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Houzz Tour: A Sunny Home That’s an Oasis of Calm
This flat in Mumbai is a serene retreat thanks to white walls, warm wood and gently coloured pieces
The owners of this apartment in Mumbai, India, were keen to create a bright home, according to Anushka Contractor, principal designer at her eponymous firm. “They loved the colour white and were quite clear on the look of their dream home, which enabled us to build on those ideas,” she says. “We decided on a neutral but sophisticated palette of white walls, light wood and distressed furniture, and each room has a pastel shade to be used along with that palette.”
The living room design is of an open and roomy space, awash in natural light. A brown leather sofa stands next to a set of nesting tables custom made in Indian marble and metal.
Upholstered chairs in soft pastels and a whimsical shelf with curios give a warm and inviting feel to the area by the window.
A neat row of baskets lines the space beneath the TV unit, providing storage and a touch of the natural colours and textures that make this home a light, serene space. A tall fiddle-leaf fig plant flanks the unit, adding a splash of verdure.
Next to the TV unit is an enclosed sun-kissed deck with a rustic white brick wall and a multi-hued dresser. The wood-finish flooring demarcates the deck from the living area and infuses warmth into the decor.
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On the right side of the living room is the dining table that was made in-house by the designer. “A table for six, made of solid wood with a patterned tile top and an essential drawer for cutlery, dominates this area,” Anushka says. “Six distressed white dining chairs complement it.
“Accompanying them is a white, shabby-chic sideboard with a wood top, completing the whole look of the dining space and adding much-needed storage. Teal and green louvred shutters open to reveal paintings on faux windows, continuing the design narrative.
“Accompanying them is a white, shabby-chic sideboard with a wood top, completing the whole look of the dining space and adding much-needed storage. Teal and green louvred shutters open to reveal paintings on faux windows, continuing the design narrative.
Across the dining table is a bar with plenty of storage for bottles and glassware. The mirror on top of the bar unit reflects the corridor leading to the bedrooms, creating an illusion of expanded space.
Next to the TV unit is the door to the client’s parents’ bedroom. In here, the upholstered headboard is topped by a cluster of hanging lights that give a layered look and add depth to the room.
Facing the bed is an angular free-form wooden display arrangement on the wall, showing off knick-knacks highlighted by simple black frames behind them. On the left is a glimpse of a tall shelf unit for books.
The hallway leading to the main and children’s bedrooms depicts the homeowners’ passion for cinema and has a wall full of movie posters. Artfully lettered across the wall, the film title Picture abhi baki hai add another pinch of Bollywood masala [films that mix genres].
“On the left from the hallway is the children’s shared bedroom with a large wooden bunk bed,” Anushka says. “Drawers under the steps and beneath the bottom bunk offer storage. Since the room is small, there are two individual slender wardrobes on either side of the bedroom [not shown].”
An accent wall featuring animals in and around a tree is the focal point of the room. Full-length windows bathe this bedroom with cheerful sunshine, making it seem airier and roomier. Camouflaged within the design, a door connects the kids’ room with the main bedroom.
In the main bedroom, a herringbone pattern in natural wood adorns the ceiling. A world map artwork behind the bed gives continuity to the woody notes seen on the ceiling. Green and yellow in the upholstered headboard and bedding give a burst of freshness to the neutral hues.
The bedroom brims with the radiance of the white wardrobe with louvred shutters and daylight from the window.
“Adjacent to the wardrobe, an interesting desk in white with shelves framed in wood creates a handy workspace,” Anushka says.
Tell us…
What did you like most about this home? Share your thoughts in the Comments.
Tell us…
What did you like most about this home? Share your thoughts in the Comments.
Who lives here? Ruchika Agrawal and Abhinav Mathur in a family of six
Location Mumbai, India
Year built 2020
Size Three bedrooms and three bathrooms; 100 sq m
Interior designer Anushka Contractor
Photos by Zhen Wei Studios – Yadnyesh Joshi
The entrance to the home is flooded in sunlight. A louvred shoe cupboard offsets the vibrant teal bench with a distressed finish. It also sets the tone for the recurrent use of teal hues in the house to evoke the calm of the sea.
A minty-green faux window flanked by metallic lamps imbues the space with a whimsical vibe. An artist was commissioned to paint flowering vines and potted plants on the window panes.