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    Sunita Yogesh pays ode to the art of slow living and wabi-sabi aesthetics with this Chennai home

    JUL 1, 2021 | By Vedika Nair
    The living room features a warm and welcoming palette and is dressed in a rug from Gharghar, a side table from Gulmohar lane and other bespoke furniture; Photographs by Yash R Jain
    The open dining room is seamless and features rustic furniture; Photographs by Yash R Jain
    A grey seater from The Purple Turtles complements the black and white artwork in the office space; Photographs by Yash R Jain
    Wooden columns hold the homeowners' travel memories and add a rustic charm to the office space; Photographs by Yash R Jain
    The main bedroom features bespoke furniture, an arched headboard and wall sconces from The Purple Turtles; Photographs by Yash R Jain
    Custom furniture in the office space is paired with a Pierre Jeanneret chair from The Purple Turtles; Photographs by Yash R Jain
    Table lamps from It's All About Home are seen in the guest room along with custom furniture and a carpet from Jaipur Rugs; Photographs by Yash R Jain

    Engulfed by a sea of the country’s most beautiful beaches, Chennai is also home to structures that depict traditional architecture and Indo-Saracenic styles. But amidst the bustle of traditional and modern lies The Slow Home, right in the heart of the city’s IT corridor.

    A striking balance between classic and contemporary design, this 1,250 sq ft cove has been conceptualised by Sunita Yogesh of her namesake practice. Cloaked in Balinese aesthetics, every corner of the home reflects the homeowner’s personalities coupled with their love for travel!

    Doused in ample natural light, the home is a breath of fresh air with minimalist elements. The designer imbues the Wabi-Sabi concept of celebrating imperfections and embraces slow living by binding hints of organic and earthy accents.

    Orange Tree pendant lights add a rustic charm to the living room; Photographs by Yash R Jain

    A crisp au-natural theme runs through the home with touches of wood crafted pieces, woven elements like wicker and organic cotton, handcrafted bamboo pendant lights, concrete luminaires and locally sourced rugs and cushions. Warm tones with hints of black reign supreme in The Slow Home. 

    The designer personifies the dining room with an arched setting to house artefacts and a round dining table; Photographs by Yash R Jain

    The entrance leads us to an open living and dining area featuring cement finished floor tiles, low comfortable seating and laid back vibe. A modular sectional sofa maximises seating and is paired with a PJ Kangaroo chair adding a classic aura. Elements like a low wooden coffee table, concrete end table, a white accent brick wall, handmade rugs, bamboo pendant lights and a whitewashed wooden bench with carved details lend to the home’s rustic quotient.

    The living area hosts a whitewashed wooden bench with carved details offering extra seating; Photographs by Yash R Jain

    Complementing its counterpart, the dining room is an alcove of soft accents that feature arched details and floating shelves. “I think arched details are in vogue right now,” shares the designer, adding, “They add a bit of nostalgia to a space which worked great for the overall vibe we were going for. We brought in the arched elements through the headboard wall in the primary bedroom, the mirrors and the built-in dining shelf which worked perfectly to add to the mood we were trying to achieve.”

    A woven wicker credenza is paired with a large arched mirror in the dining space; Photographs by Yash R Jain

    A round four-seater table finds itself at home in this nook with black dining chairs featuring a rattan backrest. Woven wicker shutter details on the credenza add dimension to the area and a large arched mirror anchored above it creates the illusion of space. Wooden rafters running across the ceiling unifies the area and adds warmth.

    The cosy office space features a Pierre Jeanneret desk chair from The Purple Turtles; Photographs by Yash R Jain

    On the right of the living room, one finds themselves in the home office that is designed to be clutter-free with ample storage space. A bespoke teak wooden bookshelf and a vintage almirah in slate grey become the focal point of this room.

    A nook in the office features a daybed from The Purple Turtles; Photographs by Yash R Jain

    Also seen here is a large cosy daybed in grey tones. Monochrome artwork lends a contemporary essence and a custom desk sits facing the window with a Pierre Jeanneret desk chair from The Purple Turtles.

    The cosy main bedroom is subtle with wall decoratives and a rug from Gulmohar Lane; Photographs by Yash R Jain

    The main bedroom to the left of the living room becomes the homeowners’ sanctuary. A minimal and functional theme takes centre stage here with a low platform bed, a layered handwoven rug, an arched headboard wall and teak framed fabric textured wardrobe shutters.

    An arched mirror complements the room’s arched headboard in the main bedroom; Photographs by Yash R Jain

    Traversing through the dining area, we step into the guest bedroom on the right that is furnished with a bespoke wooden bed paired with a woven rope detailed headboard. Traditional nightstands flanked by modern black rounded table lamps add charm. A vintage chest of drawers is used for storage and a comfortable reading nook in the room nestles near the jute textured fabric window shades. A PU finish wardrobe in grey balances the warm hues in the room.

    A vintage storage chest sits in the guest room next to a floor lamp from Gulmohar Lane; Photographs by Yash R Jain

    “My philosophy is to keep the design clean and simple. I like to work around the vibe and feeling that the homeowners want in a space and I think we’ve achieved that with this project as well,” concludes the designer.