Umber is an apartment in a high-rise residential tower, Verde Residence Collection at Kalyani Nagar, Pune. It is a 3000 sq.ft. home which came to us as a bare shell project. 

As one tours inside the apartment, one is greeted by a consciously introduced striking feature—a basalt flooring. The cobblestones are carefully arranged to create a bold contrast, making a bold statement right from the start. As one advances, one notices the wooden panelling running across the walls, adding warmth and texture to the space. The mud-coloured lime plastered walls, teak wood furniture with cane work, linen upholstery with definite prints and curated ceramics form the mellow mood for the living and dining spaces. The combination of the black cobblestone flooring, wooden elements and mud plastered walls creates a seamless blend of textures forming an entirety for the common spaces. 

What evolved through a designing pattern and multiple conversations was a space that held on to the brim of adequacy or indulgence, an ensemble of all things merged subtly with each other yet characteristically individual. Whether to be on the edge of just what is required or to sometimes choose to spice up the extravagance in living is what the space questions here. Yet, the expression of the space is an undertone, allowing for various spatial attributes to compliment as the space matures over the years with its residents. 

A mood board was so developed, that talks about the simplicity of zen aesthetics and appreciating the art in design to resonate with the client's aspirations. A vibe certainly inspired from the nuances of a very wabi-sabi simplicity with a strong earthy context was born justifying the name 'umber'.

Optimum treatments in terms of furniture design and wall canvas were incorporated for a seamless and homogenous palette. Yet detailing in carpentry was so looked into as to achieve the desired sophistication and understand it as a craft. (Most of the carpentry elements are made in-house) 

Staging of wood as a material was important for us to bring in the calm and flow in design. The wall panelling that runs across the newly laid basalt floor passage holds the ambience of the space together. This intervention of removing the original passage flooring and laying a new basalt stone carpet aligned the entire living space. Similarly, wooden bands snake vertically and horizontally through all the bedrooms, framing and connecting the space together.

The tropical sand coloured lime plastered walls are done discreetly which dictates the entire palette as one. Acting as the binding thread in design, this bare and rustic canvas of wall planes helps to reflect and support the ideas of a layered way of looking at things. Covering the walls and ceilings in the same colour gave the space its own cosy mood that immediately comforts the user.

Being always passionate about talking through colours and believing in what joy they bring to the design, no project without some dash of colours feels complete to us. A woody deep green takes over the kitchen to make up for an earthy and soothing character. We decided to add distinctive colour swatches through non-committal elements like upholstery, beddings and artworks which are easy to change with different phases of the house. Adding such solid patches of colours to pep up the space was inevitable for a young family to keep the mood fresh and variable.