A young couple who had moved from New York to Pune was looking to create a home that can bridge the gap between the life they had experienced and the life they were about to embrace again. The Bridge was the genesis of this 3600 sqft duplex house bridging the gap between different styles of interiors while taking inspirations from the loft apartments of New York and redefining them to suit the lifestyle and the energy of the young couple. 

The influence of Loft apartments seeped into the aesthetics of this house. Double height brick cladded wall with arch windows with Georgian bars sets an instant connection with loft apartments. However, this space has further evolved with mix of styles coming together creating one comprehensive space that feels grown organically and more lived in. Modern Rustic would be a good way to define this house. We wanted the house to come across like a fresh breeze just like the energy of the young couple.

The most challenging and yet most exciting part of this house was to design the common spaces. The double height living room, kitchen, dining, terrace, staircase connecting the passage to upper floors all overlap on one another. It was important to create all these overlapping spaces without making them repetitive and monotonous. Each space had to have its own character and yet be part of the rest without overwhelming the other space.

The living room connected with the dining area peeps further into the pastel olive kitchen through the fluted glass barn door. The open rail hardware of the barn door gives it a rustic charm. The area also has the quintessential café space that reminds the client of Brooklyn cafes.  

The living room extends into the terrace which is shared with the TV/home theatre room. The terrace seating surrounded by a varied mix of plants & creepers; it almost feels like an urban oasis. It was challenging to create visually interesting and engaging spaces layered with subtle contrasts, textures and colors while making sure it doesn’t get stuffy. 

While all the common spaces adhere to warmer palette with hints of pastel tones with subtle contrasts, the bedrooms and bathrooms play around slightly bolder tones bringing a subtle burst of colors within the broader palette of overall house. Presence of brushed brass finish add a subtle sense of luxury through the bedside lamps, hardware, bath fixtures. Rattan chandelier and wicker lamps compliment by adding a layer of craft to the spaces.  

This home primarily breaks away from adhering to any particular style or any ongoing trends. In fact, it brings together contemporary, vintage and rustic elements in an effortless manner where they all coexist & complement each other.

To blend different styles into one, it was extremely important that we create a neutral and muted palette to set a harmonious tone for the overall space. The larger palette works around the warm tones of beige marble flooring laid in staggered pattern, rustic double height brickwork and windows with Georgian bars and presence of Oak wood ceiling. However, it’s the play of various textures and patterns, that doesn’t allow the space to get flat and monotonous.

Layering was one of the important tools to create a sense of depth in the larger spaces. Fabrics of varying textures, pieces of furniture belonging to various styles, organic mix of plants and varied artwork give the space a feeling of a home that is well curated, lived in and grown over a time. The overall house is tastefully curated but not precious. It’s visually comforting and that precisely gives it a feeling of a home!