What was originally a floor with four apartments, was transformed into a single luxurious unit combining them all, by Ar. Swathy Sivaraman of StoreyBoard Design, for a family of seven. The goal was to design a luxury home with each bedroom to reflect the personality of its occupant while seamlessly blending into the overall aesthetics of the house.
Project Name: Manjushree Manor
Studio Name: Storeyboard Design
Location: Bangalore
Date of Completion: November 2021
Area: 14,000 sq.ft.
Principal Architect/Designer: Swathy Sivaraman
Photography Credits: Archceptions_Nisheet Dodia
Swathy strongly believes design is a manifestation of ones convictions, which translates into inspirations and concepts. For this home, She drew inspiration from the “Elements of the Earth” and seamlessly incorporated them into various spaces within the residence.
The focal point of the formal living area is a breathtaking magnificent custom designed Sans souci chandelier that contains about a thousand glass elements to mimic the flow of water depicting the rivers of India. The transparent wavy dual-toned glass fixed in varied directions and layered heights depict the culmination of rivers from various states. Subtle monotones of beige, suede laser cut wall panels, and some heavy beaded curtains were introduced to highlight this piece and provide the entire stage for the stunning beige and golden Turi Furniture.
The Informal Living Room – Enter through a grand 10-foot automated metal-embossed wooden door to discover a spacious family living area, featuring a luxurious orange/tan colour Roberto Cavalli sofa set and a stunning mirror TV that doubles as an art piece when not in use—an element that never fails to awe every guest and serves as the focal point of the space. The marble-clad walls, complemented by organic shaped consoles and a low chaise lounge, add just the right touch to preview the elegance of the rest of the grand house.
The dining area showcases a stunning display of craftsmanship — a backdrop of individually carved and cut mother of pearl pieces by local artisans with metal frames fixed to form a luxurious backdrop. This becomes a visually striking setting for an elegant marble dining table from Cornelio Cappellinni with the Roberto cavalli chairs to compliment it and a floral themed Sans Souci custom designed chandelier above. The opulent metal & Veneer partition provides the required privacy during the grand dinners hosted by the family.
Puja Room or The white Pearl – The Puja room symbolizes purity of thought and peace, with its emphasis on space and light and is inspired by the serenity of sunlight. An intricately patterned jaali partition is carved from a monolithic pure white marble, harmonizing beautifully with the mother of pearl sliding screens positioned in front of a fixed glass backdrop. The motifs from the jaali create a mesmerizing play of light and shadow when sunlight filters through the partition.
Bedrooms: – Each wanted a room that was a reflection of their personality and aesthetic. The suite-like master bedroom features backdrops made of jali and marble with metal inlay, a stunning Turi bed set, and ample sunlight trickling through the large windows against an isolated chaise lounge and a dressing table cum study. Heavily worked curtains with marble and patterned wooden floor, fully wallpapered walls, all create the right ambiance for the master of the house. The son’s room is absolutely masculine, with a striking jumbo Fendi headboard against suede and lacquered wall panel, cluster coffee seating, and drama created with layered blinds in his sitout with hues of beige, gold and blue. The curtains were made with some intricate thread work and give this room the right mix between masculinity and femininity. The son’s bathroom is a visual stunner, with monolithic marble used throughout, ample lighting, and spaciousness, depicting “ether or space”, including seating for a spa, a double basin vanity —my personal favorite. In contrast, the daughter’s room is minimalistic and chic, with a Melerba cot, a stunning mirror TV, and beautiful panelled curtains. Her walk-in closet is every girl’s dream and nothing short of a celebrity closet, boasting space to store everything from LV to Gucci—bags, clothes, footwear, makeup, and jewellery. The grandfather’s and guest bedrooms have a character of their own, with a blend of wood and marble, striking cots, and elegant bed backs.
The Home Theatre: The 12-seater mini theatre, adorned with plush suede ribbed acoustical panels and sleek, flush-mounted speakers from the state-of-the-art Cineak home theatre system, showcases a large projector alongside a mix of recliners and lounge seating. It stands as a private theatre space, perfect for hosting parties and watching your favprite sports and create some cherished memories and laughter. Unlike traditional home theatres, characterized by dark and loud tones, this one boasts elegant light beige tones throughout, with monolithic design extending from floor to ceiling, accentuated by a contrasting wooden floor.
Design Challenges: The design challenges were manifold. The 1st challenge was the space planning, where we had to combine 4 apartments into one. The presence of columns and beams, service ducts, balconies – all posed a significant challenge as the house required spaciousness, connectivity and large living areas.
The next challenge was the house needed to be fully automated with ducted air conditioning, requiring us to work around the beams while maximizing the ceiling heights. We innovatively concealed the AC ducts using metal jalli, seamlessly integrating them into the overall design.
There were numerous shafts one large one between the formal and informal living. We created a visual barrel with louvered battens & tinted mirrors to allow light at the same time not apparent to naked eyes.
