Houzz Tours
India Houzz Tour: A Home With all the Intricacies of Indian Decor
Rich colours and heritage touches accentuate a fluid connection with nature in this home by Fadd Studio in Tamil Nadu
For Fadd Studio co-founders and principal designers Farah Ahmed and Dhaval Shellugar, this project was a labour of love that took six years to complete. The designer duo call it the ‘Home of dreams’. They tried to infuse the house with a confluence of native and contemporary elements, and a layout that blends architecture and interiors seamlessly.
“This home tells a story of patterns, colours, textures and materials that are all carefully curated within each room. In some places we’ve used an abundance of material while in others we’ve shown restraint. The interiors highlight intricacies of Indian decor with hints of Moroccan and Sri Lankan influences,” says Ahmed.
“This home tells a story of patterns, colours, textures and materials that are all carefully curated within each room. In some places we’ve used an abundance of material while in others we’ve shown restraint. The interiors highlight intricacies of Indian decor with hints of Moroccan and Sri Lankan influences,” says Ahmed.
Photos by Gokul Rao Kadam & Ashish Sahi. Styling by Samir Wadekar.
House at a Glance
Who lives here: This is a family holiday home
Location: Hosur, Tamil Nadu, India
Year completed: 2020
Size: Home interior of 930 square metres in a plot of 2500 square metres; 3 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms and a powder room
Interior & design firm: Fadd Studio
Architects: DKP Architects
Builders: SPA Group
Landscape Design: 3 Fold Design
A laser-cut, metal-roofed pathway casts an interplay of shadows on the deconstructed pavers. Reminiscent of the vernacular architecture, the pitched roofs with tiles provide continuity to the geometric design scheme.
Who lives here: This is a family holiday home
Location: Hosur, Tamil Nadu, India
Year completed: 2020
Size: Home interior of 930 square metres in a plot of 2500 square metres; 3 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms and a powder room
Interior & design firm: Fadd Studio
Architects: DKP Architects
Builders: SPA Group
Landscape Design: 3 Fold Design
A laser-cut, metal-roofed pathway casts an interplay of shadows on the deconstructed pavers. Reminiscent of the vernacular architecture, the pitched roofs with tiles provide continuity to the geometric design scheme.
The pavers lead to an ornamental pool in the garden.
The pool is bordered with platforms placed at different levels, tying in organically with the water and garden. The tropical plants and frangipani tree juxtapose lush greenery with the earthiness of the platforms.
The covered pathway leads to the entrance. The main door is made of solid wood with a vintage fabric-printing block as the handle. Flooring with Moroccan motifs leads the way inside.
A mirror in an intricately carved timber frame reflects the light from transom windows and doors, setting up a warm and inviting foyer.
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Do you want to create your dream home? Find a local, reviewed architect on Houzz.
The foyer leads to the semi-open living room, inspired by Kerala-style courtyards, with grey Indian patent stone (IPS) flooring. Punctuated with splashes of bright colour, this area has an eclectic vibe.
A unique feature of the home’s design is that it highlights the structural elements, such as the pillars dressed in motley hues and patterns. Each column has patina-finish paint above and distinctive hand-painted motifs below.
The water body in the central zone brings in another traditional architecture element and demarcates the living and dining areas. Covered in transparent glass, a skylight frames the length of the water body, swathing the zone with natural light.
The pitched ceiling is made of teak trusses and rafters, which are interspersed with banana fibre. A stone wall, Sri Lankan leather chairs and a natural-finish dining table add to the earthiness of this area.
The grey-and-white palette of the kitchen gets a pop of colour with turquoise-coloured window frames. The Moroccan-patterned tiles in the flooring and splashback draw visual interest.
Hand-painted columns skirt the passageway leading to the bedrooms and family room, providing a fluid interior-exterior connection.
The family area is defined by different shades of blue in the sofa, patchwork chair and ceramic accessories. A driftwood console behind the sofa underscores the home’s connection with nature.
“The breakfast table is distressed white and looks most inviting against the bare stone wall. Many of these pieces have been sourced from Anthropologie Home in the United States,” says Ahmed. “Nestled in the stone wall behind the breakfast nook is the bedroom door made of teak, with patina-painted louvre at the bottom. It features a Kasumi glass sandwiched between an MS-grille detail.”
Drenched in tones of blue, green and grey, the main bedroom feels like a tropical retreat. A four-poster bed, cane chairs, timber chandelier and sloping ceiling, underpin this colour scheme. Patterned cement tiles adorn the floor and extend halfway up the wall behind the bed.
The main bathroom has been designed to be a natural extension of the bedroom with blue tiles and timber elements.
The bedroom also has a separate wardrobe area.
“In this bedroom, solid crimson wainscoting meets the bold black, grey and red floral cement flooring. Black metal candle chandeliers instil a touch of the bygone era,” says Shellugar.
The walk-in wardrobe is a composition of browns and bright red.
Industrial sconce lights flank the clean-lined vanity. The mirror rests against a grey-and-rust wall, creating a layered vignette.
Hues of olive and ochre take centre stage in this bedroom. The flooring is heritage-style patterned Kota [stone] in shades of green, yellow and peach.
The uneven pastel olive headboard is complemented by a bed bench and side tables. A round gilded mirror and metallic table lamp provide a touch of luxury.
The neutral-hued wardrobe area features louvred doors.
Layers of hushed orange enliven the bathroom. A carved timber vanity with spindle legs adds to the traditional look.
A pergola with a slatted roof shelters a sofa and chairs. With the backdrop of foliage, it is the perfect spot to lounge outdoors.
All of the door and window frames in the house’s exterior are done in patina paint, inspired by Geoffrey Bawa’s architecture in Sri Lanka.
Your turn
Does this raw and earthy aesthetic appeal to you? Tell us your favourites in the Comments, like this story, save your favourite images, and join the conversation.
More
Want more Indian inspiration? Check out last week’s
India Houzz Tour: Warm Wood & Rattan in a Pared-Down Apartment
Your turn
Does this raw and earthy aesthetic appeal to you? Tell us your favourites in the Comments, like this story, save your favourite images, and join the conversation.
More
Want more Indian inspiration? Check out last week’s
India Houzz Tour: Warm Wood & Rattan in a Pared-Down Apartment