This bungalow interior design mirrors diverse personalities while celebrating Indian culture

Artify Designs wove the narrative around empathy, functionality, and emotional connectivity while cocooning the Vadodara family in a haven of serenity and comfort.

Curated by: Rupali Sebastian
Photographs: Pixellus Photography; courtesy Artify Designs

The site

The villa is spread across a 3,000-sq-ft plot area in a housing scheme in the city of Vadodara, Gujarat.

The brief

The clients — a family of six adults and two children — desired an open-plan layout that would maximise space and foster a strong connection between indoor and outdoor areas, with a special emphasis on harnessing natural light. “The primary objectives were to create a welcoming living space that exhibited Indian as well as modern designs, and to design a remarkable main door that would serve as a statement piece,” says architect Shailee Shah, principal, Artify Designs. The design needed to reflect the family’s values and cater to the needs of each family member while providing a cohesive and functional environment.

The design intent

The underlying design intent driving this multi-generational bungalow project was founded on a profound philosophy of empathy, functionality, and emotional connectivity. The ultimate goal was to curate a living space that exuded an inviting ambience, cocooning the family in a haven of serenity and comfort. By infusing soothing shades of blues and greens, the design captured the family’s distinctive lifestyle and cherished values. Each room was thoughtfully tailor-made to the personality of the occupant, forging an unbreakable emotional bond with their living environment. 

The civil intervention

“Through a series of strategic civil alterations, the entry of the villa was artfully transformed to exude grandeur and enhance overall aesthetic appeal,” says Shailee. “The original narrow entry from the side was replaced by adding steps in the front that leads to the main door, creating an impressive focal point from the moment one approaches the house.” Similarly, the solid staircase leading to the first floor was changed to a cantilevered wooden staircase to remove the heaviness from the living room. Additionally, the window openings were expanded into full windows, strategically positioned to maximise the influx of natural light, illuminating the space and infusing it with a warm and inviting ambience.

The spatial flow

The spatial arrangement of this bungalow exemplifies a seamless integration of indoor and outdoor living, forging a delightful connection between nature and family life. The expanded sliding doors in the dining and living room open up to the vibrant garden, inviting the children to play freely. The open-plan layout fosters interaction and shared experiences among family members. Every bedroom is linked to an outdoor space, offering the family an enriching living experience that celebrates the joys of both indoors and outdoors.

The design and material details of each room

The living room welcomes you with its square layout with large openings on its two sides. The main door reveals a captivating wooden ceiling, flanking an open walkway that runs parallel to the living area.

The design, a symphony of Indian craftsmanship and modern elegance, draws its inspiration from intricate textile geometric prints. Despite the diverse personalities of the eight homeowners, a shared love for Indian designs unites them. The horizontal panel behind the sofa boasts delicate wooden patterns, elegantly repeated on the wooden ceiling and sofa upholstery, creating a harmonious leitmotif. Complementing this decorative ensemble are tasteful grey and blue furnishings, perfectly blending traditional elements with modern aesthetics.

The ground floor exudes a sense of interconnectedness with its unified pistachio hues gracing both the furniture and ceiling. Each area is separated and defined by its ceiling designs. An opulent circular Italian marble dining table takes centerstage, infusing the area with a touch of luxury. 

Moving to the kids’ room on the first floor, an evocative, contemporary and vibrant ambiance awaits. Inspired by their love for McQueen cars, a striking red coloured bed becomes the room’s attraction point, with a captivating metro city skyline as the backdrop for endless imaginative play. Subtle blue and white furniture balances the boldness of the bed, and beneath the bunk bed lies a vast storage space. A step-up wooden flooring divides the room into a study and cozy bed area.

Opposite the children’s room is bedroom 1, a space which demonstrates minimalism, comfort and luxury. The floor above accommodates bedroom 2 which is connected with a terrace that is used for family functions. Bedroom 2 exudes timeless elegance with a captivating black and gold theme. A concealed door that leads to the dressing area and the bathroom is camouflaged with the panelling behind the bed. The room has an arched ceiling that adds to its elegance and complements the arched windows which connect the outdoors to the bedroom.

The challenges

“The biggest challenge was to tie all the unique personalities of each client into one and consider all their lifestyles, preferences and needs without differentiating their priorities,” reveals the architect. “The design sessions were long as there were discussions and reiterations. Though challenging, this has been one of our favourite projects as the client trusted our designs and gave us the freedom to explore.”

Fact file

Project: The House of 8
Location: Vadodara
Area: 3,000 sq ft
Principal architects: Shailee Shah
Design team: Komal Parmar, Anil Suthar and Dharmesh Rajput