From designer to dweller: Gayathri Padmam of Aanai Design Studio crafts her Kathakali-inspired Bengaluru home

A painting of an old, dusky figure with a straw hat. A musical instrument and a monkey on his shoulder, who looks a bit startled. But the man, very patiently walking amidst the grass that is greener than usual. The sky seems stormy. The fireflies hint at something magical. It’s just a trailer of the visual feast that lies ahead in this 1,800 sq ft home in Koramangala, Bengaluru, by Gayathri Padmam, Sneha Rajendran and Smrithi Madhu of Aanai Design Studio. 

Tearing away your gaze from this painting by Sachin Samson, one will inevitably be drawn to the wooden console with legs that appear inverted.

A bundle of emotions, stories and concepts

The reddish micro-topped flooring with laterite skirting in yellow, mimicking the oxide flooring in Kerala homes, extends to every corner, but first to the living room. Soft light streams in through curtains that depict the husk from the paddy fields. This space houses antique chairs, a sofa printed in bright and the center table — all with an overarching theme of kathakali. 

The dining room follows the rhythm set by the living area — continuing with the nature-inspired designs, textures and colours. The underlying theme of Kathakali becomes more evident here with the patterns on the central credenza. But the highlight has to be the painting by Roy K John depicting his backyard full of palms with areca nuts and birds. 

Where everything sort of reminds one of the hinterlands of Kerala, the kitchen couldn’t have taken a backseat. With an open layout, wooden tones, black granite and an off-white subway tile backsplash; the kitchen is where the major structural changes took place. “A major decision made was to break open half the kitchen wall to make the dining and kitchen more seamless and create a peninsula platform for serving and chatting across the dining,” says Gayathri. 

Bedrooms one can’t get enough of

Just as you enter, a larger-than-life mirror with a carved frame greets you. Since then, everything doubles up — light, space, colours and peace. Two miniature elephant art pieces, a headboard with subtle facial expressions from a Kathakali performance and a side table with handles resembling the chutti (mask used to define the jawline) seem to command attention. It takes a moment to appreciate the minute details that make this room stand out. If this is not enough, the balcony opens up to the views of the tree-lined skyscape.

The guest bedroom is designed to acclimate one to the slow and languid pace of life offered by this abode. A life that teaches us to find beauty and meaning in everyday moments. With equal parts of wood, green and orange, the room looks like a spin-off of the painting that hangs on the wall. 

A study that is equally ready for a musical feast

With a day-bed perfect for an evening read and a study table that can double up as a piano, this space is designed to take multiple forms based on one’s needs. Once here, one cannot miss the figurines that mark their spots in various corners of the room, whether it’s the giraffe on the shelves or the zebra on the piano. And yes, the wallpaper by House of Ikaari, a perfect backdrop for everything forestry. 

This home is nothing but a reminder to pause, breathe and appreciate the beauty that surrounds us. It’s a space where one can find solace in its simplicity and wonder.

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