Modern and minimal, Manikandan and Kiruthikka’s home in Chennai is all they could have ever wanted it to be. Step into their lovely apartment, and it wraps you in warmth and cosy comfort. The easy and fuss-free design vocabulary consists of clean lines and simple silhouettes with an eye on functionality. The apartment interior epitomises thoughtful, practical design—there’s careful attention paid to every nook and cranny, and even the smallest requirement has been taken care of.
Kiruthikka, a project management officer, and Manikandan, a global supply chain officer in a leading Chennai firm had a very clear vision for the design of their home. As Kiruthikka puts it, “Our home is incredibly important to me, because there are so many emotions connected with it! Having a home means everything to us; we don’t need to depend on anyone for anything!”
To her, her home represented comfort, security, and self-sufficiency, and that was what the HomeLane team was able to give her. “This interior has turned out the way it has because of Mr Navneethan, the designer. He and I had exactly the same wavelength. The way our thoughts matched; it was just perfect! We shared very similar ideas,” she says, very happy with the way everything turned out.
Blending practical touches with modern comfort, the young couple’s apartment in Subramaniyanagar, Chennai, exudes quiet elegance. Join us on a walk through their home, and see how the HomeLane designers have worked their magic! The living room features a sectional sofa wrapped in bottle green velvet, grabbing eyeballs and creating a unique aesthetic. Perfectly complementing the couch and unifying the space is the glass-topped coffee table with matching green upholstery.
The layout is open and spacious, with the backdrop of white walls and white marble flooring lending a cohesive visual flow. Simple black and white posters adorn the wall behind the couch, and the abundance of bare space allows the eye to take quiet pause. An entire wall in the master bedroom is taken up by floor-to-ceiling wardrobes that are wrapped all around the windows. With a minimal palette that’s centred around white, this room provides a peaceful and serene ambience.
A standout feature in the room, the window seat provides a lovely spot for a reading nook, with cabinets below holding the couple’s collection of books. Twin mirrors on either side of the window reflect and bounce the light around, flooding the room with brightness.
The second bedroom has been converted into a home office, for times when Manikandan and Kiruthikka bring their work home. Here, too, an entire wall is taken up by the storage unit which cleverly incorporates a work desk, just large enough to accommodate a computer system and cabinets. The ivory and black wardrobe is thoughtfully designed to maximise storage, with lofts running the length of the wall.
Manikandan tells us that this room has been left largely empty, as their son, who is a naughty 3 year old, loves to play with a ball inside the house! “It’s so good that we could achieve that. We wanted to give him enough floor space for free play, as he is a growing child!” he tells us.
Here, too, mirrored shutters enhance the light in the room, and create the illusion of a larger space. The use of black for the frames adds contrast and dials up the visual interest. Designed for maximum comfort and convenience, the heights of the desk and chair were adjusted to suit the tall stature of the couple. Manikandan is all praise for the thought that has gone into the design, as he tells us, “What I loved the most is that they have customised the wardrobes to our heights…both of us are six feet tall!” The careful attention paid to ergonomic design ensures that he will not have to worry about stressing his back, even if he works long hours from home.
The spacious kitchen, done up in a palette of white and black, is designed for practicality. The kitchen Golden Triangle concept, which puts the sink, stove and refrigerator at the three points of an acute angled triangle, ensures maximum work efficiency and minimises wasted steps.
Loft cabinets in matte black add visual definition and enhance the functionality. Large utensils, used only during festivals or when the extended family gets together, are stowed in the loft, out of sight and yet easy to access when needed. A tall pantry unit to one side holds weekly groceries and cooking staples, while a tambour unit with a sleek aluminium rolling shutter hides bulky appliances out of sight and keeps the counters clutter-free.
Both Manikandan and Kiruthikka love to cook, and the working heights are tailored to suit their convenience, with the countertops higher than standard mandates so that they don’t need to bend. Manikandan tells us that he loves the kitchen design the most, “For me, I see this as the main room in the house. I’m not sure if everyone goes to all the other rooms every day, but the kitchen is the one place that’s used most frequently!”
Kiruthikka agrees, “I love everything about the design, and I’ll give this more than 10 points out of 5!” An easy mix of open shelves and closed cabinets above the counter adds flexibility, and creates a cohesive visual flow within the space. Hard-to-reach corners are rendered useful with the highly practical solution of L-shaped open shelves, designed to hold spice jars and condiments. Kiruthikka had very specific requirements for the kitchen, which were followed to the last letter by the HomeLane team. As she points out, “We needed soft-close for almost every cabinet and drawer, to make sure that everything closes automatically!” The handle-less design uses soft-close, push-to-open hardware that lends a seamless look.
The graphic grey and white backsplash lines up beautifully well with the white countertop, tying the whole aesthetic together. LED strip lights below the upper run of cabinets throw light on the counters, casting a warm glow.
Simple and serene, the pooja room is encased in white, with pictures collected from various temples lining one entire wall. Small statuettes and lamps are placed on the countertop, and the storage cabinets below hold pooja items.
“We initially thought of choosing HomeLane because the brand ambassador is M.S. Dhoni, and we are big fans!” Manikandan laughs, adding, “But we love everything about our home now, and I’ll give every room in the house 5 points out of 5!”
Are you looking for support on your home décor journey? HomeLane is happy to help. Do give us a call today, and let’s chat over a cup of coffee!
