Alcove, situated in Chennai’s Tenampete neighborhood, stands as a striking example of bespoke and lively residential design. Spanning 7,000 square feet, the home balances beauty and functionality while reflecting the client’s wish for a bright yet refined ambiance.
Project Name: Alcove – This Chennai Home
Studio Name: Chestnut Storeys
Location: Chennai
Size: 7,000 sq ft
Principal Designer: Farah Agarwal
Photography Credits: Yash Jain
Their brief was clear: no dark tones, no overpowering neutrals, and no dominant wall colors, just a spirited styling achieved through the furniture. The space needed to feel energetic yet effortless to maintain.
Responding to this direction, the design team crafted an approach where hues appear primarily through thoughtfully selected furniture and décor. Neutral flooring and walls create a calm backdrop, allowing vibrant elements to take center stage. Every room gets its own playful dash of color, never loud, but always perceptible, preserving the home’s open, breathable feel. The result is a visual rhythm that injects personality into each space without tipping into excess.
The journey through Alcove begins at an understated foyer that transitions into a formal living room doubling as a TV lounge,an inviting multifunctional hub. Cleverly hidden within seamless wall paneling, the powder bathroom remains visually discreet. Beyond, the layout opens into the dining room, with a dry kitchen on one side and a guest suite on the other, ensuring smooth spatial flow and everyday convenience.
On the first floor, a cozy family lounge connects to a balcony, the son’s bedroom ahead, and the master suite to the right. The master is designed as a luxe retreat, complete with its own walk-in wardrobe and ensuite bath. The daughter’s room becomes a moment of creative freedom, mixing patterns, geometry, and textures. Its lively wallpapers and colorful furniture make it one of the home’s most expressive areas.
The uppermost level houses a gym and study, thoughtfully placed next to a spa and salon area, reinforcing the home’s wellness-driven mindset. Crowning the property is a rooftop terrace with a bar, an ideal setting for entertaining or unwinding outdoors.
Materiality is a crucial thread weaving the home together. Marble surfaces, across floors and tabletops, add coherence and elevate the overall elegance. Select walls feature 3D MDF paneling and curated wallpapers, bringing tactile variety without visual weight. Although the palette spans multiple colors, its restraint prevents any single tone from dominating. With neutrals anchoring key surfaces, the bolder choices in furniture shine with ease.
Alcove embodies a graceful fusion of the owner’s love for color and the design team’s refined execution. It demonstrates how a residence can feel vibrant yet soothing, expressive yet practical. True to its name, Alcove becomes a haven, personal, joyful, and harmoniously designed to reflect modern living at its best.
