Houzz Tour: A New Flat is Given an Elegant, Space-smart Makeover
Built-in joinery and a stylish colour palette have transformed this modest flat into a spacious, contemporary home
Vinita Kunnath
2 January 2021
A Houzz India contributor, freelance writer, lover of the internet, travel, funny blogs and all things off-beat, with an eye for good taste and aesthetics. Home, not clothes, maketh a man.....or woman.
A Houzz India contributor, freelance writer, lover of the internet, travel, funny... More
“Our clients wanted their home to be open, clutter-free, pet-friendly, and modern yet warm, with a neutral palette interspersed with some punches of colour,” says Sunita Yogesh, creative director of Sunita Yogesh Studio. Having joined the project early on, the studio had the flexibility to make changes to flooring, fittings and the layout to create a home that evolved organically.
The end result is an apartment bathed in natural light enhanced by white walls, with clean-lined furniture, warm wooden flooring that flows throughout to tie the entire home together, and bursts of jewel tones to perk up the neutral palette.
The end result is an apartment bathed in natural light enhanced by white walls, with clean-lined furniture, warm wooden flooring that flows throughout to tie the entire home together, and bursts of jewel tones to perk up the neutral palette.
House at a Glance
Who lives here? A young couple, their daughter and three cats
Location Chennai, India
Year built 2020
Size Three bedrooms and three bathrooms; 140 sq m
Designer Sunita Yogesh of Sunita Yogesh Studio
Photos by Yash R Jain
The entrance to the apartment is through an eye-catching corridor. ”The first thing that caught my attention was the large foyer space, which you don’t find in most compact apartments, so we wanted to make it really stand out,” Sunita says. “We went with striking black-and-white geometric patterned tiles for the flooring that makes a great first impression.” The main door is finished in a rich teak veneer.
Who lives here? A young couple, their daughter and three cats
Location Chennai, India
Year built 2020
Size Three bedrooms and three bathrooms; 140 sq m
Designer Sunita Yogesh of Sunita Yogesh Studio
Photos by Yash R Jain
The entrance to the apartment is through an eye-catching corridor. ”The first thing that caught my attention was the large foyer space, which you don’t find in most compact apartments, so we wanted to make it really stand out,” Sunita says. “We went with striking black-and-white geometric patterned tiles for the flooring that makes a great first impression.” The main door is finished in a rich teak veneer.
The hall was wide enough to fit in a built-in seat and a tall cabinet to store shoes. Wood panelling on the wall adds the right amount of warmth and an oversized round mirror (see previous picture) on the wall opposite makes the space appear larger.
Straight ahead of the hallway lies the living room in shades of warm wood and cool pale blues and greys. Colour introduced through cushions and accessories serves to perk up the overall neutral palette.
A modular sofa works perfectly to make the most of the space and helps to segregate the living and dining zones. The TV wall is clad in subtle stone-finish tiling that adds texture to the room amid plain white walls.
Talking about the lighting, Sunita explains, “We layered the lighting throughout the space, with recessed ceiling lights, floor lamps, wall sconces and cove lighting.”
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Talking about the lighting, Sunita explains, “We layered the lighting throughout the space, with recessed ceiling lights, floor lamps, wall sconces and cove lighting.”
Ready to find a professional to renovate your home? Look no further than the Houzz Professionals Directory, where you can see past projects and read client reviews for pros in your area.
A minimalist four-seater dining table is anchored by a large pendant light suspended above. Chairs upholstered in pale pink pair well with the pastel built-in bar cabinet at the far end of the dining room.
The cabinets sitting above the pale-blue bar are fronted with reeded glass in a matching hue.
The studio also created a nook (not seen) for the family’s three cats, with a hidden litter box cabinet, and added a perch wall above it so the animals have their own little corner.
The studio also created a nook (not seen) for the family’s three cats, with a hidden litter box cabinet, and added a perch wall above it so the animals have their own little corner.
Beyond the dining space lies the kitchen. “When our client mentioned that she dreamed of having a green kitchen, we jumped at the opportunity and went with deep forest green for the cabinets and brass hardware for a bit of bling,” Sunita says.
Stone-finish vitrified tiles cover the floor, while the black glazed door adds a contrast to the white walls.
Stone-finish vitrified tiles cover the floor, while the black glazed door adds a contrast to the white walls.
The worktop is a slab of maintenance-friendly black granite, while white, picket-shaped tiles for the splashback add an element of pattern and lighten up the space.
For the main bedroom, the designers opted for a Prussian blue for the headboard wall and paired it with a grey upholstered bed and wooden bedside tables. “The brass wall sconces really pop against the blue and make a statement,” Sunita says.
The wardrobes were kept simple, with white shutters and sleek black handles that add an element of contrast and interest.
The wardrobes were kept simple, with white shutters and sleek black handles that add an element of contrast and interest.
The master bathroom is clad in textured tiles in a shade of pale graphite, bathing the space in a moody vibe. Brass bath fittings add a feel of understated luxury.
A wall in the master bedroom was opened up to access the balcony just outside. This not only made the balcony an extension of both the living room and the bedroom, making them appear larger, but also brought large swathes of natural light into the rooms.
The black French windows leading to the balcony are the signature element of the home. Stone-finish tiles laid in a herringbone pattern add a design motif, while teak-finish wooden panels for the ceiling tie the inside and outside spaces together.
A vertical garden and bespoke outdoor seating made of bamboo give an organic feel to the space.
A vertical garden and bespoke outdoor seating made of bamboo give an organic feel to the space.
The guest bedroom keeps to the neutral scheme that permeates the house, except for the emerald-green bed, which provides a shot of bright colour. Sleek midcentury bedside tables in dual shades flank the bed. The wardrobe and louvred wooden shutters give the room a classic touch.
Sunita also incorporated a home office into the flat. “We wanted to create for the filmmaker owner a home office that’s professional, yet feels like it’s part of the home,” Sunita explains. “We went with a moody grey for the entire room and a board and batten wall panelling for the feature wall, while the abstract artwork sets the mood for the space.”
Blue accent chairs add colour and bring a softness to the no-nonsense space.
Tell us…
What do you like most about this home? Share your thoughts in the Comments.
Blue accent chairs add colour and bring a softness to the no-nonsense space.
Tell us…
What do you like most about this home? Share your thoughts in the Comments.
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It is beautifully done, specially the fluted glass used in the bathroom and bar cabinet looks really elegant. Can you share the picture of the cat corner.
Beautiful space. Loved the kitchen. The deep green contrasts so well with the white backsplash. The bathroom is just so elegant.
Loved the minimalist decor of the placebut the pops of colur added so much life ...great aesthetic form and function wise !