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CUBSPACES designed a family home that marries form and function with the personality of its inhabitants
Creating a home that caters to different ages, personalities and needs is no easy task. This 3,100 sq. ft apartment in Pune’s bustling Koregaon Park neighbourhood was a blank page that required some very specific detailing, for a growing family of four.
Originally from Kerala, the owners had some well-articulated wants: a Kerala-inspired home, heritage artwork and furniture, lots of rattan, and teak. It had to be clutter-free and minimal, considering their two boisterous children. The family also owns an enviable collection of books, so storing and displaying their tomes in an attractive way was important.
Plus, the young kids were adamant that they wanted fun, “non-boring” rooms… but from a practical standpoint, this had to be done without investing in kid-sized furniture that they would outgrow.
Pune based interior design firm Cubspaces founded by Lakshmi Satish, managed to integrate a variety of colours, textures and customizations to create a home that ticks all the boxes and comes together seamlessly.
Lakshmi Satish (LS): The homeowners wanted a mix of minimal and traditional: something that reflected their Southern roots, but with a clean and minimal aesthetic overall. This was the first time we got to work on a home drawing inspiration from the South. Being from there myself, the team and I got a chance to combine different styles: Southern, Colonial and Mid Century Modern.
LS: We had complete creative control but there were some non-negotiables. The owners were keen on a metal and rattan cluster coffee table for the living room, a heritage Kerala grandfather chair, and a large Kerala mural (chuvar chitram), a gift from their mother. They also wanted to repurpose their existing teak furniture that had been sourced from back home.
LS: The layout of the home, with balconies on both sides, offers plenty of natural light. We wanted to keep the space free flowing and went with a “less is more” philosophy using neutral tones, textures, and finishes.
Their older furniture is all teak, and the newer pieces are rattan, so we stuck with whites and beiges. Neutrals are easy to build on and white brings out the vibrancy of teak, another reason why we chose it.
LS: Since teak and rattan are a similar shade, the room would have looked too brown if we had left it at that—so we added colour and texture in other ways, using shades of teal and yellow, for wall accents and cupboards. We placed a custom fluted teal sideboard against textured Nilaya wallpaper at the far end of the living room to break up the monotony.
LS: The couple were clear that their mural painting had to be on display. A Chuvar chitram (which translates into “wall painting”) usually takes up an entire wall and becomes the centre of any room it is in. Because the mural is a bright, bold temple painting, using it as the focal point and designing around it would have made the space feel a little too traditional. We had to ground it with other shades.
Instead of placing it in the living room, we hung it in the dining room, above a blue-grey sideboard: prominent, but not overwhelmingly so.
The entire living-dining area has been crafted to balance an earthy South Indian vibe with a modern minimalist one. Even the louvered shutters in the entryway are a modern upgrade to a window style that’s commonplace in Kerala homes. It’s a classic design that has been given a new identity with Duco paint.
LS: Yes, each room has custom bookshelves which serve double duty as storage units and décor pieces. Books are a great way to add personality and brighten up a space when placed thoughtfully. Their collection was arranged by subject/author, but we wanted to colour code it. It took some convincing, but they agreed to arrange the books by colour. For designers, finding homeowners who share a similar aesthetic and sensibility make for a great working relationship. In this case, we feel the space has come together seamlessly… and it shows!
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DEC 2023
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17 Oct 23, 03.00PM - 04.00PM