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    A little colour is always a good idea, as proven by this Chennai home by Tanya Mallavarapu Studio

    JUL 18, 2024 | By Chiransha Prasad
    Custom lights by Emanate light the whole house, walls clad with Vycon wallpaper hold artwork by Agathe Patil and Life with Objects, custom sofa and printed armchairs by Bequest, custom coffee table and side tables by Escape by Creatomy with wooden chairs by Dtale, cushions and throw from West Elm and Studio Covers and accessories by Pure Living, Oma and West Elm, custom carpet by The Weaver, planters by Ripples home; Photography by Phosart Studio
    The dining chairs atop the marble flooring are custom-made by Bequest and so is the table, the latter featuring a sunburst veneer marquetry top with brass trims, the suede finish wallpaper fitted with custom brass trims is by Carl Robinson and the accessories are from Oma; Photography by Phosart Studio

    Why should maximalists have all the fun? Designed by Tanya Mallavarapu Studio, this minimal apartment in Chennai is an undeniable classic, unafraid of a pop of colour (or two). 

    Extending across 2,500 sq ft, the space sports an abundance of toasty-hued wood, containing curves and sharp angles in equal measure. Ample daylight gushes in through its windows, bouncing off the cream-hued walls. Despite being minimal, one spots a plethora of prints and colours in doses potent enough to dispel any beige-induced boredom.

    Accessories by West Elm, Pure Living and Oma, custom carpet by The Weaver, cushions and throw by West Elm and Studio Covers, wooden armchairs by Dtale, the coffee table is custom made by Escape by Creatomy and the sofa is custom made by Bequest with wallpaper by Vycon; Photography by Phosart Studio

    Giving peace a chance

    In an unexpected turn of events, nature emerged as the driving force behind the overall design — a fact that we’d wager romantic poets like Wordsworth or Coleridge would approve of. Throes of trees and lush greens sprawl below the apartment, inspiring the homeowners to craft a serene space where they could kick back and relax. Tanya, the founder of her eponymous studio, found this blank canvas perfect for cooking up some delectable design. She states “The home breaks away from many design clichés and is designed as a timeless space. Each space in the apartment has its own identity.” Containing a bevy of contemporary elements and tonal textures, an open layout was prioritised to make the best of the fresh breeze that pours in.

    The living room sports wooden armchairs by Dtale atop marble flooring, the partitions crafted from brushed black matte aluminium framed clear glass and custom lighting by Emanate; Photography by Phosart Studio

    Classic with a twist

    Distinctively contemporary yet grounded, the space does not shy away from experimentation — especially of the tactile kind. Bevelled mirror panelling in brass and black decorates the foyer. The living room, dining space and kitchen are interconnected, separated by partitions one can push and pull at their own will. Three bedrooms and a den lie further within, each one containing a varied array of materials and textures.

    Within the Foyer, the custom console and mirror sport brass accents, while the pendant lighting is custom made by Emanate and accessories are from Pure Home and Home Artisan; Photography by Phosart Studio

     

    One wall in the living room is fitted with Veneer panelling from Arte di Lusso with ICA Pidilite finishes and artwork from Life with Objects, the printed armchairs are custom-made by Bequest and so are the side tables by Escape by Creatomy with accessories from West Elm, Pure Living and Oma; Photography by Phosart Studio

    The powder blue sectional in the living room may take you by surprise. A vibrant abstract painting by Agathe Patil basks in the spotlight, a lone figure on the walls enjoying its fair share of attention. One dark veneer-panelled wall clad in brown nestles to the side, the metaphorical wallflower that clings to the space’s periphery. Adding to the whimsy, geometric motifs exist in harmony with languid curves splayed across the home. 

    The dining table is custom and features a sunburst veneer marquetry top with brass trims, while the chairs are custom-made by Bequest and accessories by Oma; Photography by Phosart Studio

    Within the dining space is where the neutral palette shines the brightest, egged on by a dramatic cove ceiling and a textured fabric wallpaper in gold. A chandelier crowns the circular tables, the chairs echoing the curve. This carefully stitched neutral palette takes on newer forms within each of the three bedrooms. Fluted accents and metallic accents like brass appear in the master bedroom, while the second bedroom is plush with a boucle bed. A subtle, geometric wallpaper lines the walls with a barely imperceptible sheen. Contrary to this, the kid’s bedroom encourages playfulness with a canopy bed occupying centre stage. 

    In the master bedroom, the headboard is crafted with wallpaper and ICA matte lacquer with wood veneer frames, wall sconces custom made by Emanate, bedding by Sarita Handa, Studio Covers and Amala Earth and bed from Dtale, the nightstands are custom made by Bequest and accessories are from Oma, Pure Home, Objectry, Life with Objects, Studio Osmos and Spacio Dreams; Photography by Phosart Studio

     

    The four-poster bed in the children’s room is by Dtale with bedding by Sarita Handa, D Decor and Amala Earth and printed wallpaper by Borastapeter, custom wall sconces by Emanate; Photography by Phosart Studio

    Replete with another plush sectional, the den emerges as a third space ideal for the family to converge in. The built-in bookshelf makes the space ideal for lounging and entertaining (and a great source of delight for bookworms, too).

    The artwork within the study room is by Sarita Handa, while the sectional is from Dtale and accessories are from Oma, Pure Home and Objectry, sitting atop a carpet from Rugberry; Photography by Phosart Studio

    A little colour never hurt anybody

    Containing multitudes, the colour palette veers between neutrals to energising bouts of colour. The minimal palette emerges as anything but monotonous, owing to dollops of fluted wood, glossy veneer and patterned wallpaper that make an appearance. Eclectic decor and abstract forms line the walls, as the overarching neutral palette forms a fail-safe base ideal for experimentation. After all, naysayers may label beige as basic — but one cannot deny its universal appeal. 

    Printed wallpaper by Borastapeter adorns the children’s bedroom with a custom console by Dtale Home and custom lighting by Emanate, the artwork is by Agathe Patil and accessories are from Pure Home; Photography by Phosart Studio

     

    The kitchen contains custom cabinetry with matte lacquer finishes from ICA Pidilite, with fluted oak and tinted glass shutters and a countertop finished in quartz; Photography by Phosart Studio

    Timeless design harbours multiple definitions depending on who you ask, open to interpretation. Experimenting with this very notion, the apartment emerges as the design studio’s own rendition of this elusive quality, tailor-made for a family and their needs.

    Now read: This maximalist Kolkata home by Untitled Design Consultants is daringly glamorous and artful