A city’s craft often weaves itself into our lives, sometimes subtly, other times by deliberate choice—much like in this 5,000 sq. ft. Kolkata home envisioned by Spaces & Design. When Pooja Bihani, the principal architect of the studio, was commissioned to design a thoughtful space for a young family of three, she infused it with timeless craftsmanship. “To me, craft is about intention,” says Bihani. Here, she draws inspiration from wood and traditional handcrafting techniques to honor artisanal expertise. Named Ingrained, this serene abode in southeast Kolkata “celebrates the grain, texture, and finish of materials in contemporary expressions,” Bihani notes.

This Kolkata Home Weaves Tradition Into Modernity | Spaces & Design

Historically, India’s abundant rainfall nurtured expansive forests, making wood a plentiful resource. Its legacy spans centuries—from the 2nd-century A.D. site of Chandraketugarh in West Bengal to the artisan village of Natungram in Kolkata and the colonial-era halls of Victoria Memorial.

Client Brief

As a Kolkata resident herself, Bihani channels this heritage of “care, storytelling, and memory,” challenging the notion that craft is merely a slow process. The outcome is a Kolkata home whose name and character emerge from its own creation. Whether charred, fluted, polished, or etched, the timber reflects the city’s layered history.

With minimalist interiors dominating current trends, the clients—a young couple and their daughter, “weren’t interested in trends; they wanted a home that reflected their lifestyle, calm, and love for craft,” explains Bihani. They envisioned a space that is “crafted, soulful, and enduring—Bohemian with color.”

Pursuit Of Contrast

This led to a deliberate pursuit of contrast within Kolkata’s glass-and-concrete landscape, resulting in a residence nestled amid lush lawns and mature trees. The clients wanted the home to be material-focused yet executed in a fresh, modern way. The challenge, according to Bihani, was to ensure each room showcased wood uniquely, without repeating forms or finishes.

The journey begins with a demanding craft: a charred wooden door treated with the Japanese Shou Sugi Ban technique. This carbonized timber, both resilient and visually striking, protects against pests, moisture, and decay. Surrounding the entrance, ribbed wall panels in muted terracotta, jade, and teal evoke the city’s vibrancy and flow indoors, blending with traditional artwork.

Dining

“Like older homes that reveal themselves slowly, this one does the same,” Bihani observes, as the layout moves from living to dining. An ombré credenza serves as the area’s centerpiece, achieved through an experimental three-day polishing process involving hand-mixed stains, ultimately becoming a recurring hallmark of the home’s design.

The living area introduces a wrap-around wooden totem highlighting woodturning techniques, transforming raw timber into sculptural forms.

In the dining area, another subtle totem delineates space while integrating lighting, minimizing ceiling fixtures. Fluted walls with vertical grooves create rhythm and a sense of interconnectedness, balancing wood, leather, and bouclé with lightness.

Private Spaces

Private spaces include two distinct chambers: one soft and cocoon-like, the other defined by clean lines and indulgence. The den features striped woven walls, monochrome art, sculptural lighting, and moody furniture, cultivating a cozy hygge atmosphere.

A decadent bar opens onto a terrace, where wood and stone interiors meet a raven leaf-shaped counter. Outside, minimal design slowly unveils its complexity, with fluid ceiling panels echoing the surrounding trees.

InGrained orchestrates beauty, craft, and belonging, prioritizing material hierarchy according to function and temperament. From inlay work reserved for skilled artisans to fluted walls in the living and daughter’s rooms. The materiality of wood resonates throughout.

Materials

“The clients encouraged us to experiment, supported prototyping, and allowed us to create something unique,” says Bihani. Materials include ash wood, charred timber, fluted and carved panels, Italian marble, metal, stone inlays, and neutral-toned textiles with earthy accents.

Bihani creates a home that is contemporary. It is deeply rooted in the city’s layered spirit, and reinterprets Kolkata’s artisanal legacy. InGrained is a home that honors the trees that once stood tall. The hands that carved them, and a city that continues to celebrate craft.

Bathrooms deviate from the primary wood palette. Grey marble anchors the den’s bathroom, while variegated stone and antiques enrich the powder room, brecciated marble softens the master bath, and pink-black tones enliven the daughter’s bathroom.

Wood appears here in furniture, mirrors, and lamps, harmonizing with the stone accents. Color plays a vital role in this home. In the daughter’s room, Bihani avoids stereotypical pinks and princess motifs, opting for soft pastels accented with bold artwork and textured walls.

She divided the space into study, play, and sleep zones, with a wooden desk backed by mint-green shelves, polka-dotted walls, and clever hidden nooks like a study behind the bed and a reading hammock beneath cabinetry.

Fact File

Designed by: Spaces & Design

Project Type: Residential Interior Design

Project Name: Ingrained

Location: Kolkata

Project Size: 5000 Sq.ft.

Principal Architect: Pooja Bihani

Photograph Courtesy: Ishita Sitwala

Firm’s Instagram Link: Spaces & Design

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