Tono House | Studio Aatman

When a young couple —approached our studio with a brief that might have looked restrictive on paper, it became the impetus for a surprisingly generous interior. They needed a home that could house everything—yet appear light, open, calm. The clients asked for full storage, for every item to find its place, and for a space that would feel soothing for their growing family of three. At the same time, the apartment came with firm limitations: no walls could be knocked down, minimal civil changes were allowed, and the architectural shell had to remain intact.
Rather than seeing these as obstacles, we took them as a prompt. The idea of a “one-tone house” emerged early on and became the backbone of the concept. We named the project Tono House as a statement of intent: a home grounded in a singular material and palette language, with only a whisper of accent in a shade of olive green to introduce warmth and character.

Because the couple had just welcomed their baby, the design had to be as safe as it was beautiful. Every surface, every edge, and every corner was reconsidered through that lens. Furniture edges were softened, profiles were curved, and sharp corners were avoided entirely. The gesture went beyond safety—it began to shape the home’s visual language. The arches seen in the openings and doorways echo that same sense of softness, lending the interiors a calm, fluid rhythm that feels both playful and composed.

The material and color palette was equally deliberate. Light oak wood forms the foundation—its natural warmth paired with off-white walls and rattan shutters that allow the surfaces to breathe. The palette stays restrained and cohesive, creating a sense of continuity throughout the compact home. Against this quiet backdrop, touches of olive green appear sparingly—in furnishings, wallpapers and few shutters—like a soft pulse of freshness that enlivens the space without overpowering it.

Each piece of furniture was custom-designed to balance the family’s storage needs with their desire for openness. Sheer drapes diffuse the daylight, letting it wash gently across the pale surfaces and amplify the material’s inherent softness.

In its entirety, Tono House is an exercise in restraint and empathy. It reflects the lives of its inhabitants—a young family seeking order, comfort, and calm in the middle of a bustling city. By working within limits, both spatial and structural, the design achieves something rare: a space that feels open yet intimate, functional yet effortlessly composed.

What began as a brief full of restrictions became a lesson in how thoughtful detailing, tonal consistency, and a clear idea can turn limitation into language.

Principal architect: Ar. Prathamesh Kubal and Ar. Tanvi Dubbewar

Team: Ar. Aditi Yemul, Ar. Vaidehi Lohar

Photography: Ar. Pranit Bora