A modern classic townhouse in New Delhi

A blank canvas follows the half full-half empty philosophy – you can either see it as an opportunity for limitless ideas or a creative block that refuses to yield. For self-taught interior designer Amith Chhabra of Studio Livin’ Colors Design, the choice was simple when presented with a blank shell of an apartment – it gave him a chance to explore colour and texture vividly. 

The client was a family of four, looking for a home with a timeless appeal and a modern classic approach. They wanted the second floor to be their private space, housing all the bedrooms while the third floor needed to be the more public space, consisting of the living and dining room, guest room cum lounge area and the kitchen. “We had to make sure that both the floors blended in seamlessly so we incorporated an internal staircase which connects the more private part of the house on the second floor to the more public one on the third floor. This was not part of the original plan from the builder and the floors had to be accessed via the lift outside,” explains Amith. 

The home owners wanted visitors to get a loft-like feel when they entered. Since the apartment had a double-height atrium with natural light streaming from the glass roof, the designer decided to go with a double-height brick wall, combining it with a wooden staircase and white panelling, giving the entire home a modern, classic appeal. A large, specially commissioned Marilyn Monroe artwork takes pride of place at the entrance. 

The living room sets the tone for the interiors, with it’s balanced use of colour and texture. “We always use the walls as our canvas and believe in bringing the outdoors in. The living cum dining room overlooked a beautiful treetop with plenty of natural light streaming in. We proposed wallpaper in the dining area and the client loved the bold, ikat printed wallpaper design from Good Earth,” explains Amith. His team was careful about ensuring that none of the design elements clashed in their use of colour. So, the dining section was kept brighter – with fuchsia pink fabric used on the dining chairs. They offset this with neutral  shades like grey and light blue in the living area. The customised furniture was finished in natural oak wood to give a sense of lightness to the room. Sheer curtains from The Pure Concept allowed in natural light, giving the space a lovely glow. 

Most of the furniture was customised while a few pieces were bought from stores like Sarita Handa and Beyond Design in New Delhi. Some of the family’s existing furniture was upcycled; like a family heirloom piece that consisted of a carved Burma teak coffee table. 

The colour and texture employed throughout the townhouse gives the entire space a warm, lived-in feel. Just as beautiful homes need to feel.