The Verandah, located in a scenic Maharashtran beach village, is a residence for those looking to escape the conundrum of city life.
The Verandah is one of those beguiling creations that both blends in and yet stands out in its surroundings. Located in the lovely beach village of Kihim in Maharashtra, the home is simple and, quite literally, breezy.
Designed by Kavan Shah Design Studio (KSDS), the material palette of wood, concrete, bare bricks, and utilitarian blinds is decidedly frill-free. The house seems primed for loners, forest folks, and people wanting to escape the noise of civilisation. There is a roof and there are walls, but the layout is linear and open, even on the inside. The idea is to let the wind, the light and all the views of the garden remain uninterrupted.
The couch cushions are blue/green and brown and conjure visions of the earth and the sky in an elegant sweep. The lounge furniture preference extends to an informal seating area right outside, where low, leaning chairs are placed.
The kitchen and dining area can be accessed and shut off from the living areas using partition doors. This section is simple too, with a small table, a lovely main shelf, and lots of drawer space establishing a neat outlay.
“A rough, concrete portico encircles the main portion of the home, offering generous connections to the forest beyond,” say members of the design team.
The bedroom, with its wall display arches holding pottery and a highly-patterned art frame, is a delicate breakaway. The overall feel is still restrained, but there is a deliberate movement here.
With this project, the Mumbai-based design studio is right on point in understanding that a home needn’t only conform and perform; instead it can remain restrained and choose to grow old with the surroundings. The Verandah does that with no apologies.
