Vinod Vijayanandan and his family thought about building a brand new house when the limited facilities in their old house at Karunagapally in Kerala didn’t suit the modern times. This old structure was then knocked down to build a fabulous dwelling that oozes classy vibes.
The family was confused about whether to cut down the three huge mango trees that stand in front of the house. The designers advised that the trees would definitely block the view of the elevation if they were retained. However, the family members, who were emotionally attached to the grand old trees decided to retain them, even if it blocked the view of the house. So, the structure was designed to accommodate the position of the trees too.
As Vinod likes darker shades of hues, the walls of the house mostly don such colours. Red texture paint was used on the grove designs to add a laterite stone feeling on the elevation and the compound walls. Interestingly, these look exactly like laterite stone cladding.
The front yard has been paved with natural stones and grass in alternate layers. The car porch, meanwhile, is built separately in the detached style. The GI truss roof adds chic style to the car porch.
Designed in 2700 sqft, this amazing abode has a sit-out, formal and family living areas, dining space, kitchen with a work area and three bedrooms in the ground floor. Meanwhile, there is a bedroom, home theatre and balcony in the upper floor.
A lake flows through the backside of the house. So, the windows have been aptly positioned to receive the cool breeze from the lake.
The interiors are designed in an open style. Moreover, it makes the area look and feel spacious. The formal living area is arranged on the left side of the entrance door. Classy couches in bright blue upholstery add a vibrant charm to this area. Meanwhile, couches in resin finish have been used in the family living area.
Wooden finish tiles have been used for flooring in the common areas. Meanwhile, the furniture pieces are custom-made to suit the unique theme of the house.
A quaint breakfast counter has been arranged in the detached style, just behind the family living area. Usually, breakfast counters are arranged as part of the pantry kitchen. However, in this house, the perfectly positioned counter could be used as a comfortable study space too.
The dining area is right behind this counter. The pantry kitchen too is adjacent to this area. The simple dining table set has bench on one side. Meanwhile, the wall beside the dining area is highlighted with brick texture paint. Interestingly, the wash area is arranged here, adding an attractive contrast against the red wall.
The ceiling above the dining area is designed in wooden finish to separate this area. Wooden polish has been used on the gypsum ceiling to design this feature.
The kitchen cupboards, meanwhile, are done in marine plywood with mica laminate finish. Granite has been paved on the countertop, adding a clean look.
The bedrooms are designed in unique themes. The head side walls are highlighted in upholstery works in vivid colours. The wallpaper in the kids’ bedroom has fabulous graphic work featuring Spider-Man. The bath attached bedrooms have wardrobes for storage and study tables too.
The home theatre boasts of all the modern facilities including the Dolby acoustics quality. The beautiful balcony that offers a mesmerizing view of the front yard and the landscape is an attractive feature. Meanwhile, a money plant adds a hint of greenery here.
There is a show wall built in laterite stones in the backside of the house. This helps in lending a rustic charm to the area.
Vinod, an expatriate, credits his wife for overseeing the construction of the house. Besides, he feels lucky to have had a team of efficient designers and workers. Vinod kept track of the construction mostly via WhatsApp. The family moved into their dream dwelling in April this year. They feel proud and joy when their friends and relatives shower praises on their splendid house.
Projects
Location – Karunagappally, Kollam
Plot – 18 cents
Area – 2700 SFT
Owner – Vinod Vijayanandan and Subi
Designers – Arun Kumar and Ajay K Rajan
Shelter Living, Thodupuzha
Mob – 9961313831, 9447764807
Year of completion – April 2022
Pictures: Manu Jose Photography
