This Modern 3-Bedroom Apartment Embodies India Modern Style
Geometric patterns, retro-tinged colours and carefully curated old and new elements come together to create an airy yet rich and layered home
This three-bedroom apartment in Bangalore, India, belongs to an easygoing couple with two young children. The parents wanted a colourful, cheerful interior that exudes happiness and reflects the personalities of each family member.
They engaged interior designer Smitha Zachariah of ZxP Design. “The homeowner used to be the owner of one of the biggest fabric stores in Bangalore. I met him long ago, and he loved how I worked with fabrics and colours,” shares Smitha.
AT A GLANCE
Home: 3-bedroom Apartment in Bangalore
Who lives here: A family of four
Size: 2,600 sq ft
ID: ZxP Design
One of the up-and-coming interior designers in Bangalore, Smitha has a degree in fashion and textile design with a focus on tapestry. She approaches her interiors with thoughtful use of colours, textures and India Modern design sensibilities, characterised by the mix of old and new.
Smitha uses the India Modern approach to crafting communal spaces with a sense of formality fit for entertaining, and private spaces that serve as a sanctuary for each family member.
Entering the house, one arrives at a foyer clad with mirror panels.
Marble wallpaper, brass chairs, two table lamps made with banarasi fabric – fine decorative silk used to make saree – and an Islamic calligraphy art set the tone of the communal space.
The space opens up to the seamless dining and living room.
The richness of the material palette comes from delicate patterns with muted colours that give the interior a retro tinge.
“The colours in this home are a bit subdued with a special emphasis on white – as the space feels fresh and airy and other colours play up very nicely against white,” says Smitha.
Throughout the house, wall panellings lend a stately touch, while mirrored surfaces double the spatial perception of the space. Brass accents add a touch of lux.
Smitha balances the myriad of textures and colours in the space with hardwood flooring and white surfaces.
One wall features a decorative wallpaper from famous Indian designer Sabyasachi; another features fine botanical prints echoed by a carpet with a Samarkand vibe.
The TV is mounted to the wall above the mantelpiece, flanked by bone-inlaid chest drawers – a subtle East-meets-West tableau.
This communal space extends to the expansive balcony, with another outdoor dining and sitting area. Here, Smitha pairs terracotta-washed walls with vitrified tiles, striking geometric tables and plenty of cushions to create a Moroccan vibe.
The family has another, more private, enclosed TV room, a den-like space finished with cobalt blue panelling that can be converted into a guest room when needed.
The bedrooms are personalised to their occupants.
The master bedroom features arched niches finished in muted gold wallpaper that elegantly frame the bed and the nightstands.
The regal master bedroom features arched niches whose curve is cleverly echoed by the side tables.
The daughter’s bedroom features floral wallpaper and a scalloped headboard.
The scalloped headboard and the delicate floral wallpaper create a whimsical and romantic vibe.
Meanwhile, the son – who plays tennis – chose a Wimbledon theme for his room, articulated with leather and metal finishes, striped wallpaper, and tennis-themed graphics.
A cosy bay window sitting area in the son’s room, awashed in mint green.
In this home, Smitha has beautifully balanced richness with room to breathe and blended formality and opulence with a patina that spoke of warmth and a life well-lived.
Text: Asih Jenie/Home & Decor