Karthikeyan Ramaswami, CCO of a Fintech startup, and Bhavadharani Karthikeyan, a consultant in a Software Testing Company in Chennai had very definite ideas about what should define their home interior. And when the brief to design Karthik and Dharani’s Chennai home came their way, the HomeLane team had their work cut out for them! The 2-decade old house needed a facelift, and the family was looking for a modern refresh that would combine contemporary aesthetics with thoughtful practicality.
As Karthik put it, “We’ve been living in this home for over two decades now. In fact, my daughter was born in this house! But the building has aged over the years, so we wanted to renovate. And now it’s been two years since the décor update by HomeLane, and we are very happy with it.” Dharani adds, “When we came here twenty years back, we thought we had the best house and loved the way the interiors were done. During COVID, we spent a lot of time at home—and we started thinking that it’s time for a change!” Channelling deeply nuanced character and a warm tonality, their stylish home in Ceebros Park, Chennai, is as serene and tranquil as it can be! Join us as we explore the spaces in Karthik and Dharani’s refurbished home.
The renovation transformed this old villa into a lively modern sanctuary, with interior spaces flooded with light, and a fluid sense of spatial continuity. The living room uses a refined cream and brown palette to ground the space with cool, earthy energy. Furniture choices are deliberate— low key and minimal, without any unwarranted embellishment.
Colour-blocked dark brown sofas are upholstered in linen, allowing you to sink in and relax. A large and striking portrait of Ramana Maharshi, in black and white against a subtle yellow backdrop, occupies the corner wall behind the seating area. The ideal family retreat, this space is just right for unwinding at the end of a busy day!
For the HomeLane team, the main challenge was starting this project during the pandemic, and all the lockdowns and labour interruptions that came with it! While this understandably impacted the timeline a bit, the team was well able to keep up their impeccable standards of quality and finishing.
Karthik tells us, “Not everyone actually opts to buy a new house, and we preferred to renovate instead of getting a new home. In our case, that’s another reason why we went to HomeLane—because HomeLane has a well-established service of renovation. We were refurbishing our house for a modern upgrade, but this proved to be a bit of a challenge as we were doing it mostly online!” As he shows us around the house, he adds, “We were doing Google meet calls; you know, to select colours, and so on. The differentiator with HomeLane was not just the design, which was excellent. It was patience. It was a human touch, especially during the pandemic. That was the reason why we chose HomeLane!”
The floor-standing entertainment unit is simple and functional, with a mix of drawers and open shelves for storage. A larger-than-life clock above the TV grabs attention in the room, creating a breezy boho vibe. Near the entrance door, a storage unit has ample space for shoes, slippers and sandals. Note the attention paid to detail—a jaali insert below each shutter allows the footwear to breathe, a must-have in the humid Chennai climate!
Dharani’s collection of brass vilakkus holds pride of place on top of the counter, while a majestic elephant statue on one side warmly welcomes you into their home. A delightfully tiny chest of drawers holds keys and other paraphernalia.
Throughout the home, carefully curated light fittings with yellow LED lamps accentuate the warm ambience. The double-height living room overlook was transformed by the addition of a floating ceiling with hidden strip lights along the edges, and a dazzling glass chandelier taking its place as the focal point. The space below the stairway has been put to good use, transforming into a pooja niche. Pictures of deities embellished with gold adorn the walls, and brass pooja items and small statues are displayed on the granite ledges. Drawers near the floor hold incense, camphor, oil and other pooja essentials.
In the forefront, an antique wooden swing is suspended from the ceiling by intricate brass chains adorned with gleaming elephants. Note how the LED strip lights cast a lovely glow, enhancing the ambience of the pooja space! Each granite shelf is stepped outwards, allowing every idol and picture to get equal importance.
Dharani is all praise for the interiors, as she tells us, “Every time we look at the house and when I’m alone, I feel so good we did this, and for that, we pat ourselves! You see, as I told you, we moved into this house twenty years back. At the time, we had a traditional type of interior planning, with 2D drawings. We have a fair idea of how the room is going to be, and the carpenter tells you this is where your wardrobe will come and how it will look.”
With HomeLane’s 3D visualisation platform SpaceCraft, it was a whole different ball game! In her words, ”HomeLane showed us 3D images that left nothing to the imagination. I knew, for instance, that this piece of furniture is going to be here, and this is exactly how it’s going to look—right down to the colours and finishes! I was mentally well prepared, and when I saw the output, I was like—okay, I’m not wrong, I got it right!”
The entry to the kitchen is defined by a quaint sign that proclaims, “Mummy ka Dhaba”; and this is where Dharani dishes out delicious meals cooked with love for her family! Done up in steel grey and glossy black, the newly refurbished kitchen exudes serious style. The open layout maximises every inch of available space, with vertical storage taken all the way till the ceiling.
A flat arch separates the kitchen from the dining space alongside, neatly demarcating spaces while maintaining visual sightlines. The drawers below the counter are encased in high-gloss black acrylic that reflects the lighting and presents a sophisticated aesthetic. Push-to-open, handleless drawer faces lend a seamless look, even as they allow easy access to stored items.
To one side, the refrigerator is transformed into a travel gallery of sorts, with a medley of fridge magnets from every country the family has ever visited! The gleaming grey granite counter and vitrified wall and floor tiles are easy to clean and offer a cohesive look, aligning perfectly with the colour story in the room.
Tucked away into a corner is the appliance garage, which is fitted with a lightweight aluminium rolling shutter that lifts up to reveal bulky appliances like the mixer-grinder and wet grinder. Conveniently placed power points ensure that the appliances can be used in place, without having to move them around when needed.
To one side of the cooking hob, glass-fronted cabinets hold an assortment of glassware and mugs, while spices and condiments are housed in a closed cabinet on the other side for convenient access while cooking. Here’s another view of the kitchen, dining and pooja area that shows how each space flows into the other, seamlessly maintaining the integrity of the design vocabulary!
The floor-to-ceiling Armadio sliding wardrobe in the guest bedroom uses textured and patterned laminate panels that are set off by mirrors and plain coloured panels. The colour palette is pleasing and cohesive; capturing the essence of the design thread that runs through this home. A velvet-upholstered sofa cum bed is just right for binge-watching TV, and can be pulled out into a comfortable Queen-sized bed for overnight guests. The antique hand-knotted woollen Kashmiri carpet adds depth and rich texture to the room. Carefully curated artwork on the walls lends a sumptuous, luxe vibe.
The master bedroom is understated and elegant, referencing delicate details that add up to a harmonious whole. Family portraits adorn the walls, and the wrap-around cabinets around the bed hold books for nighttime reading.
On the opposite wall, a colourful dartboard dials up the visual interest. An ethnic storage unit is embellished with printed fabric and stows away storage essentials. Practical loft cabinets hug the ceiling, storing seasonal bed linen and suitcases. Bold and strong colours dominate the son’s bedroom, which is done up in a palette of grey, black and brown. The grey patterned wallpaper behind the bed adds richness, while the bed itself has an upholstered headboard in dark grey fabric. A patchwork wing chair and footrest lend an extra dimension to the space.
In this wardrobe, too, one shutter is mirrored, visually enhancing the spatial quality of the room. Sliding door panels make for a contemporary aesthetic and are a practical choice in a compact room. Here’s a closer look at the graphic patterned wallpaper, with black prints on a smoky grey backdrop! The nightstand is done up in mahogany wood contrasted against matte black drawers, adding to the youthful appeal. Graffiti on the bathroom wall declares the young boy’s breezy take on life: Live, Love, Laugh!
In the daughter’s bedroom, a pretty palette of pastels takes centrestage. A sleek sliding wardrobe is done up in soft white and pink with a mirrored shutter that makes it easy for her to perfect her look before stepping out. A spacious L-shaped work desk fits neatly into the corner alcove, offering ample storage space for her computer and all her study essentials. The bed features a quilted bedhead upholstered in the same shade of baby pink, blending style with comfort—drawing the eye and creating a soothing visual narrative within the space.
Looking back at their home interior journey with HomeLane, Dharani tells us, “We definitely had a good experience with the HomeLane team. At no time were we unable to reach them, and there was always someone who responded at once. We didn’t face any communication issues throughout the duration of the project!” This, of course, was important since much of the work was done online due to the pandemic!
She beams, “It gives you a lot of happiness when someone comes, looks at your house, and they say you’ve done a good job! We have referred two or three persons already to HomeLane, and are very happy with the way they have come through!” Karthik adds his bit,” I’ll give your team a 5 on 5!” —and Dharani is in complete concurrence, laughing as she agrees,” He’s the point of contact so I’ll go with whatever he says!”
Would you, too, like to join the hundreds of happy HomeLane customers? If you’re looking to give your existing home a complete refresh, then all you have to do is get in touch. Tell us your home décor dreams, and we’ll bring them to life; all at the most competitive prices in town!
