“An architect’s responsibility is to understand what clients want and giving it form in a way they would not be able to imagine themselves. ” interpretation of what Louis Kahn said once.
And that ability to imagine, I believe separates an architect from the rest of us. This Mumbai apartment designed by Sejal Shah of Studio Kreate takes the form of a unified, well-tailored and timeless design that the owners had yearned for in their home. A perfect blend of contemporary without being too cold, it could pass off as an advertorial for anything from a real wood herringbone floor and Chenille sofa to hand woven rugs and a chandelier.
That’s the beauty of this magazine-worthy home; I don’t know if the secret lies in the unusual pairing of colours, patterns and materials, expert layering, or subtle styling techniques.
The colour and decor scheme is more mid-century — blue, green and beige with a generous dose of mustard. The result is this charming yet sophisticated home with an uptight living + dining yet wild private quarters that is all set to be lived in!
About the project:
Who lives here: A young couple, their daughter, parents and their pet cat.
Location: Juhu, Mumbai
Year built: 2018
Size: 2400 sft
Type: apartment with 4 bedrooms and 5 bathrooms
Designed by: Studio Kreate
Principal designer– Arch Sejal Shah
Image courtesy: Ira Gosalia of Photographix India
Both the husband and wife have high profile jobs; they live here with their parents and their college going daughter.
The layout of the 2,400 sq.ft apartment is pretty straightforward with the living room paving way for the other rooms. First, comes the kitchen followed by the den/TV room on the right with the powder bathroom. A long passage leads to the parents bedroom and the daughters bedroom on the right and the master bedroom and an attached walk in wardrobe on the left.
Living + Dining
The living room has a gorgeous real wood herring bone floor which is offset with Satvario marble on the side.
Emerald green and warm rust are an unlikely color combination that works in this modern living space. The cosines of a well-worn leather couch in shades of rust are offset with the rich emerald green chenille sofa. The rug with subtle geometric print adds a second layer of pattern. The finishing touches are the accent pillows in different patterns in a range of scales for contrast. The marble coffee table is an attractive focal point which lends visual texture.
Sejal used wall to wall mirror paneling as a part of the dining area décor and loved the sea change it bought to the space. Mirrors were used to create an illusion of larger space and to enhance the decor. The metallic sheen of the gorgeous chandelier certainly adds to the drama.
Bedrooms
Master bedroom: In the master bedroom, we decided to use a rug with an over-sized pattern and vibrant colors to anchor the space. The vibrant yellow headboard is a scene-stealer and so is the bar unit. Accent pillows in a mixture of styles and different scale patterns lend visual interest. Our favorite is how the potted plants placed in different corners help soften the whiteness of the walls.
Parents bedroom: The senior citizens wanted their bedroom to feel like a true refuge from the world: a calming place to rest and restore their energies. Since that was the vibe that we designers were seeking for in this bedroom we decided to use soft color schemes, in cool shades of beige, grey and white. An emerald green bedspread anchors the room without it becoming too dull and drab.
Daughter’s room: Simplicity rules in this understated yet undeniably rad teen room. A half wall in an ashen grey paired with high-contrast black and white graphic accents cushions gives the space a lived in feel without seeming dreary or drab.
The subtle emphasis on texture and pattern give the room a rich and layered look that contrasts nicely with the cool, Soho ambience. The teen’s motivational mantra ‘STAY WILD’ makes for a cool neon sign.
Plants perched high on shelves and in places where you would least expect to see them.
Powder Room
Balcony
Sejal says:
The client’s brief was to make sure their balcony looked like a lush green urban forest. That became the biggest challenge because we were restricted by the rules of the builder as we were prohibited from hanging any greens on the wall or screwing any accessory on to it. To the extent that we weren’t allowed to even pull extra electrical or plumbing points in the balcony.
Sejal concludes by saying,
The thing I loved about working on the project was “Freedom…!” That one elusive thing that all designers yearn for. The clients gave me complete freedom to explore my creativity, experiment with various materials, textures and colors. They placed complete faith in me to translate their ideas into reality.
Shop the look (product sources):
Lights: Deepam, Skillful electricals
Paints: Jotun paints
Furnishings: D Décor, Cottons and Satins
Sofas: The Couch Potato
Dining table: Custom made
Flooring tiles: wooden floor of the living room – Havwoods
Balcony tiles: C Tribhuvan
Plants: Plant People
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