Quirk Studio marries its unique trademark to a classic Isprava home by using earthy colours and natural materials.
Curated by: Deepa Nair
Photographs: Yash R Jain; courtesy Quirk Studio
The design intent
This holiday home designed by Quirk Studio for Isprava in Goa identifies with a simpler way of life; and oozes Zen-like peace for a Mumbai-based family. Reflecting the holiday vibe, the spaces within exhibit a neutral shell juxtaposed with natural materials (like such as wood, stone and cane), earthy textures and locally sourced art pieces. Interior designers, Shivani Ajmera and Disha Bhavsar (who head Quirk Studio), has injected their signature charm through an understated play of prints and textures, lending this second home a timeless appeal.
The spatial configuration
The spatial planning accommodates the living and dining areas, a kitchen, a dry powder room, and a bedroom on the ground floor. The first floor has the master bedroom, the guest room, and a serene terrace filled with houseplants. Engaging with the beauty and freshness of the outdoors, the design opens up vistas to the greens through a verandah along the pool area, large windows and panelled doors. A double-height volume lights up the residence in sunlight and natural air.
The design and material details
The expansive living room spills into the seating and dining areas and offer views of the landscape on three sides. The interior is a neutral shell featuring white walls and contrasting natural river-finished kota flooring… creating the feeling of a tropical getaway. The highlight of the home is a sunroof with a suspended chandelier which adds drama in the living area with its play of light and shadow. A pair of sofas, a lounge chair, and an ottoman come together to form a cosy sitting area, ideal for hosting a large group of people.
Balancing the muted palette is the distressed timber furniture, which adds warmth across the room. The pedestal-supported dining table channels vintage charm with its texture and the cane-backed chairs surrounding it. The dining table is set against the backdrop of a custom IPS shelving unit that displays memorabilia and locally sourced artefacts. Additionally, chequered, striped and floral prints add a playful touch through the upholstery of the sofas and dining chairs, the cushion covers, and ornate lamp shades. The artworks depicting verdant landscapes further underpin the idea of establishing an intimate connection with nature.
The kota flooring in the living room, bordered with a black tile on its edges, flows into the tread of the staircase, which has a classic printed tile for its riser. A rhythmic pattern of wooden balustrades leads one to the first floor, where the designers experiment with the limitless possibilities of decor elements like the locally sourced jute rugs which are used as art pieces on the landing wall to celebrate the Goan essence.
The master bedroom is a linear space with provisions for a home office. Aligning the aesthetic with the residence, the room is adorned with neutral walls and playful Bharat Flooring Tiles in white and mint green stripes. The space has a dreamy ambience with minimal furniture, where an in-situ IPS desk extends to become the bed, with bedside shelves. Vivid elements become art pieces, such as frames on the wall, miniature pieces hosted in a recessed arch behind the study, and an ingeniously placed ladder in green. A walk-in wardrobe is lined with storage units featuring shutters with cane sandwiched between glass. It leads to the master bath with mint green tiles on the lower half of the walls that frame a classic wooden vanity.
Both the guest bedrooms too reflect the timeless aesthetic featuring neutral walls dotted with cane and clay art pieces, respectively. The one on the ground floor features printed flooring tiles with a centrally placed bed. The furniture pieces here are in black polished wood complemented by rattan in the bed-back. Locally sourced cane baskets continue the visual language of the room. Adjacent to the bedside table, the white door opens to an element of surprise, the bath. Departing from the neutral aesthetic, the space has terrazzo flooring paired with a yellow Jaisalmer stone on the lower half of the walls, which transitions into the vanity.
The outdoor spaces, the open terrace and the poolside verandah are a respite from the confined, claustrophobic city life of Mumbai. The terrace on the first floor sees a weatherproof and minimalistic IPS intervention, partially shaded with a classic sloping shed with Mangalore roof tiles. The hero material, IPS, is used to cast an L-shaped seating peppered with printed cushions along an IPS bar equipped with cane bar chairs.
On the other hand, the semi-covered verandah is layered with chequered black and white anti-skid tiles, aiding the functionality of the star of the show — the classic blue pool. In addition, the space features seating for vivid moods and purposes, such as a lounge for morning breakfast, a traditional charpai for an evening nap and a set of pool chairs for a day under the sun.
Fact File
Project: Villa H
Client: Isprava
Location: Goa
Area: 3,715 sq ft (site) and 2,350 sq ft (built-up)
Principal designers: Shivani Ajmera and Disha Bhavsar
Design team: Neelam Patel and Parth Shah
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