Modern homes in the cityscape of India often prioritize speed, trends, and convenience over consciousness. Owing to that the home structure and decor mostly incorporate synthetic materials, over-construction, and air-tight designs that increase environmental strain. Hence when Bhoomi Dani and Priyam Shah were doing up their residence, they were particular about choosing natural, local materials and worked with artisans to revive handmade techniques. Because, for the owners of the artisanal concept apparel brand Vraj:bhoomi, sustainability should be inherent, not an afterthought. Hence when one steps into this space perched on the 12th floor and located on the western outskirts of Ahmedabad, it is abundantly clear that it belongs to someone who values originality and distinctiveness in style. “We sincerely believe that uniqueness in anything is conceivable only if it has an element of handmade,” say Dani and Shah, who were clear right from the beginning that if they were to call this place their home, they had to design it themselves. The home is a testament to their design philosophy of sustainability that finds itself into almost every corner of the space.
The idea behind Samsara was to create a home that felt like a living, breathing extension of their lives and philosophies. “It would have to be a space that embodied originality, simplicity, and our love for crafts. We named it Samsara because it signifies the circle of life and constant evolution, something that truly defines our home, which is always changing, always growing with us,” explains Dani, adding “The mood board clearly highlighted the artisanal, natural, and rooted in craft. We envisioned a space drenched in indigo and white, with reclaimed furniture, handcrafted textiles, and soulful details that carried stories in every corner.”
Anyone who is familiar with Vraj:bhoomi’s emphasis on working with regional hand block print artisans would gauge how Samsara is a testament of Dani and Shah’s ethos and design philosophy of contemporary revival and a deep love for textiles and crafts. For the uninitiated, it would be fit to call Vraj:bhoomi a consciously created one-craft label, redefining hand-block printing since 2013. The label was born for the love of hand-block prints, and ever since it has been capturing its true essence on textiles with commitment to excellence, ethics and integrity. There is a dedication to crafting each piece of clothing with a mindful approach at every stage, beginning from conceptualising the motifs and colours for prints to carving of the wooden blocks and then the intricate process of dyeing and stitching, Dani and Shah believe in going the extra mile without falling for any shortcuts along the way. “Since Vraj:bhoomi works extensively with artisans from Kutch, it was a natural choice for our home too. Lippan kaam on the walls and hand block printed textiles from the desert artisans found their way into our space effortlessly. That said, we didn’t want the home to be bound by one region alone. Our travels added layers – rattan accents from Bali, reclaimed wood furniture sourced locally, and vintage pieces we picked up from different parts of India gave the space a more eclectic yet unified feel,” Dani and Shah elaborate.
Dani and Shah never preferred to achieve perfection in Samsara but instead worked towards holding the natural tones and textures of each and every material. Each material has its own distinct touch, feel and sight and that is the reason the couple chose them. Dani likes to keep changing things – the decor is in a constant state of fluidity, a constant state of evolution. “I like simplicity in design but at the same time I like it to be flexible and versatile,” she says. The home reflects all this and more. “We often have people asking us about the textiles and the cushions we have used here. That gives us a lot of ideas for future collections at Vraj:bhoomi that could possibly centre around home decor,” says Shah.
The duo has created a space that is personal and unified with absolutely no professional help. Throughout the home, vintage Indian furniture pieces blend beautifully with their signature print textiles, travel finds and plants. Dani keeps adding personal touches to different corners in the entire house even as she creates pretty little things for Samsara, which is almost like a living entity for the family. ” The space itself, in their words, is underdone. “We want it to be filled with people and stories, and not just furnished embellishments,” say Dani and Shah.
For the couple, sustainability meant working with what already exists and choosing processes that leave minimal impact on the environment. “Reclaimed wood furniture, natural plant-based dyes in textiles, hand-done murals with clay and sand, and an overall clutter-free philosophy shaped the home. Everything serves a purpose. There’s no excess, no wasteful embellishments. It’s a conscious, mindful space. For instance, the corner with a custom-made bench with signature prints mounted on the walls is the most peaceful space. Then there is a section inspired by Sadhguru, whose sayings we find relevant and relatable. We wanted to capture the aura he reflects, in our home and lives, which manifests through the presence of truth, faith and simplicity,” says Shah.
There are favourite corners for the family members living here as well. Dani loves the ever-evolving living room as that’s the part with changing textiles, travel finds, and plants where sunlight plays beautifully through the day. Shah finds peace in the bedroom; it’s his sanctuary, simple yet grounding, where city chaos dissolves the moment you step in. “For Samayana, our daughter, the house itself is the biggest lesson in sustainability. She sees us using natural materials, valuing handmade over machine-made, and repurposing objects. She plays amidst charpais, cane furniture, and block-printed cushions, growing up in a space that celebrates craft and minimalism over consumerism,” Dani sounds rather pleased.
We witness at Samsara a conscious attempt at building a collective roof, where craftsmen, artisans, textiles, culture and modern ideas co-exist. At its core, it is a simple space with clutter-free alignment adorned with natural materials like lime plaster and clay murals that keep interiors naturally cool, reducing dependency on artificial cooling. Large windows allow cross ventilation and natural light, cutting down electricity usage but if Dani and Shah were to revisit anything in the design, they would perhaps integrate more indoor greenery structurally, such as vertical gardens or rainwater harvesting systems to push sustainability further. However, the house is cocooned in well-crafted artisanal pieces of vintage furniture, accessories and furnishings that are handmade from natural materials. The off-white backgrounds accented in toned-down indigo offer a sense of balance and relaxation. Anywhere your eye turns, you’ll see a story. The reclaimed furniture occupies the dining area as well. The walls are accented with traditional ‘rattan’ art the couple collected from their trip to Bali. Instead of choosing a bench along with dining chairs, they have a ‘Khatli’ (charpai) woven in a traditional pattern. “We never preferred to achieve perfection but instead worked towards holding the natural tones and textures of each and every material. Each material has its own distinct touch, feel and sight and that’s what makes it so organic, and original,” say the couple about Samsara.
A graduate in textile design, Bhoomi Dani is the design brain behind Vraj:bhoomi. Her passion for hand-block printing came to life in her final year at NIFT and continues to thrive till date. In 2013, she founded Vraj:bhoomi, along with partner Priyam Shah, to transform the narrative around traditional craft practices by introducing a unique contemporary context to the hand-block printing aesthetic. Being the Design Head, her core specialties include textile design, craft revival, photography, product design and visual communication. With the in-depth knowledge of artisanal practices she strikes a commendable balance between craft and commerce. Through conceiving and nurturing a conscious brand, Dani is dedicated towards redefining the position of artisanal textile in the lives of everyday people. “We make collections that align with our values and with an appreciation for their makers. Each piece of our clothing is made with the highest ethical standards and carefully stitched with great attention to fit and detail. That forms the backbone of our label!” explains Dani.
Details in Samsara
• Lippan kaam Walls, hand-done by Kutch artisans.
• Indigo block-printed textiles using natural dyes.
• Reclaimed wood furniture with vintage charm.
• Rattan and charpai seating that combine tradition with comfort.
• Souvenirs and accents from travels, each carrying a memory and story.
Advice to Architects
Choose natural, local materials.
Work with artisans to revive handmade techniques.
Design for light and ventilation before adding mechanical cooling.
Create flexible, modular spaces that can evolve rather than be demolished and rebuilt.