Beyond showpiece: Personalised home for a teacher couple | The Business Standard
Skip to main content
  • Latest
  • Economy
    • Banking
    • Stocks
    • Industry
    • Analysis
    • Bazaar
    • RMG
    • Corporates
    • Aviation
  • Videos
    • TBS Today
    • TBS Stories
    • TBS World
    • News of the day
    • TBS Programs
    • Podcast
    • Editor's Pick
  • World+Biz
  • Features
    • Panorama
    • The Big Picture
    • Pursuit
    • Habitat
    • Thoughts
    • Splash
    • Mode
    • Tech
    • Explorer
    • Brands
    • In Focus
    • Book Review
    • Earth
    • Food
    • Luxury
    • Wheels
  • More
    • Sports
    • TBS Graduates
    • Bangladesh
    • Supplement
    • Infograph
    • Archive
    • Gallery
    • Long Read
    • Interviews
    • Offbeat
    • Magazine
    • Climate Change
    • Health
    • Cartoons
  • বাংলা
The Business Standard

Monday
June 09, 2025

Sign In
Subscribe
  • Latest
  • Economy
    • Banking
    • Stocks
    • Industry
    • Analysis
    • Bazaar
    • RMG
    • Corporates
    • Aviation
  • Videos
    • TBS Today
    • TBS Stories
    • TBS World
    • News of the day
    • TBS Programs
    • Podcast
    • Editor's Pick
  • World+Biz
  • Features
    • Panorama
    • The Big Picture
    • Pursuit
    • Habitat
    • Thoughts
    • Splash
    • Mode
    • Tech
    • Explorer
    • Brands
    • In Focus
    • Book Review
    • Earth
    • Food
    • Luxury
    • Wheels
  • More
    • Sports
    • TBS Graduates
    • Bangladesh
    • Supplement
    • Infograph
    • Archive
    • Gallery
    • Long Read
    • Interviews
    • Offbeat
    • Magazine
    • Climate Change
    • Health
    • Cartoons
  • বাংলা
MONDAY, JUNE 09, 2025
Beyond showpiece: Personalised home for a teacher couple

Habitat

Miraz Hossain
02 April, 2024, 02:05 pm
Last modified: 02 April, 2024, 11:18 pm

Related News

  • Yugen Waterfront: Bringing the rhythms of nature into an urban space
  • From clunky to chic: The evolution of switchboard design
  • Armani/Casa in Bangladesh: A new era of luxury living
  • Interior product and technology expo kicks off Thursday in Dhaka
  • How to create a cosy study space at home

Beyond showpiece: Personalised home for a teacher couple

Archarium transformed a teacher couple’s home into a space that combines their lifestyle needs, space efficiency and functionality, tying everything together with modern aesthetics

Miraz Hossain
02 April, 2024, 02:05 pm
Last modified: 02 April, 2024, 11:18 pm
The TV cabinet in the living room cleverly doubles as a showcase, maximising functionality in a compact setting. A striking blue sofa occupies one corner. Photo: Junaid Hasan Pranto
The TV cabinet in the living room cleverly doubles as a showcase, maximising functionality in a compact setting. A striking blue sofa occupies one corner. Photo: Junaid Hasan Pranto

When aiming for a modern and aesthetically pleasing interior, it's common for designers to overuse unnecessary elements, sacrificing functionality for the sake of creating a showpiece. However, for a teacher couple residing in Mohammadpur's Japan Garden City, that was precisely what they wanted to avoid.

Thus, they entrusted Archarium, an interior design firm, with the task of striking the right balance. "I tasked Archarium with achieving aesthetics without turning it into a mere showpiece. We aimed for a perfect fusion of visual appeal and functionality," expressed the husband, who preferred to stay anonymous for the sake of privacy. The design team consisted of architects Nazirul Asif, Hanafia Sunny and Shirin Sultana Shurovi.

"We didn't have many specific details in mind; we simply wanted an interior where we would feel good coming home. It shouldn't feel like I have come to a hotel. We wanted a homely environment with a touch of a wow factor," added the wife.

And the couple are content with the final outcome.

The Business Standard Google News Keep updated, follow The Business Standard's Google news channel

The home has two bedrooms, a spacious living area, a dining space, and a kitchen.

Upon entering the house, you're greeted by a foyer area where the designers fulfilled the clients' request for a shoe cabinet. However, rather than a typical design, they crafted an innovative solution: an upper and lower cabinet with a cleverly designed seating space in between for putting on and taking off shoes.

"We aimed to make the space not only functional but also visually intriguing. Additionally, we incorporated an arch, which is a favourite element of mine and features prominently in many of our projects," explained Nazirul Asif, Co-Founder of Archarium.

On the ceiling, they used a sentimental piece– a worn shari bordered with a wooden frame. So upon entering, it gives a homely feeling.

Moving from the foyer, we step into the inviting living space.

Living space

In the living space, a striking blue sofa occupies one corner, complemented by a sleek TV cabinet positioned opposite.

Along the wall, niches have been incorporated to showcase small decor pieces and minimise the need for additional furniture. A French door offers the flexibility to merge the dining and drawing areas into a single, expansive space, ensuring adaptability to varying needs.

"Given the constraints of space, we've designed for versatility, allowing the option to unify or segregate the areas," explained Asif.

The TV cabinet cleverly doubles as a showcase, maximising functionality in a compact setting. To optimise seating in the limited space, a floating sitting area has been integrated with the TV cabinet, comfortably accommodating 7-8 individuals.

In lieu of a traditional false ceiling, a continuous wooden frame above provides gentle, diffused lighting, serving both aesthetic and functional purposes.

As the family has a penchant for reading, a dedicated bookshelf was a must. With no available wall space in the living room or suitable placement in the bedrooms, the solution was found in the entrance corridor. "This strategic placement not only addresses the need for a book space, but also serves as a conversation starter upon entering the home," said Asif.

Kitchen and Dining

The open kitchen, complete with a breakfast counter, seamlessly flows into the dining area, maintaining a minimalist aesthetic for a sleek appearance. Junaid Hasan Pranto
The open kitchen, complete with a breakfast counter, seamlessly flows into the dining area, maintaining a minimalist aesthetic for a sleek appearance. Junaid Hasan Pranto

The open kitchen, complete with a breakfast counter, seamlessly flows into the dining area, maintaining a minimalist aesthetic for a sleek appearance.

Given the family dynamics, with children who enjoy their meals and a wife who loves cooking, the layout is designed to facilitate conversations while dining.

Extending from the entry corridor into the dining space, the bookshelf provides an engaging view and is supported by metal couplers, adding an aesthetic touch.

Amidst the predominantly white palette, the designers opted for a single vibrant accent: a watermelon pink multipurpose cabinet positioned across from the kitchen counter. This cabinet features a niche for diffused lighting and showcases decorative pieces.

Master bedroom

The master bedroom features a floor-to-ceiling wooden cabinet designed for multi-functionality, serving as a cabinet, storage unit, cupboard, and showcase. Junaid Hasan Pranto
The master bedroom features a floor-to-ceiling wooden cabinet designed for multi-functionality, serving as a cabinet, storage unit, cupboard, and showcase. Junaid Hasan Pranto

The master bedroom features a floor-to-ceiling wooden cabinet designed for multi-functionality, serving as a cabinet, storage unit, cupboard and showcase. "To avoid cluttering the room with furniture, I opted to create a single unit for all purposes," explained Asif. Given that it's a teacher's room, incorporating a study nook was essential. Despite space constraints, the designers ingeniously integrated a study area within the cabinet.

Positioned against the window to maximise natural light, the study nook seamlessly blends into the room, contributing to its spacious feel. Additionally, a sentimental touch is added to the ceiling with a frame adorned with the husband's mother's shari.

A mini shelf which could serve the purpose of a bookshelf, charging station or bedside table, is nestled into the corner of the bed. To accommodate seating without overwhelming the space, a floating seat beneath the window was installed.

Instead of a traditional dressing table, a floating vanity serves its purpose elegantly. The designers ensured that the curved edge of the cabinet adjoining the veranda did not impede movement, maintaining a sense of openness in the room.

Second bedroom

The second bedroom serves as their daughter's sanctuary. With her needs in mind, Asif and his team incorporated a single bed, a study table, a cabinet and a dressing table. "Given the room's limited space, we integrated the cabinet and vanity, allowing her to utilise the vanity's drawer efficiently," said Asif.

Adjacent to the study area, they devised a seamless line, offering both a study nook and a comfortable sitting space. The materials utilised include Gorjon wood and commercial board, ensuring durability and functionality.

This room, too, holds a sentimental piece, as it features another shari-turned-wall-piece.

On the ceiling of the foyer area, they used a sentimental piece– a worn shari bordered with a wooden frame. It gives a homely feeling. Photo: Junaid Hasan Pranto
On the ceiling of the foyer area, they used a sentimental piece– a worn shari bordered with a wooden frame. It gives a homely feeling. Photo: Junaid Hasan Pranto

The adapted room

With two children but only one additional bedroom apart from the master suite, the family needed a solution. "So, for their son, we created a partitioned room with a distinctive white feature wall," said Asif. "The feature wall is one of the highlights of the project," he added.

Adjacent to the dining area, they repurposed waste materials to create this visually captivating feature wall. Since this room is also visible from the living area, the wall serves as a striking focal point.

Notably, the wall's design itself serves as an artistic statement, eliminating the need for additional adornments like a painting. When the door is closed, the wall seamlessly blends into the room, appearing as a cohesive feature.

Their son's room, measuring eight feet by 10 feet, embraces a Lego-themed design, much to his delight. The room is kept extremely minimal, with only a bed and cabinet. His study space seamlessly extends from the Lego-themed cabinet. There is an upper cabinet and an under-bed cabinet where he can put his belongings. Most importantly, the room is colourful with several pop-up colours.

Features / Top News

Interior / interior design / Interior Designing

Comments

While most comments will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive, moderation decisions are subjective. Published comments are readers’ own views and The Business Standard does not endorse any of the readers’ comments.

Top Stories

  • Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus leaves for a four-day visit to the United Kingdom from the Dhaka airport on 9 June 2025. Photo: CA Press Wing
    CA Yunus leaves for UK; discussion expected on renewable energy investment, laundered money
  • File photo of Shafiqul Alam. Photo: Collected
    Positive message for country if CA meets Tarique, but no decision on meeting yet: Shafiqul tells Somoy
  • Representational image: WHO
    Govt advises against non-essential travel to India amid rising Covid-19 risks

MOST VIEWED

  • On left, Abdullah Hil Rakib, former senior vice president (SVP) of BGMEA and additional managing director of Team Group; on right, Captain Md Saifuzzaman (Guddu), a Boeing 787 Dreamliner pilot for Biman Bangladesh Airlines. Photos: Collected
    Ex-BGMEA SVP Abdullah Hil Rakib, Biman 787 pilot Saifuzzaman drown in boating accident in Canada
  • A photo showing the former president on his return to Dhaka today (9 June). 
Source: Collected
    Former president Abdul Hamid returns to Bangladesh from Thailand
  • File Photo: British MP Tulip Siddiq attends a news conference with Richard Ratcliffe, the husband of jailed British-Iranian aid worker Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, in London, Britain October 11, 2019. Photo: REUTERS/Peter Nicholls/File Photo
    Tulip requests CA Yunus for a meeting over corruption allegations: Guardian
  • Representational image. Photo: Reuters
    Bangladesh reports 3 more Covid-19 cases
  • Muhammad Yunus (L) and Narendra Modi. Photo: Collected
    Modi sends Eid-ul-Adha greetings, Yunus calls for continued bilateral cooperation
  • Photo: Reuters
    Trump says Musk relationship over, warns of 'serious consequences' if he funds Democrats

Related News

  • Yugen Waterfront: Bringing the rhythms of nature into an urban space
  • From clunky to chic: The evolution of switchboard design
  • Armani/Casa in Bangladesh: A new era of luxury living
  • Interior product and technology expo kicks off Thursday in Dhaka
  • How to create a cosy study space at home

Features

File photo of Eid holidaymakers returning to the capital from their country homes/Rajib Dhar

Dhaka: The city we never want to return to, but always do

11h | Features
Photo collage shows political posters in Bagerhat. Photos: Jannatul Naym Pieal

From Sheikh Dynasty to sibling rivalry: Bagerhat signals a turning tide in local politics

2d | Bangladesh
Illustration: TBS

Unbearable weight of the white coat: The mental health crisis in our medical colleges

5d | Panorama
(From left) Sadia Haque, Sylvana Quader Sinha and Tasfia Tasbin. Sketch: TBS

Meet the women driving Bangladesh’s startup revolution

5d | Panorama

More Videos from TBS

The forbidden point on Cox's Bazar beach is like a death trap

The forbidden point on Cox's Bazar beach is like a death trap

2h | TBS Today
Israeli forces seize Gaza aid boat carrying Greta Thunberg

Israeli forces seize Gaza aid boat carrying Greta Thunberg

4h | TBS World
Which way will the anti-immigration campaign in Los Angeles turn?

Which way will the anti-immigration campaign in Los Angeles turn?

4h | TBS World
CA leaves for London this evening on four-day official tour

CA leaves for London this evening on four-day official tour

6h | TBS Today
EMAIL US
contact@tbsnews.net
FOLLOW US
WHATSAPP
+880 1847416158
The Business Standard
  • About Us
  • Contact us
  • Sitemap
  • Advertisement
  • Privacy Policy
  • Comment Policy
Copyright © 2025
The Business Standard All rights reserved
Technical Partner: RSI Lab

Contact Us

The Business Standard

Main Office -4/A, Eskaton Garden, Dhaka- 1000

Phone: +8801847 416158 - 59

Send Opinion articles to - oped.tbs@gmail.com

For advertisement- sales@tbsnews.net