What gives a home its presence—scale, ornament, or conviction? In this residence, it is the latter. Designed for a family of academics and art enthusiasts, the interiors of Project Jade embrace depth and layering as a natural extension of how they live. Material honesty, craft, and personality come together within a grounded architectural framework, creating a space that feels generous and expressive without feeling unsettled. Grounded in sensibility yet expansive in character, the home reflects a cultivated maximalism: rich, deliberate, and entirely its own.
After years of living abroad, the clients were not seeking to recreate a former idea of home but to define one that felt inherently their own. With complete trust in the process, they allowed the design to evolve through dialogue and refinement rather than a predetermined style. This openness resonated deeply with the approach of srds—one that values clarity over imposition and sensibility over trend. The design establishes a composed canvas, while art and craftsmanship bring depth and articulation. No singular gesture dominates; instead, the home finds its presence in the quiet alignment of its parts, with art ultimately becoming the voice of the space.
Planned as a duplex with an open approach, the home unfolds through a gentle play of levels. The entry opens into the central living and dining space, and the kitchen, once imagined as a closed room, was opened up to become part of this shared setting. The intention was not simply to create openness but to allow the house to feel more fluid and lived in. The upper floor accommodates the private rooms and a study, arranged along a corridor that overlooks the volume below. Defined by a glass-block railing, this passage becomes a subtle connector between levels.
Despite the generous scale, the planning makes a conscious effort to keep the experience intimate. Subtle shifts in level and lowered passages help bring the proportions closer to everyday comfort, ensuring the openness feels welcoming rather than overwhelming.
Woven into the home’s language, art becomes integral to its character. The scale of the Pichwai, the intricacy of Nathdwara works, and the distinctive colors of Mata ni Pachedi and Kalamkari introduce cultural richness with ease. Set against the lime-washed backdrop, these pieces lend depth and personality while remaining in harmony with the interiors. Rather than existing as isolated highlights, they come together as a considered ensemble, shaping the home’s character and lending it a cultivated sense of identity.
Textiles and color lend the interiors their warmth. Bhujodi cushion covers and bedspreads introduce handwoven texture, while deeper tones of crimson, olive, and purple appear across rugs and upholstery, adding depth to the neutral canvas. These accents settle naturally into the setting, bringing vibrancy and softness in equal measure.
Binding the interiors together is the river-washed yellow Tandur flooring, bringing an earthy warmth to the home. Its muted, sun-touched tone anchors the neutral palette while adding a sense of familiarity underfoot. As natural light moves through the space, the stone softens and brightens, lending the interiors an airy, open freshness. As a native Indian material, it forms a grounded base upon which the rest of the home gently unfolds.
Furniture throughout the home is designed to sit naturally within the space. It isn’t heavily ornamental, yet the detailing is thoughtful and carefully resolved. Slightly taller proportions and elongated lines respond to the surrounding height, allowing each piece to feel in tune with its setting. Alongside natural wood, select coloured finishes introduce depth and variation, adding subtle contrast while maintaining balance. The dining area is anchored by a lamp designed in- house, its form and materiality aligning seamlessly with the overall language of the interiors. It resists a singular definition, choosing instead to hold many influences in quiet balance. The home does not insist on an answer. It allows interpretation.
What remains undeniable, however, is the feeling it leaves behind—personal, assured, and entirely its own. What it offers instead is a strong yet familiar presence, a space that feels both cultivated and deeply lived in.
Team:
Architects: srds | Shrutika Raut Design Studio
Photographer: Hemant Patil
