My Houzz: Bollywood's Favourite Interior Designer Shows Us Her Home
Shabnam Gupta's home is a colourful, art-filled haven that gives lessons on making the most of a compact space
Warm, comfortable, green, art-filled, naturally lit and enriched with space-boosting ideas … how often can one attribute so many qualities to a city apartment? Interior and product designer Shabnam Gupta (the designer behind Parineeti Chopra and Irrfan Khan’s homes) lives in a two-bedroom flat that is any apartment-dweller’s dream. Come, take a trip with us inside her Mumbai abode.
The entrance to the home sets the tone for the personalised, vibrant theme of the interiors. The main door is carved in wood, with an elaborate tree painted on it by an artist from Peacock Life. Gupta replaced the original window on the right with a vintage one she picked up in Jodhpur. “When the sun sets in the west, you get lovely, colourful reflections here, thanks to the stained glass,” she says.
The apartment building was chosen by her due to its close proximity to the sea and because it receives ample sunlight throughout the day.
The design of this compact city apartment is a lesson in space-enhancing and accessorising tricks. The home originally had three smaller bedrooms, which were broken down and renovated to make two larger bedrooms.
The entrance door to the living room is part of a wall panelled in wood inset with antique mirrors. The panels, finished in white Duco, form a neat grid. “These mirrors have a slight haze on them so one doesn’t see a sharp reflection, just a hint of it. These help create a feeling of a larger space, and completely camouflage the entrance door,” Gupta says. The old-style brass switches were sourced from Chor Bazar and can be seen throughout the house. The original marble flooring was changed to river-washed granite “that gives a feeling of walking on sand,” Gupta says.
Here’s how spaces can be made to look bigger with mirrors
The design of this compact city apartment is a lesson in space-enhancing and accessorising tricks. The home originally had three smaller bedrooms, which were broken down and renovated to make two larger bedrooms.
The entrance door to the living room is part of a wall panelled in wood inset with antique mirrors. The panels, finished in white Duco, form a neat grid. “These mirrors have a slight haze on them so one doesn’t see a sharp reflection, just a hint of it. These help create a feeling of a larger space, and completely camouflage the entrance door,” Gupta says. The old-style brass switches were sourced from Chor Bazar and can be seen throughout the house. The original marble flooring was changed to river-washed granite “that gives a feeling of walking on sand,” Gupta says.
Here’s how spaces can be made to look bigger with mirrors
All the furniture in the living room is by Peacock Life and the space is dotted with sculptures and artworks gifted to Gupta or personally made by her. The open plan is a seamless sequence of spaces – “the formal seating flows into semi-formal (garden style) seating, that further moves on to the home office,” Gupta says. The niche inside the centre table is filled with pebbles, rocks and shells. “There is a shell from every destination we’ve been to … I can actually pinpoint every piece from all our travels. It’s our memory table,” Gupta says.
The lamp next to the blue sofa is of Gupta’s design. “I had an old pickle jar, which I recycled and recreated into a lamp – and I made it wear one of my necklaces,” Gupta says. The wall behind it holds a Buddha painting by Ganga Kadakia, Gupta’s sister.
The lamp next to the blue sofa is of Gupta’s design. “I had an old pickle jar, which I recycled and recreated into a lamp – and I made it wear one of my necklaces,” Gupta says. The wall behind it holds a Buddha painting by Ganga Kadakia, Gupta’s sister.
The wall opposite the living room seating is a built-in library that holds paintings, sculptures and artefacts, along with books. “Among my favourite things displayed here is the cat painting, a fat blue angel that was gifted to me by my sister and my son’s pottery,” Gupta says.
The Nandi statue in the living room is from Mahabalipuram, carved in a single piece of granite. It’s placed atop a vintage sewing machine sourced from Chor Bazar. “We dress her up with flowers and garlands on festivals; on Christmas she wears a hat,” Gupta says.
The window seat was originally a small balcony. “This is where we have our tea, listen to music and unwind. Above the sofa is a jali design with creepers all over it – it makes you feel like you’re sitting in the outdoors. The blue suspended goblets are from Bali; we fill these up with lights during festivals. Also, the vertical garden is maintained by my mother – she’s a landscapist,” Gupta says.
Stools: Anantaya AKFD
These climbing plants are great for Indian homes
Stools: Anantaya AKFD
These climbing plants are great for Indian homes
The study next to the window seat is used by Gupta’s husband. The space is peppered with black-and-white artworks from Vietnam and superhero prints. “Why the comic book heroes? That’s because I’m surrounded by superheroes – my husband, two sons who are full of mud and football at any given time and my two naughty male dogs,” Gupta says. The open cabinet holds books and DVDs; there is also an installation of Coke cans stuck on the shelf, made by her son. Tucked behind the half-gate is a puja space.
A wooden gate is installed to stop her pets from entering the living room, especially when there are guests.
The dining table is custom-designed by Gupta with a niche in the centre, which is accessorised with water and flowers on special occasions. All around it are built-in benches. Behind it is a balcony garden.
Installed on both walls of the grille are plates from Morocco and Jaipur. “On the grille are wooden birds made in Chennapatnam (close to Chennai) – this is a traditional craft, which is now a dying art,” Gupta says.
Installed on both walls of the grille are plates from Morocco and Jaipur. “On the grille are wooden birds made in Chennapatnam (close to Chennai) – this is a traditional craft, which is now a dying art,” Gupta says.
A large wardrobe hides the TV unit in the sons’ bedroom. It’s finished in Duco paint and is frequently used as a canvas for their random sketches. “The bed is actually just a thick mattress, with storage above it,” Gupta says.
The children’s bedroom also has a study area that looks out to the sea. The large, open cubby units hold books and stationery. Much to Gupta’s dismay (and secret delight), her sons also use this space to play impromptu football.
The children’s bedroom also has a study area that looks out to the sea. The large, open cubby units hold books and stationery. Much to Gupta’s dismay (and secret delight), her sons also use this space to play impromptu football.
The master bedroom is designed with neutral tones that are punctured by a few pops of colour. “I reoriented my bedroom to overlook the sea, which was a big surprise for everyone because typically people have their living rooms by the sea (which was also the original layout). But since we’re all busy working individuals and we spend most of our (spare) time in the bedroom, this decision made sense,” Gupta says.
“The whole idea to shift the bedroom here was to get the view of the sea – this is why I created a window seat here. The four artworks of dogs are hand-painted by an artist from Sri Lanka – I just fell in love with them the moment I saw them. And the picture of the little girl is actually me, taken by my father,” Gupta says.
“The whole idea to shift the bedroom here was to get the view of the sea – this is why I created a window seat here. The four artworks of dogs are hand-painted by an artist from Sri Lanka – I just fell in love with them the moment I saw them. And the picture of the little girl is actually me, taken by my father,” Gupta says.
To the left of the bed is a hand-painted shoe cabinet that injects colour into the white-grey space.
Shoe cabinet: Peacock Life
Shoe cabinet: Peacock Life
On another side is a cabinet with louvred doors and a custom wooden stand that holds pictures, curios and books.
The master bathroom has been done in sandstone – the bottom portion of the wall has a ribbed texture with a lotus motif on it. “The blue glass drops stuck on the wall give the visual of falling rain,” Gupta says. The counter is topped with multicoloured slate and below are cabinets with louvred wooden shutters.
“Every piece in this home narrates a story and is a reflection of who we are, individually and as a family – and as for the design of the home, that’s my favourite, on-going project,” Gupta says.
Read more:
My Houzz: Delhi Designer Couple’s Treasure-Filled Home
Tell us:
What did you like the most about this home? Tell us in Comments below.
“Every piece in this home narrates a story and is a reflection of who we are, individually and as a family – and as for the design of the home, that’s my favourite, on-going project,” Gupta says.
Read more:
My Houzz: Delhi Designer Couple’s Treasure-Filled Home
Tell us:
What did you like the most about this home? Tell us in Comments below.
Who lives here: Shabnam Gupta, her husband, two sons and two dogs
Location: Mumbai
Size: 116 square metres (1250 square feet); 2 bedrooms; 3 bathrooms
Interior designer: Orange Lane by Shabnam Gupta and Peacock Life
Home photos courtesy: The Orange Lane; Profile photos by Mrigank Sharma Photography