Studio Nola creates a colour-rich holiday home in Siolim, where patterned floors and open views frame a relaxed lifestyle

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Long before the house in Siolim, Goa, took shape, it was the view that did the convincing. Endless green fields, birdsong, and a sense of calm drew Ruchika Ittal and her family to what was, at the time, little more than an incomplete structure. “It was just bricks and a foundation,” she recalls. “But as a family, we could already picture the life it would hold.”

Used as a part-time retreat from Mumbai, the home needed to feel welcoming from the moment the family arrived. Ruchika, a costume stylist who has worked on over 2,000 ad films, wanted each room to carry its own personality while still feeling part of a larger whole. “I knew this had to be a house with character,” she says. “Every space needed attention, but it also had to feel easy to live in.” That clarity aligned naturally with Sharon Dmello, founder and principal architect of Studio Nola. “There was an immediate warmth in how the family approached the project,” Sharon shares. “Ruchika had a strong sense of how she wanted the house to feel, and every decision was shaped by everyday living rather than appearances.”

The brief leaned away from minimalism in favour of warmth, colour, and texture. Patterned flooring sets the tone from the entrance, where a soft green door opens onto bold monochrome tiles. Painted ceilings, exposed beams, lime-finished walls, cane, and solid wood add depth across the interiors without overwhelming them. Rather than rely on one defining gesture, the design builds continuity through repetition. “Patterned floors and colour overhead became anchors for the entire home,” Sharon explains. “They allowed us to layer materials and details confidently while keeping the spaces cohesive.”

The living and dining areas form the heart of the house, opening directly onto the pool and the fields beyond. A stepped deck drops past the pool edge, preserving uninterrupted views while easing the transition into the landscape. One of the most decisive moves was covering the pool with a metal-and-bamboo pergola. “We hesitated initially,” Sharon admits, “but it completely changed how the space is now used. It works through summer and monsoon, and gives the pool a strong tropical character.” Upstairs, the house becomes more intimate. Each bedroom carries its own palette and mood, from lime-plastered rooms softened with woven accents to spaces where patterned tiles rise up to form headboards. The variety is held together by a consistent material language and a shared sense of rhythm.

Much of the home’s character comes from objects collected over time. Lights sourced in Bali, decor from Greece and Thailand, and thrifted finds are layered seamlessly into the architecture. “Every trip became an opportunity to bring something back,” Ruchika says. “Each piece holds a memory, and together they make the house feel lived in.” Her favourite place remains the pool deck. “It’s peaceful and constantly changing,” she says. “You hear birds, see squirrels, and look out onto open fields. It’s where the house feels most alive.”

For Sharon, the success lies in balance. “The challenge was using colour and pattern generously while keeping the home comfortable over time,” she reflects. “Trust and collaboration made that possible.” The result is a Goan retreat shaped by travel, climate, and family life, designed to be returned to often and enjoyed slowly. ♦