A warm and functional apartment housing three generations

KKD Studio takes a restrained approach to creating a striking and stylish living environment in this South Mumbai home.

Curated by: Rupali Sebastian
Photographs: Kuber Shah; courtesy KKD Studio

The site

A premium 4,500-sq-ft apartment in the upscale area of Worli in south Mumbai.

The brief

The client’s request was for a warm and functional space housing three generations under the same roof. “Conceiving a home for multiple generations is akin to curating a vibrant artistic creation, where the diverse needs and dynamics of each age group seamlessly meld into a cohesive masterpiece,” says Krish Kothari whose firm KKD Studio took “innovative design approaches to craft this residence.”

The spatial flow

The layout begins with staff areas and the kitchen, progressing to the grandparents’ space, complete with an ensuite setup. Following this, is a dining area, leading to a formal living space featuring a versatile bar and breakfast counter. Moving ahead, the various corridors of the house reveal the parents’ master bedroom, inclusive of a study area functioning as an ensuite. Adjacent to the parents’ room, a dedicated private den is reserved for their exclusive use. Continuing along the corridor, the journey unfolds into the kids’ rooms separated by a lounge which serves as their shared central space.

The material palette

“As a firm, we have a penchant for experimenting with a variety of materials, such as paint, leather, stainless steel with various PVD finishes, marble, engineered wood, fabric panelling, suede, velvet, and even textured glasses, all contributing to our diverse material palette,” says Krish. The design style adopted here is eclectic, marked by a fusion of these elements. The colour palette adheres to dark neutrals throughout the entire house, featuring tones like beige and taupe, and highlighted stones such as white, Gallicata, Patagonia, or Cipollino in the living room.

The challenges

The challenge lay in creating distinct spaces for grandparents, parents, and children, ensuring a delicate balance between private and shared areas.

The highlights

The way the design handles energised visual compositions while staying within a monochromatic colour scheme is a highlight. In terms of sustainability, the team focused on ‘green’ products such as automated WCs that regulate water usage during flushing, energy-efficient LEDs and automated electrical cut-offs. The project’s standout feature, however, is its space planning. “This is its true USP,” opines the designer. “It ingeniously provides each resident with a private entertaining space within the challenging confines of a 4,500-square-foot area accommodating three generations. Furthermore, the material combinations exude a pleasant, warm, and subtle ambience, contributing to the timeless quality we sought to achieve from day one.”