Cultivated Grace

O’Nest Interiors overcome spatial and pandemic challenges to create a light and airy apartment home in Mumbai.

Curated by: Ambica Sharma
Photographs: Photographix India; courtesy O’Nest Interiors

The brief

Ankita Dabrai and Neha Chadha, principal designers of O’Nest Interiors, received very clear directions from the owner of this 1,580-square-foot apartment in Mumbai. The designers had to ensure that the home is vastu compliant in addition to being functional, minimal and elegant.

The design response

The re-allocation of spaces in this 4BHK due to the need of vastu compliancy and minimalist decor, was one of the major components of the overall design. Post much deliberation, Ankita and Neha settled on modern Victorian as the theme for the home. The luxurious light fittings and the use of moulding laid the path for the Victorian portrayal, while the modern thread was woven in by immersing the home in a colour palette primarily consisting of earthy tones and nude shades.

The spatial flow

A crucial factor in the home was the creation of a new space, in the form of the home-office — a pandemic-led necessity, which may now turn into a norm. “This home office was created by breaking down the wall of the fourth room and installing veneer-finished sliding partitions to make it airy,” says Ankita. Additionally, the rearranging the rooms according to vastu requirements were also carried out. “The bedroom of the son, was shifted next to the kitchen (originally the space for the guest bedroom), while the space allotted for the guest bedroom was converted to a master bedroom. The son’s bedroom did not have an attached toilet; hence the common toilet was taken in as an ensuite bathroom,” explains Neha.

The material and colour palettes

In order to keep the apartment airy, and tie in to the theme of modern Victorian, heavy-duty furniture and visually cloying materials and colours were kept at bay. For example, the home-office, has an opulent study table, a modern day-bed, all enveloped in a white, mint-green palette, and peppered with additions in walnut and gold. The living room imbibes the Victorian look, in white and neutral shades, a sapphire-blue sofa, sage-green armchairs, and gold accents. Meanwhile, the sand-coloured Duco that is the accent TV wall brings in the modern vibe. Materials such as marble, veneer, fabrics, and paints, all echo the theme of modern Victorian.

The challenges

Creating a home ready for occupation, during a pandemic lockdown, was one of the biggest challenges Anikta and Neha faced. Right from material sourcing and transportation, adhering to the stringent cooperative housing society rules, of not allowing more than 12 workers, to completing it on time.  Added to these were the usual design challenges that rose primarily due to Vaastu compliancy. This led to massive civil changes, such as shifting the son’s room next to the kitchen, and turning a common toilet into an ensuite.

Fact file

Project: Fusion Home
Location: Mumbai
Area: 1,580 sq ft
Principal designers: Ankita Dabrai and Neha Chadha