Heirlooms of the future

In a Bengaluru home, Studio Anvaya crafts a family’s lore of objects and recollection

17 Jul 2025

A relentless timeline ebbs and flows in weathered pots, sepia-tinted photographs, and the threads of revered garments. Soaking in this heady spirit, the aroma of nostalgia perfumes the air at The Heirloom Project, a 2,400 sq ft Bengaluru residence designed by Ashwathy CK, Principal Architect at Studio Anvaya.
Sharing what guided her process on the drawing board, Ashwathy says, “The vision is a crossover between what the family has painstakingly held onto and newer additions, enabling the latter to become heirlooms for the future.” Venkat, a chartered accountant, and wife Jayalakshmi, an educator, are joined by their son, Venkat’s mother, and two dogs, creating a mosaic of their myriad personalities. “Their heirlooms feature archetypal lamps, bowls, and pots stowed away, emerging only on special occasions. Making these objects a proud part of everyday life rested at the heart of the design narrative,” she notes.

“Making heirloom objects a proud part of everyday life rested at the heart of the design narrative.” — Ashwathy CK

Bearing a sunny disposition, the kitchen features cabinets finished in a canary hue, Indian granite, and grey glazed subway tiles laid vertically to accentuate the space’s volume; Photography by Roshan Satish Paliath

LIVING CANVASES

With Palakkad roots and a Tamil-Brahmin upbringing, Jaya and Venkat deeply admire the craftsmanship of their childhood dwellings. This admiration is strengthened by a strong tug of remembrance seeping into the imaginative framework they shared with the architect.

The memory of breezy Thinnais (porches), carved colonnades, Belgian stained glass, lime-plastered walls, and brass accents fuelled their desire for a Chettinad-style home reimagined with a contemporary demeanour.
Garnet Athangudi tiles define the vestibule, their handcrafted legacy echoing through the Deccan. The deep reds give way to a gleaming sea of ochre tiles, defining shared spaces. A bit of the old and much of the new converge within the living room. She describes the conversation space as gently anchored by a sofa and armchairs, all gathered around an antique cradle reimagined as a coffee table. To the room’s edge, an aged wooden column frames a timeworn cabinet, its shelves gleaming with brass artefacts and evocative Tanjore paintings.

The home’s layout is bestowed with spatial cadence, creating a subtle shift of levels. Following suit, the prayer area is situated on an elevated platform moored off the living room.

Steeped in colour, the prayer space is headlined by wood, cane, and brass accents. The rocking chair is a Maram Furniture creation and pairs fittingly with the upholstered ottoman by Tusker Katha. Binds by Ind Eclectik drape the traditional-style windows; Photography by Roshan Satish Paliath

The wardrobes echo a similar palette with the addition of arched beading and wood handle details, terminating in a pragmatic study nook; Photography by Roshan Satish Paliath

“The sanctum rests behind the veil of cane-lined pocket doors fringed by bookshelves. A Kannaadi-Jannal (glass pane-lined window) draws in strobes of daylight resembling spun gold,” says Ashwathy of a space she thoroughly relished conceiving.

The dining area invites intimate family gatherings around a teakwood table framed by cane chairs softened by olive undertones. Through the archway, the kitchen unfolds — canary yellow cabinetry offset by wood millwork, glossy subway tiles and the enduring presence of Indian granite.

MELDING TRADITION AND COLOUR

The staircase binds the home’s levels, doused in textured layering that lends it a rhythmic visual. The colour-speckled flooring transitions into a monolith of black granite with a sleek metal and teak balustrade. The first floor’s family lounge is anchored by maroon Athangudi tiles, a vision akin to reddened earth, peering into the balcony. “Awash in a forest green tint, the balcony lounge is the family’s sanctuary. We commissioned Kerala-based Artist Naveen to paint a mural outdoors, a vivid depiction of Krishna-Leela. The saturated rust, ochre, and blues underpin the home’s palette,” highlights Ashwathy.

Resting under the vivid mural illustrated by Artist Naveen, the Tusker Katha bench creates a moment of pause to best relish the alfresco lounging experience; Photography by Roshan Satish Paliath

RELISHING PAUSES

The master bedroom embodies refined restraint. A rust-hued lime plaster wall anchors the space, its earthy warmth framing the stately four-poster bed. Softly woven patterns emerge through linens, rugs, and carefully selected artworks, each element introduced with intent. Dual-toned mint and white walls envelop the son’s bedroom, complementing the oak herringbone floors.

Homes are the most intimate portraits of people, indeed. “It boils down to a family’s needs, experiencing their rituals in familiar spaces, and the larger vision. The objects within are roadmaps into a storied past, each mark and trace of patina a reminder of all that has been and will be,” she concludes.