Houzz Tour: Two Apartments Merge Into One Eclectic Home
A brick wall and a vibrant design scheme unify spaces in this sprawling Vadodara apartment
Gujarat-based couple Neha and Niraj wanted a home that was a bespoke extension of their personality – young, vibrant and eclectic. Thus, architect duo Tejas and Mona Patel of Vadodara-based Studiovistara stepped in to execute this brief with a host of colours that complemented the subtle polished tones of brick and wood, exuding a sense of warmth and intimacy.
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: A couple with their two children
Location: Vadodara, Gujarat
Size: 4500 square feet with four bedrooms; four bathrooms
Year built: 2015-16
Architects: Tejas Patel and Mona Patel of Studiovistara
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: A couple with their two children
Location: Vadodara, Gujarat
Size: 4500 square feet with four bedrooms; four bathrooms
Year built: 2015-16
Architects: Tejas Patel and Mona Patel of Studiovistara
Some structural changes were made to reconfigure spatial arrangements. “The heights, columns and even the structure to some extent were reworked to meet our goals,” explains Tejas Patel. “For instance, the opening sills were brought down to floor level so as to bring in more floor light and to have the entire terrazzo floor awash with light.”
A patterned terrazzo floor was brought in to break the monotony of ‘the perpendicular’ created due to a grid formed by rigid walls and ceilings. “A brick perimeter wall along with the free and non-aligned placement of furniture further break up the grid, as well as hold the house together,” says Mona. “In addition, this pattern negated the residual edge issue along the walls that one usually faces when using a perpendicular grid.”
A patterned terrazzo floor was brought in to break the monotony of ‘the perpendicular’ created due to a grid formed by rigid walls and ceilings. “A brick perimeter wall along with the free and non-aligned placement of furniture further break up the grid, as well as hold the house together,” says Mona. “In addition, this pattern negated the residual edge issue along the walls that one usually faces when using a perpendicular grid.”
Furniture and accessories were bought or custom-made and are a mix of traditional and contemporary pieces. The artworks that adorn the walls in the living room are from the homeowners’ private collection.
Coffee table from Magnolia; chair by Red Blue & Yellow and lights by Hybec.
Coffee table from Magnolia; chair by Red Blue & Yellow and lights by Hybec.
“The main intent was to create a seamless continuous space so that it could take on any internal arrangement, as well as complement any design style,” says Tejas.
On this lower level, the open plan area and the island kitchen create an unhindered view of the living room leading to the outdoor seating space. This forms a single area on one side, while the guest bedroom, son and daughter’s rooms and the master bedroom form a semi-circle on the other side.
On this lower level, the open plan area and the island kitchen create an unhindered view of the living room leading to the outdoor seating space. This forms a single area on one side, while the guest bedroom, son and daughter’s rooms and the master bedroom form a semi-circle on the other side.
As the family socialises often, they preferred an open kitchen – a kitchen island has been constructed to enable easy interaction with family and guests.
The architects have mixed natural and recycled materials in an array of colours, giving the space a gentle, earthy feel. The highlight of the house is the brick wall that is used continually throughout multiple spaces. In this guest bedroom, these semi burnt bricks are paired with white ash wood, teak wood, stone and a soft-coloured, patterned terrazzo floor. “It was imperative that the materials we chose went with the colour palette and finish of the house, yet they still had to hold their own character,” says Tejas.
In the son’s room, the homeowners wanted a bunk bed that could accommodate sleepovers. The white-painted wooden bed frame has a distressed finish and the aqua blue walls complement the terrazzo floors. Though the focal colours remain red of the brick and turquoise, other vibrant accents are also introduced through materials and fabrics to bring a rich feel to the space.
For the daughter’s bedroom, different types of polish and finishes have been used to maintain the earthy look. Some of the custom-made furniture pieces are given a distress finish as well. “All the internal doors and wardrobes are given neutral finishes to complement the antiquated furniture and neutral floors,” says Mona.
A small alcove is created in the corner of the room and styled with cushions, cage lights and a guitar.
A small alcove is created in the corner of the room and styled with cushions, cage lights and a guitar.
“We opted for pastel colours for the linen in the master bedroom to accentuate the brick wall,” explains Tejas. “The colours and patterns of the fabrics, the wooden chest at the end of the bed and the carved side tables were specifically chosen to cohesively create the ‘eclectic look’ in this space.”
The architects had to deal with an array of structural beams throughout the house. Mona says, “However, we effectively incorporated them into the design by creating a continuous false beam grid ceiling. This was done to cut down on the amount of light coming in through the large openings and filter it down into softer light.”
The architects had to deal with an array of structural beams throughout the house. Mona says, “However, we effectively incorporated them into the design by creating a continuous false beam grid ceiling. This was done to cut down on the amount of light coming in through the large openings and filter it down into softer light.”
The master bathroom is segregated into the wet and the dry areas by a vanity wall. The brown from the wood, the frosted glass shutters and the grey of the slate tiles complement the flooring as well as the views of the green ferns outside. “To prevent any moisture from getting in, we have treated the wood with care,” says Tejas. “Rubio Monocoat polish has been used for this purpose.”
The terrazzo floor is custom-laid while other stones have been locally sourced. The colours chosen for the terrazzo floor are grey, white, blue and burnt orange, which in turn influenced the colour choices for the fabrics and materials used throughout the house.
“To create a memorable visual as one ascends the stairs, we suspended a pendant drop light fixture from the ceiling,” says Tejas. This staircase leads to the second level which houses the entertainment room and a second outdoor terrace with a natural semi-carpet lawn.
Pendent drop light fixture from Red Blue & Yellow
Pendent drop light fixture from Red Blue & Yellow
The entertainment room, on the second level, is equipped with a state-of-the-art private theatre. The brick perimeter wall continues up to this room. The sectionals and the red fabric-encased centre table complement the brick red and wooden tones of the room.
The terrace is decked up with a natural grass lawn. At the far end, the architects have created a screen from vertical planters to offer privacy from the adjacent commercial buildings. “We love recomposed boards, especially shera boards and decided to use them as planters on a fabricated skeleton. The idea was to build a screen that was not completely covered up. Since the homeowners love plants, it can also be used to grow seasonal flowers,” says Mona.
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Tell us:
What do you think of this eclectic home? Please share your thoughts in Comments below.
Read more:
Houzz Tour: The Villa Life in a Mumbai Apartment
Houzz Tour: This Art Deco Mumbai Home Gets a Sublime Makeover
Tell us:
What do you think of this eclectic home? Please share your thoughts in Comments below.
The architects got involved from the construction phase of the building so as to combine two independent 2 BHK (bedroom, hall, kitchen) units and convert them into a single 4 BHK penthouse that was split across two levels. The work took place in two phases. Phase 1 lasted for five months and included civil work, such as installing RCC slabs, columns, masonry work, flooring, fitting windows and washroom redesign. Phase 2 (duration of four months) comprised bringing in the furniture, accessories, installing secondary fittings and giving final touches.