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Houzz Tour: Drama & Luxury Exudes From Every Pore of This Apartment

A bright Medusa-like glass chandelier in a black granite box is a surprising visual treat for visitors to this Mumbai home

Amanda Peters 14 June 2017

Houzz India Contributor. I'm a freelance journalist who loves writing about all things travel, culture and design. My favourite pieces to write are the Houzz Tours, as I love exploring real homes of all shapes and sizes.

Houzz India Contributor. I'm a freelance journalist who loves writing about all things... More

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When Kayzad Shroff and Maria León of ShroffLeón embarked on this conversion project in Mumbai, they had a concise design brief from their clients – clean, minimal lines with a muted palette to go with their calm personalities. The design duo thus conceptualised an apartment that did not adhere to a strict colour scheme but instead focused on a stark contemporary aesthetic. “Although this is a luxury project, we opted for interiors that were opulent, yet sophisticated and understated – not a loud design but one that showcased a refreshing combination of textures, contrasts and colours,” says Shroff. However, the focal point of this home is the unusual, almost sculptural, installation of a black box that makes quite a design statement right at the entrance.

Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: A couple and their two young daughters
Location: Mumbai
Year built: 2016
Size: 325 square metres (3500 square feet); 4 bedrooms; 4 bathrooms
Architectural designers: Kayzad Shroff and Maria León of ShroffLeón

Photos by Photographix

SHROFFLEóN

A private elevator opens directly into this Mumbai apartment, where, as they enter, visitors are greeted by an installation Shroff describes as a ‘black box’. Clad in black granite that has been shot-blasted and textured, the 2.5 X 6.75 metres (approximately 8 X 22 feet) floor-to-ceiling box has been built along a wall by the entrance. “Lying between the dining room, entrance and den, we wanted an ‘object’ at the centre,” says León. “This box creates drama, frames views within the apartment, yet has a functional purpose. It also holds (in its outer facade) the bar and puja area, which can be accessed individually from the different sides.”

Within the box hangs a yellow-and-red hand-blown glass chandelier. The warm vibrant colours of the fixture’s tendrils are framed by the black box and draw the eye into the space while setting the tone for what is to come. A water body below the chandelier reflects the criss-cross ceiling of the den beyond it. Although visible here, the den can only be accessed by walking around the black box and through the dining room.

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SHROFFLEóN

The project, which took over a year to complete, required an overhaul of the entire layout, retaining only a fraction of the original marble flooring. “We started from a bare shell after convincing the owners to move from a five-bedroom plan to a four. This was done to incorporate a massive master suite with an ensuite bathroom and a walk-in wardrobe,” Shroff says.

Taking advantage of the existing room height of 9 feet (2.7 metres), the duo have played around with multiple ceiling heights, cleverly hiding an air conditioning system. “We also spent a lot of time concealing doors and shutters, so that they blended seamlessly into the wall finishes,” he says.

SHROFFLEóN

The new layout also sees the terrace covered and converted into a den. The dining room and the den are separated only by a movable glass wall, allowing the two areas to be merged if required.

Constructed with a mirror-polished marble top, the dining table acts as a stark contrast to the white Alvar Aalto lamps that hang overhead. The kitchen is near the dining room, separated by a corridor that leads off to the four bedrooms.

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SHROFFLEóN

On the other side of the dining room is the living space, where another burst of colour is introduced through accessories, furniture and paintings. The orange-hued prints are a welcome contrast to the grey-and-white palette, while an abstract-patterned carpet ties the space together.

Another noticeable accent is a sheet of crinkled lead foil on one of the walls, giving the room a rich metallic feel. The sheet’s texture is further highlighted by the recessed spotlights in the ceiling.

SHROFFLEóN

The den has been conceptualised as a relaxing informal zone for the family. The ceiling, designed in a criss-cross pattern in wood, is what draws one into this room. The LED lights outlining each coffer contrast with the yellow glow from spherical glass-filament bulbs, creating an arresting light installation.

Viewed from this room, the bright tendrils of the chandelier in the ‘black box’ resemble a three-dimensional painting. The wooden deck flooring that frames the dining table extends into the den, tying the two rooms together.

SHROFFLEóN

As this space was once an open balcony, the architects have retained elements from the outdoors. “We attempted to create the atmosphere of being outside through features such as wooden decking, plants in the form of a green wall and windows that open up completely, blurring the lines between the interiors and the outside,” León says.

SHROFFLEóN

A passage from the living and dining rooms goes to the private family spaces – the bedrooms.

The master suite’s signature look comes from cushioned leather panelling that starts right from the doorway and runs along two walls, as well as the headboard. To contrast with its ivory colour, the headboard is mounted on a wall clad in dark wood veneer.

The white Statuario marble floor binds together the whole room, which also accommodates a study, two armchairs in ivory leather and a coffee table.

SHROFFLEóN

“The luxury quotient is particularly evident in the master bathroom. The owners spared no expense here,” León says. The large bathroom has separate cubicles for the shower and toilet, as well as a free-standing bathtub on the other side. The lights above the tub are fibre-optic, thus creating a starry glow.

“As this portion of the room was previously a corner bedroom, the windows here allowed a lot of natural light to enter. However, privacy is maintained by positioning a chrome-plated screen, made in collaboration with an artist. This allows light to penetrate, but blocks vision; yet it creates a pixelated reflection,” she adds.

SHROFFLEóN

Shroff further points out another smart design feature to hide away the many windows in the room. “We mounted a large rectangular mirror above the basin counter where a window was situated. However, to create a natural backlit effect, we left a strip around it, through which sunlight seeps in,” he says.

SHROFFLEóN

Although each bedroom has its own identity, they all come together through the use of similar material and colour palettes. For instance, both guest bedrooms follow a scheme of combining the colour of dark wood with white. However, for one of the rooms, the architects have worked closely with Rajasthani artisans to fabricate fluted marble tiles that were then used to frame the bed. In the other guest bedroom, a chevron-patterned wallpaper by Maya Romanoff mimics wood to form a panel behind the television.

SHROFFLEóN

Given that he children’s bedroom is shared by two young girls, it has been given a dainty feminine look with touches of soft pink and pale veneer. Ample lighting has been provided through a rectangular cove in the ceiling. A custom-made wallpaper featuring the world map in pastel colours adds character to the room, as well as concealing a door and the light switches without breaking the pattern.

SHROFFLEóN

The counter introduces a splash of pink in the children’s bathroom, while the free-flowing mirrors with sepia-toned frames give the room an understated luxurious appeal.

Read more:
Houzz Tour: This Penthouse Challenges the Conventional Use of a Wall
Houzz Tour: This Art Deco Mumbai Home Gets a Sublime Makeover

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What did you like most about this Mumbai apartment? Tell us in Comments below.

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The whole thing is a lovely piece of design. Interiors are the hero. The play of light, colours and textures are appreciable. Also your way of describing the house makes it easy for the reader to visualise and understand the design concept.

Like 18 June 2017 at 1:40pm