A Jodhpur-modern story unfolds in this holiday home

Soka Design Studio creates an unforgettable holiday home in Jodhpur sprinkled with exclusive art and accessories, and bespoke furniture pieces

By Deepa Nair

Photography by Ashish Sahi

19 January 2022

Jodhpur modern home Soka Design Studio — This Jodhpur home was constructed in Dholpur red sandstone, chosen for its high durability against acids and saline water.

Mumbai-based Soka Design Studio—led by interior designer Sravanya Aditya Pittie—was tasked with creating a holiday home in Jodhpur for an affluent Marwari family who have extensive businesses in the same city. They were commissioned to design a 5,000-square-foot house which was spread across a two-acre property with gardens, an outhouse for the staff, and accommodation for the family’s pets. The architecture of the house has an Indo-Saracenic style, with verandahs, four balconies attached with the bedrooms, and large windows and doors for cross-ventilation and sunlight. The structure, a creation in Dholpur red sandstone (featured image), was barren when the design team stepped in, giving them a clean slate to work on.

The large living-dining space is wrapped in floral wallpaper from Cole & Son. Two identical, bespoke oriental carpets by The Weaver are spread out across the marble floor that’s laid out in a contrasting geometric pattern. The plush sofas and coffee tables are by interior designer Jai Danani; and the cushions were sourced from Bombay 50, Fendi Casa and Westside. Some printed cushions were tailor-made to match the wallpaper.

This console with blue inlay panels displays a Prabhavalli from an ancient South Indian temple, which was bought from an antique store in Kerala. To make it grander, Pittie fitted a mirror in the centre and placed it on a marble stand.

Past and Present

The brief Pittie received was detailed and lucid, “This holiday home was to be designed for a small family who’ve built many hospitals and temples with well-defined Rajasthani architecture. They are proud of their heritage and wanted their home to have a Marwari vibe, yet be modern. The family entertains regularly, holds bonfires in winter and plays the piano in the evenings. So, the home had to be able to accommodate all these activities. Plus, as their horses and dogs move around freely around the property, they wanted the house to be low on maintenance too,” shares the designer. No structural changes were made to the site, however one of the four bedrooms was converted into an office space with a separate entrance. In the other three bedrooms, walk-in-wardrobes with luggage racks and ample storage spaces were created.

The bleached blue chairs on the balcony have bespoke water-resistant upholstery. The lacquered table is a unique creation showcasing pressed flowers from Himachal Pradesh.

The dining table and chairs were custom designed by Jai Danani. The tabletop is made from two pieces of onyx, and the dining chairs are upholstered in black-and-white fabric. Note the stunning black lacquered vase with pressed flowers with from Juhina Sodhi on the table, also a commissioned piece. Suspended above is a Maharashtrian wedding jewellery-inspired chandelier—made of metal bulbs in matte and glossy finishes—created by designer Shailesh Rajput.

Made in India

The design elements in the client’s office include Cole & Son wallpaper, handcrafted furniture from Bhandari Exports, and accessories like a crown from a vintage shop, and a handmade vase. As the wallpaper is evocative of an English cigar room, which traditionally was exclusive to men, here, the designer consciously included two sketches (of a man and a woman) by artist Akbar Padamsee to tell a fresh story.

Honouring the brief, Pittie decided to tell a “Jodhpur modern” story inside the walls of this traditional structure. She also decided to predominately use everything Indian—materials, furniture and accessories, and the selection of antiques. This is evident right from the outset (read the entrance door) which took some months in the making. Made from sheesham wood, it features ornate carvings and is made in an arch authentic to Rajasthani architecture. The luxurious living-dining space that one steps into takes cues from the architecture of the house and features striking (and very British) floral wallpapers from Cole & Son. It took the client some time to come around to the latter, says Pittie—the designers started with two rooms, which he loved, and eventually the wallpaper took over the bedrooms and his office as well. The colour palette for all the rooms are myriad: earthy tones for the living room and dining space, a blue chinoiserie theme for the guest bedroom, a green and beige tassel one for the children’s room, and a subtle royal concept for the main bedroom. The client’s office space stands out with its old cigar room-like atmosphere, handmade furniture and accessories.

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The guest bedroom takes inspiration from the many Rajasthani palaces that see chinoiserie in their design. The blue-and-white wallpaper features motifs inspired by European gardens. The bed and single-seater were designed by Bhandari Exports, and the stools are from AKFD. For the bedside lamps from Bent Chair, lampshades were tailor-made in a chinoiserie print to match the armchair.

Art Walk

Part of the living area, this cosy setting has sink-in single seaters and a coffee table, both by Jai Danani. The army hats—crafted in metal on an acrylic base—displayed on the coffee table were handpicked by the designer from a shop in the neighbouring cantonment area, a nod to the heritage of the place.

Sepia prints are beautifully framed and displayed on the walls of the living-dining space. These are digitised pictures of Rajasthani palaces, forts and temples that were taken in the 1800s by Raja Deendayal—one of the most prolific Indian photographers of his time—and sourced from the Raja Deendayal Foundation.

What gives this home an almost art-gallery appeal are the carefully curated art and accessories; and the bespoke furniture. These include the beautiful vintage ornamental wall fans sourced from an old royal Chettinad family, the faint “made in England” imprint still visible on the aged velvet fabric; the vintage piano which was refurbished and painted a warm red; an old temple Prabhavalli that was given a modern avatar by placing a mirror in the centre and setting it on a large marble base; the outdoor table tops featuring pressed flowers from Himachal Pradesh; large throne chairs at the entrance made from metal and old ox carts; and the aged metal army hats which were turned into decor pieces by resting them on acrylic stands.

Closer to the dining setting is this washbasin unit designed by Ochre at Home. It is complemented by a large mirror which was treated with shades of bleached ivory and rust to achieve an aged look. The show-stealers here are showcased on the walls: vintage Chettinad fans made from multi-hued silks and velvet laced together.

Morning breakfast, afternoon soirees or long conversations post dinner—this courtyard sees a bevy of activities. The chairs, designed by Bhandari Exports, have been upholstered in custom-designed outdoor fabric, while the table has a green-and-white striped marble inlay. The wall sconce, by Shailesh Rajput, has three streaks which represent Shiva’s trishul (trident).