What really is wabi-sabi?

An unconventional open-plan

As if imbibing the openness of the runway, the layout of the home is unobstructed. The living room opens onto the balcony and the dining space, followed by the three bedrooms. The walls and the ceiling are coated in a beige tone, offering a tranquil atmosphere.

In this continuous space, the flooring indicates the private and public spaces, transitioning from an intimate warm wood in the bedrooms to marble in the living and dining spaces. “We may add a lot of colours for our clients but for our space, we chose to have minimum colours. Our palette comprises beige, off-white, black and wood in most of the spaces,” share the duo. But within that palette, a play of patterns, linen and textures create a sense of unconventionality and wonder.

Designing a second home

Over a decade of marriage, Iesha and Dhaval have collected a multiplicity of memorabilia. Each object carries a story, expressing the designers’ love for artistry and craftsmanship. Choosing to walk against the grain of trends, their home is crafted with simplicity and warmth. “Our first home was very eclectic! We were very clear about having a home that has the essence of wabi-sabi mood,” adds the two. While the term has gained an enormous presence in the collective design conscience, here wabi-sabi makes an appearance in its textbook avatar. Imperfect, impermanent and never absolute. 

But can design ever have an ending? What happens when two designers sketch out a home for themselves? In the softly lit space, a classic chandelier adorns the living room, below which is a centre table that is delightfully unpolished. Raw wood is polished with wax on the wall as a light panel to highlight the walls.

From armoires armed with artistic expression to Iesha’s love for plants and nature replete in the home, the space comes alive through nuances and stories. It is best captured in a simple statement by the homeowners, “A home is an expression of love and endless memories.”

Read more: Gestalt, where the whole surpasses its parts — Inside TaP Design Inc.’s Bengaluru home