In the heart of a lush Ahmedabad neighborhood, a bare-shell duplex flat is transformed into a soulful sanctuary by Aura Design Atelier. Titled The Layered Narrative, this 2500 sq ft Indian apartment balances warmth, restraint, and personality, interweaving the lives of its residents through materials, light, and spatial flow.

From the onset, the home reflects a clear intent: to preserve the expansive openness and daylight that defined the original shell, while layering every corner with detail and meaning. A transitional foyer welcomes visitors with soft geometry—sage green and gold floral patterns paired with bamboo-brass seashell lights set a tone of poetic elegance.

Editor’s Note: “Bathed in daylight and draped in earthy elegance, ‘The Layered Narrative’ reflects slow living. With soft arches, timeless palettes, and sculptural depth, this home is where each space resonates with intention. It is more than architecture, a living archive of dreams, where light, love, and legacy converge.” ~ Anusha Sridhar

A Soulful Indian Apartment Infused with Heritage | Aura Design Atelier

Heart of the Home

The central living, dining, and kitchen area is open and interconnected, honoring the client’s desire for fluid, partition-free living. At the heart of the living space is a bespoke reversible swing—upholstered in terracotta tones with a rattan-wood backrest—strategically placed to connect both the interior arrangement and the balcony view. It faces a red brick wall, crafted into floral geometric motifs that add rawness and depth to the otherwise refined palette. Alongside, a curved TV unit clad in soft gold panel, with a built-in library and showcase, brings in understated sophistication.

Light pours through full-length French windows, guiding the eye outward to the brick-lined balcony. A hammock-style lounge chair extends the living experience, where the material continuity between indoor and outdoor is both seamless and intentional. Rattan sconces here visually lead toward the upper balcony of the master bedroom, subtly tying both levels together.

Dining Zone

In the dining zone, a custom marble table with deep brown and gold veining takes center stage. Its inverted arched legs introduce rhythm and sculptural form, mirrored by the arched niches of the flanking crockery unit. Fluted glass shutters and reeded ceiling panels create a vertical movement that continues through cabinetry, lending the space a layered depth and tactility.

The adjacent kitchen continues the story of earthy elegance. Sage green modular cabinetry pairs with distressed Italian tile backsplashes featuring tropical patterns. Built-in appliances and warm-toned Italian marble flooring strike the right chord between nostalgia and modernity—establishing a grounded yet functional culinary space.

Grandparents’ bedroom

The upper level is home to four bedrooms, each an intimate portrait of its occupant’s personality. The Grandparents’ bedroom subtly celebrates Indian heritage: a wooden bed with geometric posts, green ikat-patterned wardrobe shutters, and a hand-applied warm stucco bed wall.

Antique brass lamps and vintage photographs lend it a rooted, timeless atmosphere, while partially curved wardrobe and exposed metal stand bring in a touch of modernity.

Master Bedroom

The master bedroom, by contrast, is more vibrant and expressive. A bespoke ochre-toned wall panel with nature inspired motifs framing the bed, which features wood and brass inlay details.

Sage green wardrobes with cane shutters and gold-finished handles reinforce the earthy palette, while faux wooden ceiling rafters and a cozy study nook complete the composition.

Elder son’s room

The elder son’s room doubles as a relaxed den, complete with a raised wooden platform bed that transitions into a lounge seat by the window. Fluted paneling rises to form vaulted ceiling features and conceals a walk-in wardrobe.

A boucle-upholstered lounge chair and floating black metal study shelf introduce comfort and contemporary edge. The palette remains muted—beiges, whites, and blacks—anchored by bamboo accents and sculptural lighting.

Younger son’s room

Meanwhile, the younger son’s room takes a bold yet minimal stance. Rendered in greyscale with punches of red, it features acrylic-fluted wardrobes, circular wooden handles, and a terracotta-hued rattan pendant. A custom red gradient bed-back and round ceiling profile bring in playful geometry without overpowering the space.

While each bedroom is distinct, what binds the home together is its shared vocabulary. Earthy materials, soft curves, handcrafted textures, add an elegant balance of old and new. Brass elements—used subtly across lighting fixtures, furniture details, and wardrobe handles—act as quiet markers of luxury throughout.

Among the home’s defining features is the reversible swing—more than a design intervention, it becomes a metaphor for the home’s duality: interactive yet intimate, relaxed yet refined. The sculptural dining table offers a counterpoint, with its staggered arches casting rhythmic shadows. In every room, the designers have struck a fine balance. The layering of spaces with just enough detail to feel alive, without tipping into visual clutter.

In The Layered Narrative, Aura Design Atelier showcases a rare sensitivity. It responds to both the emotional and spatial needs of a modern Indian family. Each element is intentional, each material expressive, and each room a story—woven together into one cohesive, elegant composition.

Fact File

Designed by: Aura Design Atelier

Project Type: Residential Interior Design

Project Name: The Layered Narrative

Location: Ahmedabad

Year Built: 2025

Duration of the project: 2024-2025

Project Size: 2500 Sq.ft

Principal Designers: Austin Mendonca & Rhea Mendonca

Photograph Courtesy: Murtaza Gandhi

Firm’s Instagram Link: Aura Design Atelier

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