Shreya Mago Designs reimagines a 3BHK residence in Mumbai as Project Lagom… a home that celebrates balance and belonging; and finds harmony between openness and intimacy, craft and comfort.
Curated by: Deepa Nair
Photographs: Yadnesh Joshi; courtesy Shreya Mago Designs
The brief
Project Lagom, a 3BHK apartment in Mumbai—designed by Shreya Mago Designs—is a space that celebrates balance, and one where thoughtful design meets soulful living. The apartment came with an unconventional layout featuring a step-down living and dining area and extended balconies in every bedroom. But beneath its quirks lay immense potential, waiting to be shaped into something cohesive and calm. The clients envisioned a home that would feel warm, inviting, and deeply personal… a space that reflected who they were without trying too hard. They valued function as much as feeling and dreamt of open, fluid spaces layered with natural materials and meaningful details. Comfort, craftsmanship, and character lay at the heart of their brief.
The design intent
Responding with sensitivity and restraint, Shreya Mago Designs redefined the apartment through thoughtful spatial planning and an aesthetic that balances modern sensibility with lived-in warmth. In Project Lagom, balance isn’t just a design philosophy…it’s a way of living. The word Lagom—Swedish for “not too little, not too much, just the right amount”—perfectly captured the essence of what the studio set out to create. The home was imagined around the idea of balance: between openness and intimacy, texture and calm, detail and restraint. The intent was to shape a space that feels rooted yet contemporary, expressive yet timeless. One that whispers rather than shouts, where every material and moment feels intentional.
“This house embodies this principle and the essence of perfect balance. From design and function to comfort and style, and from warmth to textures, every corner and space in this project is meticulously crafted with soul. The details in this house are the hero. We have tried to subtly incorporate them in some places and boldly in a few, often highlighting areas and nooks (eg, skirting, and floor patterns, etc) that are usually overlooked,” explains Shreya Mago, principal designer, Shreya Mago Designs.
The civil intervention
The existing layout featured a step-level difference between the living and dining zones; and the design team chose to highlight this detail rather than conceal it. This gentle drop created a subtle sense of transition within the home’s social core, adding depth and dimension to the open layout. Additionally, the extended balconies were thoughtfully absorbed into the bedrooms, and were transformed into intimate corners: a study nook in the master suite and a relaxed reading alcove in the guest room. These mindful spatial shifts opened up the home while creating moments of pause, without ever breaking continuity.
The spatial configuration
Entry is through a concrete-textured foyer, softly illuminated by terracotta sconces that set a warm, earthy tone. The living and dining unfold across a split-level plane, defined by light, proportion, and a seamless sense of flow. An arched bar marks the gentle transition between the social and private zones, adding a playful curve to the home’s geometry. The kitchen sits alongside forming the heart of the home. Beyond it, the bedrooms unfold with distinct personalities, yet remain connected through a shared sense of balance and material warmth.
The design and material details
The entrance is intentionally dramatic as Shreya feels it sets “the tone and vibe for what yoare about toe experience visually and emotionally” as you journey thorough the apartment. Ergo concrete finish textures feature on the wall, and is accentuated by terracotta wall scones and a hanging light. Once inside, the two-level dining and living area create a cohesive social space. Defined by Kota stone flooring, concrete-finish walls, pops of colour added by the handmade tiles adorning the skirting, and warm rattan accents, this large area is where the home truly breathes. Sitting atop a patterned Kota design, a beautifully crafted dining table, designed specifically for this space, draws inspiration from the traditional seating styles of both Japanese and Indian cultures.
Layered lighting adds depth and intimacy, while the palette feels grounded, textured, and gently nostalgic. Flowing seamlessly from the dining zone, the kitchen was envisioned as both practical and poetic. A long L-shaped counter runs parallel to an island nook that doubles as a casual dining table. Restored vintage Syrian chairs bring a sense of history and charm, while handmade embossed tiles—carried from the backsplash into the skirting—introduce a touch of luxury. Soft sage cabinetry and white floors with green floral insets lend calm and continuity, creating a space that invites not just cooking, but conversation.
The narrative of warmth continues into the master suite which is anchored by a four-poster bed that lends a sense of structure and repose. Cane wardrobes and Bharat Flooring tiles add texture and depth, while the balcony-turned-study nook offers a private moment of stillness within the larger flow of the home. Custom colour made Bharat flooring tiles adorn the bathroom wall in the same colour tones of the bedroom, with a concrete arch basin counter and cane glass partition.
Balancing utility with warmth, the guest room conceals a Murphy bed within full-height wardrobes, while arched detailing ties back to the home’s overarching vocabulary. A window overlooking the bar area creates a cinematic frame, blurring the line between function and experience. Muted tones and layered materials give the space a soft sophistication that complements the larger palette. The guest bathroom plays with terracotta and white tiles to create a pattern and colour play with the corner basin counter.
Cheerful and imaginative, the kids’ room channels the home’s material warmth into a more playful expression. Bunk beds, a custom world map wallpaper, and a climbing wall make it functional yet full of wonder. Earthy bases and soft colour accents connect it gently to the aesthetic language of the rest of the home. In keeping with the bedroom’s theme, the bathroom serves as a vibrant and colourful extension, seamlessly complementing the overall design scheme.
The highlights
What makes Project Lagom stand out are the subtle, deliberate gestures that bring depth and personality to the home. The custom dining table—a low, grounded, sculptural piece inspired by Japanese and Indian floor seating—anchors the home both visually and emotionally, becoming the spot where conversations linger long after meals. The arched bar window that opens into the guest bedroom introduces an element of surprise, offering a framed view that connects two spaces in an engaging, intimate way. In the kitchen, the handmade embossed tile skirting transforms a functional detail into something poetic, binding the space together through craft and continuity. The children’s rock-climbing wall turns a simple surface into a canvas for play, sparking imagination and movement. And what was once a structural challenge—the split-level between the living and dining—now forms the home’s heartbeat, setting the pace for how life unfolds within. Each of these moments tells its own story, held together by a shared sense of balance, craftsmanship, and care.
Fact File
Project: Project Lagom
Location: Andheri, Mumbai
Area: 1,700 sq ft
Principal designer: Shreya Mago
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