Step inside this ethereal, minimally designed home in Kasargod

Dematrix Architects create Blanc — a perfect marriage of the contemporary and colonial styles, and a celebration of neutral tones — at a home designed for a family of four.

Curated by: Deepa Nair
Photographs: Turtle Arts; courtesy Dematrix Architects

The brief

Clients Thajudheen and Sameeha Abdussamed met young architects Vineeth K and Fairooz Aman when they were interning at the gifted design firm, Humming Tree, in Kozhikode. The couple were so impressed by the enthusiasm and design understanding of the two architects that they invited a proposal for their home in Kasargod. The mandate for the project was detailed: as they were unhappy with the planning of the original structure, many spaces were required to rejigged. As privacy in all the areas of the house was also a key issue, the flow of spaces was a vital part of the rearrangement. For the interiors, they wanted a positive and lively space, a unique home which respected their privacy needs.

The design intent

Colonial classic was Thajudheen and Sameeha’s style of choice, but innumerable discussions on their lifestyle demands led Vineeth and Fairooz to create Blanc — a union of contemporary and colonial style architecture and design, and an open and ethereal aesthetic. Blanc is a pure work of art, it blends white or neutral tones to create a peaceful and positive atmosphere. Blanc highlights not only minimalism, but also the luxury and elegance of the space, in style.

All the areas of the house are decorated with classic contemporary furniture and works of art and murals which blends into the spaces. Partitions tackle the privacy issues of the client. What makes this house unique is the colour tones added to the spaces and the art and decor elements brought into the space to contrast it, to render a contemporary yet colonial feel. The mouldings on the walls, ceilings and other minute details were designed and custom made. Art works and murals were designed by Dematrix Architects and executed on site with the help of artist Raj.

The spatial configurations

The house has a living, dining, family room, study, kitchen, laundry room, a private living room, and five bedrooms. One enters the free-flowing living, dining and family space through a pleasant foyer which features a calligraphic art work and a mural. The living room is placed on the left and has a triple sliding glass door to ensure privacy, and contain the cool air of the air-conditioner. The 12-seater dining area is placed next to the living and linearly opens to the patio. The centrally located double-height patio opens to a double-height space with large windows, where a swing forms the highlight. One can access the first floor from the staircase placed here. A small study area nestles next to the staircase. The master and guest bedrooms flank the dining area, while a special bedroom especially built for the ladies who frequent the house is placed next to the guest bedroom. This bedroom can be easily accessed from the ladies only living room which lies beyond the patio and close to the kitchen. On the first floor, a family living and two bedrooms for the children are positioned.

The design and material details

To design the colonial-contemporary look, the architects decided on a different colour palette for each room, except for the open flowing spaces, the living, dining, patio and upper living. In the living room, white neutral sofas and the ceiling and floor lighting fixtures showcase the Blanc concept, and are offset by a coffee table in black. Two shelves on the wall display handpicked accessories and artworks which lean towards a contemporary colonial style. The dining room has a lone 12-seater table with a white Corian top; and a luxurious hand wash basin in gold, which rests on a Corian top.  As the kitchen was a busy area, a bright emerald green colour scheme was chosen to highlight it. Here, a gold-finished sink and knobs bring out the luxury and elegance in the space.

The double-height space, patio, flaunts beautiful globe lights, a bespoke swing and a 2.5 metre high indoor plant which gives it a warm and refreshing look. To emphasise the seamless open look, the flooring throughout the free-flowing spaces is done in Italian statuario marble. The living room in the first floor balances the neutral and dark tones well with minimally-designed beige sofas and single-seaters, pleated coffee tables with gold powder coating, accessories in black and white, and commissioned artworks.

All the bedrooms are designed keeping in mind the wishes and requirements of the client. Tones of grey and white of the single-seaters and furnishings brings calmness and peace to the master bedroom, while the flooring in SPC wooden finish imparts warmth. Green tones and wooden shades dominate the guest bedroom, giving it a pleasant and refreshing look.

Fact File

Project: Blanc
Clients: Thajudheen and Sameeha Abdussamed
Location: Kasargod, Kerala
Area: 4,000 sq ft
Principal architects: Vineeth K and Fairooz Aman
Lights and lighting: Aura Electric
Curtains and rugs: Adhoc Homestyle and D’Decor