Mumbai Houzz: This 810-Sq-Ft Home Is Sensible But Far From Boring
SML Architects crafts a home for a young couple, interweaving colour, artisanship and warm wooden accents
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: A young couple
Location: Navi Mumbai, Maharashtra
Year/decade built: 2021
Size: 75 square metres (810 square feet); 2 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms
Interior design firm: SML Architects
Photographs courtesy: Yadnyesh Joshi
“A home that would narrate their own story; a home where the sea becomes the muse” was the brief given to Mahek Lalan, founder of SML Architects, by the youthful clients who were buying their first home in the metropolis of Navi Mumbai. Lalan proceeded to create a home that borrowed heavily from the owner’s roots; a home that is testament to the all-pervasive presence of the distant sea.
Polished Kota flooring, unexpected doses of brilliant blue and furniture that is visually engaging gave the apartment an unusual “sensorial and tactile design element”, creating a home that was high on style and functionality despite its compact size.
Who lives here: A young couple
Location: Navi Mumbai, Maharashtra
Year/decade built: 2021
Size: 75 square metres (810 square feet); 2 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms
Interior design firm: SML Architects
Photographs courtesy: Yadnyesh Joshi
“A home that would narrate their own story; a home where the sea becomes the muse” was the brief given to Mahek Lalan, founder of SML Architects, by the youthful clients who were buying their first home in the metropolis of Navi Mumbai. Lalan proceeded to create a home that borrowed heavily from the owner’s roots; a home that is testament to the all-pervasive presence of the distant sea.
Polished Kota flooring, unexpected doses of brilliant blue and furniture that is visually engaging gave the apartment an unusual “sensorial and tactile design element”, creating a home that was high on style and functionality despite its compact size.
The entrance opens into a light-filled open-plan living-cum-dining section. The sofa in deep Prussian blue, along with the single armchair in taupe upholstery, creates a congenial space to host or unwind in. A screen of split-bamboo blinds allows in slivers of light from the balcony that spans the length of the room.
The living space is grounded by a rectilinear rug woven in a circular radiating pattern by the artisans of Mirzapur, Uttar Pradesh. A pair of black-and-beige abstract prints adorns the focal wall, a nod to the broad contemporary DNA of the residence, that is further accentuated by the geometric design of the coffee table and side stools.
Find an interior designer on Houzz
Find an interior designer on Houzz
The cascading nolina plant offers a sinuous and colourful contrast to the angular lines and neutral palette of the space.
The small four-seater dining space to the left of the living area is the nucleus of the layout, crowned by a stunning monochrome Patachitra painting (an art form wherein natural pigments are used to paint on cloth-based scrolls) sourced from the client’s home town in Orissa.
See how Indian arts and crafts light up 12 modern spaces
See how Indian arts and crafts light up 12 modern spaces
The dining table is an interesting piece of furniture, as explained by Lalan. “Cast in situ with a whole-bodied speckled terrazzo tabletop, it is supported by legs devised as two intersecting planes in teak wood that boasts exaggerated grains.” The
quartet of chairs, powder-coated in bright blue, are customised to fit in diagonally to optimise ease of movement in the area.
quartet of chairs, powder-coated in bright blue, are customised to fit in diagonally to optimise ease of movement in the area.
The wall partitioning the dining area and kitchen was demolished to make way for a breakfast counter that appears to extend from the granite kitchen countertop.
Imitating the deep blue sea is the backsplash in glossy subway tiles sandwiched between the stippled granite countertop and open shelves.
Check out the four best materials for a kitchen backsplash
Imitating the deep blue sea is the backsplash in glossy subway tiles sandwiched between the stippled granite countertop and open shelves.
Check out the four best materials for a kitchen backsplash
The guest room is multi-purpose, functioning as a lounge, home office and library. Says Lalan, “The wooden tones have been kept homogeneous to establish a sense of visual cohesion”.
The space houses a sofa-cum-bed that frees up usable floor space. The wardrobe sports a corrugated facade made of strips of solid teak wood on a plywood base, which extends into an overhead bookshelf with sections to hold bric-a-brac.
The wall opposite is a cerulean blue, providing a serene backdrop to a home office. A greyscale veined marble counter covers the console and cantilevers towards the window to form a desk ledge, accompanied by matching open wall shelves.
Look for custom furniture professionals on Houzz
Look for custom furniture professionals on Houzz
The intimate master bedroom is tucked right at the end of the home, flanked by an alfresco balcony laden with natural greens. The bed is the piece de resistance – “its silhouette takes inspiration from the column and beam structural forms, a coalition of simple vertical and
horizontal members rendered in teak.”
See more design ideas for compact homes in Houzz photos
horizontal members rendered in teak.”
See more design ideas for compact homes in Houzz photos
The customised headboard infuses a robust whiff
of colour via the ubiquitous brilliant blue. Made out of recycled saree threads mounted upon the framework, it optimises ergonomic comfort.
Discover ten ideas for head-turning headboards
of colour via the ubiquitous brilliant blue. Made out of recycled saree threads mounted upon the framework, it optimises ergonomic comfort.
Discover ten ideas for head-turning headboards
The wardrobes, a composition of exposed wicker framed in solid teak, with brass hardware, elevate the rustic vibe. The recessed niche with a sleek mirror and a cane chair act as a vanity.
Read more:
Bengaluru Houzz: This Apartment Brims With Chic Comfort
Mumbai Houzz: Nordic Nuances in a Suburban Apartment
Tell us:
What aspect of this home did you like the most? Do tell us in Comments below.
Read more:
Bengaluru Houzz: This Apartment Brims With Chic Comfort
Mumbai Houzz: Nordic Nuances in a Suburban Apartment
Tell us:
What aspect of this home did you like the most? Do tell us in Comments below.
