This is the story of Amal, 27, from Ponkunnam, Kottayam. He shares with Onmanorama his journey of making his dream home a reality. Amal’s old house, which was about 50 years old, had several issues due to its age and lacked sufficient space. This led him to start thinking about building a new house. Despite working in the IT field in Kochi, he wanted to fulfil his parents’ wish to stay in their village, close to their roots. With this in mind, he decided to construct a new home in the same location.
The house features a sloping truss roof with four levels of elevation. From the beginning, he intended to go in for a colonial design. Naturally, the tilt was to use traditional roof tiles due to its aesthetic appeal. After finalising the flat roof design, a GI truss was constructed and the roof was covered with tiles. This gives the house a distinctive appeal. Old tiles were reused and the space beneath is used as storage.
The front wall of the house was textured to resemble natural stone, enhancing its visual appeal. The 1,500 square feet of space accommodates a sit-out, living room, dining area, kitchen, work area, three bedrooms, and bathrooms.
Visitors can enter the living space through a passage that starts from a small verandah. The interiors of the house are set in a semi-open layout. This creates a sense of spaciousness throughout the house. The flooring is done with matte-finished tiles in a concrete grey colour. This complements the grey tones used for the furniture, cupboards, and curtains and creates a harmonious and cohesive look.
Privacy has been given importance in the design, with a small, intimate space set aside for the dining area. This space also features a crockery unit. The kitchen is thoughtfully designed to suit a small family and it incorporates all necessary conveniences, including a breakfast counter. The kitchen cabinets are made of PVC with aluminium doors. The countertops are finished in granite.
The house includes three bedrooms, each with an attached bathroom. The bedrooms are equipped with all necessary amenities, including a dedicated dressing area. The entire project, including the structure and furnishings, was completed at a cost of Rs 35 lakh.
Amal advises those planning to construct a new home to focus on doing thorough research and planning during the initial stages. He emphasises the importance of having a clear understanding of where expenses can be minimised. By doing so, he says, people can complete their dream abodes without straining their budget.
