Indian & Kerala · Style guide
Kerala Contemporary interiors. Built for light, rain and family.
Inspired by the traditional Kerala home, with its verandahs, courtyards, wooden ceilings and cool floors, reworked with modern layouts and clean lines. Open, breezy and shaped around a warm, rainy climate.
The palette
Colours that feel breezy, rooted, unhurried.
Laterite, red oxide and teak, cooled by lime-white walls and monsoon green. A reading for mood, not a paint specification.
- Lime white#f3eee3
- Laterite#b5573c
- Red oxide#8f3b2c
- Teak#8a5a36
- Monsoon green#6f8f5e
Materials & details
What makes it Kerala Contemporary.
The sample board
- Teak and jackwood
- Red oxide or terracotta floors
- Laterite stone
- Clay roof tiles
- Lime-plaster walls
A courtyard at the heart
An open or skylit court that pulls in light and air, a modern take on the nadumuttam.
Wood overhead
Timber ceilings and slatted screens that let breezes pass through.
Deep sit-outs
Sheltered verandahs for rainy afternoons and evening tea.
Room by room
Ideas worth borrowing.
Best in living, dining, bedroom and balcony spaces.
Living
Around the open court.
Face the seating towards a courtyard or garden window, and keep furniture low so the view leads.
Dining
A table for the whole family.
A long teak table under a wooden ceiling, with brass or bell-metal pieces as the only shine.
Bedroom
Cool floors, calm nights.
Pair a simple wooden bed with cool floors, cotton linen and slatted shutters for cross-ventilation.
Illustrated mood cards, made to show the feeling of this style.
Pairs well with
Styles that get along.
Most homes mix two or three. These share a mood, a material or a palette with Kerala Contemporary.
- Modern IndianFamiliar materials. Fresh perspectives.
- Coastal TropicalSea breeze, palm shade.
- Chettinad HeritageGrand courtyards. Handmade tiles.
Want a home that loves the rain as much as you do? Let’s plan it. We design whole homes, kitchens and wardrobes around the way you live.
Good questions
Kerala Contemporary answered.
Can I get a Kerala contemporary feel in an apartment?
Yes. Even without a courtyard, you can borrow the feeling: wooden ceilings or panels, red oxide or terracotta-look floors, slatted screens, brass accents and plenty of plants by the windows.
Are red oxide floors practical?
Red oxide is a traditional Kerala finish that stays cool underfoot. It needs a skilled applicator and regular care, so it is worth deciding where it suits your home and where a lookalike tile is easier.
Is teak the only wood option?
No. Teak is loved for its warmth and durability, but other hardwoods, engineered wood and good laminates can give a similar look with different costs and care.