Sense of innocence

The founder of Purple Backyard, Kumpal Vaid and her team designed the residence in Pune in a chic transitional style with roots in the concept of Hiwaga (a Philippine word that means to evoke a sense of wonder).

Nestled amidst lush landscapes in a quaint corner of Pune, the house is a duplex that brings together the grandiose of villas and utility of apartments into a single construct. The home embraces the client’s exuberance of finally building a dream family home and has been designed to spark joy within all those who inhabit the space. The brick cladding, white metal profile windows, lush indoor greens, chic brass and antique gold accents, a soothing colour palette and textured walls tie the 6000 square feet house together, every room in the house has been designed to evoke an undeniable sense of Hiwaga. The main door celebrates the natural texture and tones of wood with subtle textural details that balance the simplicity with a level of complexity. With a brick wood and the wood accent light with black metal colour palette and subtle transitional undertones, the entryway lends to the peaceful atmosphere of the house. Entrance leads to the common areas with zones being demarcated through a subtle transition in materials or the use of anchoring elements that give each room a unique vibe. The formal living room creates the feeling of wonder through the rich balance of design styles and elements brought together by classic lines juxtaposed with hues and furnishings that are more modern in spirit with multiple visually linked seating options.

My personal style is rooted in Indian heritage but I also incorporate tranquil qualities of zen culture. So when it comes to this house in particular, it’s about building the narrative of Zen like feel that connects every space.

In the dining space, a solid wood table alludes a connection with the outdoors. Beyond the dining there is an outdoor seating with a mandir in the backdrop, adding to the tranquility of the space. Connecting with the dining is the open plan kitchen with ivory cabinetry.

While the powder bathroom is an amalgamation of the transitional chic kitchen and the farmhouse/rustic dining room. The use of playful patterns lends to the feeling of wonder.

Objects in the space appear to be simple overall but they include subtle details, such as textures, that balance simplicity with complexity and give a timeless quality to the space. This balance of simplicity and complexity ensures that one does not tire of the space but constantly finds new meanings and enriched beauty that causes its aesthetic value to grow and adapt with the family’s changing needs over the years.

A curved and arched fluted entry passage, leading to the master bedroom, draws an individual into an unexpected yet carefully coordinated space while creating the feeling of wonder and an element of surprise. Simple silhouettes counterbalanced by nuanced, abstract, and rounded elements keep the eye moving around the room. Here, the designers

My style is rooted in designing decluttered spaces with a zen quality to them. We focus on how transitional a space can be but also try to borrow from many styles and bring it cohesively together in a zen space.

The staircase leads to the second floor that opens to the lounge area with a zen touch with minimal natural tones. This area forms the highlight: an open, unrestricted habitat in which the rooms dissolve easily into each other, doorways are designed as visual portals between common spaces and create a feeling of Hiwaga as one moves between spaces. The outdoor seating lounge has white patterned floor from rawsteen while the brick wall with concrete seating enveloped in greens. The roman bamboo blinds bathe the space in soft natural light, exposed wood rafters, raw edge & live wood log center table.

The second floor also includes the son’s bedroom. The designers opted for two types of walls: wallpaper with a checkered print on one side and the monotony of beige on the other. On the walls we also find white panels at the bottom thus creating a sense of depth. The furniture present is simple: white, with square shapes. Through the door, on which the wallpaper and panels have been applied to make it less appealing, you enter the walkin closet with a simple design. Next, there is also an attached bathroom with a terrazzo counter and natural brick tiles on the walls.

Colour has been used to produce a sense of wonder while giving individuality to each room. Understated, not innocent. Subdued colours, overlaid with tones of grey and white to allow for a space that exudes tranquillity while inducing a sense of awe.