Houzz Tours
This Celeb Hairstylist's 1-BHK Mumbai Home is a Quirky Cat Haven
Take a peek inside Sapna Bhavnani's compact home designed as a paradise for her and her cats
The Mumbai-based hairstylist Sapna Bhavnani of Mad o Wot is a feminist and social activist, who has also made contributions to the field of fashion, photography and reality television. Over the years, her deft hands (and clever scissor skills) have transformed the looks of many celebrities, such as Ranveer Singh (in Ladies vs Ricky Bahl), Mahendra Singh Dhoni, Bipasha Basu, John Abraham, Virat Kohli and many others. Design and creativity are important to her, and this is why her home is a piece of her heart, curated over the years with her personal touch.
The one-bedroom home is nestled inside an old building in Bandra. A relaxed vibe fills her azure living room, where minimal furniture, prints and little accessories help create a lively, cool scape. “I bought this house seven years ago – I always wanted to live in an old building. I think new constructions look like bread boxes, void of any design and charm. Also, the outgoing expenses and energy consumption of new constructions are overwhelming. I was really glad to come across this house, because it had a cosy old-world feel to it and looked like it could be in one of the films by Sai Paranjpye (my favourite director),” Bhavnani says.
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“I am a big fan of making things rather than buying. The original windows here were very small, so I had to reinstall larger windows and open up the home. Plus, this entire home has been designed for cats, so I’ve ensured there’s plenty of sun streaming inside at all times, because cats love to lounge in the sun,” Bhavnani says. The custom work desk next to the window is where Bhavnani spends most of her time currently. “I’m in the middle of editing a documentary, and that ends up taking most of my day,” she says.
This bookshelf next to the work desk is filled with her choicest books and quirky accessories. In every corner, it’s easy to spot a cat figurine or print. This shelf was purchased online.
The custom coffee table holds a tiny musical instrument called the kalimba that Sapna loves to play to herself and her cats. It’s made of wooden board with attached staggered metal tines that are played by plucking them with the thumbs. “My home’s design is organic. Currently, I am trying to declutter the space and keep it to a minimum basic. I’ve only retained things that mean the most to me,” Bhavnani says.
Take a look at these effortless ways to style a coffee table
Take a look at these effortless ways to style a coffee table
The dainty bird-print wallpaper was brought from Ireland and the lamp was custom designed. “Music is close to my heart – I do my riyaz (music practice) every morning with my tanpura,” Bhavnani says.
“I got the entire home re-floored by Bharat Floorings. However, I didn’t let them put too many paint coats on the tiles because they usually use seven or eight coats to make the tiles look absolutely new – I asked them to do only three so it looked old and perfect for the home,” Bhavnani says.
“I got the entire home re-floored by Bharat Floorings. However, I didn’t let them put too many paint coats on the tiles because they usually use seven or eight coats to make the tiles look absolutely new – I asked them to do only three so it looked old and perfect for the home,” Bhavnani says.
The original plan of the home was changed and walls and doors were removed to open up the rooms. The kitchen wall was broken down to include it in an open-plan space. The custom island here is a multifunctional piece – it can be used for dining and also serves as a subtle divider between the kitchen and the living room.
Next to the kitchen is a uniquely designed, askew bookshelf that also hides small cleaning knick-knacks. Next to it stands a figure one usually sees in shop windows. “I have six such mannequins in my healing centre in Kamshet, and all of them are named Alice. This is one of them,” Bhavnani says.
The lamps above the kitchen island are custom made and the old metal kitchen cabinets were purchased from Jogeshwari market, chosen to add to the vintage appeal of the space.
A passageway leads to the bathroom and bedroom. The bathroom was extended to make it into a larger space. Bhavnani used pink on the cabinets to brighten up the look of the grey space.
“I am a big fan of corridors that lead you somewhere. It’s a link between my private space and the outside,” Bhavnani says. The artworks here were purchased during her trip to China.
Here’s how to make the most of a narrow corridor
Here’s how to make the most of a narrow corridor
“I love birds, because I’m a cat, and cats like to look at birds. That’s why my home has plenty of sunbathing, nature-viewing spots too,” Bhavnani explains. The wooden console is of Bhavnani’s own design and the cupboard at right was purchased from a flea market. She bought the wallpaper when visiting Ireland.
Bhavani’s bedroom sports pink, a colour she admits she was never a fan of. “The paint in my home keeps changing. Till some time back the walls were black. I never liked pink my whole life, but then I met a friend who completely changed my perspective on salmon colour and made me appreciate it. Now my hair, too, is pink!” she says.
The custom four-poster bed hides many bags, boxes and treasures under it. “I love high beds because it allows you to create a whole world underneath it. This bed is perfect for my cats, too, so they can hide under it from humans. I am going to create a writing area under this soon, with an old munshi desk,” Bhavnani says.
The custom four-poster bed hides many bags, boxes and treasures under it. “I love high beds because it allows you to create a whole world underneath it. This bed is perfect for my cats, too, so they can hide under it from humans. I am going to create a writing area under this soon, with an old munshi desk,” Bhavnani says.
Next to the bed, a slender corner has been converted into a dressing area, with a custom mirror and a light. “My home is a forever work in progress … every few months you’ll see new colours, a few lesser (if not more) accessories. It changes as per my mood,” Bhavnani says.
Read more:
Houzz Tour: This One-Bedroom Mumbai Flat is a Dream Come True
Tell us:
What did you like the most about this home? Tell us in Comments below.
Read more:
Houzz Tour: This One-Bedroom Mumbai Flat is a Dream Come True
Tell us:
What did you like the most about this home? Tell us in Comments below.
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Who lives here: Celebrity hairstylist Sapna Bhavnani and her three cats Future, Logic and Frida
Location: Mumbai, Maharashtra
Size: 51 square metres (550 square feet); 1 bedroom; 1 bathroom
Interior design by: Sapna Bhavnani of Mad o Wot
Photos by Mrigank Sharma