Houzz Tours
Vadodara Houzz: Rusticity, Water & Sun Dictate This Home's Design
Brick walls, concrete ceilings, custom furniture and a water feature make an unconventional modern home by The Crossboundaries
The clients, along with their infant and dog, had returned from the US and wanted a “house that breathes”, one that effortlessly exuded comfort and beauty. To achieve this, they approached Harsh Boghani of The Crossboundaries to design a space that was seamless, spacious and followed a New York loft concept and open plan.
“We decided to create a home where raw materials reveal their true character. A home where the design is humane and, through a sustainable approach, reveals the true essence of a contemporary dwelling, which is comfortable and raw,” Boghani says.
“We decided to create a home where raw materials reveal their true character. A home where the design is humane and, through a sustainable approach, reveals the true essence of a contemporary dwelling, which is comfortable and raw,” Boghani says.
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: A couple with their child and a dog
Location: Vadodara, Gujarat
Year built: 2017
Size: 300 square metres (3230 square feet) ; 3 bedrooms; 3 bathrooms
Architectural and interior designers: Harsh Boghani of The Crossboundaries
Photos by Photographix India (Ira and Sebastian)
The home opens up to a short passageway that leads to a large living room. The stone-crete-plaster ceiling, the brick walls enveloping the area and the wooden furniture make up the central rustic design features of the room. “A freestanding unit that is designed with metal and wood (seen on the left, next to the white entrance door, in the topmost picture) acts as a light partition as well as a display shelf,” Boghani says.
Who lives here: A couple with their child and a dog
Location: Vadodara, Gujarat
Year built: 2017
Size: 300 square metres (3230 square feet) ; 3 bedrooms; 3 bathrooms
Architectural and interior designers: Harsh Boghani of The Crossboundaries
Photos by Photographix India (Ira and Sebastian)
The home opens up to a short passageway that leads to a large living room. The stone-crete-plaster ceiling, the brick walls enveloping the area and the wooden furniture make up the central rustic design features of the room. “A freestanding unit that is designed with metal and wood (seen on the left, next to the white entrance door, in the topmost picture) acts as a light partition as well as a display shelf,” Boghani says.
The seating is oriented towards a TV unit – the metal and wood shelf almost merges into the brick walls, thereby stopping it from looking bulky. The brick wall is a seamless whole – even the door to the powder room is camouflaged with a brick print. “The tan leather sofa – a very outdoorsy and modern country-style piece – was custom designed. The pale-green lounge chair and stool add a vibrant touch to the area and the large-checkered rug sprinkles colour on the concrete floor,” says Boghani.
“The furniture pieces were sourced from IKEA, Sweden, and also from a couple of Indian small-scale industries in Jodhpur and Jaipur. The colours were deliberately kept vibrant yet had to blend in with the material palette of the house. The client, having stayed in the States and I, having returned from Barcelona after my masters, were both able to understand each other’s design likes and preferences. This home also has a lot of custom-made furniture designed and executed on site, using fabrication techniques and raw wood,” says Boghani. The wooden folding doors (picture at left) open to the dining room.
Furniture: Ikea; floor tiles: Bharat Flooring & Tiles
Take a look at these TV and media units
“The furniture pieces were sourced from IKEA, Sweden, and also from a couple of Indian small-scale industries in Jodhpur and Jaipur. The colours were deliberately kept vibrant yet had to blend in with the material palette of the house. The client, having stayed in the States and I, having returned from Barcelona after my masters, were both able to understand each other’s design likes and preferences. This home also has a lot of custom-made furniture designed and executed on site, using fabrication techniques and raw wood,” says Boghani. The wooden folding doors (picture at left) open to the dining room.
Furniture: Ikea; floor tiles: Bharat Flooring & Tiles
Take a look at these TV and media units
The open kitchen-cum-dining area continues the raw materiality of the living room with the brick walls and stone crete ceiling. Pops of colour are induced via the chairs. “The coupling of kitchen and dining is a minimal and smart addition that speaks of the highly nuanced approach to space-division. The kitchen is enhanced with white cabinets, a wooden countertop and smart appliances that surround the exposed red brickwork, while a contrasting white island counter is positioned in front. The open kitchen is the focal point of the space; it unfolds opposite the dining area and the outdoor lounge and bar area. The dining space consists of an elegant wooden table, with contemporary white metal hanging lights over it,” Boghani says.
Dining chairs: Ikea
Dining chairs: Ikea
Opposite the dining area is a lounge and bar that overlooks the city. “The lounge has low seating with an adjacent bar unit suspended from the ceiling. The bar is designed in a way that during the day it can be used as an outdoor breakfast area with a view,” says Boghani.
The swimming pool was specifically designed with the pet in mind, and a ledge was planned “considering the proportions of the dog such that he can sunbathe here. A sculpture is strategically positioned to merge the aqua blue of the water and the cobalt blue of the sky; it serves as a transition element from the pool to the sky. The gradations of the blue naturally transcend the viewer’s vista from the pool to the sculpture to the sky, forming a complete frame,” says Boghani.
According to Boghani, the addition of the open pool was done to add drama and dynamism to the interiors. “When the sun rises behind the pool with the blue sculpture in the background, the view is picturesque. The changing daylight and skyline view from the house affects the tones and textures of the natural earthen materials used in the house. The bricks change their shades, the grey concrete on the floor shows the hairline cracks with full daylight in the background, and during dusk, the yellow lights add warmth to the overall space. There is a lot of play of material and colour in the house,” he says.
According to Boghani, the addition of the open pool was done to add drama and dynamism to the interiors. “When the sun rises behind the pool with the blue sculpture in the background, the view is picturesque. The changing daylight and skyline view from the house affects the tones and textures of the natural earthen materials used in the house. The bricks change their shades, the grey concrete on the floor shows the hairline cracks with full daylight in the background, and during dusk, the yellow lights add warmth to the overall space. There is a lot of play of material and colour in the house,” he says.
The master bedroom is furnished with large windows, soft hues and a wooden king-size bed with a leather headboard, “which, in turn, is backed by louvred wooden wall panels and mirrors that engulf an entire wall,” says Boghani.
Here’s how to lay out a serene master bedroom
Here’s how to lay out a serene master bedroom
The master bathroom houses wardrobes, a sizeable bathtub and “an elegant counter which is cast in concrete, with a his-and-her basin attached on the top,” Boghani says.
The guest room opens to views of the city and the pool. “The wall colour goes well with the minimal bed design and a wooden patti acts as a headboard. The windowsill doubles as side tables, giving a finished look to the space,” Boghani says.
These are the must-haves for a guest room
These are the must-haves for a guest room
The attached bathroom is finished in basic monochromatic shades of concrete. The spotlights add shimmer to the space.
“What makes this home special is how its design is approached. We did not add art pieces or wall colours (except the base white); we, in fact, exposed the pipes and the brickwork. By using a restrained colour and material palette, we were able to achieve a dwelling which can be called a ‘home’,” Boghani says.
Read more:
Mumbai Houzz: A Cheerful Home for One
Tell us:
What did you like most about this home? Tell us in Comments below.
Read more:
Mumbai Houzz: A Cheerful Home for One
Tell us:
What did you like most about this home? Tell us in Comments below.