Breaking the Monotony: The Rustic Way
The washrooms designed by Mumbai-based interior designer Sapana Jain bear a rustic look which is well-complimented by the materials used and the paintings, writes Mrinmoy Dey
The use of artefacts, motifs, pictures and raw finishes lends the washrooms designed by Mumbai-based firm I Heart Homez a unique rustic look. Sapana Jain, Founder and Principal Designer, I Heart Homez says, “The USP of this project would be the artistic tones set in the home, since the whole house has a feature wall in each area. It’s a break from the monotonous city life because the Renaissance paintings add a calm touch to the space.”
Scope of Design
The holiday home bungalow is loacted in Karjat, a nearby getaway from the city of Mumbai. “There are 5 bathrooms and 4 bedrooms in this two-storey villa. The washrooms vary between 125-200 sqft,” informs Sapana.
She further adds that the clients are a business family based in Mumbai. “Their vision was to enjoy a quality time away from the hustle and traffic of the city in the arms of a peaceful and minimalistic home and occasionally use it for gatherings and parties.”
Talking about the brief and the challenges faced, the designer shares, “The brief was to create a getaway home that would give a break from the busy city life. The artistic touch gives a very warm and welcoming feel with the use of bare walls and wooden elements to enhance the abstract in the home. The challenge was to break the monotony of luxurious getaway spaces and create a raw and earthy feel.”
Sapana shares, “The bathrooms are usually the first place we visit in the morning and you start your day with it and I personally pay a lot of attention to bathroom design. To make sure we stayed true to the theme every bathroom has wall paintings which carry along the same lines as the bedroom wall art. The washbasins are carved in stone to accentuate the feel. My vision was to provide a very natural and soothing experience to whoever entered the space and hence the look and feel.”
The theme, materials and more
Using accessories, furniture and highlighters in a luxury washroom is quite common and if not planned well it can lead to clutter. On the contrary, a minimal, clean look with a sense of space has its own appeal.
Talking about balancing these two factors, Sapana opines, “Being a designer and product brand owner I’ve learned how to balance my aesthetic appeal with my designs and add the touches where needed to strike a visual balance. I usually go for a minimal look because you don’t want your bathroom to look like a showcase and most clients end up adding their touch eventually anyway, so I feel the need to leave room for that as well. Besides bathrooms are for your basic needs, I believe if the features for that are well functioning and well designed, a bathroom has achieved its primary goal.”
The flooring is raw concrete for an earthy warm feel since this material cools easily and creates a natural-looking environment. Whereas all the walls are pop walls with some sort of art displayed with raw finishing. “The whole house has a blend of raw elements in their pure forms, the art is moreover a reflection of my personality and each of these wall arts speaks for themselves and adds a sense of character to the whole villa,” adds Sapana.
Sapana Jain
Founder & Principal Designer, I Heart Homez
“The artistic touch gives a very warm and welcoming feel with the use of bare walls and wooden elements to enhance the abstract in the home. The challenge was to break the monotony of luxurious getaway spaces and create a raw and earthy feel.”
The washbasins and the mirrors have been used as a highlighter in the washrooms. Explaining the rationale behind this, the designer says, “Stone and rustic go hand in hand since rustic describes pure form. The stone-carved basins were one of the feature elements of the villa. Mirrors always add character and depth to any space and different shapes enhance the beauty and I’ve always believed in breaking the stereotypes.”
She further adds that the materials are on the lines of raw and natural and every element is of the Renaissance era even the bathroom fittings have a vintage look and so do the accessories. The exciting factor of the bathroom design is the painting element which is a colourful composition of the area.
Speaking about the design philosophy behind the designs of the washrooms, Sapana shares, “The space is more of a creative invention of all the art elements and an explosion of art on every wall. Since the whole artistic element has been continued throughout the house it links every area with the others including the bathrooms.”