Nechupadom house interior

To refurbish a space that is already beautiful is a delicate and complex task. One must be sensitive to retain its good qualities, its conveniences, and if possible, enhance its magic. Such was the requirement posed by the clients Aju Jacob and Rehana Jacob of the illustrious Synthite family, when they needed to renovate the kitchen and dining space of their home at Kolenchery, Kerala. At the heart of the design requirement was the idea of openness. While the design of the kitchen satisfied the functional requirements, it lacked natural light. The small dining room had, over the years, become insufficient to contain the large number of relatives who frequented their ancestral Kolenchery home. Having separate rooms for the dining and kitchen also created an inconvenient distance between them. And yet, its enclosure from the rest of the house provided a desirable privacy that had to be maintained.

In response to these ideas, the kitchen and dining become unified into one open space that can cater to a large number of friends and family. The design goes beyond openness from within as the kitchen opens out to the beautiful landscape surrounding the house. As one enters the kitchen, the view towards the greenery outdoors brings in a pop of colour that changes with the shifting seasons, while the miminal interior recedes into the backdrop. A breakfast table that was an integral part of the previous design is incorporated into an island countertop for preparation. Besides serving its very specific client requirements, the renewed space caters both to the moments of silence and the moments of cheer that make up a home.