Traditional and contemporary textiles interweave to bring this Bengaluru home to life
It’s not everyday that a tapestry artist takes to interior design, but when they do, it’s fair to assume that fabrics will reign supreme in their visual palette. When Bengaluru-based interior designer Smitha Zachariah was tasked with renovating a colonial-era apartment, she found that textiles struck the perfect balance between past and present. “We wanted to create a sense of lightness in the space, without changing the character too much,” says Zachariah of the 3,500 square feet three-bedroom ground floor apartment, which is complete with colonial era-style verandahs, large floor plans and authentic teak wood windows. “We wanted to keep the colonial-era charm, while bringing in our India modern elements through fabric and colour. We wanted it to be a happy space.”
Zachariah’s interpretation of the India Modern Indian aesthetic pairs patterned fabrics with contemporary lines and hints of antique craftsmanship. And of course, there’s no shortage of color. “We’re quite adventurous with our color palettes,” she admits, “Usually in a single room we could have close to 75 fabrics!” The living room’s palette is anchored by two rugs, both from Carpet Kingdom. One is heavier and more traditional in design, while the other is more abstract and modern.
Stripes are the presiding motif here, appearing most prominently on the custom-made cabinet, and then again on the dining chairs and damask carpet. Even the lights suspended over the table are linear in form, in keeping with the theme. “There’s also a muted striped wallpaper,” Zachariah adds, “Then there’s a lot of black and white, with brass accents.” A mirror on the primary dining room wall reflects back onto the living room verandah, allowing a hint of natural greenery into the white-washed space. The dining table was custom-designed to honour the vintage of the coffee table in the adjacent living room, fitted with an elegant brass inlay on the top.
The family room is warmer, with dark, intimate shades of grey and leather. A stained glass window at the far end of the room filters in beautifully diffused light through the day, mirroring the tones of the Carpet Kingdom carpet. Little accents of black and white pepper the space, in keeping with the rest of the house. The far side of the room sees a bookshelf, with Persian wallpaper that matches the colours of the carpet. As a compliment, a set of mirror-clad sliding doors reflect the colours of the stained glass window.
The master bedroom is similarly warm-toned, designed around a paisley-printed carpet from Carpet Kingdom. Horizontal wall panelling in light sea green opens up the visual space, leading up to a large colonial-style window furnished with a deep red ottoman. The son and daughter-in-law’s bedroom had a strong linear structure that Zachariah softened with a gently arched wardrobe. “I added linear panelling so that it would look taller,” she adds. The room is pale blue, complemented with a paisley carpet from Carpet Kingdom, a bright red ottoman and a leather-finish TV cabinet. “The floral wallpaper is especially stunning,” she points out, “It’s almost like a lithograph.” The guest bedroom doubles as a bedroom for the homeowners’ young granddaughter, so Zachariah was keen for the colour palette to reflect this dual purpose. Emerald wallpaper, complemented by an emerald carpet, makes a perfect contrast with the dusty powder-pink wardrobe and furniture.
While it isn’t unusual to witness a range of fabrics in the modern Indian home, Zachariah’s fabric-first approach has created a truly unique interplay between monochrome and colour. There’s always enough to look at, but never so much that it overwhelms the eye. It is, in essence, a modern Indian home that leans on artistic heritage to appease the contemporary gaze.