A heritage home in Bengaluru undergoes a contemporary transformation

Tucked away in a quiet and calm lane of Dollars Colony, is a split-level heritage home in Bengaluru built over three decades ago. Home to a couple and their two daughters hailing from , this 3,500-square-foot house was comfortably lived-in by the family for over 30 years—and handsomely too, as it was filled with artworks and artefacts collected by the owners over the years. Last year, the family decided to remodel this old-world bearing home, and called on interior designer Aakriti Saraf of Aakriti Saraf Design (ASD) to infuse new life into this remarkable property.

An immersive painting by maestro MF Husain, finds a place of pride in the living room, becoming the focus wall in this area. All the contemporary furniture pieces here were sourced from DTale, while the lamps came from Beyond Designs.

An arched niche in the living room wall anchors artefacts collected by the family. Notable amongst this are a set of metal figurines crafted by a Kolkata-based artisan. Note the painting next to the niche by artist Jamini Roy… its frame was altered to sync with the modern vibe of this space.

The brief required Saraf to reconfigure the house to not only accommodate the owners’ tastes but also to ensure a seamless, natural meandering of spaces whilst retaining its original character. A big ask was to seamlessly integrate the family’s impressive (and massive) collection of art and artefacts into the spaces to create a distinctive design language. “The design process was largely collaborative—a harmonious coming together of ASD’s imagination and the client’s surefooted creative sensibilities—underscored by the inclusion of objects. The owners’ inherent appreciation for art, spanning heirloom artefacts from their collection to modern and , reverberates through this home in Bengaluru,” shares Saraf.

A practical marble-top rests over the sturdy wooden legs of the dining table, offering a pleasing contrast of materials and textures. A sleek chandelier (crafted in Kochi) using metal and fabric hovers over the table.

The wall against which the wooden console rests is adorned with works of artist Sanatan Dinda.

Warm and full of personality, the master bedroom on the upper level flaunts a high sloping ceiling which is highlighted by teakwood rafters. Colours cascade into the room delicately—through the upholstery of the sea green single seater chairs, the soft pastels of the carpet, and the bed linen. Quaintness seeps in through the antique lamps and wall scones, and the teakwood four poster bed.

In the master bathroom, a printed Sabyasachi wallpaper is offset by mosaic tiles on the floor. Myriad elements like the bevelled mirror, brass lighting fixtures, and storage cabinets featuring intricate mother-of-pearl knobs, further balance the busyness of the wallpaper.

The arrangement of various rooms in the house had a straight-forward agenda: as the family entertained frequently, an exclusive space was reserved for the same; while their bedrooms were cordoned off in quiet corners. On that account, the house is divided into three distinctly functional and self-sufficient areas—the ground floor with the living and dining rooms, and a cosy patio; the first floor housing three bedrooms and an intimate space for the family to spend time together; while the basement forms the multi-use/entertainment zone.