How do you breathe new life into a home while preserving the echo of lives richly lived? That’s the question interior designer Sunita Yogesh set out to answer in this deeply personal Chennai project — a 1,800 sq. ft. residence for a septuagenarian entrepreneur and his nonagenarian mother.
With a vision to create a calm, rooted, and reflective space, Yogesh approached the project as more than a makeover — it was a sensitive reimagining of how design can hold space for memory, movement, and meaning. “He wanted it warm and personal, not weighed down by nostalgia,” she recalls. The result is a home where every material tells a story and every corner invites quiet reflection.
Memory in materials, beauty in utility
From leather-finish black granite floors offering slip-resistance and striking contrast, to custom timber furniture and curved forms that soften circulation, the house balances mid-century modern grace with Art Deco charm. A palette of warm woods, whitewashed walls, and colourful art creates a tranquil yet lively environment.
The dining area, once constrained by a narrow balcony, was expanded by merging spaces and exposing ceiling beams — which now double as elegant wood-panelled features. The kitchen too underwent a thoughtful transformation, enlarged and unified with a bold black-and-white chequered floor, grounded by earthy olive cabinetry.
Design for the rhythm of life
Functional pockets and thoughtful details abound — a knitting nook for the mother, a hidden bar for the host, a study corner opposite the bed for late-night writing. “We asked: how will they use this space daily? That informed every decision,” says Yogesh.
The mother’s bedroom is a portrait in restraint — curved headboard, pendant lights, and integrated desks show that accessibility need not compromise elegance. Drawer handles, light switches, and finishes were chosen for ease and durability, ensuring comfort for senior living without clinical coldness.
Not just a house, but a haven
Yogesh describes the project as a lesson in slowing down. “This wasn’t about trends. It was about designing with care and consciousness, making a space that supports stillness and connection.”
The home now stands not just as a container of memories, but as a gentle, grounding space — one that holds past and present, solitude and togetherness, with equal grace.