This minimalist Gurugram duplex ​​is a study in understated luxury

New Delhi-based design firm Essentia Environments conceptualised the interiors of real estate developer Deepak Kanodia's second home—a 7,800 sq ft duplex in a gated community in Gurugram, Haryana. The home is for his family of four. Kanodia loved Essentia Environments’s trademark design aesthetic of clean lines, sleek proportions, tactile surfaces and sumptuous materials and wanted his home to reflect the same. “I have admired Essentia Environments’s design style for quite some time. I wanted the same look, but I wanted the interiors to ‘pop,’” Kanodia reveals. “It’s great that the apartment takes care of all our needs in an aesthetically pleasing manner. I also love that the apartment is luxurious and seamlessly connects to the verdant terrace. My favourite parts of the home are the stylish bathrooms that overlook the greenery outside,” he adds.

The home’s interiors are emblematic of Essentia Environments's typical blueprint. It is minimal yet opulent with neutral colours such as white and light grey coexisting alongside a thoughtfully curated material palette of high-end marble, veneers, fabrics, metal and glass. All the furniture and fittings have been custom-made and manufactured in-house by Essentia Environments. 

“While a minimal aesthetic runs through the home, each space features custom-made furniture, specially commissioned artworks and carefully curated accessories, each of which adds a different dimension to the spaces,” states Hardesh Chawla, co-founder of Essentia Environments. “The décor evolved from our belief that the right kind of accessories, even if sparse, tie the space together. The accessories add an eye-catching element with their unique shapes, silhouettes and textures. The artworks evoke a certain mood and add a pop of colour against the otherwise neutral backdrops. The scale of the artworks also adds a surprising element,” he elaborates.

As you walk into the entrance foyer, you are welcomed by a double-height space on the left that serves as the living area. The living room is a large space with multiple seating areas featuring contemporary furniture in black and white, intriguing decor pieces and statement artworks. The furnishings have deliberately been restricted to muted tones so that the greenery outside takes centre stage. The living area leads to the formal dining area which features a custom-designed 12-seater dining table with white upholstered chairs, a modern light installation and two black and white bar cabinets. 

The upper level of the home comprises three bedrooms with attached bathrooms and an outdoor family lounge. The master bedroom has chevron wooden flooring, a custom-designed bed with a high headboard, and fabric wall paneling on the wall behind the bed. The expansive master bathroom has marble counters, a blue onyx tub and basin and large artworks. Both, the master bedroom and bathroom have floor-to-ceiling windows with a wrap-around lush green terrace offering privacy. The highlight of the child's bedroom is the wall behind the bed, which is a whiteboard. 

“The bathrooms are the spaces that we enjoyed designing the most. The large spaces gave us the freedom to design in an experimental way. It allowed for elaborate space layouts accented with artworks, sculptural mirrors, one-of-a-kind washbasins and bathtubs in blue onyx, adding colour to the pristine white palettes. Modern pendant lights and chandeliers add sophistication. A view of the verdant green exteriors brings freshness,” states Monica Chawla, co-founder at Essentia Environments.  

The grandfather’s bedroom has the same design aesthetic as the rest of the home and overlooks a tranquil water body outside. His bathroom features twin circular mirrors and offers views of the garden. The highlight of the second floor is the outdoor lounge featuring a bar and a picturesque water body with a striking metal light installation; the bedrooms overlook this serene area. “Our design philosophy is very simple, we make sure to follow minimalist design, and at the same time, we ensure that no area is left empty. The design of this home showcases our signature style with its clean and minimal look and creative application of fine materials,” concludes Hardesh.

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