Homes

A gallery of statement furniture and sensuous shades, this Kerala home by Humming Tree iterates a chic palette

JUL 25, 2022 | By Pratishtha Rana
Photography courtesy Justin Sebastian
Photography courtesy Justin Sebastian
Photography courtesy Justin Sebastian
Photography courtesy Justin Sebastian
Photography courtesy Justin Sebastian
Photography courtesy Justin Sebastian
Photography courtesy Justin Sebastian
Photography courtesy Justin Sebastian
Photography courtesy Justin Sebastian
Photography courtesy Justin Sebastian
Photography courtesy Justin Sebastian
Photography courtesy Justin Sebastian

Grand and expansive but equally cocooning in its demeanour (and function), a home must serve more than one purpose for its dwellers as well as visitors, for it to be entitled as an ideal quarter of repose and rewinding. 

With a similar quest in front of them, Humming Tree’s leading creators Mohammed Afnan and Arun Shekar set out to design a 4-BHK home in Kerala for Mr and Mrs Ashraf that shaped up and into a discovery of design in a redefined way!

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Photography courtesy Justin Sebastian

 

Photography courtesy Justin Sebastian

The sweet brief

They’d remarked decidedly, “We always imagined living in a striking home with fanciful details and pop of colours with sensuous furniture that can be conversation starters, in turn contrasting to Kerala’s context.”

Thus began the engaging journey of creating a 12,000 sq ft abode, where furniture, colours and materials only transpired as an extension of the owners.

Photography courtesy Justin Sebastian

 

Kelly Wearstler blanc pop bowl; Photography courtesy Justin Sebastian

 

Photography courtesy Justin Sebastian

Tour the home

While a strong, thoughtful design language binds every space together, the beautifully assorted sculptural furniture, decor and interiors pronounce a seemingly distinct mood for each corner here.

Hence, to narrate a story that stands out in your sight and memory long after you’ve engaged with it, the duo made an astute use of a variety of flooring in every room.

Photography courtesy Justin Sebastian

 

Photography courtesy Justin Sebastian

 

Photography courtesy Justin Sebastian

The living room flourishing in grandeur wraps itself in marble flooring, while the dark bedroom rests in the company of wooden flooring. Furnishing from Pottery Barn and Ralph Lauren along with locally sourced objet d’art complete the space’s aesthetic scope.

Strolling out of the grand living zone, the dining presents itself as the perfect territory of high design with deep blue and metallic tones enamouring the passerby.

Curated as private, snug corner yet being open to everyone is the library with curvaceous, sculpted furniture pieces that sit with poise adding function and flamboyance to the room at the same time.

Photography courtesy Justin Sebastian

 

Photography courtesy Justin Sebastian

 

Photography courtesy Justin Sebastian

What the designers fell in love with here…

The freedom handed over by the homeowners to Afnan and Arun to experiment and create this Kerala home was imperative. They muse, “Niṟaṅṅal in Malayalam means nothing but colours, the clients wanted their home to be positive, joyful, spirited.” And so, they did not stick to norms and went ahead to mix and match and establish a new vocabulary in space making.

Humming Tree Co-founders Mohammed Afnan and Arun Shekar; Photography courtesy Justin Sebastian

 

The Marrakesh by Kohler; Photography courtesy Justin Sebastian

 

Photography courtesy Justin Sebastian

They add, “Our clients love to spend time at the upper living with the Roly Poly, Saint Gerain bench, the Kerala local pot and the greens. They tell us that they couldn’t have asked for more.”

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