Oak, sage and Pune living

Illustrated by INI Design Studios, this home layers craft and restraint

08 Jan 2026

A state that wears multiple hats, Maharashtra has long balanced contrasts: from coastlines and hill stations to heritage and hyper commercial cities. Sitting comfortably within these undulations is Pune, a city built on the enduring bones of wadas and basalt stone. Within this continuum of old and new, a 1,000 sq ft two-bedroom apartment finds its place, designed by Amol Nalavade, Principal Designer at INI Design Studio.

Shaped for a Maharashtrian couple, the home honours culture without being overtly traditional. Awashed in handcrafted details and earthy tones, clean planning allows the interiors to feel grounded and deeply personal, much like the city it inhabits.

"Vernacular motifs, intricately carved wooden details, and traditional textures weave a sense of familiarity and nostalgia, while a muted, earthy palette creates calm and coherence throughout"

- Amol Nalavade

Warm lighting by Philomina and artefacts curated from local shops; Styling by Amol Nalavade; Photography by Manthan Yadav

ILLUSION OF EASE

Less is more is the philosophy that underpins the project Neutral Niche, named for its pursuit of organic hues, textures and materials chosen to age with grace. For a home where every decision seems intentional, the design allows warmth to emerge over time. Working within a compact footprint, the living space leans on illusions to feel generous.

Inside, a foyer with a floating bench and temple-inspired storage acknowledges the rhythms of daily life. Much like the large pillars that supported the roofs of old-world homes, a hand-carved column stands like a watchful sentinel, while a green interlocking star patterned floor leads the way into the snug living room.

As Amol notes, “In compact urban spaces where natural light and scale were limited, sourcing the right handmade elements required patience and close collaboration with artisans.” While a Pattachitra painting frames the beige wall, a burnt-terracotta couch, a checkered lounge chair and a pine green cabinet strike a modern–retro chord, allowing the home to feel spacious.

Oak-finished cabinets and brass hardware keeps the space functional; Styling by Amol Nalavade; Photography by Manthan Yadav

Hand-carved wooden bed-back crafted by a local artisan is paired with wardrobe fabric and curtains sourced from Fabindia Homes; Styling by Amol Nalavade; Photography by Manthan Yadav

PAUSE AND PROCEED

As one flips through the pages of this home, INI Studio sustains its oak-and-sage palette allowing design decisions to surface through use. Details act as deliberate cues, like the wall clock that guides movement and cane-backed dining chairs that share familial moments and every element becomes a marker of movement and pause. The kitchen reflects this language with clarity where function leads form. Oak-finished lower cabinets, white uppers and brass hardware offer continuity.

In the private zones, Amol allows spatial planning to take precedence. Despite a large bed and only one window, light and airflow are negotiated through material alignment. Block-printed wardrobes and a built-in study nook emerge as the project’s most resolved elements, where craft and utility intersect naturally.

The guest bedroom on the other hand lifts its mask to reveal itself as a reading retreat. Close to the window-side seating, conversational chairs gather beneath a wall artwork composed from the homeowner’s hand-painted dupatta, grounding the room in personal history, tying the home through memories rather than ornaments.