An Ahmedabad home that draws inspirations from culture and tradition

Helmed by designer Jaimini Mahida, Ilika Interior Design Studio melds the spirit of old Ahmedabad with modern living.

Curated by: Rupali Sebastian
Photographs: MK Gandhi Studio; courtesy Ilika Design Studio

The site

The site is located near ISRO in Nandi hills, Ahmedabad, away from the hustle of the city and close to peace and nature. The building was built with the concept of no outdoor amenities so the owners could peacefully enjoy living in their space. The site is blessed with abundant sunlight during the morning and has a beautiful balcony facing the outdoors.

The brief

“During the interaction with the client,” recalls Jaimini Mahida, principal designer of Ilika Interior Design Studio. “He only said, ‘I don’t look for ordinary, I look for the personal touch.’” For his family of four, he asked for a home that would showcase their story, values and love for art, as well as their passion for travel and books.

The design intent

The aspiration the client had from his home directed Jaimini towards an eclectic style that would embrace diverse cultures. For instance, the living room, which is modulated into formal and informal sections, is divided with a swing which can be used from both sides. “Additionally, the house would speak of colour as well as art furniture collected from around the world,” says the designer.

A walkthrough

The entry foyer features textile frames above a blue cabinet, teamed with a huge louvred partition – which acts as a storage, showpiece and a divider unit between the entry passage and the dining. The former is designed to reflect the calmness of the home. Informed by Vaastu, a mirror is placed in the north to bring good luck as well as create an illusion of space. A Buddha statue, set against a backdrop of a green tie-and-dye wallpaper creates a peaceful composition.

Dressed in hues of blue, grey and white, the living room has two distinct areas: one for entertaining and other for the family, softly divided by a swing featuring different shades of veneer, a cane backrest and a bespoke brass chain. The formal seating area has a white theme, with a beautiful white couch and ottoman, along with furniture that has a faded white finish. The brass finished centre table with a white pearl top finishes the part that is closer to the traditional theme of the rest of the house.

The other part behind the swing, marked in blue and grey, has a more modern outlook. This space is breezier and brighter with a white modern yet utilitarian centre table. The wooden backdrop along with the brass art piece that ties the whole room together despite the traditional and modern dichotomy.

The blue continues to the dining nook, as a dark to light sea-blue wall bedecked with Jharokha frames, which forms the backdrop of the dining ensemble.

The master bedroom, the designer’s favourite, communicates the couple’s love for art, as well as for the breezy, beautiful vistas of Santorini. The blue four-poster bed and the white and blue side tables, set against a back-wall clad with earthy FlexStone, refers to that paradise littoral. The blue desk with a cane finish vertical storage unit brings about the perfect addition to the room with brass décor and a bookshelf.

The private area of the client’s mother is the most traditional and serene room of the home. Her room mirrors her simple, modest, and devout personality, embodied through a largely neutral palette teamed with a green floral wallpaper. The intricately-designed furniture is customised by a local artist from Jodhpur.

The daughter’s room features a light blue theme with bespoke floral wall murals by Musauvari behind the reading nook and a raised bed with a bookshelf on the opposite end. The backdrop of the bed is made by FlexStone to match the blue of the room. The desk is white to match the rest of the home with a beautiful abstract painting above it.

The guest room doubles as a hobbies’ room for the family: it is a reading space, in addition to being a yoga and exercise room. The multifunctional space has a custom-made sofa cum bed and wall art inspired by the book The Forest of Enchantment.

The other end of the room has a white book cabinet and storage unit. The room extends to a balcony, where a canopy-style sitting space along with the greens make up for a beautiful outdoor experience.

The learning

Bringing all elements together under one roof and creating spaces for each individual to match their needs and requirements was most challenging, says the designer. “With each new client and new project we learn something new,” she says. “In this project, the client taught us that it’s not just the interior space which makes a home, it’s also the people and the things that they’re most connected to that matter,” smiles Jaimini.