When we first saw this client’s 3BHK home, we knew we wanted to create a space that would be a unique reflection of the house owners. A home that effortlessly exudes understated luxury and is the perfect confluence of aesthetics and functionality. With these home interiors, we married traditional Chettinad style decor with a contemporary twist. Read on to know more about our design process and how we tackled some big challenges to give our client their dream home.

Start with tradition

“When we first saw the space, we envisioned a traditional Chettinad aesthetic,” says Sindhu, the lead architect on the project. The client brief however, took us halfway across the globe as they wanted something with a Moroccan touch. To weave together the two contrasting design sensibilities, we used traditional Chettinad patterns and rich wooden textures paired with subtle European colours and clean textures. 

In the foyer, we installed a stately wooden Chettinad column complete with intricate carvings, leading to a commanding living room. We went heavy on the wooden panelling through the house with dark brown fixtures in the bottom half of the room. Light creamy toned walls and furniture balanced out the rich hues of brown to make it appear capacious. 

The open floor plan between the living room and dining area was the perfect opportunity for us to showcase the modest puja room complete with traditional Chettinad doors. It also allowed for us to build a designated china cabinet next to it that doubles up as a serving station. “In our first design of the house, we split it into traditional fare on one side with a contemporary finish on the other. But when we saw how effortlessly they blended together, we decided to make the entire living area a Chettinad inspired space,” Sindhu adds.

The European Invasion

To strike an equilibrium between traditional and contemporary, we used pastel tones and metal casing in the wash area. The elegant handcrafted mirror created a moment of visual interest in the space. “We used beige marble finish in this space to lend a modern touch, and specks of grey have been used to break the monotony,” Sindhu explains. 

Move to the bedrooms, and tranquility breathes life into this space. In the master bedroom, the brief was simple – maximise storage space wherever possible. To that end, we have given the clients plenty of wardrobe space, complete with lacquered glass finish. The bed comes with hydraulics to allow for added storage under the bed – we even managed to create an in-built safe. 

In both the daughters’ rooms, we used a European pastel colour palette that is reminiscent of an enchanting summer day. In stark contrast to the living area, we reduced the use of wood in the bedroom furnishings. The cots were made of raw wooden matte finish to give them a delicate appearance, and coated with enamel to tie it into the rest of the room. One of the girls prides herself in being a connoisseur of shoes and bags, so we gave her a display wardrobe with clear glass to make it easier to pick her accessories at a glance. “The only place we have introduced wood is in the workstations as an accent piece,” Sindhu adds. 

Keeping it light

In this house, there are massive windows and an abundance of natural light so we used minimal artificial lights in the space. We gave the residents warm lighting in the house with the use of false ceilings in every room and balanced them out with spaced-out gallery lights. “We have done away with towering chandeliers in this space for a clean aesthetic,” Sindhu adds.

A home like this is just a phone call away. Schedule a consultation with our interior designers in Chennai today.