This Mumbai apartment with mid-century modern influences

House of Weaves designed by Quirk Studio celebrates the personalities of its residents.

Curated by: Deepa Nair
Photographs: Kuber Shah; courtesy Quirk Studio

The brief

Quirk Studio was tasked with the design of a three-generational family home located in Mumbai’s plush Bandra-Kurla Complex. The family wanted Disha Bhavsar and Shivani Ajmera, principal designers, Quirk Studio to create a space which reflected their personalities, emotions and culture. A home which is their oasis, and one with a sense of belonging.

The design intent

House of Weaves, as the designers call it, sees the timeless mid-century modern sensibilities crossing paths with the contemporary to strike an impressive balance. The family remained the primary inspiration for the design of this 1,950-square-foot apartment.

Materiality dons an intrinsic role in the design of this residence — dabbling in an intentional juxtaposition of finishes that manifest in versatile forms across the home. The use of wood, marble, classic moulding details and accents of hue in the form of textured upholstery create a connective palette in the residence without overwhelming the residents.

“I think what has made this design journey more promising is that despite it being a home seamed together with an eye for detail and impeccable artisanship, it is a raw space that celebrates evolution and the sentiment of being a work-in-progress. It is unfinished in the light of steering clear of finality, allowing the family members to etch their mark of individuality as one traverses the spaces overruled by a sense of childlike curiosity,” explains Shivani. “The idea was to engage detailed intricacies into the designed framework without letting the space come across as austere. We aimed to bring about a homely disposition by gravitating towards materiality that anchors serenity and earthiness while endowing the space with a transitional character,” adds Disha.

The design and material details

The open floor plan forms the communal nucleus of the home — with the living, dining and the kitchen flowing into each other, while the four private sections (three bedrooms and a den) enjoys seclusion. One steps directly into the living-dining area from the entrance door; but is visually separated by a free-standing screen-cum-console (made from wood and cane and mounted on metal members) to create a mini foyer of sort. The large living-dining stays connected by the marble flooring, painted white walls and a “gridded matrix of rectilinear mouldings” that graces the ceiling.

The living area features mid-century modern styled furniture from Tianu with handpicked upholstery from Good Earth and Sarita Handa. The pale marsala-hued carpet by Jaipur Rugs personifies the crossover of styles with its almost Victorian colour palette melded with a Persian-inspired weave that makes for a delectable addition to the hosting space. Wood makes a homogenous debut in the form of the nested coffee table and the cane-fronted television console. A montage of memories come alive along the gallery wall holding a collage of monochrome family photographs. An ornate candelabra-style chandelier by The Hesperus cascades over the median of the living and dining areas.

At the dining area, one is instantly drawn to the fluted fascia of the built-in hutch unit with a marble-lined niche. The choice of marble for the tabletop needed to lean towards being nuanced; a variety with red veins was zeroed in on to contrast ingeniously against the sea of taupe that pervades the marble flooring. The dual-toned chairs boast a deep blue damask pattern in combination with ivory, creating an inviting dining nook. Grooved wooden doors with fluted glass infills would lead you to the warm kitchen with an aquamarine tone in the upper-tier cabinets, speckled grey stone for the backsplash and countertop, and wooden finishes for the below-the-counter drawers. The soft floral motifs of the cement tiles adds an old world charm to this otherwise modern hearth.

“The den epitomises silence and familial joy for this family of voracious readers and bibliophiles to unwind and truly escape into the dreamscapes of their treasured reads wherein an untainted palette of materials sets the scene,” shares Shivani. The den is composed of a reading nook accompanied by a Windsor style-inspired rocking chair, resting atop a rustic ikat rug. The coffee table grounds the nook while nesting ottomans under it for when there’s company. The main attraction of this room is undoubtedly the floor-to-ceiling shelving system which proudly holds the family’s collection of books, curios, and bric-a-brac. The wooden flooring conjures a snug cottage-like ambience while the cool grey concrete finish by The Concrete Works adds to the rusticity and warmth of this room.

The bedrooms inhabited by each family member truly becomes them in style, design and character. The daughter, a lover of art, flaunts the creations she has collected over the years. “The pieces of art selected to be showcased herein was a process that involved us engaging deeply with the young inhabitant of the space. Her trove of art collected over the years have posed as protagonists in her sanctuary, tipping its hat to the immensely dynamic art scene in the country,” says Disha. Other highlights of this room include the cane headboard and wood bed which rests against a concrete-finished wall; built-in solid wood wardrobe with vintage moulding details and brushed brass hardware; and a brick-red reading armchair for those precious reading hours. The bathroom draws upon tones of taupe, creating a minimalist space.

The bedroom for the matriarchal head of the home is an homage to her sprightly and effervescent spirit. “It is one of those encounters that remind us that age is a mere number with a personality like hers. Her vibrancy was a stimulating factor that we wanted to emulate in the form of design. She expressed her love for colour and florals and that was our impetus on the drawing board,” says Shivani. Here, a floral Nilaya wallpaper graces the accent wall creating an idyllic backdrop with its florets of dainty blooms against which the upholstered ivy green bed sits elegantly. The retro-style brass-framed mirror perches weightlessly over the nightstand, creating a bespoke vanity of sorts. The window seat hugs the perimeter of the room, offering the end-user a space to pause, dwell, and converse with panoramic views of the city within reach.

A retreat to the senses, the master suite is emblematic of minimalism and all things Zen. “The celebrated deep blue hue is a favourite of the lady of the home and makes a cameo here and pairs serendipitously with the overarching presence of whites. We have let the limited scheme of colours and the natural light in the room come together to concoct magic,” adds Disha. The ubiquitous mouldings work their way into the bedroom and create a greige background against which the wingback Prussian blue bed is placed flanked by vintage-style wood nightstands. A large-print gingham chequered fabric armchair by Magnolia creates a colour-hewn lounging nook by the lofty windows. The opposite wall’s length is earmarked by a running console with fluted drawer fronts that are bookended by a vanity in the far corner. The bedroom is preluded by a walk-in closet that sports artisanal shutters; wherein blue floral-patterned wallpaper is wedged between clear glass panes to draw in slivers of the colour. The ensuite bathroom constitutes a distressed teal subway tile backsplash that glazes over the bipartite wall, sliced through by a brass profile detail under which the warm white vanity is nestled.