SUBSCRIBE NOW
    • Homes

    Of tropicals, Sri Lanka and Geoffrey Bawa: EAD Studio’s Esha Adyanthaya crafts her cove in Mangalore

    JUL 21, 2023 | By Diya Shah
    The living room is an inviting space with custom-made seating, an inlay coffee table from The House of Things, cushions from The Purple Turtles, a rug from Meter Cube, ceiling light from Hatsu, table lamp from Harshita Jhamtani and wall art from Deetya Adyanthaya; Photograph by Shamanth Patil Photography
    The dining room is characterised by a custom made seating area and console. The cushions are from Rangeela Goa. The floor lamp is from Olie Lighting and the ceiling pendant light is from The Purple Turtles. The micro concrete flooring is from Creton. The wall art is from Claymen. Shelf accents include basket from Nicobar, Vase by H&M Home, Curios from Paradise Road Colombo; Photograph by Shamanth Patil Photography
    The daughter's bedroom is playful and whimsical space; Photograph by Shamanth Patil Photography

    There is a reason India is known as the land of spices. Mouth-watering aromas waft up to us from the kitchen, carrying the promise of a flavourful meal. At The Tropical Modern Home, these spices permeate into design elements that reflect the vibrant hues of the country. Designed by and home to Esha Adyanthaya, Creative Head of EAD Studio, and her family, the 2,000 sq ft apartment rests in the heart of Mangalore’s Gandhinagar neighbourhood in Karnataka. 

    Inspired by the colours of India, influences of a tropical tenor and the works of Sri Lankan architect Geoffrey Bawa, this abode spells eclecticism with a hint of traditional infused in it. “My husband and I were in awe of Bawas’ architecture on a family trip to Sri Lanka ten years ago and instantly knew what we wanted our future home to look like. When we bought our first home in 2022, I went back to my archives from Sri Lanka for inspiration,” reveals Esha.

    Space unbound

    The living room makes maximum use of available space by fitting Samsung’s The Frame television on the wall. Below it is a custom-made low seating; Photograph by Shamanth Patil Photography

    Upon entry, the warm and tropical modern theme of the home becomes evident. In the foyer, one is greeted by a wall mask from Sri Lanka and artwork from local artists. The foyer leads to the living room where one’s attention is immediately drawn to The Frame television by Samsung, which is extremely thin and can easily be mistaken for an artwork. Since the couple and their daughter do not regularly watch television, this was an innovative solution to accommodate extra seating without compromising their viewing experience. 

    A low-built seating extends into the custom-made open shelving unit. The floor lamp is from Olie Lighting. The accents are from Claymen, H&M Home, Nicobar, Thar, Steel Ashtray and Creton; Photograph by Roland Photo Stories

    Under the television, a low-built seating extends into the open shelving unit, making maximum use of the space. Sculptural artwork and a few heirloom pieces make the living room appear equally quirky and cosy.

    The dining room is visually connected to the living room by a custom-made crockery unit and maintains a similar aesthetic; Photograph by Shamanth Patil Photography

    An 8-foot-long crockery unit with teak shutters carved in Kanjeevaram saree prints, set in a Mondrian-inspired pattern, guides one’s attention to the dining room, partitioned off by a low wall. Claymen sculptures give character to the walls. A six-seater custom dining table with corner seating makes for a comfortable dining experience.

    The elegant hand wash occupies one corner of the dining room. The sanitary fittings are from Sri Ram Sanitary, next to which a small planter from Freedom Tree adds a touch of green.. The mirror is from IKEA and the wall lamp is from The Purple Turtles; Photograph by Roland Photo Stories

    The airy layout remains unbroken with glass windows that separate the kitchen and dining area. This gives the space an appearance of an open kitchen while allowing it to be shut, making it better suited to Indian cooking practices.

    The kitchen is designed in a deep material palette of wood, steel blue and emerald pearl
    granite, with open shelving in glass and metal; Photograph by Roland Photo Stories

    A Raja Ravi Verma corner door in the dining room completely opens to reveal a multipurpose guest room, allowing a seamless flow of light and air across the home. The two single beds arranged in an L-shape serve as extra seating space. When the doors are closed and beds rearranged, it becomes a comfortable stay for guests. 

    A Raja Ravi Verma corner door leads to the multipurpose guest room; Photograph by Shamanth Patil Photography

    The guest room is connected to the primary bedroom by a large sit-out with a roof that is made of glass framed by Mangalore tiles, maintaining privacy from upper levels while allowing daylight in. The primary bedroom is characterised by a simple and clean design, with a black-and-white sliding door dividing the bed from the walk-in wardrobe and study space. The bathroom is finished in Rosso Levanto marble tiles.

    The daughters bedroom is whimsical space with wallpaper from Kalakaari Haath, bedding from Altrove, wall reading lamps from IKEA, and custom-made furniture and blinds; Photograph by Shamanth Patil Photography

    The daughter’s bedroom takes a more playful approach with tropical wallpaper and pink accents for the otherwise neutral colour palette. The cane-woven headboard and louvred wardrobe shutters complete the look. The bathroom is finished and pink and yellow Piccolo tiles.

    The home is an embodiment of the designer’s ethos — form follows function. “Most aspects of the space reflect my style with the main emphasis being on ergonomics and comfort, and aesthetics only amplifying the same. The structural changes that were to better suit our requirements and directed the overall look & feel of the home,” signs off Esha.