Hari Iccha is more than a residence; it is a living narrative of generations under one roof, of tradition meeting aspiration, of design as memory. The brief was simple: a contemporary Indian home,harmonious rather than ostentatious.
Project Name: House of narratives
Studio Name: Anushka Khandelwal Design Studio
Project location: Pune
Area: 1200sqft
Project Architect: Ar. Anushka Khandelwal
The journey begins at the threshold. What was once a dim, stooping entry has been reborn into a gracious welcome framed by carved wooden doors from Jodhpur. The foyer is small and cozy, a personal pause that unfolds into a larger volume where living, dining and kitchen flow in free continuity and a tucked in pooja brings stillness to the open plan.
In a serene niche the mandir rests, its marble inlay flooring sourced from Agra lending the sacred corner timeless finish. Silence and devotion find a measured place within the hum of daily life.
Light sets the rhythm of the public spaces. The living room, bathed in filtered daylight, balances intimacy and refinement with striped seating, embroidered cushions and a sculptural dining table with tufted aqua chairs. Glass pendants in brass and copper detail and heritage sconces choreograph the evening.
The skylight speaks to a traditional idea reinterpreted. Where older homes celebrated a central void, here light itself is celebrated, drawn into corners through carefully detailed openings. Those shafts of illumination elevate reclaimed doors beyond function into artifacts that carry memory, craftsmanship and legacy.
Objects throughout the house are storytellers. A temple door blackened with years of oil becomes sculpture. A cabinet carried from a childhood home anchors memory with dignity. From camel bone inlay furniture to patchwork quilts and miniature inspired paintings, every piece sourced from small vendors in Jaipur, Jodhpur, Mumbai, Agra and Pune celebrates India’s living crafts.
Private rooms continue the same conversation. The grandparents room exudes rootedness with a four poster bed dressed in hand block textiles, painted side tables and heirloom brass. The son’s room speaks a modern dialect, with arched niches framing pendant lamps, hand embroidered fabrics offering quiet heritage and a generous L shaped window spilling light and possibility.
At the heart of the kitchen ensemble a copper finished crockery unit glows like an heirloom jewel. Its patina contrasts with white cabinetry while glass shutters turn crockery into curated display. Paired with mustard toned counters and wicker baskets, function becomes craft and storage becomes art.
Hari Iccha is a map of India’s artistry. Doors from Jodhpur, furniture crafted in Jaipur and Pune, lights from Bombay, marble inlay from Agra; each origin is distinct, yet together they form a seamless harmony. From conception to completion, Geetanjali Parekh collaborated closely with the design team, her clarity guiding key selections and shaping the home’s quietly rigorous sensibility. When crafted with thought and care, a home becomes both deeply personal and timelessly universal, its spaces alive with light, memory and story.
