With The Opulent Villa, Delhi-based design firm The Picturesque Studio aims to redefine maximalist luxury in interior design and styling. Located in Gurugram, the 7,000 square feet residence was an ambitious interior design assignment. The family wished for a house that strikes a fine balance between luxury and warmth, providing the perfect setting for hosting intimate gatherings.
Project Name – The Opulent Villa
Typology – Residential (Villa)
Built-Up Area – 7,000 sqft
Location – Gurgaon, Haryana
Year of Completion – October, 2022
Architecture Design Firm – The Picturesque Studio
Principal Architect – Priya Doon
Photography – Suryan and Dang
Text Credit – Sadhya Bhatnagar
Defined by extravagant art installations and plush furnishings, decor, and statement lighting, the design scheme is driven by a particularly curated opulence that does not overwhelm the senses. The ground level follows a fairly open floor plan, consisting of the formal living and dining spaces, the kitchen, the family lounge area, the puja and two bedrooms. A tall entrance surrounded by plants welcomes the visitor into an elegant foyer, which is lit by a delicate chandelier sourced from Ivanka Lumiere. Branching off on either side of the foyer are the formal living and dining rooms.
A complementary chandelier and artwork from Emanate Home occupy the centre of attention in the formal living room, both highlighted in shades of gold and scarlet and titled ‘The Infinite Paradise’ and ‘The Phoenix’, respectively. An accent wall forms the backdrop for these pieces, finished in graphite grey panelling with strips of gold metal inserted in-between. A velvet-clad seating in scarlet and a room-length display case along the opposite wall complement and elevate the illuminated setting, along with polyester-finished veneer matching the display unit and stoned-topped coffee tables.
A large, ceiling-height crockery-cum-display unit, tailored for this particular space, stands on one side of the formal dining space. It is made with customised wooden cabinetry in black, accented in gold, and dressed with sculptures and floral arrangements. The dining table is topped in speckled white stone, with curved legs in antiqued gold metal. A spacious open kitchen extends from the formal dining space, with a powder room located nearby.
The family lounge is a double-height space located centrally in the house, receiving ample daylight from the large skylight above. The main feature in this space is a dramatic stone-finished wall hosting a sleek, gold-toned TV unit. A custom-designed statement chandelier from Emanate Home hangs delicately in the centre of the lounge. However, a large metal mandala, designed for this space by Wall Tart and overlooking the lounge from a height on the adjacent wall, steals the show and adds an extra layer of magnificence to the space. A bespoke hand-knotted rug from Cocoon Fine Rugs and deep blue leather seating lend the room a contemporary edge and balanced materiality. Owing to the space’s extended height, there is direct interaction between the two floors as the first floor lobby looks over the family lounge below.
Sleek display shelves and heavy panelling help the common areas flow into the private spaces without losing the openness of the layout. In addition, the all-white Statuario marble floors used extensively through the home contrast with the teak and walnut veneers to unite the spaces seamlessly.
A wood-and-glass floating staircase along with an elevator located opposite the family lounge provide the vertical circulation in the home. A full-height luminaire hangs in the stairwell, lending it a subtle sparkle. An indoor garden enlivens the bottom of the stairwell, populated with marble statues on plinths, lanterns, and a variety of plants. Entering the first floor, one is greeted by an uninterrupted view of the accent wall across the family lounge below, along with the mandala artwork.
The first floor comprises three bedrooms, along with a lounge space adjacent to the lobby. Rich wallpapers and elegant art installations give each room its own distinctive personality that simultaneously fit into the expressions the rest of the home creates. The children’s bedroom is a lilac-themed heaven, containing a study desk on one end and a lounge area in the centre—the focal point of which is a pastel-ombre rug. A graphic wallpaper with motifs of flora and fauna adorns one wall, in colours complementary to the room’s colour palette. An en-suite bathroom and dresser finished in similar hues add a touch of resplendence.
Elements like elaborate TV units, wallpapers, and veneers elevate the residence into a luxuriously comfortable haven. It is also detailed with carefully curated art that speaks to the combined taste of the designer and the homeowners. Though each of the common spaces have a distinctive design language, they come together to create a complex layering of colour, texture and material. With varied styles as well as scales of ornamentation in every nook and corner of the home, maximalism finds rightful expression and celebration throughout The Opulent Villa.
