This 2BHK apartment in Delhi exudes calm minimalism with a dash of earthy elements

KOLAB and Studio Redefine mesh Scandinavian functionality and Japanese rustic minimalism in a home that creates a perfect blend of form and focus.

Curated by: Rupali Sebastian
Photographs: Hanish Bhateja; courtesy KOLAB and Studio Redefine

The site

The flat was on the fifth level of a large, cramped residential complex with many buildings pressed close together. It was a 3BHK apartment which eventually was converted to a 2BHK apartment under the creative supervision of KOLAB and Studio Redefine.

The brief

The clients were a young couple in their mid-thirties who were renovating their first home. They envisioned the residence as an extension of who they were.

The design intent

The initial vision for the project was to create a space that is clean and uncomplicated and that transforms as per the client’s need. With both the clients working from home and COVID at its peak, they would be spending the majority of their time at home. So it was important that the spaces were designed to be as comfortable and intimate as possible. “We have tried to communicate a culture of slow living spaces in the apartment,” say Sudhanshu Kumaria and Rishab Gandhi who helmed the project.

The civil intervention

“As the existing 3BHK was being converted to a 2BHK, we removed all the unnecessary elements from the apartment. The servants’ quarters were converted into a vast living/TV room that extended into the dining area and open kitchen,” reveal the designers. “Another bedroom was merged into the master bedroom and made into a walk-in wardrobe, which leads into the master bathroom.” All spaces were connected in such a way that they became extensions of the existing rooms. The design team ensured that there was ample natural light and ventilation throughout the house. “Being an old construction, we had to be very careful in terms of which wall to break and which not to,” they add. “The whole idea was to blend the interiors with the spaces themselves so that it acts as an extension of the residents living in them.”

The material palette

Materials were chosen in a way that they appear as natural as possible. Several existing pieces of furniture were refurbished while preserving their rawness. The art and light fixtures were only used where necessary. The colour palette was intentionally kept neutral to exude calmness. “We have used tile flooring with a matte textured concrete finish,” state Sudhanshu and Rishab. “The fixed furniture has a laminate finish with wooden textures to complement the existing solid wood furniture. Leather chairs with stainless steel legs were used to exude rawness. Even the fabrics chosen were made of natural fibres such as cotton and linen.”