Casa della Calma
Design Firm: Studio Ruh
Principal Designer: Kavya Sheth
Project Design Collaborator: Shruthy Sanghvi
Design Team: Aparajita Basnet & Priyanka Singh
Location: Bengaluru, India
Project Typology: Residential
Photographer: Ishita Sitwala
Styling Credit: Samir Wadekar
A celebration of tranquility in the visual and spatial realm, Casa della Calma by Studio Ruh is an abode that bears the hallmarks of optimised functionality combined with a persona that represents evocative design.
Engulfed in serenity and quiet opulence, Casa della Calma (House of Calm) epitomises the sense of refuge its inhabitants desired. Located in the residential neighbourhood of JP Nagar – Bangalore, the abode hosts the Sanghvi’s in its spacious expanse revelling in an artisanal interplay with details while the uninterrupted panoramic views of the city permeate the indoors.
Executed across the length of multiple nation-wide lockdowns, this dwelling is a torchbearer of resilience and submission to finesse that was entrusted to the studio with its bare shell as a promising canvas that teemed with potential. “Our homes have come to pose as sanctuaries, a word that has assumed a newfound meaning. The clients envisioned residing in a home that was contemporary, peppered with crisp details, and warm in its persona. Details are dovetailed by an understated luxe character that rules the free-flowing layout, all while functionality assumes paramount importance,” explain Kavya and Shruthy.
The home’s design stimulus arises from articulately curating materials and nuanced textures to create a sensorial narrative. With handpicked choices of marbles and veneers laced across the abode and furniture sourced from ateliers hailing from the global design capital of Italy, Casa della Calma celebrates a neutral volume interjected with tasteful accents of hues and verdure indoors.
Colour is the undeniable protagonist in the quaint foyer that preludes the communal spaces. The rectilinear-patterned marble floor engages the classic concoction of black and white and is punctuated by the crimson-bodied solid wood console against the ivory wainscoted walls. The custom doors allow a deep navy stain to wash over the open-grain veneer and the touch of antique brass elevates the nook effortlessly.
The integrated formal living and family dining space poses as the quintessential backdrop against which all familial activities of the residence unfold. The all-reigning neutral tones bathe this medley of spaces, only to be dotted by subtle colour in the form of greenery, curios, and prints. The subdued mien of the curated furniture creates a welcoming space, anchored by a lofty fanning palm.
The space is underpinned by deep umber wall panels that imbue the living area with an inherent sense of warmth. The colossal console in the foreground dons a homogenous guise as it blends seamlessly with its wood-toned background. The panelled wall travels into the adjoining passage while the decadent marble floors have been stippled with embedded spotlights that layer the space with dappled illumination as dusk inches on.
A tropical landscape-inspired wallpaper by Kalakaari Haath is the objet d’art, exuding into the nook a melange of powder blue, olive green, and ochre. The space is emblematic of the apparent inclination for detail and muted colours the residence harbours. Accessed through a custom-made glass sliding door sheathed in the ubiquitous wallpaper, the kitchen is underscored by a penchant for linear silhouettes crafted by Nolte.
Nestled behind an ensemble of soft grey and glass infilled sliding doors, the home theatre is headlined by tints of sunny mustard, dusty pink, and taupe wherein accents of brass make a coy cameo. Snug in its ambience, the walls are draped in sections by printed wallpaper and textured neutral fabric. The Kalimba modular sofas by Calia Italia reiterate the overarching colour palette which further pervades the colour-doused Jaipur Rugs carpet. A light-washed corner by the windows is occupied by a Nordic-style study nook constituted of light wood tones, a Tuscan-tinted focal chair, art prints by the homeowner herself — Prachi Kothari, and suspended metallic orb pendants.
Seamed together as a homage to soft hues and robust textures, the master suite is a conglomerate of fine Italian furniture and a symphony of neutrals. The slatted solid wood panelling infuses the bedroom with a sense of tactility and additional dimension. The plush walk-in wardrobes across the home conceived by Stanley grants the end-users an experience immersed in luxury. “God truly lies in the details and the master bath is a flagbearer and personal favourite for those reasons! The veined marble-clad vanity hosts his and hers sinks with fluted fascia concealing storage. The material traverses the walls and overlays the floors interspersed with transparent grooves,” elaborate the Designers.
Comfort and a rooted DNA take precedence in the parent’s bedroom. Earthy tones reign supreme in the space wherein lighter pastel hues have been juxtaposed against the rectilinear wall panelling rife with exaggerated deep grains. The wardrobes in the dressing nook have been finished off with amber-toned mirrors, delineating the stated luxury in the space. The bathroom is enveloped in marble which transfigures into grooved surfaces in the bathing chamber.
The third bedroom dabbles in warm tones to create an alluring resting space framed by a statement fabric and brass-panelled headboard; an ensemble speckled with dainty floral motifs of cherry blossom florets that nod to the sense of zen. The bathroom walls have been cladded in a bipartite fashion; the textured tonal terracotta pink subway tiles have been paired in unison with white marble, lending the space a timeless aesthetic.
Colour seems to assume a pivotal presence in the guest bedroom, creating a visual departure from the overruling tapestry of the home. The bed sports slivers of blues while the rest of the space engages in a monochromatic palette to only be interposed by colour-hewn art and handcrafted handlooms. Graphic three-dimensional ivory wall tiles have been coupled with the grey-brown marble across the volume of the ensuite bath.
At Casa della Calma, the design grammar champions the ethos of simplicity and restraint, creating an embracing oasis for the residents to return to the tranquility of. “The home certainly holds a special place in our hearts and minds. It is a resonant image of who I am and reflects a home I would love to call mine!” shares Kavya.