Homes

studiorachana369 celebrates culture and craft in this contemporary Surat home

AUG 24, 2022 | By Sneha Gandhi
The expansive living area houses sofa from Stanley Lifestyles, wooden deck sofa and chair by Warwick Fabrics and carpet from The Rug Republic; Photographs by Noaidwin Sttudio | Nilkanth Bharucha
Consciously opting for wooden wall panels, textured stone walls and a seamless grey flooring highlights the architectural openness of the layout; Photographs by Noaidwin Sttudio | Nilkanth Bharucha
Bandhani metal craft patterned furniture and a traditional Gujarati jhula compose the common deck; Photographs by Noaidwin Sttudio | Nilkanth Bharucha
The daughter’s bedroom includes bedding by Saphed and Pluchi India, carpet by Jaipur Rugs, hanging lamp from Gulmohar Lane, wall art from Gulmohar Lane and Nicobar and planters by Westside Home; Photographs by Noaidwin Sttudio | Nilkanth Bharucha
The en suite bathroom flaunts a minimalistic aesthetic with its wooden wardrobes; Photographs by Noaidwin Sttudio | Nilkanth Bharucha

The soothing secrets of traditional structures and practices inevitably carve nostalgic niches in modern homes, for example, the enchanting sound of brass bells on a classic wooden pillar welcoming one inside. 

Case in point—an Indian Modernism-inspired Surat home visualised by Rachana Chovatiya and Ashish Chovatiya, Co-Founders and Interior Designers at studiorachana369

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Sofa from Stanley Lifestyles and carpet from The Rug Republic craft a neutral grey canvas in the living room. Plants from Samir Farm and Nursery; Photographs by Noaidwin Sttudio | Nilkanth Bharucha

The curious brief 

Guided by a subliminal desire to be swathed in tradition and nature, the two-generational family wished for a cosy, grounded home. Consequently, natural stone emerged as the hero of a binding core material palette. 

While the palette remains constant, the proportions of stone, wood and rattan thoughtfully vary across the built span of 6,000 sq ft, catering to the evolving needs and diverse aesthetics of the inhabitants. Tapping into a vernacular aesthetic, the studio experiments with antique artefacts, typical motifs and fine traditional detailing on modern furniture pieces.

A stunning wooden deck extension in the living room houses sofa and chair by Warwick Fabrics and the ceiling brass-bowl light is made in-house; Photographs by Noaidwin Sttudio | Nilkanth Bharucha

Tour every turn of the opulent home

Capturing the ethnic essence of the home toot sweet is the ceiling grid of the brass-bowl lights with a corresponding elaborate entrance door in solid wood and brass inlay. Inside, inducing a positive aura is a seven Chakras-themed hand-carved stone sculpture and an abstract swastika embedded in the foyer flooring.

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Custom-made in-house dining table, chairs and brass-bowl lights by studiorachana369 create a compelling aesthetic; Photographs by Noaidwin Sttudio | Nilkanth Bharucha

Enveloped in a textured canvas of the Porphyry stone wall, the communal spaces unveil as cocooned assortments of conversation zones. The exploding symphony of colours and textures is further highlighted by the scintillating north light shining through an elevated wooden deck. 

Soft blue chair by Warwick Fabrics and warm carpet by Jaipur Rugs make for a cosy corner; Photographs by Noaidwin Sttudio | Nilkanth Bharucha

At the heart of the home is the eight-seater elegant dining area with a black granite top table and coordinated contemporary brass pendant lights crafted in-house. Flanked by a tranquil puja room—with a dancing peacock-inspired pattern in Meenakari technique by local jewellers—and the quaint family area, the indulgent experience is designed as a secondary, intimate zone.

A herringbone stone pattern, wooden carpet-style flooring and furniture with brass ornamentation create an aesthetic composition in the main bedroom; Photographs by Noaidwin Sttudio | Nilkanth Bharucha

Exhibiting a striking Bandhani pattern but in metal craft, the terrace furniture upholds the Indian Modernism theme of the home. Dipped in a vernacular grace, the main bedroom houses a four-poster bed with an ornate brass bed back, flowing white drapery and wooden carpet-style flooring. A bewitching peacock painting forms the focal point of the room. 

A surreal wall painting by Rogán binds the main bedroom along with bedding by Saphed and Pluchi India and other soft furnishings from Warwick Fabrics; Photographs by Noaidwin Sttudio | Nilkanth Bharucha

Although united by a common balcony, the son’s and daughter’s bedroom endorse different philosophies. Highlighting wabi-sabi, the daughter’s bedroom is an asymmetric composition of earthy textures and soft fabrics, while the son’s bedroom puts forth a bold statement of burnt oak wood, grey furnishings and crimson tones.

studiorachana369
A crimson bed back sets the tone for the son’s bedroom complemented by muted natural wood furniture tones and grey furnishings; Photographs by Noaidwin Sttudio | Nilkanth Bharucha

The guest bedroom models hand-made floral embroidery panels of the wardrobe, weaved rattan bed-back and three brass-bowl lights that reinforce the artistic ambitions of the home. 

studiorachana369
The guest room features a clean and elegant weaved rattan bed back in harmony with wooden textures and in-house brass-bowl lights; Photographs by Noaidwin Sttudio | Nilkanth Bharucha
studiorachana369
Hand-done floral embroidery work on the wardrobe shutters speak a serene art language. The circular carpet is from Jaipur Rugs; Photographs by Noaidwin Sttudio | Nilkanth Bharucha

Ideas to bookmark – a core material palette and complementary colours 

A consistent material language composed of Indian Porphyry stone walls and Makrana white marble flooring with solid wood furniture govern the traditional home. While the furniture features rattan and cane woven panels, the furnishings include linen, cotton and genuine leather.

An ode to culture, the earthy hues with bold splashes of blue enhance the core material palette. Strategic additions of subtle surface textures, brass ornamentation and soft fabrics provides a delicate contrast to the heaviness of stone and solid wood.

studiorachana369
An abstract painting by Ria Mangukia and carpet by Jaipur Rugs accurately capture the mood and colours of the daughter’s bedroom; Photographs by Noaidwin Sttudio | Nilkanth Bharucha

What Rachana Chovatiya fell in love with…

Rachana believes, “The Indian indigenous interior design has its own regional and economic aesthetic and cannot be isolated from the sustainable culture it was developed in. The use of solid wood and less-treated stone for cladding in the living room and bedrooms contribute to a strong integration of sustainability into the design of this project.”

The bathroom follows the select core material palette of stone and wood with traditional details; Photographs by Noaidwin Sttudio | Nilkanth Bharucha

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