Article Category: Homes

Set against the rugged wild backdrop of Los Angeles, Collywood seems like a natural extension of the hillside. It overlooks the Sunset Strip and the City of Angels, surrounded by dramatic views stretching from the San Gabriel Mountains to the Pacific Ocean. The homeowner—a sportsman who enjoys outdoor adventure—wanted to maximise those views. So, this 15,600 sq ft home with its expansive decks does just that.

The modest entryway belies the thrilling spaces and views that await within. The main level contains the kitchen, dining and living areas, as well as one bedroom. Each of these sections spills onto balconies that offer breathtaking vistas. Window walls slide, pivot or completely retract to erase the border between indoors and outdoors.

The main terrace is an absolute delight, with a pool that overlooks a grove of olive trees and the city of Los Angeles. The upper floor includes the master suite, home gym and other private living quarters, with more decks and terraces. The lowest level is tucked into the hillside and houses the garage and additional space for the outdoorsy client’s hobbies, as well as extra bedrooms and another large patio.

“Collywood is all about extending the boundaries of the home environment to provide an expandable, flexible living space. The client enjoys hosting parties and wanted the home to be able to host large gatherings yet remain functional for himself and his family. So, we organised public and private spaces in concert with movable walls and connections to the outdoors to enable that,” says Tom Kundig, co-founder of Olson Kundig.

Collywood allows its inhabitants to engage with both the dense urban scene of Los Angeles and the stunning natural beauty of its environs. At the mere touch of a button, walls shift or even disappear, getting the most out of the south Californian climes. An operable shade system can be deployed to temper solar gain or, inversely, invite in an abundance of invigorating sunlight.

“This house navigates many different scales: the larger landscape of Los Angeles, while balancing entertainment and large group gatherings with the intimacy of daily living. I’m most excited about how the design intertwines these diverse scales and allows the client to expand or contract the space depending on changing needs,” says Jim Olson, co-founder of the design practice.

The material palette of the sprawling abode is predominantly glass, concrete, steel and wood. The neutral colour scheme, with the occasional bold pops of colour—like the red entry portal and artistic accents—holds its own against the home’s stunning backdrop. The house acts as a functional and comfortable space that graciously accommodates the needs and tendencies of its inhabitants.

The multistoreyed home also incorporates several sustainable features such as solar panels and a stormwater retention tank, as well as no-VOC or low-VOC materials and finishes that support a healthy interior environment. Supplementary touches such as radiant floor heating allow these spaces to remain in use during cooler weather too.

Throughout Collywood, the design encourages a plethora of experiences—open and intimate, indoor and outdoor, city and landscape, soirees and sanctuary. The decor, too, balances these experiences, providing a restful and human-scaled environment. One which can also transform to accommodate large gatherings and adventurous experiences. This hillside abode, with its immersive design, always has one toe tapped into the lively energy of the city and another ensconced in the wild refuge that is its home.

This 1,850 sq ft, four-bedroom apartment is “the dream home” of a nuclear family. The couple and their two children—a daughter and a son—all have their own dedicated room, while the fourth is fashioned as a guest bedroom. 

Keeping with our philosophy as a design practice, we, at Aum Architects, suggest concepts that impact and uplift not only the client’s homes but also their lifestyles. We were given an open-ended brief to work on both these aspects. So, we inculcated modern aesthetics with a sense of timelessness for this residence.

The experience begins right from the entrance foyer, where a vaulted ceiling with subtle geometry is seen. This continues from the door to the wall panel. Mirror is used extensively to further amplify the space. The dining room can be seen just beyond the curved glass partition. This bespoke surface has a wooden ledge nestled in-between the curve, which when seen from the entrance, appears to ‘float’. 

Planning the layout is a crucial part of the design process for us. It serves as a guiding path for creativity to flow. We’d initially thought of the dining area as a part of the living room. But, eventually, we decided to expand the living room and design it lavishly. So, the dining setup is seen by the kitchen, where the diving wall is replaced by the ‘floating’ glass partition. This relocation helped create an interactive and comprehensive kitchen with an island counter.

Additionally, interconnected yet individual spaces are designed with modern aesthetics and a vintage essence. The living room, for example, is a dazzling compilation of fluid forms reminiscent of the British vintage era with a touch of aristocracy. A wallpaper with beige pinstripes is contrasted by solid ochre panels fixed with stylish bracket lights at equal intervals. It is this choice of colours and fabric that help achieve the desired vibe.

To further amplify the drama in the living room, we created a large-scale profile of a moulding for the pelmet. The same cascading effect can be seen continuing onto the layered curtain. This area also has a cosy seating arrangement on one end of the lounge, while a cabinet and television set rest on the opposite side. 

We ensured that elements of spontaneity and creativity resonate through the forms, patterns and rich colour palette seen across this home. The vintage style, along with its underlying graceful features, is realised through soft curves that bring elegance and grandeur into spaces.

A sombre and warm palette is seen in the kitchen. Dark hues are spotted in the walnut veneer, rustic copper laminate and deep petra grey marble flooring. The white quartz marble countertop offers visual relief. Another addition is the use of an antique printed tile that runs along the length of the platform and is complemented beautifully by the rustic copper finish cabinetry.  

Each of the bedrooms is tastefully styled to suit the personalities of their users. The master suite—the largest of the lot—showcases its expansiveness through an array of bespoke furniture and accents. Among these is a curved wall panel with veneer finished base and a glossy, powder blue top. 

The pristine guest bedroom houses two wardrobes near the entrance while another is inbuilt deeper inside the room. Its art deco style is reflected in the use of white moulding and trimmings, tan leather panelling and headboard, the bottle green opulent velvet curtain as well as the custom printed glass on the passage wardrobe. 

On the other hand, the son’s bedroom features a functional theme with geometric forms and a vivacious colour palette. And the daughter’s bedroom is dressed in candy pink with a polka-dotted wallpaper that pairs well with Prussian blue and white accents. 

With the ever-growing concrete jungle surrounding us, Akshardham Villa by Ace Associates strives to encapsulate nature’s influences through a blend of lush accents and contemporary interior design.

This 8,500 sq ft abode is fashioned—by Ashish and Nikhil Patel along with Nilesh Dalsania and Vasudev Sheta of the Ahmedabad based practice—to connect all indoor and outdoor spaces. It also breaks away from traditional architecture, and is built on contemporary themes using Italian marble and wooden finishes, a modern tropic influence and soothing colours.

Additionally, Akshardham shares space with an adjoining villa, including a grand verandah and lawns with exotic landscape elements on either side. Ample vegetation ranging from lotuses to date palms accentuate the home’s tropical theme. 

The entrance of the home is connected to the double-heighted living room—the heart of the home—via a wood and marble finished passageway. It is this lounge that allows a visual connection between both, the upper and lower levels of the home. 

Composed of a wooden, lit-up ceiling and earthy stucco finished wall, the formal living room is illuminated by a panoramic window during the day. “Our favourite space has to be the formal living area, considering we got to play with materials and colours to our heart’s content,” says Nikhil Patel, one of the principals of the design practice.

The central hall houses the family living and dining areas as well as the prayer zone, while the north and south verandahs are often used by the homeowners for some downtime. A custom modular set with state-of-the-art amenities makes up the kitchen.

A stark difference is seen in the two bedrooms accommodated on the ground floor. While the guest bedroom is contemporary, the parent’s room is restrained. A linear staircase with open risers and a glass railing in the central hall leads to the first-floor lounge, where massive windows allow natural light to stream in.

The master suite is connected to an ensuite facility and a walk-in wardrobe. It is designed with opulent, modern elements and a stunning traditional Sabyasachi wallpaper, creating a cosy aesthetic. 

In contrast to the home’s luxe spaces, the son’s bedroom opts for a cooler, more industrial theme with concrete surfaces and other modern elements. We love how an indoor elevator takes us to the uppermost level of Akshardham, where an entertainment zone is created.

When asked about the studio’s design philosophy, Dalsania shares, “Ace Associates is a practice of young architects who provide innovative and environmentally sustainable architecture driven by function, clarity and beauty. As a firm, we are accustomed to working with a contemporary vocabulary.”

The burgeoning developments of luxury farmhouses on the outskirts of South Delhi are a rebellion against the concrete demands of a bustling urbania. And the term ‘farmhouse’ has come to represent an idiosyncratic canon of architecture that revels in its own particular definition of escape.

So, when I worked on ‘The Panther House’—named such for the panther silhouette used on a black mosaic wall in this home’s cigar lounge—it was a similarly aspirational endeavour to create an oasis away from the city. The 15,000 sq ft home is organised into independent wings with cascading roofs that emerge out of rich greenscapes. It is keenly aligned with Vaastu principles and awash with natural light throughout, and balances both modernity and tradition inherently.

To leverage the expansive square footage, I created a deconstructed Rubik’s Cube layout that ensures the outdoors is visible from every section of the home.

High doors with gold leafed handles lead inside the villa. On the left are the waiting area—with a real street lamp, a floral chaise and oversized black planters—and formal living room, both of which open to the outdoors. A second wing of the villa extends further to the left and envelopes the pool. Here lies an expansive dining room, kitchen and cigar room with glazed windows that offer a view of the pool and lawn. Nearby are a guest bedroom, powder room and the home theatre.

One of the key features of the cigar lounge is the silhouette of the panther, which gives this project its moniker. The bespoke interiors of the cigar lounge ensure that one’s eye is drawn to the emerald green crystal that shines through the cat’s eye. A metal and stone, book leaf designed bar echoes the inventive use of polished materials. In contrast and for balance, a coconut shell-panelled ceiling and mahogany floor impart warmth and elegance.

The interiors follow a neutral pastel scheme and feature luxurious white marble flooring, rich materials as well as decor details and elements that surprise. To also ensure clear demarcation of spaces, the private zones, including a family lounge and four bedrooms, are all planned on the floor above.

Each of the bedrooms is conceived in disparate moods that suit its inhabitants. The master bedroom exudes a subtle classic style, owing to delicate mouldings, a vintage wallpaper and chandeliers suspended over the bedside tables. Another bedroom features a vaulted ceiling with a paisley backdrop, while the other two take on a more contemporary look.

Bathrooms have been turned into artsy spaces too—the master facility is immersed in period charm with white marble surfaces and tub as well as a vintage chandelier. In the powder room on the ground floor, a mirror is substituted with a print of Rene Magritte’s The Son of Man. The surrealist self-portrait, a symbol of self reflection, urges visitors to stop and take a closer look. And the juxtaposition is thematic of the home’s sweepingly dramatic design ethos as well as its occasional playfulness.

Big on space but not on clutter, this Kyiv home is a breath of fresh air. “There is nothing, but all,” says Viktoria Yakusha, who along with the team at her namesake studio, designed this 2,500 sq ft apartment. With the help of her partner Vladislav Baranow, the designer focuses on functional decisions to create a space that is clean and free of maximalism. 

Highlighting the notion of ‘intellectual stuffing’—lighting automation, climate, security, media systems and more—the design practice fashioned a home that celebrates minimalism with a soothing palette.

Sprawled over two levels, this home is characterised by accent light, volumes and authenticity. The communal and private areas are united by an uninterrupted palette of monochrome tones, adding a sense of simplicity and comfort. 

The lower level is an open-plan space for lounging, cooking and dining. Tall, inbuilt shelves in the living room are decorated with ceramic sculptures. A black stone island is the highlight of the kitchen, making it a magnet for the family to spend time together while preparing food. 

Also seen here is a grey-hued dresser for serving. A lamp above the dining table and a huge lot of the decor are by Faina Design, while unique ceramic vases perfectly finish the minimalist mood of the space.

“Although monochromatic, the palette is complex,” explains Yakusha. “The living room, kitchen, dining as well as guest bedrooms and bathrooms feature graphics in black and white frames to illuminate the warm beige and balance the greys. However, the most difficult task was to achieve the effect of mono-colour in the master bedroom upstairs, which is decorated in a bluish-beige shade of Tortora.”

A concrete staircase, the designers’ favourite element in this abode, features black steps with graphic lines along the walls and ceiling, making it ‘very Zen’. The master suite on the first floor is the result of intricate detailing. A selection of wood, linen and painted steel influences make this space a haven for the homeowners.

When asked about her design philosophy, Yakusha shares, “It seems to me that the more confident and free you are internally, the less external attributes matter. After all, your home is for relaxing, not for getting tired of the details.”

Scroll to see more images from this minimalist home by Yakusha Design…

Perched on the famous Billionaires’ Row in Manhattan, this 4,500 sq ft apartment—designed by Jamie Drake and Caleb Anderson of New York based practice Drake/Anderson—is a haven of contemporary design and iconic vistas.

A long foyer opens out to the living room that frames delightful vistas of Central Park and upper Manhattan. Bold fluted plaster walls line the foyer and adjoining space, creating a strong backdrop for the curated furnishings, art and sculpture.

“The foyer and hall set the tone for the entire apartment and are emblematic of our style—bold, strong backgrounds with interesting furniture choices, and unique art,” says Drake.

A cloakroom made of gold lacquer and mother-of-pearl panels connects to a powder room on the right. This cosy space features a grand floor-to-ceiling window. We absolutely love that the openness of the living and dining areas on the northern side of the apartment is further extended with the windows that face the park.

The living room houses two separate but connected sections—a seating spot with a large sofa and several chairs, and a second zone for TV viewing. Here, a bespoke floating wall clad in bronze and chiselled silvered glass separates the living and dining areas.

Despite creating discrete spaces, the partition allows the entire layout to unfold smoothly. The dining area is furnished with a long white lacquered table flanked by 14 plush chairs, which are clad in satin and woven leather. A striking custom chandelier is suspended above. Nearby, the kitchen has a breakfast area with simplistic modern furnishings that make the most of the morning sun.

“We commissioned a wall sculpture by Rob Wynne to run the length of the bedroom hallway. Its glass elements are celestial and enhance the sense of movement. Each room has a unique palette, which flows from one to the other based on its relative lightness. This light quality is balanced by darker accents,” says Drake.

At the far end of the apartment lies the main bedroom, housing two baths and dressing rooms. “The bedroom suite was especially delightful to design with multiple functional rooms opening to the vast sleeping chamber. We were able to fully indulge the sense of luxury here and it is amplified by the cool lavender palette, recalling late day clouds outside the windows on a summer night’s dusk,” says Anderson.

The walls are upholstered in silk and velvet, and hand printed with metallic elements. A large vintage Orrefors glass chandelier hovers over the bed like an elegant flying saucer. Bedside tables and a long dresser that conceals the TV are custom designs in lacquer, bronze and gypsum stone.

A silk and metallic thread rug accentuates the sensual quality of the boudoir. Indeed, this theme continues in the dressing rooms, where the wardrobes are lacquered with rock crystal pulls.

Two guest bedrooms complete the layout of the spacious apartment. The first of which features a teal and turquoise scheme, balanced with ivory tones, bronze accents and playful art.

The other guest room is a symphony of citrine green tints in various textures—silk walls, velvet on the bed and satin accents. These are balanced by dark masculine tones of espresso on the casegoods, mirror and accents. An abstract landscape painting seems to have been the inspiration for the palette but was, in fact, the last piece to be added.

Sumptuous textures such as bronze, velvet, lacquer with mother-of-pearl, poured glass, ebonised wood, fluorite and leather pervade the home. Coupled with a light and dreamy palette, it emanates urbane sophistication and understated luxury like few other homes can claim to!

Scroll below for more images of the midtown Manhattan residence by Drake/Anderson…

Studio Only Design’s creative leads Olga Sedova and Prohor Mashukov’s portfolio of interior works often stands out for the distinct character and personality each project imbibes. With this project too, the duo have transformed an aged residence, built in 1887, into one that’s an ironic and complex play of colours, textures and artefacts.

Located over a hilly terrain in the Slovenian village of Lubno, the property was conceptualised as a home for an artist couple—Nikolay Mashukov and his wife Maria Bersan-Mashuk. It seemed only fitting then for the design practice to derive its central inspiration and style from one of the owner’s art series.

Titled Black and White, the collection of artworks explored the principles of binarity. But rather than just layering dark and light references, Sedova and Mashukov chose to effuse the entire residence with interactive and intertwining contrasts of both these tones.

“Indeed, the comparison of these two shades is present in all details, ranging from striped colours of ceramic sculptures and ending with the division of the house into two conventional zones—a dark bottom and a light top,” shares Sedova. 

Styled by Natalia Onufreichuk, the home is a curated composition of statement artefacts, crafts and sculptural pieces created by the owners. These include a porcelain mirror frame, paintings, a pedestal and even the kitchen tiles. “The clients are old souls at heart and love all things vintage and valuable. Therefore, we carefully sourced bespoke pieces from antique stores or flea markets,” explains Mashukov.

It isn’t only the furniture that adds to the grandeur of this space, it’s also exquisite details. Take, for example, the intricately carved ceiling by Viktor Logvinov, paintings by Maria Bersan-Mashuk, natural stone and ceramic surfaces, and African iroko wood floors.

The lower level preserves its heritage, including its small windows and low ceilings. It houses a canteen, kitchen and a bedroom. This dense and decadent allure of this floor is further amplified by the designer duo with the help of a deep green hue painted on the walls. Overhead, perched on the carved ceiling by Viktor Logvinov, are paintings of angels by Maria Bersan-Mashuk that appear to guide the way—symbolic perhaps of the bright haven that awaits upstairs.

Staying true to the underlying theme of the home, the attic-turned-upper unit is bathed in sunlight. It is refurbished as a workshop and gallery space with large windows and a merged layout to house more spacious rooms. The walls here were kept white to keep the attention on the art featured on this level. Overall, we feel the setting illustrates a laconic representation of paradise.

Scroll below to see more images of Studio Only Design’s artistic Slovenian apartment…

Embracing the stunning view of Lake Annecy, French designer duo Carole and Fabrice Gibert of Archidomo fashioned this abode with a fusion of lavish and earnest elements. Christened ‘Maison Akila’, this expansive villa is an embodiment of contemporary architecture and designer products from Kettal.

“When it came to the site, it was love at first sight,” says Carole. “We made sure every room in the Maison had a view of the stunning lake, and they all were linked by a passageway.”

The three-storeyed villa is anchored on a slope by a set of cascading volumes. Its design is an invitation to take flight and enter Akila to discover a masonry base in the landscaping garden.

The ground level is covered in concrete tiles with an outdoor terrace, while interior balconies on the upper level overlook the lake. A 90-degree wall marks the entrance to the basement leading you to the reception area, where a captivating metal and oak staircase sits. 

Further ahead is a cosy living room with an outdoor terrace. “Our favourite spaces have to be the living room, which has an atypical volume, and the kitchen that was to be articulated along a corridor. These are the two large living spaces of the house,” says Fabrice.

Like an everlasting link, more spaces in the home open up with incredible views and interior detailing. The kitchen features a long central island in oak and stainless steel with ample concealed storage space. 

A wall sculpture adds vibrancy with colours in the dining room, while a monolith extends to the fireplace. The home is furnished with a number of luxury brands including Kettal, Rimadesio, Cassina, Eames, B&B Italia and Vitra, among others.

Cloaked in black, grey and white tones, the house’s style achieves a sense of serenity. Largely designed to reflect the surrounding landscape, fluid navigation is seen between living and intimate spaces.

The third storey accommodates the homeowner’s office and master bedroom that is oriented with the lake and mountains. “Our architectural philosophy is that we choose the most inspiring and demanding architectural projects—dedicating ourselves to the ‘Domus’, to the home,” concludes Carole.

Scroll for images from Maison Akila by Archidomo…

Although this chic residence is located in an apartment complex in Gurugram, its serene and spacious layout leave the congestion and confinement associated with city dwelling far behind. The design conceptualised by Chalk Studio is such that it opens out to clear blue skies and vast expanses of green.

The 2,400 sq ft home, inhabited by a working couple and their parents, has a simple yet elegant decor scheme with straight lines, varied materials and finishes, rounded furniture and wall-mounted contemporary artworks.

“I enjoy working with a neutral palette, adding colour only where contrast is needed. In this project too, most walls, floors and other surfaces are kept muted, so that the accent colours seen in soft furnishings and the paintings get highlighted,” shares Priyanka Singh, founder of Chalk Studio.

Cushy white seaters, with satin walnut finished oak veneer frames and jute upholstery, are seen in the living room. These are custom crafted by the practice, along with most of the other furniture seen in the home. Matching the sofas are a pair of large ottomans that replace traditional coffee tables, hold accessories and even double up as extra seating options during the many parties hosted by the client.

Adding a soft vibrance to the otherwise muted space are cushions, a Jaipur Rug carpet and stylish, low-backed pouffes—all in soft blue and salmon pink shades. To further amplify the roomy setting, four mirror panels line a wall in the living area. A round dining table nearby borrows its silhouette from the neighbouring pair of pouffes. It is flanked by two wooden cabinets, one of which stores crockery and the other is for books and artefacts.

The residence features three bedrooms, each clad in a bespoke array of textures and patterns. While the ones for guests and the parents open out to the central living room balcony, the master suite leads into a lounge on one end and a balcony on the other. Each of these breezy alfresco arenas, separated by glass partitions, house numerous plants and are capacious enough for outdoor furniture to rest upon and enjoy the verdant vistas.

The master bedroom is characterised by its clean, uncluttered aesthetic, realised with extra large side tables and shelves above the study table. Wall sconces are built into the teak veneer panelled wall to facilitate reading without taking up space.

Even the parents chamber is defined by wooden surfaces. Light, solid timber battens make up a striped backdrop and contrast well against the navy blue velvet bed linen. The striped theme continues onto the soft furnishings for the guest bedroom, where a charcoal grey wallpaper with grooves and a matching leather headboard add a soothing appeal.

The lounge is perhaps the most informal and playful arena in the residence with animal cutouts ushering visitors in. Inside, solid and botanical printed blue cushions, matching the deep hue of the wall behind, decorate a tan leather couch from Furniture Republic. Quirky, adjustable bulb lights and a grid of mirrors further enhance this bold setting, which continues outdoors onto a balcony with a swing.

This 2,520 sq ft home in Knightsbridge, London, is a dramatic play of monochrome hues and modern design. A muted colour palette threaded with antique bronze, greys and blacks sets a theme of understated sophistication.

Designed by Direct Painting Group, this property celebrates functional design and minimalist living in a contemporary setting. The entrance reveals the open-plan living room that is divided into the lounge and dining area.

Beyond the dining area lies the spacious kitchen replete with bespoke design. “This was the most enjoyable part of the house to work on. The dark-toned cabinets are balanced out by the marble countertop and backsplash,” says Rocco Falzon, co-founder of Direct Painting Group.

On the opposite side of the hallway is a study with its own bathroom, while the bedrooms and ensuite facilities are located on the upper floor. The muted palette and modern design elements continue into the private quarters, re-affirming the overall theme of understated luxury.

“Integrated furniture is a reigning design trend this year. From the living room through to the kitchen, it is one of the leading elements, with incorporated shelving and cabinetry. And it reinforces the home’s modern appeal,” adds Falzon.

Complementing the contemporary furniture and dark palette are warm accent shades and plush materials. These bring out the richness of the palette. On the other hand, wooden flooring with metallic fixtures highlight the elegant look of the house. With a focus on colour, shape and space, the interior overlays darker hues, natural tones and clean architectural lines to create a modern aesthetic of clean lines and sleek finish.

An outdoor seating area with wooden fencing is bathed in the same dark colour scheme as seen in the interiors, albeit counterbalanced by green shrubbery. Rattan furniture by Beds UK decorates this cosy space.

“I believe that great design should observe and respond to the way we interact with our homes. From inbuilt shelves in the living room to the breakfast bar in the kitchen, this home is built around instinctive design for a more convenient living experience,” explains Falzon.

A space curated for entertaining with functional accents, bold furnishings and bespoke lighting—this abode expresses itself through a modernist lens inspired by Japanese design.