India reimagined in New Jersey

Open, airy and whimsical: Richa Bahl looks to Indian maximalism in this home overseas

19 Mar 2026

Can a home belong to two places at once? Designed by interior designer Richa Bahl of her eponymous design studio, this 10,000 sq ft home in Jefferson Drive, New Jersey finds its strength in balance built around the idea of Whimsical India. When a Gujarati family hailing from Baroda entrusted their all-American home to Richa, the vision was simple. They wanted a minimalism haven rich in browns and beiges — something that fit right in with the 10,000 sq ft home’s exposed wooden beams and white walls. But one conversation led to the other, and the homeowner’s undeniable love for all things Indian got in the way. “While our discussions, the overwhelming India connection couldn’t be overlooked.” she recounts. Over further tête-à-têtes, it became increasingly evident that the brief needed to evolve.

But the brief wasn’t the only aspect of the process that needed to evolve. When Richa stepped into the space, she discovered that the interiors took the term open-plan to another level. “The living room opened into the family room on one side, and straight into the master bedroom and kitchen on the other. There was no demarcation between the two areas. Everything was spilling into each other.” This lack of privacy could prove to be disastrous for a desi household, especially considering our vast social circles. Imagine being unable to hide from an unannounced guest in the privacy of your own bedroom!

"To simply say it's colourful would be a half-truth. Whimsical India is my theme for the space. Stories told through colour, texture, thoughtful details and design elements"

Richa Bahl

The living room opens up to the swimming pool and garden. Sofa and chairs by Deetee Home and artefacts and accessories by Ikka Dukka; Photography by Andrew Bui

Between two worlds

Living between Gujarat and the United States, the couple moved away from a minimal approach and leaned towards something more expressive. That’s how the whimsical India theme came to life. The home doesn’t recreate India exactly but interprets it in a more intuitive way. The home is organised across a living room, family room, dining area and open kitchen along with multiple bedrooms. A staircase connects the levels meanwhile a foyer, outdoor garden and swimming pool complete the overall layout.

For privacy to become more evident within the spaces, walls and partitions were constructed to separate the master bedroom lobby and kitchen from the living. Once these structural changes were in place, Richa set about to fix the more design-specific issues: colour matching the mismatched wooden beams, then adding character to the blinding white walls, staircase and louvred shutters.

The walls now feature a muted landscape inspired by the abundance of greenery right outside the doors and windows. All wooden elements have been finished in black, receding back to let the abundance of colours shine.

Stories of India

Each room comes with a story attached. A glass bubble chandelier crowns the foyer, which is home to a Ganesha idol, a Gondwana artwork and a black sweeping staircase. This eclectic mix of curios, Richa reminisces, has been sourced largely from India. “I added in a lot of vintage furniture, like the bar, inlay cabinets, and combined it with lights bought locally from the USA. It did the job of achieving the blend of both worlds,” she explains.

The living room is home to a stone masonry fireplace that burns bright when nights in New Jersey get cold. Decked to the nines with rich jewel-toned furnishings, a metallic centre table and several statement chandeliers, this is undoubtedly the most India-proud space in the house.

The entryway features Ganesha idol from Mahendra Doshi and artwork by Gondwana Art Project; Photography by Andrew Bui

The deep maroon seating arrangement layered with patterned cushions and ottoman creates an inviting corner with a locally sourced Audrey Hepburn art; Photography by Andrew Bui

Composed in layers

There’s a clear move away from uniformity: deep wood tones in the furniture and accessories are paired with colourful contrasts to create depth. Muted beige palette for the walls forms a neutral base, while the addition of dark red and maroon accents grounds the space visually. Handcrafted furniture and Indian accents carry traces of history with them. Elements inspired by Indian craft as seen in textiles, furniture and art, bring warmth and familiarity without overwhelming the setting.

“To simply say it’s ‘colourful’ would be a half-truth. Whimsical India is my theme for the space — stories told through colour, texture and thoughtful details and design elements.” And as for bridging two different briefs? It was not all that difficult. “Indian materials have a variety of aesthetics, cultural flavours and colours that can be blended beautifully into a design language, especially when it’s another country,” she avers.

Shared ground

What makes the home memorable is how easily it brings two worlds together. The structure still carries the clarity and openness of an American home, but the interiors introduce the depth of Indian spaces. You see it in the mix of materials, the way spaces are styled and the details that feel intimate rather than decorative. The home exists between geographies and carries India not as a visual theme but as a living experience that has been reimagined into everyday life.