Houzz TV: Love of Nature Finds Expression Through Vastu in This Flat
Take a tour of a 4-BHK Mumbai home, carefully planned around the homeowner's love for the five elements
Vaishnavi Nayel Talawadekar
7 September 2021
Houzz India Contributor. Internationally published architecture, design and art journalist. www.mangomonk.com
Houzz India Contributor. Internationally published architecture, design and art journalist.... More
For entrepreneur and serial investor Bala V. Kutti, setting up a new home in Mumbai was as much about reflecting his devotion to nature as paying tribute to his deep faith in vastu. A long and exhaustive search led him to this 3600-square-foot, vastu-compliant apartment, situated in a spiffy suburban high-rise. “Growing up, it was a tradition in my family to plant a tree every time a child was born, so that by the time the child became an adult, the tree, now fully grown, would return the favour and shower its bounty on its well-wishers. Perhaps it was this ritual that kindled my love for the elements. I was always certain that nature should take pride of place in my home,” Kutti says.
When it came to looking for design professionals for his new apartment, Kutti browsed the Houzz app for inspiration. After perusing a wide array of photos, ideabooks and professional reviews, he decided to call in Sameer Balvally and Shilpa Jain Balvally, co-founders and principal architects of Studio Osmosis, to bring life to his vision.
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: Bala V. Kutti (an entrepreneur and serial investor) and his family
Location: Mumbai, Maharashtra
Year built: 2019
Size: 334 square metres (3600 square feet); 3 bedrooms, 1 media room, 5 bathrooms and 1 powder room
Principal architects: Sameer Balvally and Shilpa Jain Balvally of Studio Osmosis
Photos by The Light Cube Photography | Pulkit Sehgal
When it came to looking for design professionals for his new apartment, Kutti browsed the Houzz app for inspiration. After perusing a wide array of photos, ideabooks and professional reviews, he decided to call in Sameer Balvally and Shilpa Jain Balvally, co-founders and principal architects of Studio Osmosis, to bring life to his vision.
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: Bala V. Kutti (an entrepreneur and serial investor) and his family
Location: Mumbai, Maharashtra
Year built: 2019
Size: 334 square metres (3600 square feet); 3 bedrooms, 1 media room, 5 bathrooms and 1 powder room
Principal architects: Sameer Balvally and Shilpa Jain Balvally of Studio Osmosis
Photos by The Light Cube Photography | Pulkit Sehgal
“I was keen that the home should be divided into five realms; one for every element of nature,” says Kutti.
The east-facing entrance falls under the sun zone under the bright orange hues of artworks and hushed lighting channelling the mystical moods of the cosmos. An ash-grey console and a subdued geometric wall tapestry sharpen the entryway with its linear forms. The flooring of Botticino marble offers a basis of serene purity touched with warmth.
“When it came to sunlight, ventilation and the cardinal directions, we did face initial challenges in adhering to the guiding principles of vastu,” Shilpa says. “However, we began viewing the rules as a design opportunity and rooted our mood palette and colour scheme in the organic hues of nature. We made sunshine and ventilation the cornerstones of the home’s design language.”
Artworks: Suresh Parihar and Shivani Shroff
Watch Now: See how Bala V. Kutti made his dream home come to life
The east-facing entrance falls under the sun zone under the bright orange hues of artworks and hushed lighting channelling the mystical moods of the cosmos. An ash-grey console and a subdued geometric wall tapestry sharpen the entryway with its linear forms. The flooring of Botticino marble offers a basis of serene purity touched with warmth.
“When it came to sunlight, ventilation and the cardinal directions, we did face initial challenges in adhering to the guiding principles of vastu,” Shilpa says. “However, we began viewing the rules as a design opportunity and rooted our mood palette and colour scheme in the organic hues of nature. We made sunshine and ventilation the cornerstones of the home’s design language.”
Artworks: Suresh Parihar and Shivani Shroff
Watch Now: See how Bala V. Kutti made his dream home come to life
In sync with the idea of the space realm, a kinetic wall sculpture serves as the tour de force of the living room. “The circular discs nod to Bala’s windmill business and conjure a weightless, timeless quality within the space,” says Shilpa.
Adds Sameer, “As the heart of the home, the living room is surrounded by the other elements, each housed in a different room.”
Find an interior designer on Houzz
Adds Sameer, “As the heart of the home, the living room is surrounded by the other elements, each housed in a different room.”
Find an interior designer on Houzz
An imposing metal floor lamp occupies one corner, while spare, concrete-finish shelves, embedded in a wire frame, are emblematic of the nothingness of space. Myriad cosmic space-scapes come alive in textured triangular wall panels behind the sofa, furthering the room’s otherworldly appeal.
Kinetic wall sculpture: Zblunt Sandwelds (Zarwan Elavia); floor lamp: At-tin
Look for living room ideas on Houzz
Kinetic wall sculpture: Zblunt Sandwelds (Zarwan Elavia); floor lamp: At-tin
Look for living room ideas on Houzz
The living room opens into a broad balcony dotted with lush greenery and breezy furniture. A pair of Acapulco chairs and a curvaceous sofa give the seating scheme a zesty, unfussy edge. “I wanted a cosy space where I could start my day with the first rays of the sun,” says Kutti.
Outdoor furniture: The Retyrement Plan & Nostos
Outdoor furniture: The Retyrement Plan & Nostos
The living room coalesces with the dining room in a fluid, free-flowing fashion. With star-inspired pendant lights overhead and subtle infusions of gold, silver and beige, the dining area is enveloped in a luminous sheen. A rectangular stone-topped dining table and fawn upholstered chairs anchor the dining zone.
Artwork: Shivani Shroff; lighting: Maroo lighting
Artwork: Shivani Shroff; lighting: Maroo lighting
In a fitting tribute to the the fire realm, triangular blazing-red tiles enliven cooking area. The cabinetry is outfitted in pale blue and timber, the latter possibly echoing the wood that feeds the fire in the hearth and the former, the oxygen it breathes.
Representing the realm of the earth, the master bedroom is cloaked in ashen colours. A contemporary four-poster bed takes centre stage, providing a bold juxtaposition against the sombre, grey-panelled walls.
“I wanted something that would inspire me to scale greater heights every day. In accordance with vastu, we commissioned artworks with triangular, upward-facing motifs, representative of an upward trajectory,” says Kutti.
“This room involved a fair bit of brainstorming and, given the nature of Bala’s travels, it was important for us to consolidate the designs and have them approved at one go. We communicated and shared ideas with Bala on the Houzz app, and built an archive of ideabooks that could be regularly revisited. This went a long way in helping Bala envisage the final product,” Sameer says.
Carpet: Merge Carpets; artworks: Kailash Rane and Sunil Kale
“I wanted something that would inspire me to scale greater heights every day. In accordance with vastu, we commissioned artworks with triangular, upward-facing motifs, representative of an upward trajectory,” says Kutti.
“This room involved a fair bit of brainstorming and, given the nature of Bala’s travels, it was important for us to consolidate the designs and have them approved at one go. We communicated and shared ideas with Bala on the Houzz app, and built an archive of ideabooks that could be regularly revisited. This went a long way in helping Bala envisage the final product,” Sameer says.
Carpet: Merge Carpets; artworks: Kailash Rane and Sunil Kale
The periwinkle-blue of the ocean washes over the daughter’s room in a representation of the water realm. The soft furnishings heighten the blue palette, while a papier-mâché artwork over the bed, embodying a windy, rippled feel, forms the focal point of the room.
Artwork: Shruti Zaveri
Artwork: Shruti Zaveri
The bedroom connects seamlessly with the balcony outdoors through wide glass sliding doors.
The guest bedroom models the light and cheerful tones of the first morning rays of the sun, as the realm of light. “Facing the northeast, the room welcomes plenty of sunlight and embraces the early-morning hues. We matched the soft furnishings with the colours of the wall art,” says Shilpa.
The media room is elevated by minimalist finishes, dark acoustic wallpaper and pops of canary yellow. Functioning as a workspace on occasion, the room packs double the punch in its limited footprint.
“It took eight months of conceptualisation, ideation and execution to make my vision a reality, and Sameer and Shilpa did a great job of ingraining my values into the home’s character. My work takes me to many places across the globe, but no matter where I go, I always look forward to returning home to my sanctuary,” Kutti says.
Bed and lights are custom-made
Watch Now: See how Bala V. Kutti made his dream home come to life
Read more:
Ahmedabad Houzz: An Example of Abiding Elegance & Ageless Design
Mumbai Houzz: A Pastel Paradise of Playful Shapes, Restful Spaces
Tell us:
What did you like most about this home? Tell us in Comments below.
Bed and lights are custom-made
Watch Now: See how Bala V. Kutti made his dream home come to life
Read more:
Ahmedabad Houzz: An Example of Abiding Elegance & Ageless Design
Mumbai Houzz: A Pastel Paradise of Playful Shapes, Restful Spaces
Tell us:
What did you like most about this home? Tell us in Comments below.
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Nice
Truly inspiring how Vastu principles and nature are seamlessly woven into this home’s design. It’s a beautiful reminder of how spaces can nurture both energy and emotion. At Trend Laminate, we believe in the same harmony—offering natural textures and finishes in our laminate and PVC panels that enhance wellness-oriented interiors with style and purpose.
Houzz TV showcases how this flat beautifully blends Vastu principles with natural elements, creating a peaceful and balanced living space. The design reflects a deep love for nature through thoughtful materials, layout and lighting.