Built for the culture, shaped by the city

Meet a compact yet culture-driven Bengaluru home by Aakriti Saraf Designs

20 Jun 2025

With two generations under one roof, family is central to this Bengaluru home — and so is their shared Kerala heritage. While culture is easy to come by in God’s own country, hauling it to the Silicon Valley of India is not. How does one recreate the gentle sloping roof, the grace of a traditional nalukettu in a fast-paced tech city? The solution is simple: instead of leading by example, you lead with intent. And that is precisely what Aakriti Saraf of her eponymous design studio has achieved in this 3-storey apartment.

Paring back all other details to let the refurbished wood accents bloom, Aakriti infuses each snug part of this 2,500 sq ft home with earthiness. It’s minimal. It’s uber contemporary. Instead of letting predictable cultural markers control its design narrative, it foretells its own story.

Furniture from Ventura, rugs from Jaipur Rugs, flooring by Squarefoot; Photography by Jubin Johnson

In favour of function

Rather than moving mountains (or walls) to bring Kerala’s essence into their home, the studio opted to make small but significant strategic changes. Most traditional homes in the state are built with an open layout that maximises the natural light streaming in. How does one mimic the same feel in a compact apartment? By making the windows bigger! With the existing casement windows inched larger, the home mimics the look of an open layout even in lieu of one.

Another non-negotiable? Functionality. As Aakriti affirms, “We wanted to create a maintenance-free area that reflected the family’s deep-rooted love for natural materials and colours.” The original teak woodteakwood railing became the perfect launchpad to take the home’s design narrative forward, echoing the wooden accents that came later. Each detail has been devised keeping these fundamentals in mind.

The living room furniture is sourced from Dtale; Photography by Jubin Johnson

Compact, yet impactful

Joint family homes are often abuzz with activity and frequent visitors. In tandem, the foyer and the living room on the ground floor contain plush seaters to accommodate people as they come. Soft blue sofas from Ligne Roset that hinge on grey decorate the family room, the monotone neutrals making the warmth of the wood pop more.

As one climbs the stairs to the first floor, a small but subtle design shift occurs. You’ve now entered the family’s private quarters. The conjoined living and the dining space brims with warmth, the powder blue downstairs swapping hands for rust-hued oranges. A stool for an extra guest, a bench in lieu of chairs at the dining table, ensure that space doesn’t become a constraint at the cost of memories.

Home to the bedrooms, there’s a visible hush on the second floor. A grand four-poster bed in the master brings Kerala’s influence full circle. From the wardrobe shutters to the doors, an abundance of wooden accents imbue each bedroom with warmth. Everything else is designed to fade into the periphery: the tone-on-tone 3D mouldings, patterns on the walls and the decor, all dressed in deliberate neutrals.

The home’s less-is-more approach begs the question: can homes driven by culture be minimal? While some family homes are built as an extension of the residents, Aakriti has shaped one that brings the residents to the fore.