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Nimai Kumbharkar-Renowned architect and interior designer
Nimai Paresh Kumbharkar is a well known architect and interior designer with more than 24 years of experience. Hailing from a family who were into the business of pottery for many years, Nimai learned the craft of design from his ancestors. He deviated from his family's traditional occupation of designing pottery to designing houses and structures by opening an interior design studio called Vatt Vriksha interior design studio in Panjim.
Formerly known as KIC_Concept to Creation design studio, Vatt Vriksha interior design studio, combines form and function to produce timeless interiors. The services which they provide includes complete renovation of homes and buildings, home improvement and decoration. They discover their clients' aspirations and draw inspiration from them. Every home designed by them is unique. They incorporate a variety of styles to achieve the ideal aesthetic while still satisfying the needs and requirements of their clients.
During the course of his career spanning more than 24 years, Nimai has worked for a reputable architectural business where he developed, carried out, and finished projects spanning a variety of typologies, scales, and design languages. Each project undertaken by Vatt Vriksha studio has a unique client brief, and the studio aims to recognise the customer's idea, transform it into reality, and execute it in the best way possible for each project. Framing the client's concept, shaping it appropriately, and adding finishing touches are the three stages of the process.
The brilliant work done by the studio for different clients has won them many accolades including Certificate of Appreciation from INDIA’S MOST PROMINENT ARCHITECT & DESIGN
AWARDS-2020 for a most creative design consultant, and the Award in the category of 'Innovative Excellence in Architecture & Interior Designing' from Global Icon Awards 2020. Award for Outstanding achiever in Space Design, Most creative designer award 2022 from Global foundation.
Nimai says that there is no general formula for design because each customer has different requirements for their project and the resulting architecture is unique. In the design process, Nimai's initial step is
to comprehend the underlying architecture of the project as well as any preferences the client may have. These elements, together with his own creative tendencies, guide his approach to every project, from the initial planning stages through the design and execution phases. As a result, every job he undertakes is a joint effort between the customer and his studio. Because of this, Vatt Vriksha studio has completed projects and provided value-added interior and architectural solutions for a diverse range of corporate, commercial, hotel, and residential clients.
One of the main projects completed by Nimai and his team at Vatt Vriksha was the renovation of the interiors of a standalone twin residential apartment at Marcel in Ponda. The owners of the apartment initially were in two minds as to how the house should turn out to be. They believed this house to be more than just a straightforward renovation. Vatt Vriksha transformed these identical flats into a family getaway. This project demonstrates Nimai's distinctive minimalist aesthetic. "The project is an extension of my own personal taste and I gave my hundred percent to it," says Nimai.
One enters a home through the main door. So, Nimai's team designed the door in a way that made it look inviting, commanding, audacious, modest, and attractive. "We purposefully designed it to communicate a great deal about the owners while also considerably boosting the home's curb appeal and creating a space of understated elegance, says Nimai. A large door with a Sapeli veneer finish and a small sit-out that serves as a sign of comfort at the entrance indicate the entrance of the house. Simple ceiling spotlights encased in wooden pallets decorate the entrance way in keeping with the room's love of lighting.
When Nimai and his team first saw the living room, they noticed that the area here was completely outdated and congested. Living room makeovers are usually very simple to complete, but for this house it needed more than a coat of paint. This major makeover began with the removal of an interior wall making it into a spacious moving area.
The room now radiates grace thanks to light-colored tiles and tasteful wall treatments that are paired with
opulent furniture. On the wall facing the entrance, a black wooden panel fenced with spot lamps illuminating the potters creates a visual distinction. To go along with it, a velvet fabric sofa was chosen to provide a different tactile experience. Currently, the living area has simple, clean lines and understated ceiling lighting.
Obviously, a few other things also changed as a result of the wall's dismantling. The TV room acquired continuity as a result. This room now exudes an eclectic personality as well. It boasts the use of tactile materials on the walls and floor. In the specially created room, the TV unit has taken centre stage and is highlighted with spot lamps, connecting you to the central circulation spine that leads you to the dining area, kitchen, additional bedrooms, and Dev Ghar.
The Johnson make Edenstone Gris stone dominates the TV unit wall while the ceiling lights, which are patterned on horizontally stacked wooden panels, work best with this colour scheme. Simple aesthetics, a minimal material palette, and the connections to the Peshwai style temple are the main chauffeurs to the design of this ethnic styled Dev Ghar. The walls of this room have a design that is inspired by the Lord Mahadev temple of Tamdi Surla. They are made of hand-chiseled basalt stone.
The white marble panel with brass inlay (from Rajasthan) and Johnson brand Scottish Bianco in
Italian finish give the floor's centre a more artistic feel. The shrine known as the Peshwai Devli, which is made of basalt stone, is in the middle of this serene area. The wall behind it is illuminated with LEDs, bringing the central idol of the goddess Astha Lakhmi into relief, and the metal hanging lamps on either side of the altar add a warm touch. Two sit-outs mounted with diyas and a small opening with light effects serve as the entrance's first features. For the designer, this spot stands for various convictions: that upon entering, there is a sense of tranquillity and sentiment that connects us to our roots.
The kitchen, according to Nimai, was the one space in the house that must be completely functional. However, since it is the heart of a home, it must also be stylish and elegant. "We modernised this outdated kitchen with a few power tools and a keen eye for design. It is next to the dining area and
appears to be an extension of it.", says Nimai. The wall colour was pale and lifeless, and in some spots it had peeled up to reveal plaster walls that desperately needed touch-up work. The counter was in poor condition, and the cabinets had almost no finish left. Therefore, the Vatt Vriksha team brought some vibrant colours, a lovely colour scheme of whites and blues, clever floating shelf storage, and fresh lighting to the centre of the home. A landscape zone polished with Castle Gold tiles glow with blue light play at work. Nimai's team installed an indoor fountain in the home because they felt that it would be a good site of décor. A stony backdrop gives it an absolutely calm look.
The primary bedroom of the apartment (which is now the owner's room) was very lifeless and flat. Nothing about it was inviting, and the colour scheme was frigid. The bedroom most crucially required illumination. Nimai's team put themselves in a child's mind and imagined what a little girl might want the room to look like. They created a rush of energy and gave the kid's bedroom a Toy Story themed look. They added amenities furnished with vitrified timber strips and a light colour scheme that illuminates the space. The bed is adorned with pretty pillows, and the use of wooden furniture around the space gave the room a more cosier and natural feel. Additionally, equal space was made available for toys and essentials.
Once the kid's bedroom was done, the Vatt Vriksha team shifted their focus to the master bedroom. The team was able to turn a clustery space with numerous obstacles into an utterly enchanting bedroom. They began by enclosing the balcony and
made a space for a modern dresser. To open up space, they kept the walls bare. They designed the master bedroom in neutral colors keeping in mind the personality of the clients. furniture colour scheme touch, panelled lights and the floor tiles were placed in a simple pattern, all tied in to keep the hues warm.
Nimai's team revived the apartment's bathroom in its own distinctive style with a countertop basin. They covered the walls with beige colored tiles and the floor with Cargo tiles. The bathtub which they installed adds a touch of glitz to the look of the room.
