Inside a New England Home Incorporating Hindu Design Principles

A new project from LDa Architecture & Interiors grounds its distinctly contemporary design in the ancient Hindu architectural principles. Called Vastu Shastra, the complex Hindu system of design prioritizes geometry and arrangement of space, emphasizing themes like symmetry, function, and nature. Respectfully reinterpreting these themes through the lens of contemporary New England design, LDa relied on Vastu Shastra methodology to design the home in a grid pattern with central and peripheral zones, and position each space relative to the direction of the sun.

Explore the following slides to tour the unique, contemporary home.

Vastu Shastra often depends on a grid pattern to segregate different spaces of the household. The designers chose a nine-grid pattern for the family of three, with a double-height living room serving as the central square. The kitchen, entryway, temple, staircase area, guest bedroom, dining room, playroom, and family room occupy the 8 grids encircling the living room on the first floor. Several bedrooms are spread out across three grids on either side of the upper floor underneath the gables. Spacious windows at each corner allow the interior and exterior environments to flow into each other, while the wood materials of the exterior, including clapboard and battens, seem to belong to the landscape.
A Vastu Shastra-compliant swimming pool should be placed in the northeast corner of the lot to balance various energies. On this property, the designers selected the front yard as the ideal location for the pool.
According to Vastu Shastra principles, the center of the design should be an open courtyard; however, given harsh New England winters, the designers chose to craft a large, open living area with double-height ceilings and an expansive skylight instead. As one of the key aspects of Vastu Shastra is integration with nature, the skylight serves to enhance the connection between indoors and out, and between individual and nature. The wallpaper behind the fireplace is an Omexco fabric from Romo, while the cladding is from Make Architectural Metalworking. The modern fireplace is from Town and Country, and the circle light and coffee table are both from DDCNYC.
The architecture of the living room features a large skylight and built-in wood screen. Blue Ligne Roset sofas are starkly contemporary, while the frames of the Ligne Roset armchair match the screen. The brass table between the chairs is from Jonathan Adler.
Matched with white walls, the white oak floors throughout the house set a neutral backdrop for playful, colored accents and accessories. In the family room, the white console from Asplund is placed below the bright butterfly artwork by David Kracov, titled My Heart is All A Flutter.
A Ligne Roset couch faces Lekker Home ottomans.
The creative landscape design involves areas for children to play, as well as sculpted grass mounds.
A walnut dining table from DDCNYC, along with a long bench and set of chairs from Blu Dot, lay the foundation for a rustic minimalist aesthetic in the dining room. Above the table, the ceiling is covered in a textured Omexco wallcovering from Romo, and behind the bar, a chic, reflective backsplash from Athena Marble and Granite offers a hint of gloss.
Glossy details and variations on a neutral color theme creates dynamic depth in the kitchen. A vine mosaic backsplash from DiscoverTile shines without overwhelming, while quartz tile from Pental Surfaces sets a base for innovative accents to play off of. A Wolf stove with red knobs provides a dose of color that brings brightness to the overall design. Both sinks are from Kohler, and both sets of faucets are from Brizo.
White Knoll chairs with a woven metal design are juxtaposed against the polished look of the rest of the kitchen. The wine refrigerator is from Sub-Zero.
For the temple, the designers purchased a live-edge walnut slab altar Wilbur Davis Studios in Fitchburg, Massachusetts. A tile pattern from DiscoverTile emphasizes the unique character of the space, and the ottoman is from Lekker Home.
Against a papaya-colored wallpaper from Élitis, black-and-white details pop without falling into the high contrast associated with minimalist design. The backlit, Indian teak wood panel on the wall is the client's own; the sink is from Signature Hardware, and the pendant light is from Siemon & Salazar.
For the client's daughters, the team at LDa Architecture & Interiors used hot pink faucets from Vola to achieve a playful aesthetic appropriate for young girls. An bright, blurred wallpaper by Élitis enhances the effect; sleek white marble countertops, tub, and vanity tile by Athena Marble and Granite encourage the vivid, pink details to stand out. The shower and floor tile is from DiscoverTile, and the wall tile is from Ann Sacks, while the sink is Kohler.
The turquoise and pink color palette flows seamlessly into the girl's bedroom. Curtains and shades from The Shade Store help control natural light, and the blue pendant light is from Pottery Barn.
For one of the guest bedrooms, the designers styled a Lusso headboard featuring dotted, earth-toned fabric from Romo with rustic minimalist nighstands from West Elm. The bed was sourced from Wilbur Davis Studios.
The second guest bedroom brims with natural light. Behind the Blu Dot bed, a dandelion decal from Wall & Decò serves as an artful wall accent. Matching printed shades and curtains from The Shade Store are a creative touch.
In the master bath, a glass mosaic from DiscoverTile provides visual interest; the floor and ceiling tile is also from DiscoverTile. Outside the shower, floor tile from Ann Sacks offsets the warmth of the built-in wood cabinetry and vanity with Calacatta marble from Athena Marble and Granite. The vessel sinks are by TOTO, while the faucet, showerhead, and handshower are from Newport Brass.
Patterned Élitis wallpaper complements the shower tile, reflected in the wall mirror. Chimera sconces are a fun, eclectic accent for the contemporary space.
Stripes and rich colors, paired with bright white walls, make for a calming, whimsical playroom. The matching peach shades and curtains are from The Shade Store.