The brief for Vaulted Monochrome House by DIG Architects called for a clutter-free yet cosy space, and the result is a tastefully curated interior made all the more striking for its monochromatic colour palette.
“Our emphasis was very much on functional planning,” says DIG Architects architect and principal Amit Khanolkar. “But at the same time we had to deliver a space that was cosy, inclusive and able to serve as a place for entertaining. We also wanted to create a unique aesthetic experience and so we looked to architecture for inspiration.” The idea to use architectural vaults was raised in initial discussions and this element, along with the predominantly grey palette, is the interior design’s strongest, most defining expression.
A vaulted ceiling features throughout, from the living areas to the four bedrooms and study, and lends a sculptural sensibility that softens each room. It’s matched in boldness by a material palette that is clean and robust, including a heavily patterned marble floor. In the entry, which is coloured black to contrast the otherwise grey interior, a bar made from stones encased in wire mesh sits behind a divider made of solid glass bricks, while the splashback is a deep olive green marble. These materials provide a strong framework into which Amit and his team thoughtfully realised a selection of furniture that is both stunning and practical, directly informed by the clients’ brief.
Amit explains further: “The generously sized living area’s light grey seating faces towards the likewise light grey dining area in an attempt to establish a dialogue between the two zones, with the intention of making the act of dining a less isolated activity. This arrangement supports socialising and allows guests to spill over into the dining area.”
The order and calm that characterises these living areas also extends to the bedrooms and study, and it’s here that the interior design has greatest appeal. The main bedroom features a headboard constructed of the solid glass bricks, while the headboard in the son’s bedroom comprises vertical slats of granite. As in the bar, green breaks up the grey palette in the form of an oversized chair and abstract artwork. Further breaking up the monochromatic palette is achieved by the study’s oak desk and shelving, a wonderfully unexpected counterpart that meets the clients’ request for cosiness.
Interestingly, Amit and the team spent some time reimagining the plan, all to make the interior as comfortable and well-suited to the family of four as possible. The study, for example, was supposed to be a fifth bedroom, but works better as a home office, and an alcove was created in the living area to accommodate the bar for entertaining. Subtle nuances – a judicious selection of abstract artwork, the overwhelming warmth of the study, a stone bar – work to highlight the attractiveness of the overall scheme as well. It is certainly high-end, but also completely liveable and welcoming.
