Bhargavi is a name for Goddess Durga or Laxmi. I can’t think of a more auspicious beginning to sharing a project, than giving it a name inspired by a Goddess. Now that wasn’t entirely my doing… but we’ll get to that later. Right now, I am super excited to share this beautiful home we completed recently. We’ll start with the living and dining of Bhargavi.
Living and Dining of Bhargavi
After handing over a home, I usually ask clients for their name suggestions for the project. Who can feel the vibe and energy of a space better than someone living in it? A word or term suggested by a client is something that comes to their mind when they think of their own home, a sentiment that it evokes in them. And that makes it a great name for the project!
So just like I let the client’s preferences guide me in designing their home, I love getting their inputs in naming the project too.
And that’s how, we have Bhargavi. The grandeur and magnificence of a Goddess along with the feminine qualities of creativity, beauty and gentleness – yes, I think that describes the vibe quite well actually.
Let’s walk through the living and dining of Bhargavi today, and you tell me if you agree.
The Plan
I loved the layout of this foyer. Though small in size, the wall on the left is quite long, making it really useful to fit in a large sideboard and mirror. Also, the first impression of the foyer, and so the home, is of a large, spacious area.
As you enter, the kitchen is on the left. The dining area is a tight fit, so we pushed the table against the wall to not crowd the entrance.
The living area fit’s in well into the space on the right. We put in a large bookshelf – cum – bar unit in the the open ‘no-man’s-land’ between the living and dining areas.
The Foyer
The left wall of the foyer is much longer than the right. It is enclosed between the entrance wall and kitchen wall and makes a snug space between them. We put this area to good use.
This long sideboard was customised to fit right into this corner. It has shelves inside for shoes and drawers for miscellaneous storage. The open shelf at the bottom is great for visitors to keep their footwear.
We dressed up the foyer with this large, brass mirror and the simple wall sconces. With the wood and brass finishes the foyer is rich and elegant – and a good sign of things to come!
The Dining Area
Beyond the foyer, we have the door to the kitchen on the left, and then the dining area.
One of the first things the clients sent me when I started working on this home, was an image of an artwork depicting the tree of life. It was the one thing that they were sure they wanted in the home from the day we took measurements to the day we handed it back to them, complete.
When the client is clear about what they want, things become that much easier for us as we go about our design and selections.
We knew the tree of life would dominate this space and made all our dining selections keeping that in mind.
The dining table and chairs are simple and chic. White fabric on the chairs and the white sideboard allow the vibrant colours of the mural to shine. The dining pendants are large globes in clear glass. The size gives them a certain presence, yet the clear glass keeps the view of the wallpaper unobstructed.
We avoided artwork above the sideboard for the same reason, and used a large wall clock instead.
I love the horizontal flutes on the kitchen door glass alongside the vertical flutes on the sideboard. It’s a subtle way to add design and texture to a space.
The Bar
We were left with this large no-man’s-land opposite the dining area, just off the foyer. It isn’t big enough to add a seating area, but too big to leave empty.
It made the perfect place to fit in the bar.
The cabinets at the lower end house drawers for bottles, shelves for glasses and even a wine rack, with open shelves above for decor.
The Living Area
The living area is tucked away cosily to one side and opens into a cute, tiny balcony.
We have a chic leather sofa on one side of the living room, flanked by a chair on one side and a stool on the other.
Opposite the sofa is the TV unit, and yes.. a Frame television. I am always thrilled when a client picks this one. The ‘artwork’, instead of a big black screen, makes the living room (and our pics) look so much nicer!
The client was also very eager to have a swing in the home. Since the balcony isn’t big enough to hold one, we put it in the living corner just inside the balcony.
The Balcony
I think this balcony is the smallest I have designed so far, so it was an exciting challenge to work on.
For one, it directly faces the next apartment’s balcony on the right side. You could sit with your cup of tea on this sofa and have a full conversation with your neighbours and you wouldn’t realise you’re sitting in two balconies and not one!
Though that sounds like a great setting for a Sooraj Barjatya film where your neighbours are your extended family, in real life some privacy is great! We put in this slim planter with the trellis extending almost all the way up. It’s a double win with this. First, the plants on the trellis block a direct view into the next terrace. Also, since floor space is less, it’s a great way to green up the balcony.
The bench on the opposite side with a small coffee table make a cozy, comfortable seating for two.
Look and Feel
With the bright, colourful wall mural being the showstopper of this space, we knew we had to keep everything else very subtle and understated. We started off with this rug. It has muted colours on a beige background, with a delicate floral motif that is in sync with the tree of life.
We kept the remaining colours all neutrals. The leather sofa goes with the beautiful wood finishes of the living and dining of Bhargavi. The cushion covers are in creams and beiges.
The fabric on the stool is also a beige, with a touch of red and blue in the checks.
As is the fabric on the accent chair on the opposite side.
We used the clients’ existing Madhubani art pieces behind the sofa and above the television since the style is similar to the tree of life in the dining area.
Before and Afters
Here is a view of the foyer…
The shoe unit was built in to fit that space, with a large mirror above making a glorious entryway.
The dining wall..
The magnificent tree-of-life mural dominates this wall and the dining area, and sets the tone for the entire living and dining of Bhargavi.
The sofa wall of the living area…
The leather sofa is the focal point of the living room. It brings together not just the seating space, but also the colour scheme of the living room.
The TV wall opposite the sofa…
The TV unit, with the television is in the centre of the wall, with the swing fitting into the balcony corner.
Get the Look
Here are some of the products that have gone into making the beautiful living and dining of Bhargavi.
| – 1 – Rico Swing | – 2 – Traditional Wall Clock | – 3 – Good to Glow Pendant | – 4 – Zulu Cushion Cover | – 5 – Faux Leather Cushion Cover | – 6 – Boho Thread Cushion Cover | – 7 – Wayne Dining Chair | – 8 – Trapeze Armchair | – 9 – Victoria Rug | – 10 – Round Stool |
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So that is the living and dining of Bhargavi for you. Grand and magnificent, yet gentle and beautiful… isn’t it everything the name promises? Let me know what you think in the comments below.
This is only the beginning of this home tour. I will be bringing so many more beautiful spaces of this home to you one at a time. Remember to sign up here so you don’t miss any of it.
Until next time,
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Photography: Biju Gopal of @bizou.photos