If one were to describe this home as a human being, “tall, dark, and handsome” would be a great way to begin. This is immediately seen as the lobby seduces with its bold concentric rectangles of black and grey marble combined with dark enigmatic walls, high ceiling and charming cane furniture. This stylish and dusky beauty with its charcoal palette and ubiquitous luminosity is a home to a young, energetic couple and their son who spend a lot of their time between Germany and India.

Because of their life style, they wanted a home that felt international, contemporary, and elegant. The only request was that since the husband was a maker of high-end footwear, and because both of them loved shoes, that element must be present in some capacity somewhere.

For the flooring, we began to pair together a serpaggiante marble with an aged wood to bring in the contrast of glossiness and luxury with ruggedness and warmth. The two materials not only provide a visual barrier and passage between the dining and living, but they also beautifully carry the furniture that sits atop it and allow it to be the highlight of that area. In the dining room, the walls are cement finished in charcoal to bring in a very delicate, chic and intimate experience. Sage green veneer pieces are decorative and functional, opening doors to a hidden bar, a puja space and a kitchen. In the living room, the walls continue but the ceiling is stepped and becomes white, again exposing a different facet of the space. In the middle is a bar which is supported by two giant size boot sculptures that were commissioned to Simran Lamba, an artist who works with molten tar, coal, metal elements like nuts, bolts, washers, wires etc. The deep violet and navy, like the midnight sky is the woman’s stiletto boot and the ember-y and fiery one is the man’s. The furniture was carefully chosen to complement these colours. A textured olive stone partition divides the study from the dining. The study leads to the personal space of the family. The sons rooms in in shades of blues and browns; the guest is light lilac and coral; the master in black and white; and the family in blue and brown again. The furniture is stylish, smart and comfortable.

To add to the sophistication of this space, carefully curated rugs, paintings, art and sculptures adorn the home in perfectly chosen spots. Elements of brass are used discreetly to add richness. Meticulously planned indirect lighting and decorative lights provide a constant glow in the home and dissipate a feeling of perpetual cosiness in a seemingly plush and stylish space. A patient walk within the space and the tall dark stranger quickly reveals it’s self and lets one uncover the gems of its interesting, mysterious, charismatic and irresistible personality.