Studio Ilanos by Sonali Gupta

Resting calmly in the heart of hustling Delhi University is a design atelier named “Ilanos”.  Ilanos, is not just a reflection of its founder’s first name, but also her design ideologies and principles. Ar. Sonali Gupta, a CEPT graduate founded studio ilanos with the aim to put Indian handcraft on the world map through timeless yet contemporary designs. 

Sonali’s devotion towards creating designs which stand the tests of time and not be mere passing trends has drawn her on the path of mid-century modern design movement. Hence, clean lines, muted tones, a combination of natural and manmade materials, along with graphic sculptural shapes is what makes up the office space of studio ilanos.

With a belief that, functionality and comfort are the true definition of luxury, the humble 240sqft of floor plate is carefully planned in such a way that it maximises its utility and efficiency. The open floor planning with fixed furniture tucked on the left side of the narrow plot enables a free circulation passage on the right one. The furniture planning is done in such a manner that the centre discussion table divides various functions effortlessly without creating any visual barrier in the field of view. 

The space was envisioned with a colour palette of sheer contrast of black and white, which was further brewed with monotones of soothing browns. The double waxed lightly textured white walls along with warm natural wooden flooring, sets the comforting homely tone for this artist abode. This neutral backdrop of muted tones is then layered with contrasting textures of native natural materials against the artificial ones. 

The bamboo wicker console along with hand carved solid wood coffee table is rightly balanced with mild steel and fluted glass façade. The French door and window in fluted glass not only allows privacy but fills the studio space with bright natural light, setting the right ambiance for creative thinking. 

It is no secret that lighting design of a space can shape its character and affect its utility drastically. In order to cater to diverse frames of a creative mind, a custom light was designed. Perfect for every mood, “ila : the lamp post” is designed keeping in mind the versatility of a light and how it has the potential to manifest and manipulate the character of a space. “Ila” offers the flexibility to cater to your various moods be it highlighting an artwork, a furniture piece, a wall texture, or all three simultaneously. The Sleek lamp post runs from ceiling to floor while becoming an integral part of the side table attached to sofa set. Hence, bridging the gap between lighting and furniture design.

Sonali aims at reviving traditional craft techniques through contemporary design language and making it relevant in today’s scenario with a dash of modern! Handcraft is what defines the term bespoke. It has always been the most efficient way of expressing exclusivity in the most candid manner. The perfect imperfections of human touch which add to the uniqueness, that’s hard to achieve in a machine made mass produced product. The power of right technique practiced till perfection is what lands a quintessential masterpiece of art. 

With this notion, the studio space is filled with custom designed handcrafted furniture pieces made in collaboration with local artisans on site. One such examples of this is “Trottola, The high table”, which not only divides the floor plate in two functional halves but also stands tall as the statement piece of art right in the middle of the studio space. As an ode to traditional craft of wood turning, “Trottola” is sculpted out of a log of solid wood over the leathe machine into three perfect spheres resting one above the other. Scaling up the design of a conventional “lattoo” / spinning top into the structural leg for the high table gave birth to this bold dramatic and sculptural piece of highlight in the space.

Lastly the entire space is tied up using a less ornamental and simplified version of the classic cornice along with the signature Chandigarh chair. The studio is then furnished with couple of stainless steel floor and tables from Ikea along with a splash of green.