Crafted by Studio Altara, this 1500 sq.ft apartment in Chennai, ‘Dwaraka’, seamlessly harmonises timeless aesthetics with its owner’s undeniable passion for life and travel. Nestled on the first floor and shaded by lush greenery, every nook grounded in comfort is elevated by art and artefacts from across the globe.
1500 Sq.ft Apartment In Chennai Has Art And Artefacts From Across the Globe | Studio Altara
To build a home is to build a sanctuary – a space to recharge, recuperate, and reinvigorate the mind, body, and soul. The beauty of this apartment in Chennai lies in the way it weaves the tapestry of the client’s life. It celebrates her lived experiences and artistic passions through carefully curated and immaculately displayed pieces of history and culture. Set against a muted colour palette, her collection of art, artefacts, and antiques deepens the home’s character. The house also elevates and reuses the client’s old furniture in imaginative ways that adapt it to her new abode. Studio Altara has designed interiors that balance vibrancy and near-maximalism.
Hanging adjacent to the main entrance, a soothing Pichwai painting welcomes visitors with the home’s distinct personality. Envisioned as an intimate yet semi-formal space, the open living and dining room one enters builds upon this first impression.
This apartment in Chennai features elegant and earth-toned furniture, including an antique rosewood table, and a selection of the client’s prized artefacts.
This open-plan space is anchored by an accent wall highlighting two Farhan Mujib paintings. The added delicate floral details on the wall and the strategically placed asymmetric Burmese brass finials further enhance this visual focus.
However, there is more to experience in this space. Burmese offering bowls, traditional glass-front cabinets housing brass artefacts collected over 25 years, and console units featuring unique antiques build a global story from the ground up.
A Ravi Verma painting, a vintage mirror, and a wall mounted golden fan from Burma project this story onto the walls, amplifying the intrigue of the room.
The kitchen, on the other hand, embraces the grey of the flooring. Sleek and dark cabinets go hand in hand with open shelves and light grey backsplashes.
Also deviating from the rest of the house are the balconies featuring rustic terracotta tiles. However, despite the difference in stylistic choices, these spaces feel like a cohesive part of the vision for the home.
Somewhere between the quietness of the bedrooms and the busyness of the living space lie the design choices made in creating the study area.
While the wooden furniture and the neutral colour palette seen across the house continue here, the Pichwai painting, the carefully selected carpet, and the diwan dressed in printed textiles add vibrancy to the room with their brighter reds, pops of orange, and contrasting deep blues.
Diagonally flanking this hub of visual and human activity, are the master and kids’ bedroom. While these spaces adopt a more minimalistic approach, art and artefacts remain the focal point of their design.
A striking painting by John Tun Sein and a distinctly patterned and newly varnished teakwood TV cabinet act as eye-grabbers in the master bedroom.
Floral printed chairs set against a tessellated screen repurposed as a backdrop also foster visual interest.
The rest of the room, including its modern details such as the bedside reading lights, complements these pieces and creates an oasis of calm.
Like the master bedroom, the guest/kids’ bedroom also predominantly features wooden tones and exudes calmness. However, bright accent pieces and interesting furniture choices create a contrast that amplifies the room’s vibe.
Studio Altara’s keen eye for detail, careful selection of colours, textures, and materials, and ability to seamlessly integrate the client’s art and furniture reflect a design approach that celebrates the client’s unique personality without compromising on elegance.
With this project, the architects seem to have truly embraced designer David Hicks’ quote: “The best rooms have something to say about the people who live in them.”
Fact File
Designed by: Studio Altara
Project Type: Residential Interior Design
Project Name: Dwaraka
Location: Alwarpet, Chennai
Year Built: 2023
Duration of the project: 4 Months
Project Size: 1500 Sq.ft
Principal Architect: Ar. Hamsini KP
Team Design Credits: Ayilya Anand & Washim Khan
Photograph Courtesy: Pixels by Binsan
Products / Materials / Vendors: Finishes – Wall finishes – Paint and Wallpaper, Kitchen Counter Top – Steel grey granite stone, Kitchen Cabinets: 1mm laminate / Lighting –False Ceiling Lights – ACE – bought from Chandan Lites, Chennai, Pendant Lights – Fab India / Doors and Partitions – Designed by Studio Altara and executed by the carpenter team finished with 1mm laminate / Sanitaryware – Grohe / Paint – Luster Paint from Asian Paints / Flooring – Living room, Bedroom, Kitchen Flooring – Marble tiles from Cosmo Granites, Toilet Flooring tiles – Bought from Allied Ceramics, Chennai, Toilet Wall tiles – Rome Blue and Grey Subway Tiles from Bharat Floorings / Wallpaper – Wallpaper in the living room from Good Earth / Artefacts – Farhan Mujib, John Tun Sein, Burma, Pichwai Painting
Firm’s Instagram Link: Studio Altara
For Similar Project >> A House That Is Warm And Comforting, Keeping Up With The Modern Outlook
The journey into Sukoon begins with an arched entrance foyer, meticulously clad in a subtle laminate that gently introduces the home’s overarching design language. More than just a passageway, the foyer serves as a symbolic portal into a world defined by softness and sophistication. This interiors home blends soft tones, thoughtful layouts, and intimacy, where […]
Great design is not just about aesthetics, it is about storytelling, about weaving a home that breathes with the lives of its inhabitants. Every curve, every shadow, every whisper of light is intentional. My architectural journey, shaped by the lush landscapes of Arunachal and Assam and refined at Sir J.J. College of Architecture in Mumbai, […]
This 3600 sq.ft. floor layout embodies an aesthetic home with a spacious yet minimalist appeal, carefully balancing simplicity with intricate design details and high-end materials. The result is a warm, inviting space that seamlessly combines functionality and elegance. The material palette reflects a harmonious blend of exotic wooden veneers, muted wall tones, polished finishes, mural […]
Nestled in the bustling city of Mumbai, this vintage interior design style residence serves as a serene oasis for a couple who share a deep passion for art, literature, and nostalgia. Having lived in the house for many years, they have curated a stunning collection of artworks, paintings, and books that beautifully reflect their refined […]
The Woven Home: A soulful nest, serene and warm, where textures weave a quiet charm. A nod to cane and rattan grace, in every corner, a soft embrace. Tactile tales in wood and thread, where timeless beauty gently spreads. Rooted in natural interior design, here, form meets feeling—calm and true, a woven world in every […]
Amidst the fast-paced urban fabric of Mumbai, The Design Chapel has designed a home that wraps you in a warm, inviting embrace. This 1000 sq ft apartment, originally a two-and-a-half BHK, has been reimagined into a 2 BHK to allow for a more spacious living and dining space. By opening up the space, the main […]
This 5,000 sq. ft. residence in Mumbai was originally a 5-bedroom apartment that has been converted into a luxurious 4-bedroom space for a nuclear family by reD Architects. Transitioning from a joint family arrangement to a nuclear family dynamic was a significant shift for the homeowners. Their household comprised the husband, wife, and their two […]
Tailored Tranquility is a serene 4BHK residence conceptualized as a personal sanctuary for a family seeking warmth, calm, and timeless elegance in their forever home. The 4 BHK house design reflects the studio’s core design philosophy, where refined minimalism, emotional resonance, and everyday functionality come together to create deeply personal spaces. Tailored Tranquility Exemplifies a Timeless […]
While designing, building and crafting the interiors of this two-storey villa, the single most pursuit was to weave a unique aesthetic narrative that definitely set it apart both visually and experientially. From the exteriors to the interiors, every element was thought out with care to create an expression of elegant luxury interior homes and sophistication […]
When it comes to enhancing the kitchen window over the sink, various design ideas are possible to decorate Indian homes. From rooted in tradition to Western-style modular kitchens offer both functionality and attractive aesthetics. Apart from the sleek profile and raised breakfast counter, the kitchen window over sink is another spot to add appeal and […]