Mumbai Houzz: This 5-Star Flat Is Crisp, Luxurious & Homely All At Once

Plush palettes, bursts of colour and functional forms enliven this apartment by Whitespace

Vaishnavi Nayel Talawadekar29 July 2020

Houzz India Contributor. Home Decor Enthusiast. True-Blue Bangalorean. Founder & Chief Content Consultant at Mangomonk. I work for sunshine and sandwiches. Visit me at www.mangomonk.com.

Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: A family of three
Location: Mumbai, Maharashtra
Year built: 2019
Size: 90 square metres (970 square feet); 2.5 bedrooms; 2 bathrooms
Interior designer: Ganesh Nair of Whitespace

Photos by Shamanth Patil Photography

At first glance, you could easily mistake this apartment for a voguish Parisian pad. The owners, a couple and their 23-year-old daughter, wanted the home to channel contemporary charm and be optimally functional. “The design is hugely inspired by my travels in Europe and the Americas. It combines five-star luxury and homelike comfort,” says Ganesh Nair, founder and chief interior designer of Whitespace.

Whitespace

A navy colonial-inspired front door distinguishes the home’s facade from the neighbouring apartments, opening into a compact daisy-white entrance where a shoe cabinet, topped by a contemporary art print, stands guard.

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Whitespace

A second door leads visitors further into a foyer, characterised by a mustard-and-navy palette, mirror accents and warm lighting. A pine bench provides a functional interlude to the living room beyond. A Gothic-style mirror, underpinned by an ornate glass console, adorns the wall opposite the bench, injecting the eclectic aesthetic with a dose of understated glam. The pinewood grain continues up the wall by the bench to the raftered ceiling, adding depth and drama to the area.

Whitespace

“The living room is sophisticated, contemporary and luxurious, with white spray-painted panelled walls. Also, the flooring is distinct from that of the foyer, which helps visually separate the two,” says Nair.

Royal blue, burgundy and grey, together with subtle patterns and hushed fabrics, embellish a backdrop of white, echoing a classic European air. The floor wears a wooden sheen, warming the pastel palette and conjuring a distinct sense of cosiness.

Whitespace

“Given that it is a small apartment, the challenge was to make it appear spacious. We made a few structural changes to visually expand the space. For example, we maintained visual continuity across the living area, bedroom spaces and balconies with wooden flooring,” Nair says.

Most furniture is custom-made

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Whitespace

Straight lines, charming vignettes, gold accents and bursts of buttercup yellow come together in to create a vibrant dining room. A gilded row chandelier, in the form of a slender branch with birds, spotlights the dining table, while yellow chairs add pops of cheer to the all-white shell. Behind the dining table, a floor-to-ceiling open display unit plays host to characterful trinkets, providing a fitting backdrop to the pared-back decor.

Whitespace

“We did away with false ceilings, panelled the walls, embraced bright whites and went for floor-to-ceiling forms to accentuate the perceived volume,” says Nair. The dining room is flanked on one side by a glass wall framed in pinewood. “The wall separates the dining area from the den. It helps make the space appear bigger while also augmenting the luminosity.”

Whitespace

The kitchen is outfitted in white and wood facades that exude an earthy yet opulent appeal.

“We played with bold colours and patterns on the backsplash and flooring to counterbalance the muted cocoon. To expand the footprint, we absorbed the external utility area into the kitchen and opted for uniform tiled flooring to make the connection seamless,” says Nair.

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Whitespace

In the master bedroom, a smorgasbord of uber-luxurious elements inspires a romantic, vintage air. A crystal chandelier anchors the debonair setting, underpinned by a tufted grey headboard and echoed on either side by complementary wall sconces. Warm wooden panelling enriches one wall, playing companion to the dark wooden floor.

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Whitespace

High on sophistication is the master bathroom, where his-and-hers sinks, minimalist hues and royal-blue embellishments preside. Deep-blue cabinetry backs sleek golden handles, while chic globe sconces cast halos of soft light over the bath chamber.

“We changed the orientation of the functional elements in the bathroom to enhance its ergonomics. The wash basin and shower area, for instance, were relocated from their original spots,” says Nair.

Whitespace

The daughter’s bedroom is defined by an extra long cushioned bench, a neon backlit guitar and a chorus of sounds from the surrounding Aarey Forest. A grey feature wall highlights the lemon headboard, while on the adjacent wall, the wardrobe scheme melds into the dark shell, allowing the peripheral wood frame to take centre stage.

Whitespace

“The half-bedroom was converted into a private den for intimate gatherings and movie nights,” says Nair. Dark-grey walls, wooden flooring, a casual sectional and a pinewood bench channel an unfussy, pared-back vibe, while a wine-red wall-mounted bar counter dials up the energy.

Whitespace

“Given that your aesthetic choices are a reflection of your taste, the guest bathroom brims with thoughtful touches,” says Nair. His words ring true in the gilded hardware, antique-style mirror and azure pentagonal floor tiles with gold grout detailing.

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Mumbai Houzz: This Home Is Infused With Charm & Clever Design

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