Casa by the coast

Published in: Architect and interiors India
Publication date: 30 March 2023


This home carries a seamless spatial flow and offers 180 degree panoramic views of the clear waters of the Bay of Bengal. The brief was to create a beautiful weekend getaway that was whimsical but still functional, where the residents could put their feet up and relax as a family or throw their social hats on and entertain guests.



Leading to the blues

Door positions were altered such that every space in the apartment could enjoy the ocean views. All the flooring were replaced from tiles to marble. All bathrooms were reorganized and re-tiled to make it more functional and aesthetically pleasing. The floor to ceiling height was maximised by redoing the false ceiling. The windows were replaced with newer ones from what the builder had provided.



The main challenge was in the layout design of the apartment. The design priorities were very clear that every space had to have a view of the ocean but in this process structural planning of the building posed a challenge. There were structural columns and beams which couldn’t be removed, so taking up a smart plan allowed the doors to blend into the design seamlessly.

Doorway details

The initial builder layout was a 4 BHK apartment with a separate guest room next to the living area. The wall dividing the guest bedroom and the living room was broken down to create a sliding wooden partition, which can be opened up as an extension of the living room or it can be closed off and be used as a lounging space or a separate bedroom.




The sliding door with veneer and mirror partitions the formal living space from the informal lounging space. It was designed with floor to ceiling handles in teakwood, which seamlessly blend into the design.


As an attempt to retain the Chennai breeze and allow the clients to enjoy the same from in the living room, another safety door after the main door was aptly used. It was a metal door and the design was lazer cut so that privacy would be maintained even when the door was put to use. Nobody from the lobby could see inside the house, but there was free flowing breeze from one end of the apartment to the other.

Bursts of brightness

A neutral color palette of grays, whites, and black, with walnut accents were set for the common spaces. But to make sure it still feels like home away from home, the designers brought in bright bursts of color to the bedroom and private spaces. For the living, dining, lounging and kitchen grey marble was used for the flooring. For the bedrooms wooden tiles were selected. All the furniture including the beds, consoles and mirrors were custom designed and executed with local carpenters. Most of the cabinetry like wardrobes in all rooms and kichen cabinets were finished in PU Paint.



The clients wanted the lounge space to be a a perfect unwind spot to absorb the blue waters all day. A custom made day bed was perfect for day time lounging or night time slumber. To conceal the bed from the living space an arched console was designed in forest green. So when the sliding doors open, all you see is this funky console with in-built lights




With custom designed and carpentered furniture in the home the accessories were kept to a minimal to complement the striking sea views and the calm environment. The result was a warm but contemporary and energetic vibe, just what the owners wanted.

Fact file:
Name of the project: Casa by the Coast
Location: Chennai
Area: 2,300 sq ft
Type: Residential interiors
Design firm: AMJ (Architect Mahalakshmi Jegadeesh)
Lead Designer: Mahalakshmi Jegadeesh
Photography Credits: Phosart studio

About the design firm:
AMJ led by Architect Mahalakshmi Jegadeesh is a full-service architecture and interior design firm based out of Chennai, which creates beautiful spaces that not only look good but also feel good. Today the firm provides designs for everything from small scale residences to large commercial projects. They have completed around 15 projects all over the country which have been a mix of residential and commercial.

Read the article : https://www.architectandinteriorsindia.com/projects/capture-captivating-views-of-the-ocean-from-this-chennai-home