Luxury apartments often conjure images of serene beige palettes and minimalist furniture, but this project, Azure, stands apart as a true ode to modern contemporary homes, celebrating individuality and boldness. Spanning an expansive 8,000 sq ft, this home, conceptualised by Farah Agarwal of Chestnut Storeys, is infused with the warm, golden hues of the Bay of Bengal sunrise, creating an environment that exudes a sophisticated yet vibrant energy. Nestled high in the heart of the city, it transforms the concept of high-rise living into an elevated experience that offers both sanctuary and spectacle.
Editor’s Note: “By the sunrise over the Bay of Bengal, this modern contemporary home unfolds like a musical score—muted yet distinct. The indoor-outdoor connection, along with the wall-opening ratio, enhances occupant comfort through the play of light and shadow.” ~Baarat Krishna
Azure Is An Ode to Modern Contemporary Homes | Chestnut Storeys
The design brief was as daring as it was refined: reminiscent of modern contemporary homes, with a riot of colour. The clients sought to escape the monotony of neutral tones, desiring a space that exuded energy and sophistication without sacrificing comfort.
Farah’s response was a marriage of modern luxury and vibrant expression. The space became a composition in itself, with every corner showcasing thoughtful contrasts, where no single element stood too far apart from the rest.
From the walls to the floors, textures and colours play off each other, creating a space that continuously surprises and engages.
The colour palette unfolds like a musical score—muted, yet distinct. Smoky greys form the undercurrent, while jewel tones—blue, amber, green, and coral—emerge like brushstrokes across a canvas.
These hues mirror the shifting colours of the sky and the ocean, capturing the essence of dawn and dusk. Light plays a pivotal role in the experience of this space.
The result is a space where the play of light and shadow creates a constant dialogue, one that reflects and refracts across the room in a seemingly endless dance.
In the dining area, the art of entertaining becomes elevated. At the heart of this space stands a monolithic chef’s table, which combines rustic charm with modern sophistication.
Its concrete-like finish anchors the room, grounding the space in warmth, while plush, burnt-orange chairs add a sense of invitation and comfort.
The sit-out area feels like an extension of the living space, a peaceful balcony that brings the outdoors in. Behind the sofa, a living green wall adds a burst of organic life, creating an urban sanctuary that encourages quiet moments or lively conversations.
The informal living room and TV room are designed to be the heartbeat of the home, a place for both relaxation and connection. Bathed in natural light, the space features a plush sectional sofa that beckons you to relax and enjoy the view.
With its fabric-upholstered headboard, the guestroom is a study in understated elegance. The headboard, a floor-to-ceiling piece in soft blue hues, divides the space into a serene sleeping and dressing area.
The playful checkered mirror mosaic on one wall adds an unexpected element of whimsy, while the wooden slats and circular nature-inspired frames bring warmth and intrigue. Moreover, the family area on the first-floor landing captures the lightness of the home.
With expansive ocean views and a chandelier that hangs just below the railing, this space exudes a sense of playfulness and relaxation.
The seating—a hanging chair, a chic blue armchair, and a mauve sectional—invites you to unwind and take in the view, whether you’re gazing out over the ocean or enjoying the twinkling lights below.
More than just a workspace, the study is a curated sanctuary for the mind. A dark wood bookshelf is filled with eclectic pieces sculpted busts, chess pieces, and a miniature globe—adds a touch of intellectual charm.
In the master suite, design transcends the ordinary. Here, the bed is framed by an amalgam of wood and copper, which creates an intriguing contrast of textures and tones. The warmth of the wood complements the metallic sheen of the copper, drawing the eye and adding a sense of depth to the room. The bed itself is upholstered in a rich blue fabric, its geometric design picking up the energy of the wall.
In the junior master suite, the interplay of light, texture, and colour creates a sophisticated yet serene atmosphere.
The dramatic marble backdrop behind the bed, with its bold veining, adds a sense of grandeur. Additionally, the dark grey bed frame introduces a modern coolness to the room. Large windows flood the space with natural light, which highlights the calming greys, greens, and warm wood tones.
The guest bedroom with the grey bed brings the element of surprise through its captivating wood accent wall. The warm tones of the wood create a tactile experience while adding depth to the space.
The grey upholstered bed acts as a grounding element, its sleek design contrasting beautifully with the rustic charm of the wood and the cool reflections of the mirrored wall.
The bar and entertainment area on the third floor is where the magic of the home truly comes to life. With its tropical-inspired design, lush palm leaves dance across the walls in hues of cool blues and greens, evoking the carefree spirit of a vacation.
The plush sectional sofa, paired with pops of turquoise, creates a welcoming atmosphere for relaxation and conversation. The bar, with its marble waterfall edge, becomes the centrepiece of the room. Moreover, it exudes sophistication and luxury.
The journey culminates on the fourth floor, where the residence reaches its apex in both elevation and experience—a dedicated haven designed to indulge the senses and elevate the art of relaxation.
Ascending the grand spiral staircase that serves as a dramatic prelude, you are led into a world that feels purposefully set apart.
The home theatre on this level is not merely a room; it is a space where time slows down, and the outside world recedes into the background. The walls are clad in textured acoustic panels, chosen in varying shades of crimson and burgundy.
The seating arrangement is where the room’s opulence truly shines. To enhance the cinematic experience, the technology integrated into this space is state-of-the-art. To complement the theatre, a small adjoining lounge area offers a place to relax and unwind after the movie ends.
This is not merely a residence but a hymn to the possibilities of what high-rise living can become. It defies conventions, embraces vibrancy while offering an escape from the bustling world below.
In every corner and with every detail, this home tells a story—true to the spirit of modern contemporary houses. It is a story of bold choices, timeless sophistication, and an uncompromising vision for beauty as well as comfort.
It is, above all, a space where life unfolds in hues as rich and varied as the sunrise over the Bay of Bengal—a place where every moment feels like a masterpiece waiting to be lived.
Fact File
Designed by: Chestnut Storeys
Project Type: Residential Interior Design
Project Name: Azure
Location: Chennai
Year Built: 2024
Project Size: 8000 Sq.ft
Principal Designer: Farah Agarwal
Photograph Courtesy: Orange and Teal
Interior Styling: Samir Wadekar
Products / Materials / Vendors: Wallcovering / Cladding – Marble, wood, wallpaper, mirror / Lighting – Hatsu, Alc studio, Objects of Interests / Sanitaryware – Toto / Windows – Shucco / Furniture – Essentially metal, Image muffin, Akfd, Fezmo / Kitchen – Poliform / Artefacts – Nicobar, West Elm, Cottons and Satins, Curiocasa, The Artment, Altrove, The June shop
The Firm’s Website Link: Chestnut Storeys
Firm’s Instagram Link: Chestnut Storeys
Firm’s Facebook Link: Chestnut Storeys
For Similar Projects>>> This Renovated House Design Reimagines the Past
This residential project is a celebration of material purity and timeless simple design. Here, the rich, warm tone of natural walnut becomes the unifying element across the entire home. The clients, an elderly couple, envisioned a house where walnut would dominate the interiors. Here, no other colors disrupt the visual harmony. This simple yet demanding […]
In a city where homes often compete for attention through ornament and excess, The Nordic Luxe Residence takes a far more assured route. It wins you over with restraint, clarity, and a quietly elevated hand. It is designed for a family that wanted a fully move-in-ready 4BHK modern Indian home delivered within an uncompromising four-month […]
The Archive Home is not just a home—it’s a narrative of two extraordinary souls who call themselves wildlife enthusiasts. Their journeys take them deep into the wilderness every few months, capturing rare frames that have found their way into renowned magazines and the wider world of wildlife. Add to that a husband who can mesmerize […]
Spanning 2200 sq. ft., this 4BHK apartment designed by Studio Inside Out is a finely tuned symphony of rooted design, soft tones, tactile finishes, and thoughtful detailing. “Every space has been planned with a balance of aesthetics and practicality, creating a home that feels rooted, personal, and intuitively luxurious,” shares Ms. Samruddhi Kulkarni and Mr. […]
The concept was to bring the warmth of a traditional South Indian home into a modern city apartment. The goal was to blend two worlds. One of them was the nostalgia of the client’s roots and the practicality of their current urban lifestyle. It is a fusion where traditional materials meet modern shapes. It creates […]
OneDot1 Design Studio approached Neptune Residence with a clear design intent: to create interiors that feel timeless, welcoming, and emotionally grounding. The vision centered around soft tones, natural textures, and warm lighting—an environment where modern aesthetics meet the subtle richness of lived-in comfort. Avoiding unnecessary ornamentation, the design relies on material expression and spatial clarity. […]
Designing the Gupta family’s four-bedroom residence meant crafting a home that could gracefully evolve with time. The clients—a couple and their two sons—approached us with a clear brief: a home that feels modern but endures, elevated yet comforting, and above all, one that functions seamlessly for a family that values both togetherness and privacy. They […]
Designing a home is always a dialogue between functionality, aesthetics, and the people who inhabit it. The Rathi Residence, designed by interior designer Bhavana Chandak, is a thoughtful exploration of modern contemporary living. Completed in 2025 in Aurangabad, this 1800-square-foot residence with a pop of color transforms a compact footprint into a home that feels […]
“The designers envisioned Oasis Within as a contemporary 3 bhk apartment where calm, material sensitivity, and spatial clarity take precedence over overt expression.” Designed as a three-bedroom residence, the project explores a restrained palette of warm neutrals, tactile surfaces, and softly articulated forms, allowing each space to feel distinct yet deeply connected to a unified […]
High above the city, on the 54th floor, Sthira finds its grounding not in spectacle, but in a sense of steadiness that moves quietly through the inviting home. The family wanted a place that felt pure and enduring. Somewhere the pace softened, the eye rested, and every room held a quiet assurance of being lived in, not […]