Some homes are designed around a style. Others are designed around a feeling. Shri Karthik Illam began with a beautiful contradiction—the structure was modern, but the heart of the home wanted to be traditional.

The existing structure was already in place, which meant that there was very little scope to alter the ceiling, lighting, flooring, or architectural elements. At the same time, the clients wanted their home to carry the warmth and familiarity of traditional Indian design. The challenge was that they knew they wanted that traditional character, but not necessarily what form it should take. That became the starting point of the design.

Instead of choosing between modern and traditional, we decided to let the two meet. The existing modern structure became our canvas, while traditional Indian elements were gradually introduced through solid wood craftsmanship, brass detailing, classical trims, Indian motifs, warm finishes, colour, and furniture design.

The idea was never to make the home look traditionally Indian in an obvious or literal way. It was about taking familiar elements and giving them a contemporary interpretation—creating a home that feels rooted, but not dated; modern, but not cold. And that transition became the soul of Shri Karthik Illam. From the moment you enter, the home begins to tell that story.

A Modern Structure, A Traditional Soul, The Home Identity Of Shri Karthik Illam | Stonespire Architects

THE ENTRANCE

The entrance is perhaps the strongest expression of the home’s identity. The first element that catches your eye is the handcrafted elephant motif, created entirely in solid wood. We chose a half-elephant interpretation, with each individual piece carefully crafted, polished, and brought together to create a statement against the PU-finished back panel. But the elephant motif was never intended to exist on its own. As you enter the home, the composition unfolds around it—the Chettinad-inspired column, cradle chair, Ganesha idol, elephant panel, and pendant light come together as one visual experience. The result is an entrance that feels ceremonial without being excessive. It is traditional in its references, contemporary in its composition, and deeply rooted in craftsmanship.

THE TV UNIT

The TV unit takes inspiration from something deeply familiar in Indian homes—the traditional swing—and reinterprets it as a contemporary piece of furniture. The unit is divided into two symmetrical PU-finished panels in sage green and white. On the sage green panel, a custom mandala stencil artwork brings an element of handcrafted artistry into the composition.

The stencil was specially created for this particular piece, making the artwork an integral part of the design rather than an applied afterthought. Above, solid wood motifs add another layer of traditional detailing, while the lower section incorporates the required TV storage. The beauty of this unit lies in the balance. The symmetry and clean lines keep it contemporary, while the swing-inspired form, mandala artwork, and solid wood detailing bring in the traditional character. It is one of those pieces where function quietly becomes art.

THE CONSOLE

The console is an exercise in subtle contrast. The upper portion is finished in veneer, bringing natural warmth and texture to the piece, while the lower portion is finished in PU, creating a clean contrast between the two materials. The entire unit was crafted using HDF and HMR, rather than solid wood, allowing us to achieve the required detailing and precision while maintaining the desired visual character. The final layer comes through the antique brass knobs and handles. They introduce just enough traditional warmth to connect the console back to the larger design language of the home. Nothing is overly decorative. Instead, the beauty comes from the combination of material, proportion, finish, and hardware.

THE MASTER BEDROOM

The master bedroom takes the traditional vocabulary of the home and translates it into something quieter and more refined. The walls are framed with classical trims finished in the same paint colour, creating depth without introducing unnecessary contrast.

A solid wood bed becomes the centrepiece of the room, bringing warmth and craftsmanship into the space. The wardrobe continues the natural material palette with veneer-finished frames, while the shutters feature an interesting play on the idea of louvers.

Rather than creating actual open louvers, we created an illusion of louver detailing on the shutters, giving them the visual rhythm of traditional louvers while keeping the surface functional and clean. The antique handles and knobs add another layer of character.

Across the room, the console continues the same material language, crafted in HDF and HMR with a veneer finish, with solid wood legs grounding the piece. Brass detailing across the drawers completes the composition. Together, the classical trims, solid wood, veneer, and brass create a bedroom that feels elegant without becoming overly formal.

THE DAUGHTER’S BEDROOM

The daughter’s bedroom tells a completely different story. The brief here was softer, lighter, and more playful—with a palette of pinks and whites and the feeling of a soft girl era. The design keeps that softness at its core while introducing the traditional craftsmanship that runs through the rest of the home. A concealed door disappears seamlessly into the room, keeping the visual language clean. At the study corner, tradition meets modern functionality. A hand-carved solid wood column runs from floor to ceiling, creating a strong vertical element. A wooden ledge sits alongside it, with a wall-mounted unit above. Behind the unit, a delicate floral wallpaper brings the pink-and-white palette together and adds a softer layer of pattern.

THE LIBRARY CORNER

Tucked into a corner of the home is a space designed to slow things down. The library is composed of four symmetrical wall-mounted racks, finished in sage green PU, with warm veneer-finished wooden ledges placed between them. The racks are supported and connected through brass rods, introducing a delicate metallic detail while maintaining the lightness of the composition

The symmetry gives the unit a sense of order, while the combination of sage green, wood, and brass keeps it warm. More than just a storage unit for books, the corner was designed to become a small retreat within the home—a place to sit, pick up a book, and simply spend some quiet time.

THE ESSENCE OF SHRI KARTHIK ILLAM

Shri Karthik Illam is not a home that tries to recreate the past. It is a home that takes inspiration from it and gives it a new language. The modern structure gave us the framework. The clients’ love for traditional design gave us the direction. And craftsmanship became the bridge between the two. Every space has its own personality, but the same thread runs through the entire home—wood, brass, colour, craftsmanship, Indian references, and contemporary functionality. From the elephant motif that welcomes you at the entrance, to the swing-inspired TV unit, the sage green library, the classical master bedroom, and the soft pink-and-white daughter’s room, the home unfolds as a collection of individual moments that belong to one larger story. Shri Karthik Illam is a contemporary Indian home where modernity provides the structure, tradition provides the soul, and craftsmanship brings the two together.

Fact File

Designed by: Stonespire Architects

Project Type: Residential Interior Design

Project Name: Shri Karthik Illam

Location: Bangalore

Year Built: 2025

Duration of the project: October 2025 to February 2026

Project Size: 3000 Sq.ft

Principal Designer: Simra Baig

Photography Credits: sanjith_photography_official

Firm’s Website Link: Stonespire Architects

Instagram Link: Stonespire Architects

Firm’s Facebook Link: Stonespire Architects

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