Refined Rusticity Comes Alive In This Bali-Inspired Home In Chennai
A compelling assortment of natural materials and weaves, an abundance of light, and an overarching simplicity – this Chennai apartment designed by Sunita Yogesh is a testament to slow living. The three-bedroom apartment takes inspiration from Balinese design and is enveloped in subdued colours and a strong textural identity. Yogesh’s brief was simple – the clients wanted a warm, laid-back home with a subtle sense of luxury. “This home is a breath of fresh air, fusing traditional elements in a modern yet minimalistic set-up,” Yogesh tells us. “Though the walls were kept primarily white, we added multiple textured elements like woven wall baskets, antique wooden carved wall art, abstract wall prints, and oversized distressed arched mirrors to dress up the walls.”
The home opens into a wabi sabi-inspired living and dining area where the concrete-finished vitrified tile flooring sets a tone of pared back comfort that seamlessly flows through the home. The design of the living room is consciously made unpretentious and informal; a low-slung sectional sofa is paired with a Kangaroo chair, both of which evince a sense of casual intimacy. While the colour scheme is decidedly neutral, an interplay of natural textures infuses the room with character. “We also stylized the space with a lot of handmade ceramics and pottery which helps to bring in the colour element to space,” says Yogesh. The repurposed louvered window frame on the white brick wall, rustic wooden coffee table, concrete end table from Gulmohar Lane, handmade patterned rug from Ghar Ghar and bamboo pendant lights from Orange Tree come together cohesively to create a narrative of understated elegance.
A classic, round table and matte black chairs with rattan backs are bathed in diffused natural light in the dining space. Serving as a space to display curios from the clients’ travels, an alcove with an arched top sits neatly within the wall. Alongside the dining table, a console with woven wicker shutters further adds textural dimension to the space, while the large arched mirror hanging above it creates the illusion of depth.
Serving as a sanctuary to escape into, the master bedroom takes on a rustic simplicity layered with organic materials and muted tones. A minimalist arched headboard wall serves as the highlight of the room, against which a low platform bed lies neatly. Adding to the Bali imagery, woven Indonesian baskets hang as art on the wall adjacent to the bed and are further complemented by the hand woven jute rug from Jaipur Rugs on the floor. Teak framed and fabric textured wardrobe shutters further accentuate the refined raw aesthetic of the space.
A custom wooden bed with a woven rope headboard serves as an element of interest in the guest bedroom. Flanked on either side by traditional nightstands with modern black rounded table lamps, the room evinces a well balanced mix of classic and contemporary elements. Jute textured fabric window shades add to the overarching earthy aesthetic, while the cool grey wardrobes serve to neutralize the warmth of the room.
Given that the client is a self-employed working professional and required a dedicated work-from-home space, Yogesh converted the third bedroom into a home office. A classic desk from and a Pierre Jeanneret desk chair from Purple Turtles make up the core of the workspace, and a bespoke teak wooden bookshelf and the vintage teal almirah serve as compelling feature elements. In order to still maintain the functionality of a bedroom, Yogesh added in a grey daybed. “The bespoke wooden bookshelf, and the teal grey almirah in the home office are some of my favorite pieces of furniture in the home,” says Yogesh.
