Bangalore Houzz: A Grey Rustic Scheme is Quenched With Bold Red
Fadd Studio creates an unconventional, earthy canvas in this home that speaks of understated elegance & magnetic hues
For this three-bedroom, two-level home in Bangalore, the clients were ready to go all out in terms of an unconventional palette and look. For this, they sought the help of Farah Ahmed Mathias and Dhaval Shellugar of Fadd Studio, who decided to work within a primarily neutral shell, punctured with bold, powerful hues.
“Inside this seemingly conventional and sombre canvas of grey walls and white floor, an unusual hue of crimson erupts intermittently into the space, almost like a hypnotic lava flow in an otherwise dull grey landscape; and stands out as one of the main highlights of the home,” Farah Ahmed Mathias says.
“Inside this seemingly conventional and sombre canvas of grey walls and white floor, an unusual hue of crimson erupts intermittently into the space, almost like a hypnotic lava flow in an otherwise dull grey landscape; and stands out as one of the main highlights of the home,” Farah Ahmed Mathias says.
The arched main door is in baroque style, and “it sets the stage for a dramatic entry with black and white stripes leading to a driftwood sculpture console,” says Shellugar.
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The ground floor of the expansive home opens up to a living area, a dining room and a kitchen. All the bedrooms are on the first floor. “We thought – how difficult could it be to design around giant hand-painted tribal pots and red doors? Very! After trying several colour combinations, we decided on a set of hues that would deliver a stark yet seamless experience throughout the house. Black, white, grey and red would be the colours and oak would be the choice of wood,” says Mathias.
The living room floor and walls are white, where the vertical red lights inject a pop of colour. “The main long wall is cement-finished, emulating an RCC wall, with copper studs; ceiling is also cement-finished,” says Shellugar. All the furniture was custom-made for the home. A large wooden partition separates the living-room area from the rest of the home.
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The dining room follows the organic rustic theme of the living room, thanks to the cement walls and ceiling. “The furniture is carefully chosen to stand out and blend in – depends on how you see it,” Mathias says.
The cantilevered staircase has a character of its own. On the first floor, the built-in wooden bookcase contrasts with the grey palette of the home. “The design starts from a stepped platform, and the railing is a multiplicity of black members, not only giving the space texture, but also mirroring the architectural slits of skylight and the cutout of the adjacent wall,” Shellugar says.
The younger daughter’s bedroom on the first floor is awash in grey, where the wallpaper adds texture to the space. “The multihued headboard injects the needed colour into the space,” says Mathias.
The bathroom is a canvas of grey and bright red. Giving grounding to the scheme are the white elements such as the WC and the sink.
The elder daughter’s bedroom and bathroom carry forward an aqua scheme that creates a soothing atmosphere. The bed back is finished in wallpaper. “All bathrooms reflect the room colours and are eclectic in their own way,” Shellugar says.
The white master bedroom has large windows that allow plenty of light inside. “The floor is a beautifully printed motley tile in neutral colours. The bed is white with an upholstered headboard,” Mathias says.
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Looking for a designer to decorate your home?
In the multihued master bathroom, “the hand-painted vanity takes centre stage, and not only brings vibrancy to the room but also maximises storage,” says Shellugar.
A view from the staircase – the lines of vertical skylight slits are continued in a light-and-shadow effect on the terrace, which looks dynamic and dramatic.
The terrace area is a monochromatic one, drenched in black, white and navy. The seating area, partially covered, makes for a cosy nook to socialise, read or even watch the rains. “This home, a wonderfully stimulating experiment in design, resulted in a space that is contemporary, dramatic, explosive, eclectic, energetic and electrifying,” concludes Mathias.
Read more:
Houzz Tour: This 775-Sq-Ft Flat Goes All Out On Quirk & Colour
Tell us:
What did you like the most about this home? Tell us in Comments below.
Read more:
Houzz Tour: This 775-Sq-Ft Flat Goes All Out On Quirk & Colour
Tell us:
What did you like the most about this home? Tell us in Comments below.
Who lives here: A couple and their two daughters
Location: Bangalore, Karnataka
Size: 557 square metres (6000 square feet); 3
bedrooms; 3 bathrooms
Principal designers: Farah Ahmed Mathias and Dhaval Shellugar of Fadd Studio
Project designer: Zulan
Styling assistance: Shohini Munshi
Art: Aarti Karyun
Photos by MEISTER MEISTER
The entrance of the home is marked by an ornate dazzling-red door. The black-and-white flooring and the large sculptures set a luxurious tone to the space. “Interestingly enough, the concept of this home began in two areas. The first was an aesthetic one, in which the inspiration for the doors arose in the deep-red English phone booth design. Since the clients were keen on a very unusual (bordering even avant-garde) home, we were thrilled to discover that the crimson doors we recommended excited the clients as much as they excited us. This, naturally, set a bold and challenging palette for us to work with,” says Mathias.
The second aspect to the home’s design was how to camouflage the staid bits that were unavoidable. “At the right of the entrance was a massive column that needed to be hidden. Building closets around it or even painting it would just not cut it. So, instead, we made it into a sculpture. This life-size tribal pottery seen is that concoction,” says Dhaval Shellugar.