Project Nivasa | Serenity by Sadhana | Chennai
A refined expression of contemporary living with cultural depth, Project Nivasa is a thoughtfully curated residence located in Nungambakkam, Chennai, brought to life by Serenity by Sadhana. The home embodies a seamless synthesis of modern minimalism and Indian sensibilities, articulated through a careful interplay of materials, textures, and artisanal details. Each space is designed with clarity and restraint, yet enriched with warmth and character, creating an environment that feels both contemporary and deeply rooted in cultural familiarity.
The Principal Architect, Ar. Sadhana Raghu shares that the intent was to craft a home that balances functionality with emotional resonance. The design approach focuses on layering textures, integrating handcrafted elements, and maintaining a cohesive material palette throughout. By aligning spatial planning with residents’ lifestyle needs, the home becomes a harmonious blend of comfort, elegance, and contextual relevance.
Composed Foyer
The foyer establishes a calm and welcoming tone, marking a gentle and graceful arrival into the home. A custom console in warm wood, paired with a circular mirror that amplifies visual depth, anchors the space with ease. Vertical wooden slats, designed and crafted as a bespoke partition by the team, introduce a quiet rhythm while subtly segregating zones and giving each space its own meaning without compromising openness.
Balancing the varied wood tones across the home was a key design challenge, one the team approached with restraint to achieve a sense of cohesion. Integrated storage cabinets and a thoughtfully incorporated seating niche in soft, neutral finishes ensure functionality without visual heaviness. Carefully curated décor and soft ambient lighting complete the experience, creating a composed and inviting entry that sets the tone for the home with understated sophistication.
Curated Living Room
The living room is envisioned as a balanced composition of comfort and visual richness. A classic wooden sofa set with upholstered seating forms the central arrangement, complemented by armchairs and a solid wood coffee table. The TV wall is designed as a structured feature with integrated shelving and a low storage console, allowing for both display and utility.
A defining architectural gesture within the space is the introduction of reclaimed Chettinad pillars, sourced from the Karaikudi region and carefully transported to site. The base, shaft proportions, and capital were all reworked to suit the context of the home, with the carvings at the capital refined to balance tradition with a more contemporary restraint. Anchored on a quartz base, these pillars naturally become the point of segregation between the living and dining areas, establishing a subtle yet clear spatial threshold without the need for solid partitions.
Textured wall finishes, a curated collection of artwork, and warm lighting add layers of character, while the presence of these columns introduces rhythm and architectural continuity. The result is a space that feels rooted in heritage while remaining composed and refined in its expression.
Classic Lounge Swing
The swing area is envisioned as a relaxed yet expressive zone, seamlessly connected to both the living and dining spaces. Positioned to overlook the balcony beyond the dining through French doors, it draws in light and air, becoming a natural pause point within the home.
A cane wooden swing with upholstered seating forms the focal element, introducing gentle movement and a sense of nostalgia. Behind it, a full-length, solid wood storage and display unit anchors the wall, combining closed cabinetry below with open shelving above. This built-in becomes the primary display in the common area, thoughtfully composed with artwork, sculptures, and collected artefacts, adding layers of personality and visual richness.
Balanced and cohesive, the space functions as both a transition and a retreat, where material warmth, curated elements, and openness come together with quiet ease.
Cosy Dining Area
The dining area is articulated with quiet clarity and a focus on refined detailing. A wooden table with a glass top, paired with a bench and upholstered chairs, anchors the setting with a balance of warmth and ease. Open wooden shelving becomes a curated backdrop, displaying artefacts with intention, while a compact storage unit below keeps the space grounded and functional.
Soft curtains and warm lighting lend a gentle softness, allowing the material palette to come through with restraint. The result is a composed, intimate setting that feels both considered and effortlessly lived-in.
Serene Balcony Retreat
The balcony is designed as a serene extension of the interior. A natural wood finished counter with a modern basin creates a unique outdoor space, paired with a framed mirror that enhances the sense of openness. Wooden ceiling slats add warmth, while planters introduce a natural element. The space balances utility with tranquillity, offering a refreshing retreat within the home.
Streamlined Kitchen
The kitchen is conceived with efficiency and visual order at its core, defined by clean lines and a balanced material palette. Wood-finished base cabinets are paired with light-toned overhead units, creating a contrast that feels both grounded and airy. A quartz countertop runs seamlessly across, offering durability and generous workspace, while integrated appliances and well-planned storage ensure ease of use.
Glass-front shutters and open shelves introduce lightness, allowing everyday crockery to be both accessible and on display, complemented by a dedicated crockery unit that enhances organisation. The brick backsplash brings in texture and warmth, adding a subtle rustic layer while maintaining an overall sense of openness.
Finished with matte anti-skid flooring tiles, the space remains practical yet refined. The overall look is clean, cohesive, and breathable, where materiality and function come together with clarity.
Where Work Finds Its Rhythm
The study is conceived as a calm, focused workspace, articulated through clean lines and a balanced palette. A full-length desk with integrated storage runs along the wall, paired with overhead shelving for books and display. A teal open bookshelf becomes a subtle highlight within the room, introducing depth and a gentle contrast while showcasing a curated selection of books and objects.
Soft fabric blinds filter natural light to create a comfortable, glare-free environment, while carefully placed lighting adds clarity without disrupting the calm. The overall composition feels functional, composed, and quietly expressive.
A Shrine Within the Everyday
Within this study, the mandir is integrated as a serene and unobtrusive insert, reflecting the family’s Jain practices through its simplicity and clarity of form. Crafted in wood, it is detailed as a dedicated niche with subtle panelling, proportioned to evoke a sense of calm and reverence.
Pocket doors allow the mandir to be enclosed when required, seamlessly concealing the shrine and maintaining the visual continuity of the study. Soft, integrated lighting highlights the textures, lending a gentle, meditative quality. Minimal yet intentional, the design allows moments of prayer to coexist quietly within a space of focus.
The space between the study and the son’s bedroom is treated as a quiet transitional pause. A wallpapered wall forms the backdrop for a custom artwork, paired with a classic upholstered bench and soft wall lighting that add both function and character. Framed by wooden doorways, the passage connects the private zones with ease and continuity.
The artwork also serves a discreet purpose, concealing the home’s electrical board, seamlessly integrating utility into the design.
Tropical Master Suite
The master bedroom unfolds as a calm, immersive retreat, envisioned as a quiet tropical escape within the home. A large king bed anchors the space, flanked by side tables, and set against a backdrop where tropical wallpaper is layered with subtle vertical panelling. The linear detailing adds rhythm and height, balancing the richness of the print with a sense of structure and order. All furniture within the room is carefully curated, coming together as a cohesive composition rather than a custom-built setting.
Opposite, a streamlined TV unit integrates seamlessly, maintaining visual lightness while offering functional clarity. A dresser, walk-in wardrobe, and attached washroom complete the suite, making it the most expansive and private zone within the home.
Layered with soft furnishings, warm wood tones, and ambient lighting, the room feels restful yet expressive—where the tropical palette is held together by clean lines and a composed material language.
The walk-in wardrobe extends this narrative with full-height storage units finished in light wood tone, offering generous and well-organised storage. A dedicated dressing counter with integrated lighting ensures functionality, while the seamless connection between the two zones maintains visual continuity and spatial ease.
Calm Secondary Bedroom
This guest bedroom is conceived in a soft blue and white palette, inspired by the quiet, breezy character of Chennai’s beaches. The design for the room was led by the fabric itself, which informed the overall theme and palette, setting the tone for a space that feels light, layered, and cohesive.
A neatly composed bed sits against calming wallpaper, with side tables completing the arrangement with ease. The wardrobe becomes a key feature, with fabric sandwiched within the shutters, its subtle floral patterns adding texture and depth while echoing the room’s inspiration. A compact dressing unit is seamlessly integrated, while soft blinds filter natural light to maintain a relaxed, airy atmosphere.
Light-toned finishes and minimal décor keep the space uncluttered, allowing it to feel calm, comfortable, and quietly inviting—an effortless retreat for guests.
Son’s Bedroom
This bedroom is designed to maximise functionality within a refined aesthetic. A wardrobe with cane-detailed shutters brings in ample storage while keeping the composition light and airy. An integrated working desk within the unit adds functionality in a simple and seamless manner. An incorporated pull-out dressing unit ensures convenience without disrupting the layout. The window bay seating, upholstered for comfort, creates a cosy nook for relaxation. A neutral palette with warm accents ties the space together, resulting in a room that is both practical and inviting.
In essence, Project Nivasa is a nuanced exploration of contemporary living rooted in cultural sensibility. Each space is carefully composed to balance functionality, material richness, and visual harmony, resulting in a home that feels both cohesive and deeply personal. The project reflects a considered approach to design, where every detail contributes to a larger narrative of comfort and elegance — a testament to the creative vision and thoughtful execution of Ar. Sadhana Raghu and team.
FACT FILE
Project Name : Project Nivasa
Design Firm : Serenity by Sadhana
Principal Designer : Ar. Sadhana Raghu
Design Team: Ar. Subhitsha. S, Ar. Shivani Sridhar, Ar. Segha Ganesh, Ar. Sadhana Raghu
Project Area : 3000 sq.ft
Project Type : Residential Interiors
Project location : Amara Aradhya, Nungambakkam, Chennai
Photography Credits : Chasing Pixels
About Serenity by Sadhana
Serenity by Sadhana is a Chennai-based architecture and interior design studio led by Sadhana Raghu. The practice is known for crafting spaces that bring together functional clarity with a refined, soulful aesthetic.
Working across residential and commercial projects, the studio offers turnkey design and execution, ensuring a seamless journey from concept to completion. Each project is approached with a strong architectural lens, where planning, proportion, and spatial flow form the foundation, layered with a considered interior language defined by materiality and detailing.
The result is a cohesive body of work where architecture and interiors come together effortlessly, creating environments that are visually compelling and contextually grounded.
