Living room of Toshakhana – A Treasure House by AKAD
Living room of Toshakhana – A Treasure House by AKAD
The existing flat had part of the living room with a lower false ceiling due to the AC ducts, creating an odd divide between the living room and the dining area, passage to the rooms, and kitchen. We used this imaginary line as an actual divide for the flooring. We wanted to create an old Indian palace archway kind of feel, so we used 4 old Chettinad carved columns to enhance and help create depth to this space. We also used a smaller tile flooring for the living room while going for a contrasting grey micro concrete for the dining and passage. This use of different flooring material enhanced the contrast in the two spaces, yet did not create a disjoint.
This 2600 sqft house is on the 7th floor. As one enters from the lift onto the 7th floor, one sees a door with an old Indian vibe yet modern aesthetics, with an old brass door knocker from Rhonda, Spain, and a wooden floral carving on the door. As soon as you enter through the main door, you look into the living room with these huge Indian columns that create a divide between the sofa seating living room with the square tiled earthy flooring from the contrasting grey concrete passage on the other side. The same flooring spills into the balcony to create a feel of a seamless living room and balcony vibe.
This passage straight ahead leads you to the kitchen, powder toilet, and dining area on one side and the master and guest bedrooms on the other side. The living room is adorned by these columns on one side, and the sofa seating is accompanied by the wooden lady statue flanked by the huge plant. She is the focal point and conversation starter. The white, easy cosy sofa is backed by this intricately carved wooden door from Rajasthan with red and green hues, narrating a story of its yesteryears. A long, naga table used as a coffee table emphasizes the linearity of the space. A gothic high console backs the 2 two old carved lounge chairs in the living room. The columns themselves are adorned on top with wooden angels. The walls have a white 2’ skirting band, and the rest of the walls and ceiling are a beige rustic texture.
Living room of Toshakhana – A Treasure House by AKAD
Living room of Toshakhana – A Treasure House by AKAD
The house is an amalgamation of a collection of different elements, pieces from different eras and different places, with its individuality almost creating a maximalist space, yet the fit in together to create a sense of balance and harmony, almost making it a minimal space with its quirk. The large 4 architectural Indian columns that help create a pathway of sorts, the wooden statue of the lady creates the focal point of conversation in the living room, and sets the whole mood for the house. The use of these Indian elements in a modern setting creates a very unique, yet earthy and calm vibe in an Indian minimalist home.
The color palette for the house was to keep it earthy. The living room flooring is split into two. The living main seating area has brown square tiles, while the rest of the passage and dining area have grey concrete flooring. The walls have a white 2’ skirting band, and the rest of the walls and ceiling are a beige rustic texture. The beige walls flow into the master bedroom floors and walls to create a seamless beige texture. the grey concrete flooring pours into the guest bedroom floor and skirting.
A conscious decision to keep the colors and materials continuing/ spilling into the other spaces to create a sort of connectivity and union of the whole house as one.
Living to Dining view of Toshakhana – A Treasure House by AKAD
Dining of Toshakhana – A Treasure House by AKAD
The dining area is very interesting. The concrete floor rises up to form the dining table, almost like coming out of the floor. All 6 dining chairs are completely different. Each chair is extremely unique with its own shape and carving from different eras and different parts of the World. The dining table is backed by this Abusson rug, which we got from Paris. Aubusson rug is a special rug, from the French town of Aubusson, especially known for its tapestry, which takes inspiration from nature. The art, together with the chairs, gives the whole dining area a European, Game of Thrones vibe.
Near the dining area, we used an old South Indian extremely heavy metal tijori/safe, which we now use as a bar. This, on its own, is a statement piece. The powder toilet has a vintage yet rustic vibe. We used an old huge, extremely heavy block of stone as our basin. It was a challenge to fit this block in its place and at the same time make it work as a basin. We matched vintage brass fittings, a mirror, and a cherub hanging light to create that vintage, earthy vibe. We custom-made this mosaic flooring for this bathroom to create a unique space. A wooden louvered window is used in this bathroom to cover the duct area.
Dining of Toshakhana – A Treasure House by AKAD
Corridor of Toshakhana – A Treasure House by AKAD
Detailed shot of wooden pillar of Toshakhana – A Treasure House by AKAD
Reading nook of Toshakhana – A Treasure House by AKAD
Bedroom 1 of Toshakhana – A Treasure House by AKAD
The beige walls from the living room seep into the master bedroom floor, walls, and flooring to create a seamless space. We knocked off a wall to create one big master bedroom. The beam that runs through the space is made to look seamless by creating a curved false ceiling, almost like a flying carpet. The idea in the master bedroom was to keep it really minimal, spacious, but the central focus was this huge vintage bed. This master bed has gorgeous carving and stained glass on its back.
The connecting walk-in closet is separated from the master bedroom by these gorgeous vintage stained glass door panes from Italy. The light coming through this stained glass creates a magical feeling inside the bedroom as well as the walk-in in depending on the time of the day. To continue the same vibe in the master bedroom, we used the same beige micro concrete feel to wrap the whole space with vintage brass fittings, keeping the highlight as the stained glass on the window. The green and yellow light that creates a shadow in the bathroom is the most magical experience for the client.
Bedroom 1 of Toshakhana – A Treasure House by AKAD
Bedroom 1 of Toshakhana – A Treasure House by AKAD
Designing the living room has been the most exciting, at the same time the most challenging. Both the client and I have been in sync on everything from the beginning. The journey of design, sourcing all the pieces, has been exciting. We have so many lovely pieces, each and every element is a statement piece. As a designer, it's easy to pick pieces that you like, but the challenge was to create the right balance and find the right space for each element so it can still have its impact. The balance to create harmony while using different bold pieces, yet maintaining each ones identity and still creating the calmness of the home and not feel like a museum, was the challenge. At the end of the day, it’s a home.
Our design sensibility has always been to create a striking balance between old and new. We have always used Indian art, craft, and kaarigars. Celebrate India-made. My projects have always had an Indian sense of aesthetics. My client's brief was to use my ability to use Indian aesthetics yet create a modern vibe. Not being too gimmicky. The focus was to get the balance right.
We have used a lot of Old furniture, accessories in our space. Everything is upcycled. From the 4 Indian columns, the naga table, the dining chairs, the antique wooden lady artefact, the Aubusson rug in the dining area, the gothic consoles, the master bed, the stone basin in the powder toilet.
the natural hues of the various design elements would stand out best against a neutral tone. Cream walls and micro-concrete floors unified the eclectic features and brought in much-needed cohesion. The miscellaneous textures and contours have aggregated into a controlled chaos that speaks volumes but does not spill indiscriminately in shrill abandon. The wooden woman in the corner still has the last word.
Bedroom 2 of Toshakhana – A Treasure House by AKAD
Toilet of Toshakhana – A Treasure House by AKAD
Common washroom of Toshakhana – A Treasure House by AKAD
