Ground Zero dresses modern design with Indian heritage at this all-white home in Surat

Just like people, homes too have layers. And this 5,000 sq ft home in Surat, Gujarat is a celebration of this very multitude. The homeowners, a doctor couple, sought Ground Zero to camouflage ingenious design amidst artisanal detailing — a task in sync with the architectural design studio’s own philosophy. 

A home for heritage

Painted as a sterile backdrop of whites, the home is a canvas superimposed with prints, patterns and textures. “The couple wanted to celebrate Indian heritage through elemental inserts. This vision influenced the entire design process inspiring the use of celebrated textiles,” says interior designer Sagar Rathod. The team further includes interior designer Mansi Rathod and Architect Ritika Uttamchandani.

Right from the entrance, arched doors anchor the eclectic design scheme running through the house. An entrance passage leads to the open-plan common area segregated into living and dining spaces by way of distinctive furnishings. A bold stroke of brown to the left instantly breaks the monotony here. This is the library and entertainment area, crafted as the point of highlight with walls and flooring in raw wood. While this room invites with its warm lighting and cosy reading corner, its flexible folding doors allow it to transform from a private sanctuary connected with the common space. 

A small alcove next to it is carved as the prayer room, while the three bedrooms and kitchen are situated in different corners of the living room. 

Dressed in prints

All throughout the home, sartorial layers and vibrant detailing make you forget about the utilitarian nature of the space. Bold designs and textures take over soft-coloured furnishings, stimulating a mood of celebration and rigour. “From the intricate embroideries on custom-tailored drapes to antique raw wood on walls and flooring, each material choice enhances the home’s cultural narrative,” says Sagar.

The simplistic palette of the walls urges you to zoom in on the minutiae of these designs. Like in the living room, prints by Azco hang in quiet harmony with the hand painted arch of the entrance. The semi-blue textured tile grid of the kitchen only adds to this carnival of colour. A walk up to the prayer alcove reveals a grey tile flooring embossed with Indian motifs against a muralled wall. 

In the master bedroom, a fusion of rattan and wood meets upholstery by Ritu Kumar. And while the floral patterns on the guest bed’s backrest are the first thing you see, it’s the delicate carvings on the furniture that add depth to this room. 

Through this delicate balance of the conspicuous and inconspicuous, the home not only houses the homeowners’ tastes but also makes space for their memories yet to be made.

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