Inside an India modern home in Ahmedabad

Nikaya Design Studio blends wood and cane with contemporary finishes and colours to craft bespoke elements in this Ahmedabad residence.

Curated by: Deepa Nair
Photographs: The Space Tracing Company; courtesy Nikaya Design Studio

The brief

This 1,100-square-foot apartment was designed by Nikaya Design Studio to address the client’s transition from a traditional lifestyle to a contemporary one — they were moving from their 25-year-old ancestral home to an apartment set-up. So elements like additional seating in the master bedroom, an open kitchen with a breakfast nook, a work from home table, etc, were a couple of must haves for the family.

The design intent

Nikaya Design Studio incorporated both Indian and contemporary elements in the apartment to give it an India modern feel.

The civil intervention

The apartment did not undergo major civil changes. However, the pooja room is now utilised as the storage area. This also facilitated the entry wall to be levelled to create a beautiful concrete textured wall.

The design and material details

At the entryway, a custom-designed storage units integrating a seat has been designed. These modern cabinets crafted in white, and the semi-circular mirror creates an inviting foyer space. In the living room a beautiful amalgamation of the modern with the traditional can be witnessed, which is further enhanced by the abundant natural light which floods this space. The feature wall is close to the entrance and has a curved edge which meets the ceiling, becoming a focal point.

Separating the living and dining space is a bespoke creation, a display cum partition which also integrates a television unit in it. The dining area is partially shielded from the living area for privacy, and is further demarcated by a textured wall and a wooden ceiling that complements the material and colour palette seen through the apartment. The open kitchen features modern, minimalist cabinetry in a variety of finishes, robust granite countertops, and a breakfast counter. A custom-made free-standing crockery unit ties the dining to the kitchen.

The pastel green feature wall is the highlight of the master bedroom. The full-height wood-finish wardrobes add warmth and, along with the mirror, create the illusion of space. The circular bedside table, the carefully chosen lamps, and the sofa chair by the full height window add to the cosy feel.

The second bedroom is designed with a more youthful colour scheme to please its occupant. The matching wall panelling and wardrobe door add a dynamic touch to the space, along with the bespoke headboard in shades of blue. The study table and accompanying shelving units were designed for work from home scenarios.