A gentleman’s ode to bombay

From Irani cafes to curved niches, Sapscapes reimagines nostalgia in a Mumbai bachelor pad

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Some homes are built around a sofa. Others, a view. This one began with a wardrobe not to Narnia, but to something far more unexpected. When a young Parsi bachelor imagined coming home late from work to his 750 sq ft Mumbai apartment, he pictured putting on a record and pouring himself a drink from a bar that felt like it had always been there. He wanted a home that didn’t perform for the outside world, but one that held him quietly at the end of the day.

So when he approached Sapna Tapuriah, Architect and Founder of Sapscapes, the brief was: a mood, a mindset, a kind of quiet masculinity. And curiously enough, the first design decision didn’t emerge from the bar or the living room, but from the wardrobe in the master bedroom.

Quick stop

Spread across a layout with one living and dining area, a compact kitchen, powder room, master bedroom and a guest room that moonlights as a gaming den, the home manages to feel expansive in spirit.

Dining chairs from Fabindia add a handcrafted charm, set against brick cladding by Flexstone that brings in a rustic edge. Veneers from Acespace Veneer tie it all together with a warm, refined finish; Photography by Manish Malli

Of wardrobes and bars

The wardrobe was more than a moodboard. It became the genesis of a material language that runs like a bassline throughout the home. From dark wood doors and fluted panels to cane inserts and curved joinery, every detail ties back to that original feeling of quiet confidence. But the moment that shifted everything was when the layout itself was reimagined. By tweaking the bedroom entrances, the designers created space for what would become the showstopper: a custom bar niche. Clad in raw brick and softened with a powder blue finish, it’s framed in curved wood and floats somewhere between sculpture and sanctuary. It’s the emotional heartbeat of the home and the visual one too.

From this point, the architecture flows organically: arched frames echo across passageways, the floor transitions with a curved step edged in ornate riser detailing and the entire space begins to feel like a home built on rhythm rather than rigid zoning. The guest bedroom doubles as a retreat, complete with a desk, screen space and room to sprawl out for a game or an anime marathon. Meanwhile, the living room leans into softness with a built-in window seat layered with textured cushions and wooden blinds. It’s small, sure; but it knows how to hold you.

Photography by Manish Malli
A Jaipur Rugs piece anchors the room, paired with a sleek sofa and armchair from Design Marvel. Cushions from Altrove and Quintessence layer in texture, while Acespace Veneer’s finishes bring warmth and polish; Photography by Manish Malli

Old-world flavour, modern mood

Throughout the home, the palette stays measured. Soft greys, dusty blues, off-whites and rustic browns that ebb and flow with the light. But the real drama lies in the textures. Brick meets cane. Fluted wood panels shift shadows as the sun moves. Handmade tiles catch the eye, then fade gently into the background. It’s less of a “look” and more of a language. One that’s tactile, intuitive and deeply personal. “The home takes inspiration from old Bombay homes and Irani cafés but distills those references into something far more contemporary,” says Sapna. “Nothing feels overtly nostalgic. Instead, you see familiar elements interpreted with restraint’” she adds.

 

Handmade, heartfelt and human

At the heart of it all is the work of the karigars — craftsmen who shaped not just wood and stone, but the very mood of the space. Most evident transitions being: how the arched wood frames gently soften the geometry of doorways, and how the console in the passage quietly blends multiple materials. While the design sings in soft, grounded tones, it’s the tactility that gives it soul. And what started as a bachelor’s quiet wish turned into a story told in textures, curves and rhythm.

 

A Jaipur Rugs piece anchors the room, paired with a sleek sofa and armchair from Design Marvel. Cushions from Altrove and Quintessence layer in texture, while Acespace Veneer’s finishes bring warmth and polish; Photography by Manish Malli
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