The Art of Opposites

This home by Co.lab Design Studio allows black and white to play on equal footing - no grey areas

- WORDS MALLIKA ADVANI

When Vikram Bhatt, principal architect at Co.lab Design Studio, designs a home, he's very clear about one thing: he doesn't start with a style — he starts with the people. “Our work is rooted in listening, understanding what a client values, how they live, and where their comfort meets curiosity,” he says. That philosophy led to this 4,300 sq ft monochromatic playground in Surat: a family home that mirrors its inhabitants different energies distinct in personality but in sync in spirit.

While homeowner Piyush is bold and expressive, his wife Karishma is calm and detail-oriented. Rather than searching for a middle ground or overriding either sensibility, Vikram leaned into their duality, finding a rhythm between sculptural drama and quiet restraint. “It was important that our home doesn’t just look good, but reflects who we are. We're poles apart, yet balance each other in the most beautiful way,” shares Karishma. The couple also run a fabric manufacturing unit, so a shared love for textiles and craftsmanship naturally found its way into the interiors via dynamic visual patterns and deeply inviting textures.