Old house in Kodungallur undergoes magical transformation

Satheesh Kumar and his family decided to give their old house a facelift as it didn’t suit modern times. Besides, they were unhappy about the meagre facilities and the congested spaces in the interiors. Initially, they had planned to build a brand-new house. However, they ditched that plan due to shortage of budget.

It was architect Mahesh who suggested revamping the old house after inspecting the structure. The rooms in this house were spacious even though sunlight shied away from entering them. The family realised that if they build a new house, on a limited budget, they might end up with a smaller house that wouldn’t have as much facilities or space. Satheesh, who is an engineer, understood that his architect was right.

The house was revamped without altering the structure much. GI truss roof has been newly installed over the old slanting roof. Besides, roofing tiles too have been paved to grant a traditional charm. Interestingly, this new addition acts as a façade, while retaining the old features of the structure.

Altering the orientation of the gate and the front yard plays vital role in giving a unique look to elevation. Earlier, the gate was right in front of the house. So, the yards looked congested even though there was enough space on both sides of the house. Now, the gate has been moved around 25 metres to the side, allowing the elevation to shine. Besides, the beautiful views of the landscape too could be enjoyed.

Designed in 2900 sqft, this classy house has a car porch, sit-out, formal and family living areas, dining space, two courtyards, kitchen with an adjacent work area and four bedrooms.

The spatial limitations were overcome by rearranging the interiors. The redundant inner walls were pulled down to make the interiors spacious and airy. Besides, huge windows have been added in all the rooms to bring oodles of sunshine and cool breeze into the house.

The old and faded mosaic flooring got replaced with brand – new vitrified tiles. This makes the interiors look brighter and adds a comfortable ambience too. The furnishing inside the house also got a revamp to suit the interests of the family. The custom furniture gels well with the general theme of the interiors.

The family had picked up gardening during the lockdown period. So, they wanted ample space to accommodate all their plants. The architect designed quaint green spaces in the house where the family’s beloved plants got prime positions. A courtyard has been turned into a delightful relaxing area by arranging a coffee table and chairs. Satheesh vows that this space has become the family’s favourite spot in the house. He says that he could spend hours here, sipping a coffee and enjoying the soothing charm of surrounding greenery.

The long side courtyard is the highlight of the house. One could enter this space from the formal living area. Grills have been installed here to ensure additional safety. Meanwhile, toughened glass has been paved as the roof. Interestingly, the family has turned this area into a spectacular spot of greenery.

The old kitchen gave way to a modern and spacious kitchen. The cabinets have been modified in marine ply finish. The counter top, meanwhile, has been paved in white tiles. A quaint breakfast counter arranged in the centre completes the kitchen area.

There are three bedrooms in the ground floor while two bedrooms are in the upper floor. All the bedrooms are bath attached and have wardrobes too. The windows in the bedrooms open to the fabulous views of greenery in the landscape.

This old house was given a grand face lift on an affordable budget of Rs 40 lakhs. The family’s friends and relatives were surprised to see how an old structure could be transformed into such a mesmerizing modern abode.

Project Facts

Location – Kodungallur, Thrissur

Area – 2900 SFT

Owner – Satheesh Kumar

Architects – Mahesh Ramakrishnan, Arun TS

Viewpoint Dezigns Thrissur

Mob – 8606531611

Year of completion – 2020

Photos: Ar. Midhul KM