An old villa begins a new chapter

Kanan Modi revives a heritage villa for a new generation of love and living

20 Jun 2025

The vision was clear from the start. This wouldn’t be a house of grand gestures, but of small comforts. Spaces designed to exhale. Rooms that felt soft around the edges. A home where function meets feeling and the details reflect the life built inside it. An old 4,000 sq ft villa nestled in a quiet community in Hyderabad owned by a young couple — something about it clicked for Kanan Modi, Principal Architect of Kanan Modi Associates. It had history and bones strong enough to carry a future. Having worked with the family before, the call to design their son and his partner’s first home wasn’t just another project. It felt personal. Familiar, yet fresh.

In the entrance foyer, a painting by Suraj Kumar Kashi and a ceramic sculpture by Pooja Chamudiya set a contemplative tone. From here, the drawing room unfolds with a Benu Mehta bench resting on a richly textured Jaipur Rugs piece; Photography by Saurabh Suryan

From foyer to favourite corners

As you step in, a custom-made divider filters light through geometry, while quietly morphing into the main door. To the left of the foyer, a cosy television lounge flows into an intimate dining space, bathed in soft daylight.

To the right, the mood shifts. The drawing room, wrapped in warm ash oak, exudes quiet timelessness. At its heart sits a custom-curved sofa in cloud-soft off-white, grounded by a bold black coffee table and sparked to life by a green bench that brings just the right touch of playful defiance. It’s the social heart of the home, designed to hold people and stories.

Drenched entirely in a bold green, the study is a moody, cinematic retreat punctuated with black shelving. Art and objects layer up slowly, creating a space that feels just a little rebellious.

Head upstairs

And everything softens here. The bedrooms are tucked in quiet corners, offering a sense of calm and just enough distance from the rhythm of daily life. But the real twist comes on the top floor: a striking bar is the focal point, wrapped in black veneer, dramatic and unbothered. On either side, terraces spill out into the open air. As Kanan says, “Even though the plot area was compact, we made sure every lounge has its own outdoor open-to-sky garden.”

In the living room, the Kenzo sectional sofa by The House of Things x Rhea Kapoor anchors the space, framed by UFO nesting tables from Objectry, a textured rug by Hatsu, and a vivid artwork by Anjaneyulu G; Photography by Saurabh Suryan

In the dining area, a Tianu table is flanked by elegant Benu Mehta chairs, all aglow under Flowerpot pendants by &Tradition; Photography by Saurabh Suryan

Palette and circular design

In the living-dining area, where natural light floods in, colour arrives with a playful ease: sunny yellows, burnt oranges and deep blues layered through art, wall panelling and plush upholstery. According to Kanan, “The main shell is predominantly in muted tones as a canvas to the solid colours we brought in using art, furniture and wall panelling.” It’s a space for slow mornings, long lunches and conversations that stretch into the night.

The palette, though spirited, is far from random. Clad in black veneer, the bar feels grounded and bold, its ceiling woven from reclaimed materials from pharmaceutical production.

Paired with industrial offcut artworks by Mallika Reddy of Cancelled Plans, the space becomes a subtle ode to circular design. Even the guestroom doesn’t shy away from storytelling. Custom wallpaper wraps from wall to ceiling in one swift gesture, while a rattan bed adds texture and a touch of nostalgia.

Not an ending, but a beginning

Every project reaches a turning point. The moment when structure settles, the light falls just right and the space begins to feel less like a site and more like a story. Once the layout clicked and air moved freely through the home: colour found its rhythm. Texture followed. And soon, what began as a renovation started feeling like a beginning fit for a new family.