GOLD IS THE NEW BLACK.

A regal Moroccan fantasy, inspired by the riads of Marakkech and elements of Casablanca, by Shilpi Sonar.

With the sole aim of upgrading the lifestyle of Raigarh, a small town famous for its steel and coal reserves, Shilpi Sonar - Founder and Creative Director of Creations has dug out pure gold from the black mines! Armed with her signature expertise and prowess, Shilpi approached the project like a blank canvas and worked tirelessly to craft the perfect residence. Built over a sprawling 10000 square feet, this bungalow is the most flamboyant residence the city of Raigarh has ever seen. The client dreamt of an abode that lifted their lifestyle and also enunciated their growth. They particularly wanted ornamental decor which a place like Raigarh had not yet witnessed. Two years of consistent hard work and diligence is what it took to transform the client's dream into a regal Moroccan fantasy. The design cues were inspired by the riads of Marakkech and elements of Casablanca. The dexterity of Shilpi's creative process was to imbibe Moroccan motifs to a superlative traditional Indian pattern.

Throwing light on her belief in the project, Shilpi says “Often luxury interiors have been limited to tier 1 and tier 2 cities, but the concept of luxury often changes when we move to a tier 3 city like Raigarh. I choose to believe that everybody has the right to enjoy a grand home if they choose to have one, and I am working very hard to make sure every dream expressed to me is realized to its full potential.”

Combining the elements of luxury and uncomplicated yet intricate designs, Shilpi has yet again weaved her magic in this project. As one enters the house, there is a clear distinction made between the foyer and the living space. Emblems symbolizing Morrocan royalty have been used as a subtle demarcator to differentiate the hallway and living area. Such minute yet ingenious separations are made throughout the bungalow which divides it into public, semi-public, and private spaces. The entrance leads directly to the living room which has ornamental wall panels coated with silver leafing that are carved to perfection. The living room has been crafted with excellence, as it overlooks the sprawling lawn.

Underscoring the twin values for comfort and opulence, Shilpi has constructed the massive double-height dining room with a glimmering chandelier backed by a hand-painted mural. Following the theme of hand-painted murals, the bungalow has hand-painted ceilings, and metal cutworks that mimic the Moroccan motifs. A team of experts, local artisans have designed and constructed elaborate woodwork.

No element of the bungalow has been under-looked - multiple colour schemes are used to emphasize grandeur and coziness. Just like palaces, each room has its theme and motif that suits the nature of the rooms. Aristocratic colors like gold, champagne, and silver have been used for leafing to produce an aura of sophistication. However, one cannot ignore how inconspicuously rich colors like red and blue and soft colors like blue and pink have been incorporated into these spaces to break the heaviness of the aristocratic colors. They also serve to enhance the imperial aura of the bungalow. The restrooms have stunning details in the form of colorful marble designs and moldings. The master restroom has a jacuzzi and a steam room, which screams splendor. Even the window in the corner has patterns inspired by Marrakech. The bedrooms are exuberant miracles in themselves. Similar to the rest of the bungalow, they have hand-painted ceilings, ornamental headboards, and state-of-the-art televisions. To make the bungalow look immersed in liquid gold, Shilpi has installed 9 feet tall windows to allow abundant natural light. As Raigarh is located in the sultrier areas of India, drapes have been designed to keep the scorching summer sun out, and have danglers with Arabic motifs.

“The thing about designing a residence of this magnitude and luxury is that every bit has to be thought in multiple layers. For example, we have not only customized the woodworks, glassworks, stone works, mirror works which are common for most designers but we have to dive in deeper where we were designing custom towels, bedroom linens, curtains and to top it all we were associated with selection of crockery to go along the royal dining space.”  Says Shilpi.

Every nook and corner has been paid heed to. Right from the floor to the ceilings, the linens, everything is hand-woven and hand-picked. While delivering this bungalow, Shilpi has displayed immaculate designing skills at every step of the way and successfully crafted the palace of her client's dreams.

Author

Shilpi Sonar

Founder and Creative Director of Creations

CREATIONS

Founded in 1988, CREATIONS is an award-winning and premium design firm that was first incepted in Nagpur and later rechristened in Raipur in the year 1997. Renowned for its creativity, high-end finishes, and attention to detail, CREATIONS is a studio well regarded for its highly tailored and personalized design strategies. Recognized regionally and internationally, CREATIONS has spent more than 32 years curating a diverse portfolio spanning cosmopolitan residences, retail, hospitality, and corporate projects. Shilpi Sonar is the creative mind and the establishing force behind CREATIONS. Striving to reach her potential while constantly evolving, she is constantly at par with the latest trends in styles, which she combines with effortlessly classic blueprints.

The firm has been recognized for its immense contribution to design on various national platforms like Designworx, FOAID & IIID. A landmark moment for CREATIONS was when IA Group, India's leading publishers in architecture and interior design books, autonomously selected & featured their project in their coffee table book on Indian Houses- Contemporary Houses Volume III. Winning several accolades, CREATIONS amalgamates contemporary styles along with ethnic forms of design, making lively, elegant, and gorgeous spaces. 'Our vision is to create places of beauty that give enduring pleasure, designed to perfectly complement a property and the people who reside in it.' This is what Shilpi Sonar believes in and what her philosophy denotes.

A pioneer in the AEC Industry, Shilpi Sonar is an illustrious and highly distinguished Interior Designer of Central India. Known for her positivity & effervescent personality, her contributions to the design industry are far stretched and she has played the role of a guide & mentor to future interior designers through innumerable seminars & orientations. Motivated to spread her knowledge & nuances of Interior Design she laid the foundation stone of her institute 'Aesthetic Institute of Design', Raipur, in the year 2009.  While delivering her projects, she has stayed true to her roots and values, displaying immaculate designing skills at every step of the way. Decorated as the best Interior Designer in Central India frequently, Mrs. Sonar has countless awards to her credit. She has received the 'Pride of Asia International Award-2018' for her outstanding Achievements and remarkable Role in the field of Interior and Fashion Designing Education. Just like her last name, Mrs. Sonar resonates with the properties of gold - unique and priceless.

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