New Delhi: A builder floor gets a second life as a palatial family residence

When Shalini Ganguli boarded a Kolkata-bound flight in 2019, theLondon-based designer had little inkling that the trip would be a one-way deal. Ganguli, who was expecting at the time, had planned to deliver in India. What she hadn't planned on, or expected, was a pandemic that would change her life in more ways than one. "I realized I would be in India indefinitely. And then, one day, a few months into the lockdown, I received an email from a family who had recently acquired a property and were very keen for me to design it," says the designer, who, at just a few weeks postpartum, was hesitant at taking on anything new. "I explained to them that I had a small baby, and for all the obvious reasons, I couldn’t travel. But this was in no way a deterrent for them and they found a way for me to come on board despite the odds. So after years of being away from the country, no clue about which former vendors were still around, a small baby, the global meltdown of 2020, having never visited the site or even met the client, I started working on a dream home for this family."

Low-key to Luxe

When Ganguli took the design reins of thisNew Delhi-based project, it was clear that it would need a lot of work. "Our place was a new builder floor with a few pre-assembled accoutrements," says Hitakshi Wadhwa (the homeowner’s daughter, who served as Ganguli’s main collaborator and point of contact), referencing to the archetypal builder-made, builder-sold model. But the house had more than a few shortcomings. "Shalini started by identifying the flaws. The minute we introduced her to the space, it was all about the corrections first." What followed was a flurry of rectifications–and interventions–pointed at achieving the Wadhwas' desired aesthetic: a classicEuropeaninterior with contemporary fittings. "As a family of predominantly young adults with a fast-paced lifestyle, they wanted the home to be conducive to entertaining their friends and family. Hitakshi, in particular, had envisaged a detailed design scheme inspired by her travels and favourite shows,” shares Ganguli, who interviewed each member individually to understand their expectations.

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Classic Meets Contemporary

With creamy tones, Bulgari grey marble, old-world moulding and gilded accents, the overarching palette holds a mirror to the Wadhwas’ swish sensibilities. The living anddining roomswear similar subdued shades, while burgundy dining chairs inject a kingly dose of colour into the alabaster scheme. On the farthest wall of the living room, a television takes pride of place, cutting a bold figure against a wood-panelled wall. “The family hosts a lot, so they wanted a television in the living room. We made that the focal point, kept all the coloursneutral, and accented it with maroons,” explains Ganguli, leading the way into the neighbouring open-plan kitchen. It’s obvious that despite the classic feel, the layout is refreshingly modern, with spaces sharing a decided sense of seamlessness.

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Regal Realms

The visual identity of each bedroom is a hat-tip to its occupant(s). The son’s bedroom, with its brooding grey tones, for example, is the quintessential bachelor bolthole. In contrast, Ganguli espoused a softer approach for the mainbedroom, amping up the drama with a larger-than-life headboard and mirrored wall panels. “The parents wanted a mellow look, with colours that would be easy on the eyes,” she says of the taupe-and-ochre palette. As we move to the daughters’ bedrooms, the walls whisper of whimsy. “Hitakshi wanted a feminine boudoir inspired by her favourite Hollywood movies. And so, we kept the shell ivory, and introduced baby pink accents,” says Ganguli, adding, “For the older daughter, we went after a cozy vibe, with daisy wardrobes and a baby blue headboard. Since she is married and has a child, she lives separately and only visits occasionally. Yet, she wanted a space tailored for herself and her husband for when they spend time here.”

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