India Houzz Tour: Warm Wood & Rattan in a Pared-Down Apartment
Pleasing textures and natural materials, plus a nod to travels abroad, have given this home a relaxed, welcoming mood
The brief from the well-travelled owners of this home was simple: they wanted the design to reflect their travels to Bali and Morocco and to have a warm and pared-down ambience. Sticking to this brief, Sunita Yogesh, creative director of Sunita Yogesh Studio, designed a home punctuated with earthy textures and luxury in an understated way.
Natural wood furniture takes centre stage in the living space, with a rustic coffee table, a Pierre Jeanneret Kangaroo chair and a shabby-chic louvred window (see previous photo). Bamboo pendant lights and a concrete end table lend a whimsical touch to the décor.
A modular sofa sits against a brick accent wall. It gives the living room a streamlined look inspired by wabi-sabi, with a pared-down palette of materials and organic touches.
Love this look? Find a decorator or interior designer to help you achieve it.
Love this look? Find a decorator or interior designer to help you achieve it.
A carved wooden bench placed near the living area, offers seating and punctuates this spot with old-world charm.
Black chairs with rattan backrests and a space-saving round pedestal dining table accentuate the minimalist look.
A Moroccan-inspired alcove, with an arched window and a sideboard with woven rattan shutters, lends oodles of character to the dining room.
On the left of the dining table is the kitchen and a compact balcony.
Moroccan-style patterned tiled splashback lifts the muted sage-green tones of the cabinets and grey quartz worktop in the galley kitchen. Niches above the cabinets offer extra storage.
The designer converted the third bedroom into a home office with a clutter-free design scheme. A slate-grey vintage cupboard complements the monochrome artwork and neutral daybed.
The bespoke teak-wood bookshelf, desk and Pierre Jeannerette desk chair add a touch of warmth to the cool grey interior.
“A custom-made timber bed with a woven headboard gives an organic touch to the guest bedroom,” says Yogesh. “Traditional [bedside tables] flanked by modern round black table lamps and a vintage-looking chest of drawers for storage set up a layered vignette.”
“The jute-textured window blinds lend an earthy touch,” says Yogesh.
The main bedroom has a Moroccan retreat vibe while being minimal and functional. A niche arch frames the low-platform bed and doubles as a headboard.
Teak-framed fabric wardrobe doors and a distressed table add texture and underpin the vintage feel. Tucked away above the door is built-in storage.
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Apartment at a Glance
Who lives here: A young couple
Location: Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
Property: An apartment built in 2021
Size: Three bedrooms and two bathrooms in a total 116 square metres
Designer Sunita Yogesh of Sunita Yogesh Studio
“This home is filled with natural light and infuses traditional elements in a modern yet minimalistic set-up,” says Sunita Yogesh. “We imbued the space with the wabi-sabi concept [finding beauty in imperfection] by celebrating a subtle material palette – embracing slow living and imperfections.”
The main door opens into the living room with an open-plan layout, where concrete-finish vitrified-tile flooring sets the mood for the entire home.
Designing a living area with a narrow profile was challenging. Yogesh tackled this by using timber beams on the ceiling, giving depth to the space.