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Interior

21-02-2026

Text provided by Architect

Enveloped in a harmonious fusion of traditional and contemporary design, this three-bedroom residence in Pune welcomes visitors with the warmth of unvarnished, earthy materials like brick, basalt stone, and wood. The underlying concept draws deeply from the innate honesty of these elements, crafting a home that feels grounded yet quietly modern. The material narrative is anchored in a triad of textures: the ruggedness of stone, the organic familiarity of wood, and the timeless tactility of exposed brick. Together, they establish an atmosphere where earthen warmth meets refined sophistication.

The clients, originally from Wai, a small countryside town near Mahabaleshwar came to us with a basic builder’s layout and a desire for a home that felt true to their way of living. In our early conversations, it became clear that their deepest memories were rooted in nature: playing in the soil, the scent of petrichor on bricks after the rain, and the quiet simplicity of rural life. Their brief was refreshingly straightforward; they wanted a functional home with calm, subtle vibes that reflected their own grounded personalities.

Understanding this, we proposed bringing a fragment of their roots into the apartment through an honest use of natural materials reminiscent of their native surroundings. Brick, wood, stone, and lime textures formed the palette, allowing the home to carry the warmth and familiarity of the countryside while still suiting their urban lifestyle. What followed was a design journey shaped by the colours and textures of soil, an exploration of earthy materials that ultimately allowed the clients to see their own stories and sensibilities reflected in the spaces we created.

So this home opens into a compact foyer that sets the tone for what lies ahead. A bespoke stone-topped console with rounded wooden legs introduces the first whisper of crafted detailing, while a rug-inspired artwork in deep green tones commands the viewer’s attention, marking the beginning of the home’s art journey.

Pune,Maharashtra,India

Architects	:	One Habitat Studio
Area	:	1200 sq. ft.
Year of Completion	:	2025
Website	:	https://www.instagram.com/one_habitat_studio/

Entrance Foyer of Shades of Earth by One Habitat Studio

Living room of Shades of Earth by One Habitat Studio

TV Unit & Pooja Unit of Shades of Earth by One Habitat Studio

Moving forward, linear geometries merge with subtle curves to soften the visual experience. There are various seating arrangements to host a lot of people in the heart of the house. The bespoke wooden sofa to lounge in, the katta inspired seating, where a plant sits naturally, the wooden cane chairs and the curves of the customized swing, all of this, even though has different characteristics still blends everything, creating a visual language for the house. The TV unit, with its cylindrical wooden legs and delicate grooves, aligns effortlessly with the rhythm of the brick-clad wall behind it. A basalt stone mandir becomes a quiet architectural feature, grounding the home in the clients’ cultural roots from Wai, Maharashtra. You can see a beautiful interplay of brick and stone here, complemented by warm wooden accents that define the storage elements.

Textures become an experiential feature here: the leather finished travertine behind the ‘katta’, the rugged basalt, the coarse brick, and the earthy lime-washed walls. Light filters through site-made wooden louvers, casting dynamic shadow patterns across these materials. Contemporary accents like floating rafters that stop just before the wall, sleek metal tables, layered indoor greens, further refine the aesthetic. The artworks, hand-painted by artist Anuja, who is one of the principal architects and founder of One Art Lab, echo Indian motifs through a palette inspired by soil and earth.

Dining of Shades of Earth by One Habitat Studio

Customization threads through the entire home. The dining table’s cylindrical legs mirror the language of the living furniture, and its sculpted wooden top ties the spaces together. A contemporary artwork above the dining, is also hand-painted by Anuja. It anchors the space in a blend of Indian undertones and modern expression. The kitchen, crafted entirely on site, exudes old-world charm through wooden storage finishes, spherical knobs, fluted glass shutters, and a travertine backdrop that harmonizes with the overall palette.

Kitchen of Shades of Earth by One Habitat Studio

Master Bedroom of Shades of Earth by One Habitat Studio

In the master bedroom, texture and tradition converge. Lime-finished walls flow into smooth matte surfaces, creating a layered canvas for the custom-built bed. Its hand-carved black basalt headboard, crafted by a skilled Rajasthani karigar using traditional ‘tacha’ techniques stands as a sculptural statement. A console fashioned from reclaimed wood retains its raw, organic edge, resting on minimal cylindrical supports. Above the console, a bold mustard geometric artwork injects a contemporary Indian vibrance. The sliding wardrobe, clad in custom wallpaper, becomes a visual centerpiece, while additional storage features state-of-the-art shutters with fabric sandwiched between glass and finished in brass.

Master Bedroom of Shades of Earth by One Habitat Studio

Kids Bedroom of Shades of Earth by One Habitat Studio

Contrasting the warm tone of the rest of the home, the kids’ bedroom embraces a fresh, youthful palette of greys and whites with playful brick-red accents. A custom platform bed, soft bespoke headboards, an ombre wardrobe, and dual study zones create a space that is functional yet expressive, designed to grow along with the children.

This home is, at its core, a dialogue between past and present, between childhood memories of the countryside and the contemporary rhythm of city life. Through its earthy materiality and crafted details, it pays homage to the clients’ roots, while its modern sensibilities speak to the lifestyle of today. It embodies a seamless blend of nostalgia and urban refinement, where natural elements and contemporary aesthetics coexist in thoughtful harmony.

Kids Bedroom of Shades of Earth by One Habitat Studio

Guest Bedroom of Shades of Earth by One Habitat Studio

The parents’ room, designed to maximize space, features lighter ash-wood tones and olive accents that lend visual airiness. Artworks inspired by Indian weaving are hand-woven using wool threads on canvas, bringing intricate craftsmanship to the compact space. This piece was also crafted in-house by one of the studio’s team members.