Utsaha Residence

On the outside, Utsaha is a nod to its environment. As you step in, it carries forward the same design philosophy. The project involved renovating an old home, where the ground floor was rented out while Thameem's family (client) used the upper floor. The current bungalow houses Thameem and his family, including his wife and two children.
The ground floor spreads into common areas, including the living room, kitchen area, and dining room. The main attraction of the ground floor is the steel staircase with solid wood steps and an indoor pool beneath it. The water in the pool is constantly flowing in rotation, ensuring there is no room for stagnation and the problems that come with it. The skylight above, lights the staircase area allowing the natural light to penetrate through the terracotta brick jali. The result is an endless combination of shadow patterns as the day passes, and the house is naturally lit.
The house's color palette uses earthy, warm tones that complement the art and other structural elements. The palette uses a range of hues like olive green, industrial gray, terracotta red, dark brown, et cetera. Each corner of the house is convenient in terms of design and a design sensibility that reflects its resident's aesthetics. The prayer room also has a minimalist approach, with a divan seating on a checkered pattern of green and beige kota, natural black river finish granite is used for all the common area flooring and kota flooring for the rest of the private spaces.
While much of the artwork around the house can feel antique, the color palette gives it a modern approach. The house has been strategically designed to provide natural light wherever possible. The mid-century modern furniture around the house, along with persian rugs and industrial lamps, fit right against the cocoon of plants and natural light throughout the house. The natural teakwood is a supplement to the color palette
The bedroom's appeal remains in its functionality of providing privacy to its residents and simplicity. One of the bedrooms opens onto a balcony overlooking the main street. The balcony is covered by a terracotta brick jhali structure, allowing the residents to have privacy and enjoy the view. The other bedrooms of the house remain faithful to the overall earthy and warm palette. The kid's room doubles up as their study room and bedroom. Thameem proudly remarks how his children "are of the right age where they have moved into this house that they will have fond memories of"..Despite living in the house for months now, the novelty of it hasn't worn off the kids of the house, who are still excited by it and spend their time playing around it.


Each corner in the house reflects what happens when design sensibility is mindful of not only the practical needs of the residents but also their aesthetics. Unsurprisingly, when asked how the house makes them feel, the owners replied without missing a beat, "It just feels like home; there is no place else we would rather be."