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Nexion unveils a contemporary Gujarati home in Surat

08 Apr 2026

In the city shaped by its textile looms and diamond ateliers, RangRaas carries stories that go beyond design. Perched on the thirteenth floor in Surat, this 8,000 sq ft apartment was imagined as a return to roots and familiarity. When the homeowners approached the founders of Studiorachana369, Rachana Chovatiya and Ashish Chovatiya, they weren’t looking for a conventionally modern home. They wanted something personal and Gujarati to its core. Rachana took that brief to heart, seeing it as an opportunity to build something deeply contextual. She stepped in early, while the building was still under construction, to shape not only the interiors but the entire experience of the space.

The language of two worlds

At its core lies a thoughtful duality. Drawing from mythology, Rachana imagined two parallel worlds within the same home – one inspired by Ram Darbar, the other by Krishna’s Vrindavan. Designed for a multi-generational family, the idea of coexistence is reflected in the mirrored layouts. The carved wooden doors with Ashta Laxmi motifs come across as personal additions. Underfoot, Nexion’s Runa Grigio Scuro surfaces run seamlessly across the home.

Rachana paid close attention to how the family would move through the home and how daily rituals could shape the design. The kitchen and Tulsi courtyard face east, catching the first light of the day, which makes everyday routines feel meditative. On the other end, the aangan opens out to the west, becoming a space for evenings and unwinding. At the centre sits the living room – the heart of the home, which is constantly in use. At the entry foyer, a composition of Nexion’s Rigato and Planum surfaces in Grigio Chiaro and Nero introduces textured and plain finishes.

The balancing act

Rachana worked closely with artists right from the conceptual stage. The carved structural column carries memories from the past. A painted panel moves beyond decoration, carrying a story within it. The living room, imagined with a forest-like sensibility, moves between simplicity and richness. With texture underfoot and detail overhead, a handcrafted swing draws attention without dominating the space.

Treading further, in the bedrooms, Riga Rigato Bianco forms a concrete backdrop. A corridor lined with circular artworks maps the family’s journey, from where they began to where they are now. It is a memory documented in fragments. From the marble textures of Port Lorent Pettinato to the warmer tones of Frappuccino finishes in Pettinato and Rigato and the stone-inspired surfaces of Runa Nero and Grigio Chiaro in the bathrooms, the material palette remains cohesive.

The outdoor deck reimagines a courtyard, lifting it into the sky. With charpais, open views, and a seamless indoor-outdoor flow, it moves effortlessly. Completed in just eleven months, RangRaas feels well resolved. For Rachana, it was a chance to bring cultural references into a contemporary setting. For the family, it is a home that feels familiar and personal.

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