Gradients of the Earth

A tactile narrative of earthy textures weaves through this Pune home by Alkove-Design

Text by Rama Raghavan

A pair of butterflies dance into the sunlit room, their delicate wings tracing an elusive path before they vanish into honeyed walls. Only their colourful trails linger, catching the sun in fleeting ways—echoing the mosaic lines meandering across the space, receding into gradients of the earth. 

At the heart of a Pune home crafted by Alkove-Design lies a materiality that evokes the spirit of the earth—a canvas brought to life with a soulful collection of gradients. Designed for Prakriti and Anirudh Chaturvedi, this 4-BHK apartment, spread across 4900 sq.ft, unfolds as a home that is layered, grounded, and deeply personal.

“We began with the intent of recreating the tactile experience of rammed earth. We were particularly taken by the gradients it offered with its striated layers. Through conversations with the clients, this idea evolved into a material palette grounded in earthy finishes—lime plaster, reclaimed wood, and natural veneer—all of which were repositories of rich gradients.” says Ninada Kashyap, Principal Architect at Alkove-Design. The material finishes became the springboard for other design decisions to follow.  

The living space opens out as a huge expanse, its frontage conversing with the west through large openings. Despite its scale, the space feels humane—its walls and ceiling imbued with the raw warmth of lemon-ochre lime wash. As light penetrates deeper into the space, the surfaces recede into compelling shadows. The eyes wander into the depths and catch a glint of the sun emerging from a connecting wall—a pair of glass mosaic lines weave across the surface—flowing playfully, rippling through the stillness with a shimmer of movement. 

Natural textures form the material palette in the living area. A custom-crafted console between the living and dining further adds to the earthy ambience—its shutters crafted with African mud cloth imprinted with a tribal pattern.

A speckled dance of glass mosaic tiles complement the monolith lime-washed walls in the living area. The seating furniture from DTale is woven together with the jute rug from Neytt.

Intertwining seamlessly, the living, family, and dining spaces flow into one another, gently delineated by shifts in material and mood. Through a reclaimed wood frame—like a portal etched with memory—one steps into the family room, where time-worn textures and woody scents stir a quiet familiarity. Patterns ripple through the space, grounding it in tactile richness and turning it into a nest where the family gathers, unwinds, and connects. 

Beyond the living, the dining area unfolds as a natural extension, where black accents draw the eye with the depth of their shadows. The energy crescendos around “Kshitichitra”—a centrepiece by Morii Design. Crafted in collaboration with artisan communities, it merges land, water, and sky in a medley of Bela block prints from Kutch and Sujni embroidery from Bihar—its layered strokes echoing the language of shifting gradients.

Timber becomes the quaint backdrop for weaving tales of travel in the family room. The wooden TV console with the black stone top, continues from the living area, seamlessly tying the two spaces in a unified language. Oblong coffee tables carry weathered charm with their natural wood finish.

Living- dining areas interconnect—their path guided by shimmering mosaic lines flowing across the space.

The dining table top in black stone, and the centerpiece artwork by Morii Design, add depth with shades of black. 

A wooden-floored terrace extending from the dining area opens to views of lush tree canopies— a serene spot to lounge on the daybed, accompanied by ceramic birds perched along the wall, encircling a metal sun.

Like an oasis amidst yellowy sand dunes, the kitchen emerges in a palette of aqua green and terracotta bringing a burst of fresh energy.

The kitchen brings together natural tones with quiet harmony—light oak set against an off-white floor lends an airy balance, muting the earthy accents above.

Deeper into the home, the hues begin to soften. The lemon-ochre dissolves into sienna rose, infusing the master bedroom with tender nostalgia. “The clients wanted this space to feel distinct—a shift in palette that evoked a sense of repose,” says Komal Mittal, Principal Architect at Alkove-Design. “We chose terracotta pink lime-washed walls to bring softness, black river-wash betamcharla floor for its tactility, and reimagined the classic victorian four-poster bed in a contemporary form with slender wooden strips that trace across the wall and ceiling to evoke an old-world charm”, she adds.

Soft pink walls and a woody walnut render the master bedroom refreshing—where old world charm meets with a contemporary elegance

Notes of nostalgia drift through the diffused light, settling into the pink-toned tranquility of the bedroom.

A reading nook tucked in a cosy corner invites a soft escape—where textures, and shadows engage in an enigmatic dialogue.

As one moves further, the tones lift once again. A turn down the corridor leads to the eastern wing, where morning light spills into the children’s and guest bedrooms, wrapping them in a tender wash of yellow.  Though they share a tonal backdrop, each room reveals a distinct personality. The guest bedroom exudes quiet dignity, with honey-maple wooden gradients lending it a composed elegance. In contrast, the children’s room brims with playful warmth, its palette of soft cedar hues and colourful arched accents creating a space that feels cheerful, comforting, and entirely their own. Flowing back toward the heart of the home, a prayer alcove nestles between the bedrooms—tucked into an arched niche and cloaked in wood, it stands serene and deeply resonant.

In the guest bedroom, a sunlit window seat offers a restful perch to take in the views. The connected desk doubles as a luggage rack for flexible use.

Cheerful arches enliven the kid’s room, framing a vibrant backdrop for a multi-functional deck bed designed for both rest and play.

Enveloped in wood, the sanctum dwells within an arched niche—anchored in spiritual stillness.

Transitioning back, the home withdraws from the social rhythm of shared spaces into a more introspective breath. Here, the study rests in quiet seclusion—a space in contemplation. The austere lemon-ochre gracefully returns, contrasted by the deep tones of black betamcharla flooring. On the walls, embossed terracotta plates by artist Dhanashree Kelkar narrate the family’s journeys—each piece a fragment of memory etched in clay. Just beyond, a private garden unfurls, dissolving the boundary between inside and out, where gradients of colour and texture blur into nature’s palette.

Ochre walls in the private study converse with serene greens of the connected outdoor, creating a peaceful haven within the home.

Crafted in a palette of rich walnut, the bespoke workstation melds function with grace. 

Through the undertones of the home, a story gently reveals itself in gradients of the earth—narrated through the folds of texture, whispered in shifting hues, and carried softly into light. Like the ephemeral flight of butterflies, their presence lingers in traces— glimmering in mosaic, etched in grains of wood, and held in the warmth of lime-washed surfaces. It is in these subtle nuances that the home reveals its soul—not through grand gestures, but through grounded transitions. A home not just inhabited—but deeply, indelibly felt.