Designing a family home is always intriguing, but doing so entirely remotely in the middle of a global pandemic introduces a level of complexity not for the fainthearted. Luckily for her clients, Gowri Adappa relished the challenge, describing it as ‘equal parts nerve-wracking and exhilarating’.
The partner and co-founder of award-winning Chennai studio A Design Co was asked to extend and refurbish a 1930s Victorian semi-detached house in west London. The owners moved to the UK from India 20 years ago and work in tech, mostly from home, ‘so creating a space conducive to both work and relaxation was essential’, she says.
With a dark, low-ceilinged kitchen and narrow corridor linking the downstairs rooms, major remodelling was needed to create a circulation route more aligned to the family’s way of living. A garage and rear rooms were demolished to enable the addition of an extra bedroom with ensuite and a larger kitchen connected to an open-plan reception room. Tall, fine-framed glass doors now offer uninterrupted views to the garden and skylights flood the space with light.
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The owners asked for interiors that married the house’s location with an injection of Indian culture, giving Gowri free rein in terms of design, but asking her to be conscious not to use animal products. She steered clear of leather, hide and goose feathers. Colour was key to evoking the owners’ origins and, says Gowri, ‘a story of India was woven with the help of earthy and jewel tones, as well as art and decor pieces from South India, to remind the owners of home without being too on the nose’.
She worked with local artisans and delighted in unexpected juxtapositions – ‘propping an upcoming Indian artist’s work next to a vintage English piece’. It’s a cultural balance that came naturally. ‘Indian art and antiques in British Colonial homes is something I’ve grown up with,’ explains Gowri. ‘I love revelling in the conflict of old and new, masculine and feminine.’
Another successful juxtaposition is the differing palettes of the informal living room and adjacent study. ‘I had this vision of separating the spaces not just with a door, but also with polarising colours,’ says Gowri. ‘It was a pretty risky move to go with the inky blue that turns to black, yet I love the way the spaces flow from light to dark.’ She normally gravitates to neutrals, but enjoyed experimenting with rust and emerald shades in her choice of accessories and textiles.
After managing every aspect of the project (including a crucial paint-colour decision negotiated via FaceTime with a Farrow & Ball consultant) from thousands of miles away, Gowri finally arrived in London one February morning to see her work in person for the first time. ‘I landed with a few pieces that we had picked to celebrate the craftsmanship of my own city, Chennai, in tow,’ she recalls.
One more week was spent scouring design stores and London’s antique markets to bring the space to life. Asked how she feels about the results, homeowner Priya is full of gratitude: ‘It was the best decision of our lives to take Gowri’s help. It fills us with pride and joy every day we wake up in this house.’ Gowri is similarly complimentary about the clients who trusted her to transform their home from afar. When you connect with people, she says, ‘that’s when the space shines’. adesignco.in
