This 1500 sq.ft. apartment was envisioned as a vibrant, contemporary home for a client keen on exploring bold color within a cohesive and liveable framework. The design reimagines a typical builder-grade apartment into a series of expressive yet connected spaces. Here, color, materiality, and texture work together to create a layered spatial experience.
This 1500 sq ft Home Has A Vibrant And Contemporary Spatial Experience | Studio Smara
At the heart of the design is the idea of colour as an architectural tool. Colour is applied in deliberate blocks across walls and volumes rather than being used as surface decoration. This defines zones, guides movement, and establishes visual continuity.
A carefully curated palette of earthy terracotta, muted greys, warm neutrals, and saturated accents brings balance. It allows the home to feel energetic without being overwhelming.
The foyer sets the tone with its tactile material palette, featuring woven cane and hand made elements that introduce warmth right at the entrance. This material language continues into the living area, where a bold lemon-yellow sofa becomes the focal point, set against a sculpted terracotta-toned TV wall.
The play between the vibrant upholstery and the earthy background creates a space that is both dynamic and grounded. A black and white graphic rug and carefully layered fabrics add contrast and rhythm to the composition.
The dining area is an extension of the living space and adopts a softer expression. A folding wooden dining table paired with cane chairs brings in flexibility and lightness, while a grey accent wall and a mirrored surface enhance depth and reflectivity.
The architects handled the transition from the living to dining and into the passage through a continuation of the color-blocking language—where terracotta tones gradually give way to muted greys, subtly demarcating zones while maintaining a seamless flow.
A standout space within the home is the library, conceived as a warm and immersive retreat. Lined with custom wooden bookshelves filled with books, the space is anchored by bold pink seating that introduces a striking contrast. Overhead, a grid of exposed filament lights creates a sculptural ceiling feature, casting a soft, ambient glow that enhances the cozy atmosphere.
Extending the interiors outward, the balcony continues the palette of light wood and woven textures, incorporating casual seating and a standing bar along the railing. This space acts as a relaxed spillover from the living area, maintaining material continuity while offering a more informal setting.
A key challenge throughout the project was to balance bold visual expression with everyday functionality and cohesion. This was achieved by grounding vibrant elements with natural materials, maintaining consistency in finishes, and carefully detailing transitions between spaces.The result is a home that feels playful yet refined—where color, craft, and contemporary design come together to create a distinctive and inviting living environment.
Fact File
Designed by: Studio Smara
Project Type: Residential Interior Design
Project Name: Lemon
Location: Bangalore
Year Built: 2024
Duration of the project: 3 Months
Project Size: 1500 Sq.ft.
Principal Architect: Ar. Sruthi Kumar
Design Credits: Ar. Manasa Rao
Photograph Courtesy: meghana_manish
Products / Materials / Vendors: Lighting – Light & Living / Furniture – Craftsmill, Ikea, Inmarwar, Objectry Paint – Asian Paints / Artefacts – Wooden Street, Whispering Homes, Vaaree / Rugs – Rug Republic, Obeetee / Artwork – Best of Bharat
Firm’s Website Link: Studio Smara
The Firm’s Instagram Link: Studio Smara
Firm’s Facebook Link: Studio Smara
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