This 400-sq-ft apartment appears spacious thanks to smart design strategies

Bare-ism Design Studio weave practical functionality and aesthetics in a crisp narrative.

Curated by: Rupali Sebastian
Photographs: Yadnyesh Joshi; courtesy Bare-ism Design Studio

In this project, Bare-ism Design Studio was tasked with the challenge of making a 400-square-foot show-apartment for an audience whose income made appointing a designer an unaffordable dream. “The main brief given to us by our clients was to create an amalgamation of practical functionality and aesthetics in design, allowing the potential users to resonate with the space easily,” say designers Saloni Chheda and Deepshikha Apte, principals of the studio. They employed an approach that embraced a minimal design language while incorporating necessary functional requirements. “For this tight space where every inch counted, it was important for us to utilise the space in the best way possible. We had to showcase an affordable way of design yet hint at subtle luxury that would not overwhelm the potential buyers,” says the duo. In order to make the apartment appear spacious, the designers curated a fine balance of monotones with small contrasts of colour palettes, artworks and detailing in design.

The larger canvas being white visually offers grandness to an otherwise tight space. The interior layout was tweaked to create a larger seating area of a 3+2 sofa configuration in an attempt to offer luxury in a compact living room. In the living area, an oval shaped rust artwork along with a circular copper-tinted mirror breaks the linearity of the longest wall while accompanying a deep green sofa. To create and enhance contrasting details, black colour blocking in accents, artwork and carpet was added to contrast the light wooden laminate shades.

While keeping the dining area walls bare, the design exploration included developing an artwork on site that created a contrast to the overall minimal design language. This involved a play of circles and curves orchestrated as a massive clock artwork. The kitchen pairs mint green with a lightwood laminate texture, black handles and several plants which contribute to a joyous and calm design palette.

The bedroom was a minimum permissible 10’x10’ space with ugly offsets making the room more under-utilisable. These offsets were obscured with the help of side panelling and smartly accommodating the headboard in the niche. A subtle beige textured wallpaper creates a calm palette while hiding the tightness of space. The cupboard in white monotones quietly sits to serve its purpose which would have otherwise become an imposing block in a small space.

“Along with the recurrent challenges of significant detailing, affordable materiality and moderate use of luxury products, we still managed to create a chic space for our clientele,” enthuses the duo. “We believe that everything designed with challenges allows us to think bigger and better!”

Fact file

Project: The Colour Story
Location: Vasai East, Maharashtra
Area: 400 sq ft
Principal designers: Saloni Chheda and Deepshikha Apte