Home Transformation Before and After: Modern Renovation Projects
We believe in preserving the soul of a home while adapting it for modern life. See how we reimagine dated, compartmentalized spaces into bright, functional, and breathable sanctuaries.
**BEFORE:** A living area from the 1980s, filled with heavy, dark wood cabinetry, a built-in bar, and terrazzo flooring, which made the space feel dated and compartmentalized.
**AFTER:** The same space, completely transformed. We removed all built-in furniture and walls to create an open, airy Japandi-inspired home. New flooring, lighting, and a minimal aesthetic make it feel bright and modern.
**BEFORE:** A standard, unused penthouse balcony with plain terracotta tiles and an exposed railing, offering little function or appeal.
**AFTER:** The balcony is now a stunning Spanish-style outdoor lounge. We added a glass canopy, a feature wall with stone cladding, patterned floor tiles, and comfortable seating to create a luxurious all-weather living area.
**BEFORE:** A small, crowded kitchen with limited counter space and a wall separating it from the utility area, making it feel dark and impractical.
**AFTER:** We demolished the wall, integrated the utility space, and installed a large, functional island. The new layout, with its natural teak laminate and improved storage, is now the spacious and connected heart of the home.
**BEFORE:** The original layout featured a bulky, built-in credenza and bar that separated the kitchen from the living area, creating a visual barrier.
About this collection
The most significant changes in our projects often happen where they are least visible. We rarely just update finishes; we physically reconfigure layouts, such as merging cramped utility zones with kitchens or swapping living and dining areas, to fundamentally alter how light and movement flow through your home.
Renovation is a process of discovery. Our philosophy centers on adaptive reuse, meaning we treat the existing structure as a partner in the design rather than an obstacle. When we take on a project, we begin by analyzing the original bones of the property. Whether it is an apartment built in the 1980s or a heritage structure, we identify what must be preserved—like solid timber doors or character-rich flooring—and what needs to change to support contemporary living.
Our Technical Approach
- Structural Reconfiguration: We often break down non-load-bearing walls to create open-plan layouts, allowing for better ventilation and natural light penetration.
- MEP Integration: Older homes frequently suffer from inadequate plumbing and electrical grids. We gut and replace these systems entirely, installing fire-retardant wiring and modern CPVC piping to ensure long-term reliability.
- Material Compatibility: We prioritize materials that age well. This might involve using Kota stone or granite for durability, alongside custom millwork made from BWP marine ply.
We do not believe in copy-paste designs. If your project is a 15-year-old apartment in Bengaluru, our intervention focuses on optimizing the square footage and integrating modern amenities like smart storage and sound-proof UPVC windows. For ancestral homes, we focus on damp-proofing, structural strengthening, and the restoration of traditional flooring techniques. Every change we make is intentional, aimed at creating a space that feels like it has always belonged to you, just modernized to fit your current rhythm of life.
Studio Skapa
I am Charita Kishore Rupa, lead architect at Studio Skapa Architects. We focus on uncovering the potential hidden in existing structures, approaching every renovation by listening to the building's history to ensure our design interventions feel natural and enduring.
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