cherian says.
“The daughter’s bathroom is designed as a luxurious space with vitrified tiles and a designer bathtub,” he says.
Learn how to design your dream bathroom
Learn how to design your dream bathroom
This TV-cum-games room, with several lounge seats, is designed as an intermediate area between personal spaces. A special ceiling design here adds dynamism to the look of the room. “This area, like all the others, is enhanced with plenty of windows, so you can get views of the surrounding landscape,” Cherian says.
Read more:
Bangalore Houzz: This Home Celebrates Light, Brick & Floating Balconies
Tell us:
What did you like the most about this house? Tell us in Comments below.
Read more:
Bangalore Houzz: This Home Celebrates Light, Brick & Floating Balconies
Tell us:
What did you like the most about this house? Tell us in Comments below.
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Who lives here: A couple with two children
Location: Kannur, Kerala
Year built: 2015
Size: 631 square metres (6800 square feet); 5 bedrooms; 6 bathrooms
Architectural and interior designer: Babu Cherian of BCA Architecture
Photos by Mrigank Sharma Photography
The client, a Dubai resident, wanted to build a home in India that reminded him of his roots, culture and his childhood. Having grown up in a small village in Kerala, he wanted his new bungalow to reflect the same materiality and vibe as his ancestral home.
For this dream home he approached Babu Cherian of BCA Architecture. “To bring an old-world charm to the house, we used traditional architectural elements seen in Kerala homes. The house is enhanced with several courtyards and traditional paintings, and is constructed using local materials,” Cherian says.
The outdoors are designed with a lush green cover and the roof is covered with Mangalore tiles. “We kept our material palette very limited – we used cement plaster and wood throughout. In fact, as wood is found in abundance in Kerala, we used it a lot in the design of the home,” says Cherian.
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