Designed by Salmon Pink and Co in Mangalore, this apartment draws from the shifting blues and greens associated with the coastal city to create a home shaped by wabi-sabi warmth, softened textures, and a calm, contemporary material palette.
Curated by: Deepa Nair
Photographs: Vishwas Dhulesia; courtesy Salmon Pink & Co
The brief
High above the Mangalore shoreline, this 29th-floor apartment designed by Salmon Pink & Co draws its identity from the deep blues and greens of the sea beyond its windows. Named Aomi—the Japanese word describing the tingle between blue and green—the residence takes direct inspiration from the shifting colours of the ocean and sky that define the coastal city’s landscape.
The apartment arrived as a blank canvas, but one framed by uninterrupted views of the Arabian Sea. “Our immediate intention was to gently embrace this natural beauty and shape a home inspired by the deep, evocative blues of the Mangalore shoreline,” share Muktha Prabhu and Rashmi Soni, principal architects, Salmon Pink & Co.
For the homeowners, who are based in Dubai, this 950-square-foot apartment was envisioned as more than just a secondary residence. It was conceived as a homecoming of sorts—a space that would reconnect them to their roots in Mangalore while offering a sense of calm away from the pace of city life abroad.
The design intent
“Aomi is a home close to our hearts—a carefully curated space that reflects a balance of raw materiality, warmth, and a distinctive design narrative. The challenge was to thoughtfully curate a material palette that could withstand Mangalore’s high humidity, while also considering that the home would remain closed for most days,” says Muktha.
Conceived as a serene retreat, the residence reinterprets the essence of Mangalore through a refined and contemporary lens. “The design draws from the philosophy of Wabi-Sabi, layered with an addā-inspired modern eclecticism that introduces warmth and personality into the interiors,” explains Rashmi. Rather than relying on overt coastal references, the home uses texture, colour, and materiality to evoke a quieter relationship with the sea beyond.
Anchored by the deep blue tones of the ocean, the palette flows seamlessly across the apartment, creating spaces that feel calm, organic, and expressive without appearing excessive. Every element within the home has been thoughtfully detailed to build an atmosphere that feels intimate, grounded, and closely tied to its surroundings.
The design and material details
The home opens through a softly arched entryway, where a small seating nook sits beneath a bold blue arch that frames the living area beyond. Finished with lime-washed walls and guided by a restrained wabi-sabi sensibility, the living room establishes the material and tonal language that flows across the apartment. Arches introduced at both the entrance and kitchen opening strengthen this visual continuity while softening transitions between spaces. From here, the interiors open seamlessly into the dining area, anchored by a live-edge dining table and a textured feature wall that adds depth to the setting. Warm wood tones, textured surfaces, and accents of blue and green work together throughout the home, allowing subtle bursts of colour to emerge naturally within the otherwise muted palette.
To the left of the dining space sits a reading lounge marked by a striking green display unit. Originally planned as the guest bedroom, this room was reimagined into a more flexible social space that opens into the dining area through sliding glass doors during gatherings. The intervention allows the apartment to feel more open and interconnected while introducing a stronger visual identity through colour. On the opposite side, another archway leads into the kitchen, designed in a quieter and more understated palette. The kitchen was extended into the former utility area to create a more seamless and functional layout.
Further along the passage lies the children’s bedroom, wrapped in warmer rust tones. At the end of the apartment, the master bedroom adopts a softer Japandi-inspired character, where muted blue accents and a wallpaper inspired by Japanese landscapes (as ordered by the client) subtly echo the sea views beyond the apartment windows.
The home features contemporary furniture from JOSMO Studio, West Elm, Lakkadhaara, and Madewithspin. The living room rug is from IKEA, while planter pots were sourced from Ripples Home. Lighting across the residence comes from Whispering Homes, The Light Library, and Home Canvas. Decor accents and furnishings were sourced from H&M Home, West Elm, Modern Quests, and Whispering Homes, while the artworks are from Best of Bharat and TravelArty.
Fact File
Project: Aomi
Location: Prestige Valley Crest, Mangalore
Area: 950 sq ft
Principal architects: Muktha Prabhu and Rashmi Soni
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