Coastal chic and minimalist design coalesce in this holiday home in Chennai

Let’s Create by Swati leverage the home’s littoral location and the family’s memories to celebrate the sea, sky, and sand in the design narrative.

Curated by: Rupali Sebastian
Photographs: Yash R Jain; courtesy Let’s Create by Swati

The site

This high-rise apartment is located on the 33rd floor of a premium gated community in south Chennai.

The brief

The owners desired a unique holiday home which would be an ode to the family’s memories that stem from their travels and the home’s access to stunning views of the Bay of Bengal.

The design intent

The spatial articulation was directed to reflect an ethos which would “view the coastal-chic inspiration from a lens of minimalism,” says Swati Kulkarni, founder, Let’s Create by Swati, which was tasked with embodying the vision of the home-owners. Reminiscent of beach houses along the coasts of Amalfi or Mallorca, the residence’s design intent was distilled to be bright, airy, earthy, and dotted generously with blue to echo vignettes of its context.

The visual expression

A neutral palette makes its way across the home’s volume and is interlaced with accents of colour and natural materials to create a tactile experience. Mano wood furniture, cabinetry in PU finish, linen bed-clothes, woven art pieces and brass hardware harmoniously unite aesthetics with functionality. “Clean-lined silhouettes and geometry meet a textured quality brought forth by the materiality. The colour blue makes a debut in wholesome doses, silently tying together the spaces,” says Swati, adding that the kitchen with its apron sink and brass tap and the custom-made wall shelves of the living room and the walk-in wardrobe are particular highlights.

The spatial flow

The compact foyer features wall-length cabinetry bathed in a warm grey hue, a built-in bench and open shelving systems to house miscellany. Woven rattan baskets, a leather-framed mirror, and indoor greens speak of an eclectic style, filtered by a laid-back aesthetic. The erstwhile prayer room, now transformed into a coffee nook, presents a cosy picture with its built-in bench, a white tulip-style table, and a pair of Wegner replica chairs surrounded by artisanal cane wall embellishments and a pendant light.

The living cum dining zones are suffused with sunlight. Light-toned wood spans the ceiling as rafters, their rhythmic modulation guiding the eye towards the littoral vistas. The seating ensemble — a Prussian blue sofa, a couple of taupe armchairs and a replica of a Wegner chair — is orchestrated against a backdrop of grainy wood shelves. Hints of wood imbuing the room with a sense of rooted warmth. In the dining area, a six-seater table is accompanied by dark-stained Wishbone chairs. In the background stands a woven rattan and wood credenza. Doused in cobalt blue, the U-form kitchen features white quartz (countertops) paired with tiles that mimic marble (dado).

The private zone is accessed via a hallway that functions as a transition space, and features a metal console, raftered ceiling and family photographs. The coastal theme of the narrative asserts itself strongly in the master bedroom, through two wooden pads mounted over the headboard of the bed and a miniature boat-form open shelf. In the clients’ young daughter’s room, a monochromatic theme shines a light on her chromatic preferences. Laying emphasis storage, the room is finished with a roomy walk-in closet enclosed behind translucent glass and metal profile shutters. A cosy daybed by the window allows one to be absorbed into the panoramic views of the sea, making it the quintessential spot to lounge, read, and unwind for the young inhabitant.

The study speaks of the family’s time in London while blending in with the overarching design sentiment. The client’s favourite colour, olive green, washes over the room’s cabinetry and creates a neo-classical statement with its saturated tone. Doubling up as a guest room, the comfy beige sofa occupies a spot over the patterned and colour-soaked rug, contrasting the portrait of London’s revered landmark, Big Ben.

“Though a getaway residence in its nature, The Coastal Dream Home expresses its familial warmth with honesty! We found our inspiration in the people we were designing for, reaching deep into their memories and aspirations while rejoicing in the omnipresence of the sea,” concludes Swati.