A pastel colour scheme and littoral location liberate this South Mumbai apartment from its compact footprint.
Curated by: Rupali Sebastian
Photographs: Studio Colourblind; courtesy Design Lab Vyoma
The site
The home is located at Walkeshwar, an affluent area in South Mumbai, at the north-western end of the Marine Drive loop. The house, being at the top most level, enjoys a scenic view of the ocean. Space planning was evolved keeping this as a prime factor. The other end of the house – the bedroom — has a direct view to the Walkeshwar road, being a busy road the design evolved around it.
The brief
“The beautiful view towards the Arabian Sea was something that the clients wanted to incorporate in the interiors as well,” says Vyoma Patwa Motiramani of the client brief. “Thus shades of grey and blue are used keeping that in mind. The L-shaped window in the living room provides expanse and dimension to the space.”
The design intent
The apartment was handed over to the design team as a bare shell. Everything, from flooring to styling, was left to their expertise. “We had tons of inputs and Pinterest references from the clients which were leaning towards a simplistic approach,” states Vyoma. The aesthetic direction selected was a perfect blend of modern and bohemian styles. The soft curved archways give the space a cosy feel and muted pastel colours exhibit a welcoming and soothing aura throughout the house. The dining area is an extension of the living room and the kitchen space adjacent to dining gives the feel of an open kitchen concept which is spacious and functional. “The entire apartment is well lit with wide windows, we have used the spaces near these windows to design relaxing nooks which open up into the view of the ocean,” reveals Vyoma.
The civil intervention
Being a very old building, the house was in a very dilapidated condition. “So many structural touch ups had to be taken care of,” recalls the designer. “We did a specialised structural audit which helped us to make the roots stronger and the lifespan of the house longer.”
The spatial configuration
“We planned the space in a way that the area right opposite the main door acted as an entry aisle and the stretch to the right of it continued into the living and dining arrangement. We treated this ‘entryway’ in a classic arch screen composition which highlights this area subtly, gives privacy to the open kitchen as well as acts as a backdrop for the dining space,” discloses Vyoma.
The material palette
The material palette for the house is simplistic. It includes marble for the flooring and countertops; texture paint on walls paired with brass pattis; and easy-to-maintain laminates and glass. The bedroom doors are finished in veneer with dull gold brass handles to enhance the look, while the entrance door is done in a combination of metal jaali and veneer finish.
The colour scheme
In the neutral palette of the living room, a pop of blue was an intentional choice – infusing an energising accent into the space as well as referring to the home’s seaside location. “The whole combination of blue and wood worked like magic,” enthuses the designer. The shades of blue, grey and wood are continued into the kitchen and bedroom to balance the composition of the house.
Fact file
Project: The Sapphire House
Location: Walkeshwar, Mumbai
Area: 600 sq ft
Principal architect: Vyoma Patwa Motiramani
Design team: Harsha Jangid and Sakshi Shah
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