A love letter to Indian hues

Indian colours and decorated flair fill this Hyderabad home by Kavan Shah

23 May 2025

They spoke of heirlooms and hallways, of heritage and how natural light falls as the evening sets. They dreamed of spaces where old family recipes could be cooked and where new memories could simmer quietly. They wanted warmth, but not just the throw-blanket kind. The soul-deep kind that you feel in your bones.

Tucked in a quiet corner of Hyderabad, this 5,200 sq ft home crafted by Kavan Shah Design Studio is a living, breathing love letter to the past, gently cradled in the palms of the present. And from that very first conversation with the homeowners, this home took on a life of its own.

“The often overlooked fifth wall, the ceiling, works harder as a visual element than it is given credit for.” — Kavan Shah, Principal Architect & Founder

Artwork by Anilla Govindappa, Pendant light by Arjun Rathi, Hanging light above dining table by Radhika Sanghvi; Photography by Kuber Shah

Look up, the ceilings speak!

There’s a certain theatricality to this home and it begins the moment you look up. The ceilings here aren’t afterthoughts — they’re protagonists. In the dry kitchen, a scalloped ceiling painted the same shade as the neutral walls draws from the architectural vernacular of New York lofts, but is softened, Indianised and made warm.

Step into the powder room and you’re transported. A lush, tropical wallpaper sets the stage, but it’s the vaulted gold ceiling that makes the scene unforgettable. “The often overlooked fifth wall, the ceiling, works harder as a visual element than it is given credit for,” says Kavan. “The right ceiling design can serve as a canvas for creativity and elevate your room’s aesthetic,” he adds.

In the daughter’s bedroom, a salmon-pink raftered ceiling is warm, whimsical and a little rebellious, much like the young woman who lives beneath them. Meanwhile, the living area is flanked by long panels of warm wood overhead, cleverly separating it from the adjoining passage and giving the space a rhythm of its own. And on the verandah? Rafters continue this language, carrying the soul of the indoors outside. And the fifth wall finally gets its due.

A palette of emotion

The home leans into the earth with muted beige lime-plastered walls, natural light streaming in like a soft spotlight and the quiet confidence of timeless materials. But look closer and colour makes its move. Bedrooms pulse with bold greens and salmon pinks creating contrast and character. Then comes the dining room with its rich-toned furniture, neutral palette and an almost cinematic composition. A deep-hued circular rug grounds the space while layered artwork draws the eye upward. There’s no chaos here, just chemistry.

And then there’s the informal room. it dances and laughs in colour. It flows right into the verandah, where the rafters echo the warm wood language of the living room. It’s the kind of place where one can entertain, exhale, or do absolutely nothing and still feel entirely at home.

Art in the everyday

In this home, art doesn’t just hang on the walls, it becomes them. Wardrobe shutters become murals. Nooks become installations. The visual narrative isn’t confined to frames, it spills, seeps and surprises. Even the ceilings become canvases. It’s a reminder that beauty doesn’t need a spotlight as it thrives in the in-between.

Every texture, every tone, every corner of this house plays its part in a larger narrative — one that’s steeped in heritage, but staged for today. It’s a home that remembers where it came from, knows exactly where it stands and isn’t afraid to dream in bold brushstrokes.