How Two 2BHK Apartments Became One Modern 3BHK Family Sanctuary in Pune

The Vision: A Unified Family Home

A young family in a bustling Maharashtra city faced a unique opportunity and a complex puzzle. They owned two adjacent 2BHK apartments and dreamed of transforming them not just into a larger space, but into a single, unified 3BHK sanctuary. Their vision was for a contemporary home that felt open, connected, and intuitively designed around their modern lifestyle, dissolving the arbitrary lines that once separated two distinct units.

The Challenge: The Art of Unification

The primary challenge lay in the art of subtraction and integration. This wasn't a blank canvas but an exercise in thoughtful reimagining within the constraints of an existing apartment building. The core task was to intelligently remove structural partitions, reroute services where necessary, and masterfully blend two separate layouts into one seamless, functional floor plan. Ongrid’s role was to be the design visionary and technical guide, providing the comprehensive design blueprint and project overview to ensure this complex transformation could be executed flawlessly.

Our mission was clear: to craft a stunning, light-filled 3BHK apartment that celebrated open-plan living and smart spatial organization, turning a structural challenge into a beautiful, harmonious family home.

The Ongrid Approach: From Insight to Blueprint

Our process is rooted in a deep understanding of our client's life, translated into meticulous, buildable plans.

• A Collaborative Deep Dive: The journey began with an intensive design briefing session. We delved into the family's daily routines, social habits, storage needs, and aesthetic aspirations. Key requirements emerged: three distinct and private bedrooms, a modern and efficient kitchen, a spacious integrated living-dining area to serve as the social heart of the home, and a serene, dedicated pooja room.
• A Strategy of Flow and Cohesion: Our core design strategy was built on the principle of intelligent spatial flow. We prioritized creating long, open sightliness to enhance the sense of space, established material and colour continuity to unify disparate areas, and integrated strategic, custom storage solutions to ensure a life of clutter-free elegance. Every design decision was made to ensure each square foot was both visually pleasing and highly functional.

Key Design Solutions That Shaped the Home

1. The Social Hub: An Integrated Living & Dining Space By strategically removing internal barriers, we dissolved the cramped, separate living areas of the original apartments. The result is a single, expansive living and dining hub bathed in natural light. This open-plan layout fosters interaction and creates an uninterrupted flow, making the space feel both grand and inviting. It is the vibrant heart of the home, perfect for family gatherings and quiet relaxation alike.

2. The Culinary Core: A Modern, Multi-Functional Kitchen The kitchen was reimagined as a sleek and ergonomic culinary hub, visually connected to the dining area to encourage social cooking. Based on our detailed Kitchen Working Drawings, we implemented:

• Efficient Work Zones: A classic work triangle layout for seamless movement between the hob, sink, and refrigerator.
• Smart Storage: A combination of deep drawers, accessible pull-outs, and tall pantry units, all concealed behind clean, modern cabinetry.
• Durable Finishes: High-quality laminate shutters and a robust granite countertop ensure the kitchen can withstand the rigors of daily Indian cooking while being effortless to maintain.

3. Personalized Sanctuaries: Three Custom-Designed Bedrooms Each of the three bedrooms was treated as a unique sanctuary, tailored to its occupant. Referencing detailed plans like the Master Bedroom and Anannya's Bedroom, we designed:

• Custom Joinery: Floor-to-ceiling wardrobes were integrated into wall niches to maximize storage without sacrificing floor space.
• Flexible Layouts: We planned furniture placement from the start, ensuring logical electrical points and creating dedicated zones for rest, reading, and dressing.
• Comfort & Style: A calm, neutral color palette was used to create a restful ambiance, with accent paneling adding a touch of sophisticated detail.

4. A Soulful Anchor: The Tranquil Pooja Room A dedicated pooja room was meticulously designed as a quiet, spiritual retreat within the home. As detailed in the Shrine Working Drawing, the space utilizes natural materials and soft, layered lighting to create a serene atmosphere. This approach to designing a modern home pooja room holds its own distinct identity while remaining in perfect harmony with the home's contemporary aesthetic, serving as a peaceful anchor for the family.

5. The Unifying Thread: Continuity in Materials and Light To ensure the entire 1,500 sqft apartment felt like a single, cohesive entity, we established a unifying visual language:

• Uniform Flooring: A single type of large-format vitrified tile runs throughout the main living areas, creating a seamless visual flow.
• Consistent Palette: A sophisticated palette of neutral greys, warm whites, and natural wood tones is used consistently, punctuated by strategic accents.
• Strategic Lighting: A layered lighting plan, combining ambient, task, and accent lighting, ensures each area is perfectly illuminated for its function while contributing to a warm, inviting narrative throughout the home.

Project Data & Specifications

• Location: Urban Apartment, Maharashtra, India
• Carpet Area: Approx. 1,500 sqft (post-unification)
• Typology: 2 x 2BHK units combined into a single 3BHK Apartment
• Program: 3 Bedrooms, 3 Bathrooms, 1 Kitchen, 1 Integrated Living & Dining Area, 1 Pooja Room
• Key Features:
  • Open-plan, unified living-dining-kitchen axis
  • Modern, ergonomic kitchen with integrated storage
  • Three custom-designed bedrooms with bespoke wardrobes
  • Serene, dedicated pooja room
  • Maximized storage solutions throughout
• Primary Materials:
  • Large-format vitrified tile flooring
  • BWP/BWR plywood with high-pressure laminate for cabinetry
  • Neutral emulsion paints with wood/veneer accent panelling
  • Tempered glass for partitions
  • Designer and recessed LED lighting fixtures

The Outcome: A New Blueprint for Urban Family Living

The result of this thoughtful design process is more than just a larger apartment; it is a complete reimagining of urban family living. By dissolving redundant spaces, rationalizing circulation, and prioritizing light and openness, the design transformed two standard, box-like flats into a single, fluid, and future-ready home. The space now stands as a testament to how intelligent design and a deep understanding of a client's lifestyle can overcome structural constraints and create opportunities for truly inspiring solutions.

Through a process of close collaboration and clear, detailed documentation, the client was empowered to move forward into the construction phase with a comprehensive, buildable blueprint and complete confidence in their vision. This project celebrates the powerful synergy between a family's dream and an architect's expertise, setting a new benchmark for modern apartment transformations in India.