Mumbai Houzz: A Palette of White & Wood Works Wonders in This Flat
ZERO9 shows us how to turn white decor into a warm and inviting home
Nadezna Siganporia
9 October 2019
Houzz India Contributor. Nine years ago, I jumped into the world of freelance writing. It combines my love for this art form and the ability to carve my own path. I have extensive experience in content development and creative writing predominantly in the fields of design, décor, interiors, architecture, travel, food, lifestyle, art and culture. My work has been published in Lifestyle Asia India, Houzz India, Elle India, Elle Decor India, India Design ID, Lonely Planet Magazine India, Conde Nast Traveller India, Square Inch by Ogaan Media and Beautiful Homes, among others.
Follow me on @nadezna_s (Instagram/Twitter).
Houzz India Contributor. Nine years ago, I jumped into the world of freelance writing.... More
Each person has their own idea of what they want their home to look and feel like. With this Mumbai flat, Anu Chauhan and Prashant Chauhan of ZERO9 took the couple’s distinct individual preferences and merged them to create an elegant and inviting space. “The husband, of Kashmiri origin, was fond of wood, timber and warmth. The wife was clear on an all-white space as it is easy to spot dirt and clean up. She was also fascinated with starry lights,” says Anu.
The clients, who liked the shape of the chinar leaf, also loved how the designers had inlaid leaves on the floor in earlier projects. This was brought into the decor along with “a cherished botanical painting which they wanted to be the highlight of their new space”.
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: A couple and their two young children
Location: Mumbai, Maharashtra
Year/decade built: 2019
Size: 167 square metres (1800 square feet); 3 bedrooms with 3 bathrooms
Design and build team: Anu Chauhan and Prashant Chauhan of ZERO9
Photos by Suleiman Merchant
The clients, who liked the shape of the chinar leaf, also loved how the designers had inlaid leaves on the floor in earlier projects. This was brought into the decor along with “a cherished botanical painting which they wanted to be the highlight of their new space”.
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: A couple and their two young children
Location: Mumbai, Maharashtra
Year/decade built: 2019
Size: 167 square metres (1800 square feet); 3 bedrooms with 3 bathrooms
Design and build team: Anu Chauhan and Prashant Chauhan of ZERO9
Photos by Suleiman Merchant
The entrance of the apartment leads to an open-plan room. The living area, which lies straight ahead, flows into the balcony. To the left is the dining room, which leads to the kitchen and bedrooms.
As is the case with a lot of urban apartments, this one lacks a designated entryway. The designers had to craft one in the existing space. “We built three vertical fins which create a playful visual while giving privacy to the dining area,” Anu says. “Clad with brown mirrors on one side and veneer on other, these fins can be rotated for different angles and choice of a reflective or opaque surface.”
They also brought in a sleek console, which visually divides this area from the living room and provides storage. “The console is paired with a rustic timber chandelier, further creating a visual break,” she continues.
Learn how to create an entryway when there isn’t one
As is the case with a lot of urban apartments, this one lacks a designated entryway. The designers had to craft one in the existing space. “We built three vertical fins which create a playful visual while giving privacy to the dining area,” Anu says. “Clad with brown mirrors on one side and veneer on other, these fins can be rotated for different angles and choice of a reflective or opaque surface.”
They also brought in a sleek console, which visually divides this area from the living room and provides storage. “The console is paired with a rustic timber chandelier, further creating a visual break,” she continues.
Learn how to create an entryway when there isn’t one
The main feature of interest in the living room is the large botanical painting which influenced the palette of the seating area. Keeping the aesthetic minimal, the designers paired a muted grey custom-made sofa with cane-and-wood armchairs and botanical-print throw cushions.
The designers also made use of varied yet complementing wood finishes on everything from the chairs and centre table to the cabinets and even the ceiling fan. This infuses a greater degree of warmth into the decor.
The designers also made use of varied yet complementing wood finishes on everything from the chairs and centre table to the cabinets and even the ceiling fan. This infuses a greater degree of warmth into the decor.
There are a few features that aid the visual flow from the interiors to the exterior, such as the large French doors with Georgian bars, which open up into the balcony. “Because this space extends visually into the balcony, it appears larger than it actually is,” says Prashant.
Another feature that helps the visual flow is the faux wood cladding that runs from above the French doors in the living room to the ceiling of the balcony.
Find an interior designer from the Houzz directory to design your home
Another feature that helps the visual flow is the faux wood cladding that runs from above the French doors in the living room to the ceiling of the balcony.
Find an interior designer from the Houzz directory to design your home
The designers also used the flooring to visually integrate the two spaces. “The grey cement flooring of the balcony seamlessly merges with the white flooring of the living room via a hexagonal grid,” Prashant continues. Adding life and providing privacy to this space are a plethora of potted palms, while a lattice panel separates this part of the balcony from the rest.
“The ceiling is filled with starry lights to bring in the effect of sitting under the stars in evenings,” says Prashant. “We also added a portable barbecue counter, custom-made to ensure it can be moved around when required.”
Browse through Houzz photos for more terrace and balcony design ideas
Browse through Houzz photos for more terrace and balcony design ideas
Coming back to the entrance, the open dining area sits to the left. It forms the heart of the home, with easy access to the kitchen and living area. “The all-white flooring symbolises snow and the custom inlaid copper chinar leaves scattered on the floor bring in the flavour of the fall season,” Anu explains.
“On one wall, we built a utility counter which holds an oven, a sink and faucet, as well as a hidden bar,” she says. The custom-made dining set continues the white-and-nature theme with a stone-top dining table and chairs upholstered in fabric that ties in with the botanical prints of the living room.
The dining room leads to the kitchen, which sits behind a glass-panelled sliding door. It features parallel counters which add to the functionality of the small space. It opens up to a utility balcony on the opposite end. “The kitchen is again an all-white zone, which makes it appear larger than it is with the dado, counter and even the back-painted glass shutters all in white,” says Prashant. Sleek cabinetry and built-in appliances make the kitchen more streamlined.
Go through these 7 foolproof tips to create the perfect kitchen
Go through these 7 foolproof tips to create the perfect kitchen
The designers maintained the simple yet elegant decor in the master bedroom as well, pairing light wood furniture with pastel-green wallpaper. “To add visual interest we brought in framed artwork behind the bed. The pieces are actually embroidered fabric by Sarita Handa,” says Prashant. The wood grain on the headboard and bed is laid in a chevron pattern which adds a fun element to the room.
“The master bathroom is predominantly white, with rose-gold sanitary fittings complemented by a wall of black-and-white inlay with rose-gold highlights,” he continues. A streamlined white cabinet for storage flanks the large mirror, while the sink is built into the countertop.
Anu considers the kids’ bedroom a visual treat, where the walls are a playground for graphic explorations. While the room is again mostly white, the designers brought in pockets of colour, for example, the pale-yellow storage niche. “We brought in playful elements such as animal chairs and an elephant blackboard against a backdrop of hot air balloon decals on walls,” she says. They refurbished an old bed into a bunk bed shaped like a mini house, complete with a sloping roof, windows and a ladder.
Look for kids’ furniture in Houzz products
Look for kids’ furniture in Houzz products
Extending the hot air balloon theme into the bathroom, the team designed this space with colourful and vibrant elements. A geometric black-and-white pattern on the floor and vanity lends an interesting visual element to the white space, while the fiery red storage cabinet adds a pop of colour.
The guest bedroom with a simple layout takes inspiration from the hilly regions of Kashmir, alluding to the client’s origins. “A dynamic 3D installation of contours takes shape on the wall behind the bed and flows on to the adjoining wardrobe in the back-painted glass,” Prashant says. One pocket of concrete grey stands in a fun contrast to its white surroundings, suggesting a dark mountain lake at the bottom of snowy hills.
“Another predominantly white space, the guest bathroom explores simplicity with sleek fixtures and streamlined storage,” he continues. The designers elevated the palette with a few interesting features, such as a graphic black-and-white pattern framing the mirror and rose-gold fittings.
Read more:
Bangalore Houzz: Bursts of Colour Makes This a Happy Holiday Home
How to Get an All-White Decor Right
Tell us:
What did you like the most about this house? Tell us in Comments below.
Read more:
Bangalore Houzz: Bursts of Colour Makes This a Happy Holiday Home
How to Get an All-White Decor Right
Tell us:
What did you like the most about this house? Tell us in Comments below.
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so nice and pristine. Love it.
windows material
class with domal