Sims Sudhakaran who is an expatriate is proud to show around his brand new house that he has built in his hometown in Karunagapally in Kerala. The owner is a businessman based in Saudi Arabia. His busy schedules did not allow Sims to constantly travel to Kerala just to oversee the constriction of his house. So, the family was determined to hire someone who is reliable and able. The architect who had designed and built Sims’s brother’s house was roped in to design their dream abode too. The designer and the client had relied on WhatsApp, emails and other social media platforms to exchange ideas and to follow the progress of the work. Interestingly, the family had seen their house just once before the construction got completed.

The elevation features the chic contemporary box style. The interiors, meanwhile, stand out for its vast spaces. The entrance door opens to the spacious hall that is designed in double height. The rest of the spaces are arranged on both sides of this hall.

The courtyard which is the focal point of this house is part of the hall. This area is built a few feet below the floor level without separating using pillars. The skylight above the courtyard brings lots of golden sunshine into the house. The formal and the family living areas, meanwhile, are arranged on either sides of the courtyard.

The furniture pieces were specially made at the factories as per the measurements. Interestingly, there isn’t any readymade furniture in the house. The grand elegance of teak wood is the highlight of the furnishing works in the interiors.

A sliding glass door in the dining area opens to the yard. The walls here are embellished with beautiful cladding tiles that were specially imported from Spain.

The open kitchen, meanwhile, is close to the dining area. The cabinets here are done in veneer and acrylic finish. Korean stone has been paved on the counter top. High chairs are placed on one side of the counter to use it as a breakfast spot too.

Two bedrooms each are arranged in both the floors. The rooms are extremely spacious and boast of attached bathrooms, walk in wardrobes and dressing spaces too.

The construction of this palatial house was completed during the Covid times. However, the construction got stalled for three months when the lockdown was announced. It took around one and a half years to complete the construction. Sims’ relatives and friends are curious to visit the house which he had ‘built’ by staying abroad.

“We were mostly abroad when the construction was going on. However, I made sure to keep an eye on the works and be in touch. The most significant lesson that we had learnt is that we wouldn’t be stressed if we entrust the designing and construction with someone who is trustworthy,” says Sims.

Project Facts

Location – Karunagapally

Plot – 20 cents

Area – 4354 SFT

Owners – Sims Sudhakaran and Meera Sims

Designer – Arun Kumar

Shelter Living, Thodupuzha

Mob – 9961313831, 9495380560

Year of completion – 2021 September