A bare-shell apartment comes alive with cosiness and comfort

RN Deesign script a clean modern design with infills of colour and pattern.

Curated by: Rupali Sebastian
Photographs: Rohan Patel; courtesy RN Deesign

The site

The site was a 780-sq-ft, two-bed apartment in a residential complex located at Kalyan. The bare shell came with ready flooring and washrooms. The RN Deesign team, which was given the task of making a beautiful home out of these four walls, retained the flooring and worked around the existing plan.

The brief

“While the clients had no preconceived ideas about their home, they wanted a modern and fresh look. They wanted a space that felt refreshing, lively yet calm; a space that spoke art,” say Rohit and Puja Gupta of RN Deesign, stating further that the idea behind the design was to plan things to be clutter-free and add life to walls.

The design intent

The team sought to establish a clean, modern design sensibility. Specifically, in the case of the living room, the idea was to have a bright space which celebrated colour, and had good light and ventilation. Overall, the rooms had to be cosy and calming. From bold colours to different shapes, patterns and textures, this distinctive apartment pulls off a striking balance that matches the client’s taste and budget.

The material and colour directions

Materials and colours were used smartly to lend each room its own identity. The highlight of the house is the use of bold colours with a subtle play in them. “We replicated the colour play throughout the space in different forms, patterns, textures and materials,” explain the designers. Birch ply, metal, fluted glass, laminate and tiles form the main materials. The use of elements such as natural wood, printed fabrics, plants, and an outdoor metal contribute towards a calm and cosy feeling.

The dining area features black-patterned chairs and a fluted-glass partition adding a chic element. The living and dining areas share the same colour scheme for a unified look.

Green is the colour of choice for the master bedroom, selected for its association with harmony and renewal giving your space a fresh and relaxing feel.

For the two kids at home, their room was designed to be a place where they could share their worlds, bond and grow together in a healthy and happy environment. From the striped curtains to the printed wallpaper with neon light, the ceiling and headboard, everything feels both youthful and timeless.

The challenges

The challenge was to add character to every room and wall as per the client’s brief and visual cues. “We had to experiment by adding textures, colours, shapes in different forms in different rooms,” says the Guptas. “For example, in the master bedroom, we have wallpapered the walls and used a painted MDF panel with printed fabric as a headboard. Playing around with many colours, yet making the composition look subtle and contemporary was quite a task.”