It’s that rarest of rare quality, that little something called flair that gives a home a distinctive appeal. Interior designers Ruchi Gehani and Rashi Bothra, principal designers of Azure Interiors, have mastered just that. The Aggarwal residence located in the business hub of North India, Raipur, is charming with its tailormade aesthetics, awash with colours, textures and fine design details that do not disappoint.
The 4,800 sq-ft, four-bedroom bungalow required a complete facelift. This meant breaking down walls, creating seamless spaces and increasing the size of doors and windows to let natural light bathe the interiors. The layout of the house remains the same, the public areas — living, dining, kitchen, guest bedroom and the entertainment zone — are on the ground level, while the master bedroom, two children’s rooms and a lounge are on the first. What has changed, however, is the way the spaces interact with one another and the modern appeal of the spaces.
The foyer features Italian marble flooring in a combination of white and beige, walls with strips of Italian marble hues, and a distressed mirror ceiling. The focal point in the living room is a 60-year-old pichwai, juxtaposed with a brass legged modern sofa from Alsorg and the centre table from Formus with fish skin detailing. Complementing it are ring shaped side tables, also from Formus, designed by Mumbai-based furniture designers Mozez Singh and Fenny Ganatra. The 25 ft tall, smoked velvet curtains add to the majestic setting. The highlight of the dining room is the Fanzart chandelier-fan, artworks, and the black fixed glass panel, which allows views of the beautiful outdoor fountain. The kitchen is clean lined, modern and features a stainless steel modular unit from Arttd’inox.
The designers wanted to give the three main bedrooms of the house – master and the two children’s bedrooms – a distinct identity. The master bedroom was consciously given a sober and calming atmosphere, but is still luxurious thanks to the suede walls. The teenage daughter’s bedroom has an earthy feel and a seamless wall and flooring in micro-cement. A cane and wood four-poster bed, seating corner, study-dresser and old world wardrobe complement the look. Inlay-work created on the flooring with brass, a lovely bedding collection from Good Earth, a vintage free standing tall mirror, and engaging accessories renders a bespoke quality to the entire bedroom. Lastly, the son’s room is rustic and edgy with concrete wall panels. Pops of colour are introduced by Casa Paradox wallpaper, wardrobe panels, and feature on the chairs.
Fact File
Name of the project: Aggarwal Bungalow
Location: Raipur, Chhattisgarh
Area: 4,800 sq-ft
Design firm: Azure Interiors
Principal designers: Ruchi Gehani and Rashi Bothra
Duration: Seven months
