Monica Khanna, the vivacious and ever enthusiastic brain of Monica Khanna Designs has transformed the outdoors of this charming farm house into a timeless design that reflects earthy, warm, clean simple lines with luxury and class
This mesmerising farm house is divided into two parts – the main house and the outhouse. The main house is where the family resides and the outhouse is for absolute recreational purpose. The outhouse’s covered area is about 4,000 sqft, which does not include the pool and the open area that surrounds it. This recreational space has a pool, a deck, an outdoor dining, a barbeque, an informal sitting or sun room, a powder room for outdoor parties, two shower/toilets for the pool, an outdoor shower, a lily pool, a massage room, a reading room, a meditation room, a shower and steam room for the massage room and one large storage room for outdoor party furniture.
Planning, Concept and Design Designer Monica Khanna says, “Seeing the space and understanding the brief it was clear in my head that my concept would revolve around nature. The space had peacocks and other birds and plenty of beautiful trees. Wanting to feel that you were away from the city would come if the building too had an unconventional design. Block like structures would not give that feel. The exterior views were important, hence everything in my design revolves around the exteriors. The large windows and skylights were created to connect the exteriors to the interiors.
The interior is very simple and uncluttered to keep the focus on the exterior. The design details in the interiors were subtle, but carefully planned to create a feeling of luxury without making a noise about it. The mediums used in the interiors were again planned to blend with nature and whisper class and luxury. Both the design and mediums were carefully planned to achieve a clear focus – timeless luxury that revolves around nature.”
You walk into this space through an arched cast iron gate, which has beautiful creepers growing on it. The landscaping is beautiful, which has peacocks and plenty of birds all around. The wooden deck and the informal sitting room faces the pool, and it has been created on site with old restored wood. The deck further leads to the outdoor dining area. The outdoor dining area has a beautiful brick ceiling. Genuine old antique fans have been used and old brass or ceramic light switches have been used. The stone panels in the outdoor dining area are old pieces again. The chairs are antiques in the open dining area and the table was designed by the designer.
The informal sitting area or sun room has the pool on one side, the lily pool on the other and the large Buddha water body and garden on the third side. The passage near the Buddha water body leads to the powder room and room is for guests for large outdoor parties and has a beautiful red roof and a large picture window that has a small enclosed garden. The foyer that has the large antique round mirror on the wall is the entry to the massage rooms, reading room, meditation room, steam room and spa. The large bathroom that has an open air bathroom concept faces an enclosed garden, this bathroom is connected to the steam and spa.
The massage room and reading room also have the view of this enclosed garden and have beautiful skylights. The interesting architectural detail of this area is that all these rooms look out to one single enclosed garden, but no person from one space can look into another space. Every area is well connected The stone panels in the outdoor dining area are old pieces. The chairs are antiques and the table is designed by Monica and created on site.
The hanging lights have a charm of their own. The small and cozy washbasin gels well with the flooring. to music, heating, cooling and the intercom. Mood lighting, reading lights, essential oil burners, Mashals (fire torches), tea candle holder, lanterns in the trees… every detail has been looked into. Certain water bodies have been created just for the sound effects as it helps to relax while meditating, etc. All materials used are either green, sustainable or materials that blend beautifully with the exteriors. The most important element of the house is the zinc roof – one of those materials that can last for over a hundred year and does not catch rust. All the wood used is reusable. Mostly Indian stones have been used. Simple, white rough plaster walls and paints with less VOC create an impact. The wooden floorings have been created in-house with restored wood. While the feel of the farmhouse is minimalist, it encapsulates all modern concepts and encourages sustainability.
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