Houzz Tours
My Houzz: For This Jaipur Home, God is in the Details (Literally)
This ancestral property's renewed interiors shine with bright colours, eye-catching motifs, art and cosy outdoor lounging spots
“This home was built just post independence,” Shan Bhatnagar says of the large two-storey mansion he owns in Jaipur. Going by its structure and the history associated with it, “it’s easy to deem it a heritage property. This home, like all the forts in Rajasthan, was built with chuna instead of plaster, a material that grows stronger over the years and keeps the interiors cool. Also, no architect was hired to build this home – only a skilled contractor, who followed the guidelines of my grandmother’s father, who was a vastukar.”
It was only in 2013 that Bhatnagar decided to give the interiors a rejig, and while maintaining its vintage appeal, the home’s design was given a fresh, new flavour.
It was only in 2013 that Bhatnagar decided to give the interiors a rejig, and while maintaining its vintage appeal, the home’s design was given a fresh, new flavour.
The interior decor of the entire home is an ode to the family’s deity, Shrinathji. Various colours, motifs and paintings are inspired by the famous Shrinathji temple at Nathdwara.
The entrance reveals a black-painted tent-like structure on the ceiling, which mimics the chandova (ceiling) of the Nathdwara temple. The walls are painted red and are enhanced with traditional motifs found in the Nathdwara temple. “There is a lot of colour here – tones of blue, maroon, black, silver and even white come together to create a dramatic entrance. This space is also designed such that it raises the expectations of what’s inside,” Bhatnagar says.
The ground floor holds the grandmother’s room, a guest room, the drawing and dining rooms, the kitchen and the courtyard. The first floor includes Bhatnagar and his wife’s room, another guest room, his parents’ room, the daughter’s room, a lounge, a studio and a yoga hall.
Learn how to design an inviting entrance
The entrance reveals a black-painted tent-like structure on the ceiling, which mimics the chandova (ceiling) of the Nathdwara temple. The walls are painted red and are enhanced with traditional motifs found in the Nathdwara temple. “There is a lot of colour here – tones of blue, maroon, black, silver and even white come together to create a dramatic entrance. This space is also designed such that it raises the expectations of what’s inside,” Bhatnagar says.
The ground floor holds the grandmother’s room, a guest room, the drawing and dining rooms, the kitchen and the courtyard. The first floor includes Bhatnagar and his wife’s room, another guest room, his parents’ room, the daughter’s room, a lounge, a studio and a yoga hall.
Learn how to design an inviting entrance
The passage from the entrance that leads to the drawing and dining rooms has a blue ceiling that, surprisingly, shows Topkapi motifs (from the Topkapi palace in Istanbul). “That’s because a lot of the design at the Nathdwara temple is inspired by Mughal and Turkish architecture,” Bhatnagar says.
The light-grey walls are dotted with photographs of Bhatnagar’s grandparents’ wedding. “My grandfather was a well-known freedom fighter – in attendance at the wedding were Maharani Gayatri Devi, Maharaja Man Singh, Maharaja Bhawani Singh, Pandit Nehru and Indira Gandhi. For their wedding (in 1949), a British photographer was specially hired to take these pictures,” Bhatnagar says.
Here’s how to make the most of narrow passageways
The light-grey walls are dotted with photographs of Bhatnagar’s grandparents’ wedding. “My grandfather was a well-known freedom fighter – in attendance at the wedding were Maharani Gayatri Devi, Maharaja Man Singh, Maharaja Bhawani Singh, Pandit Nehru and Indira Gandhi. For their wedding (in 1949), a British photographer was specially hired to take these pictures,” Bhatnagar says.
Here’s how to make the most of narrow passageways
Most of the furniture in the living room is antique, save for a few pieces that were sourced from designers and stores, such as “the centre table, which is by Raseel Gujral Ansal, but it was bought at the time when she just had a small workshop and Casa Paradox wasn’t even launched,” Bhatnagar says.
The room is dotted with small and large artworks, tiny curios and accessories. “Some paintings here are of Shrinathji and others are my creations,” Bhatnagar says. The ceiling has gold foil borders and the walls are painted white in order to highlight the paintings.
Paint: Asian Paints
The room is dotted with small and large artworks, tiny curios and accessories. “Some paintings here are of Shrinathji and others are my creations,” Bhatnagar says. The ceiling has gold foil borders and the walls are painted white in order to highlight the paintings.
Paint: Asian Paints
Decorated niches, lamps and artefacts dot the living room, too, giving it a luxe, royal quotient.
The red dining room’s theme is lal – “a word associated with Krishna and a colour that can enliven any space,” Bhatnagar says. The walls are decorated with parrot motifs to inject playfulness into the ambience. The family’s old collection of pichwais are lined up on the walls and the ceiling shows mirror cutwork. “In the evening when the room is only lit by lamps, the play of light against the mirrors is quite stunning. It completely changes the mood of the space,” Bhatnagar says.
This room leads to the courtyard outside.
This room leads to the courtyard outside.
“This courtyard used to be the most neglected part of the house earlier – we had cordoned it off as a space for hanging clothes. While redecorating the house, however, I decided to give this place an identity of its own,” he says.
The benches were created using the surplus malba rubble) lying around outside the house. The centre table shows the influence of Topkapi. The Tree of Life with gopis on either side was especially painted, inspired by the pichwais of Nathdwara “This space gets a lot of natural light and, thanks to the large umbrella here, the courtyard has now become the most used area of the house. In winter it becomes an extension of our dining room,” Bhatnagar says.
Check out these courtyards that soak up the sun
The benches were created using the surplus malba rubble) lying around outside the house. The centre table shows the influence of Topkapi. The Tree of Life with gopis on either side was especially painted, inspired by the pichwais of Nathdwara “This space gets a lot of natural light and, thanks to the large umbrella here, the courtyard has now become the most used area of the house. In winter it becomes an extension of our dining room,” Bhatnagar says.
Check out these courtyards that soak up the sun
The tulsi tree was present from before and a new stand was created around it and its companion banana trees. Eye-catching water features, too, were added to give the area a cool, breezy undertone.
The guest bedroom on the ground floor follows the design theme of the house and is enriched with colours and prints. The painting above the bed is by Bhatnagar.
“The staircase leading to the first floor is enhanced with motifs seen at the Nathdwara temple,” he says.
The casual seating area is dominated by blue walls and multi-coloured seaters that create an eclectic mood. “This lounge area is a very intimate space, enhanced with photographs of our friends and family. We have a small bar here and the window seat is used by my wife for relaxing and reading. The white ceiling with the Suzani motifs is, in fact, even visible from the outside, through the large window,” Bhatnagar says. The spiral staircase leads to Bhatnagar’s studio.
See these ultimate lounges and family rooms
See these ultimate lounges and family rooms
Right outside Bhatnagar’s studio is a small terrace. “The wall is greenish-grey and I’ve painted silver trees and monkeys on it. I usually use this space to paint in the winter. It’s a relaxing spot and it offers panoramic views of our neighbourhood,” he says.
Read more:
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Tell us:
What did you like the most about this home? Tell us in Comments below.
Read more:
Pune Houzz: A Royal Palace Sits Snug in a City Bungalow
Tell us:
What did you like the most about this home? Tell us in Comments below.
Who lives here: Shan Bhatnagar, his wife, daughter, parents and grandmother
Location: Jaipur, Rajasthan
Year built: 1952; the makeover of the home began in 2013
Size: 929 square metres (10,000 square feet); 6 bedrooms; 7 bathrooms, including a powder room
Interior designer: Interior designer and painter Shan Bhatnagar
Photos by Saurabh Kaviya