A couple—Nandish and Nandita Patil reached out to Vinithra Amarnathan, Principal Designer and Founder of Weespaces to design the interiors of their 3,500-square-foot villa in Bengaluru. Situated in the Basaveshnagar area, the bungalow’s interior design is a contemporary take on a traditional Victorian townhouse. The villa is Nandish’s family home where he grew up. A few years ago, his parents moved back to their ancestral home and Nandish and his immediate family settled down in this villa. It was at this stage that they sought Amarnathan to refurbish the bungalow in a way that retained its personality, but also worked functionally for their modern day lives.
The Bengaluru villa exhibits the design style of a traditional Victorian townhouse. “One of our challenges as well as design inspiration came from the need to retain the old-world charm and character of the home while marrying it with functionality, freshness and personality for the new generation of inhabitants. We wanted to build without erasing, create with sensitivity, and retain the feel of a generational home. We tried to bring in a charming Victorian townhouse vibe and married old with new to bring in a fresh feel to the home. The structure of the bungalow, with its narrow stairways, large windows and spacious terrace were very similar to that of Victorian townhouses, and we found an instant fit with the vibe and aesthetic,” mentions Amarnathan.
This large Bengaluru home’s first floor houses the living, dining and kitchen area, along with three bedrooms and ensuite bathrooms. Past the entrance, guests are greeted with a majestic white staircase that offers a glimpse of the design aesthetic of the rest of the home. “We opened up the wall at the entrance and created a large picture window to bring in much needed natural light. The staircase was entirely remodelled with wall panelling that brought in a beautiful detail. Along the wall, we added a gallery wall of vintage landscapes that sets the tone for the aesthetic of the rest of the home,” Vinithra adds.
By merging the home with functionality, freshness, and individuality for the future generation, architect Amarnathan hoped to preserve the home’s old-world charm and character. The bungalow’s design, with its wide windows, steep stairs, and terrace, was reminiscent of Victorian mansions.
4. Maximalist Design
In 2023, maximalist design will continue to be a leading design aesthetic in homes. “The comfort, warmth and The living room houses a teal velvet couch set against the window that brings in ample natural light, and is flanked by large English roll arm striped chairs on either side. An oval brass coffee table sits in the centre below a modern branch chandelier suspended from a medallion to create the perfect balance of old and new. The adjoining dining space sits in front of the puja room, which has hand carved teak doors. A Pichwai print sits on the far end and hones in on the old meets new vibe. The living and dining area lead to the kitchen in an open layout, making it an ideal space for hosting. The kitchen was entirely remodelled into a modern space with contemporary appliances. Since the kitchen was small, the designer brought in a preparation cart with wheels, which can be used as an additional work surface. Metal and glass sliding doors were added to close the kitchen when needed.
The second floor of the Bengaluru bungalow features the primary bedroom and a family room, which opens into a terrace. “The second floor was designed as a family lounge for Nandish, Nandita and their son. We redesigned the space to house an intimate family room with a TV area and a library space for their collection of books. The library opens into an adjoining terrace where we created a small pergola area for seating and highlighted it with patterned tiles and a Victorian vibe,” adds Vinithra.
The villa’s primary bedroom showcases a similar modern Victorian townhouse aesthetic as the rest of the home. It is decked in tones of blush, grey and elegant wall-to-wall walnut veneer clad wardrobes. Here, a panelled wall forms the perfect backdrop for a blush velvet upholstered wingback bed. For the guest bedroom, the designer incorporated a few family heirloom furniture pieces. “The guest bedroom includes the client’s antique rosewood bed. An heirloom armoire and a set of curved back chairs add functionality. Moving on, a space has been created that’s perfect for a 5-year-old boy. We clad the wall behind a simple teakwood bed in a world map wallpaper and carried through the rest of the space in blues, greys and whites. A built-in desk adds function and a window seat makes for a reading nook,” concludes Vinithra.
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