Entering one’s golden years can bring a lot of joy—cherished time with grandkids, travels to bucket-list destinations, hobbies once put on hold—but for Nagasundararao and his wife, Padmaja, it also brought a lot of questions. “Mainly, where do we live next?” says Nagasundararao, a retired entrepreneur. The Vijayawada-based couple, parents to a daughter and son who had long flown the nest, knew they needed someplace smaller, quieter, and senior-friendly, a home that would comfortably meet their needs in the long run—even if it meant moving to the other side of the city. And so, they did just that, settling into a newer part of town and reaching out to their distant relatives, architects Mounica Tripuramallu and Akshay Ghantasala of Vijayawada-based A+M Design Studio, to give their new place a sunny refresh.
One of a Kind
“They wanted an apartment in Vijayawada that reflects their life’s journey but makes it easy to enjoy this new chapter—a place with European-inspired design, modern comforts, and a calm white-and-grey colour scheme,” says Tripuramallu, adding that other non-negotiables included modern appliances, restrooms with anti-slip flooring, multiple electric outlets in each room, and a well-appointed kitchen. The vision was clear, but it was something neither she nor Ghantasala, or for that matter the city of Vijayawada, had seen before—“at least to my knowledge,” Ghantasala adds with a smile. What followed was a journey of finding talent and working with artisans who were bringing their unique craftsmanship to the city for the first time. “We wanted to create a space that feels both thoughtfully put together and warmly handmade,” says Tripuramallu. The vision was great—but the footprint, not so much. “With the compact layout, we focused on keeping things minimal while adding refined, handcrafted details to make the space feel extra special,” Ghantasala explains.
All Eyes Everywhere
Ghantasala and Tripuramallu built the design for this apartment in Vijayawada from the ground up—though they definitely lingered on the ground a bit longer than usual. “The floor really is the star,” Tripuramallu says, referring to the sea of terrazzo that flows through the home, beautifully accented with brass and marble inlay—a sleight of hand by Soumak Mukhopadyay from the bespoke terrazzo solutions company Jyamiti & Sea. To keep the focus on the floor, the architects chose soft tones and breezy textures for the walls, with one wall transformed into an art piece by muralist Priyanka Thaker from House of Beserk. Every detail was considered through an artistic lens: objects, furniture, even the glass partition between the living and dining areas, adorned with hand-turned wooden beads. “The floor and wall mural immediately catch people’s attention—they are the first things you notice when you walk in. It’s also the first time either artist has worked in the city and state, so we were thrilled to collaborate with them and bring something unique to our space,” Tripuramallu enthuses.
The Right Fit
