A home built out of memories

In Malabar Hill, Quirk Studio reimagines a childhood home through softened forms, sculptural details and emotionally entrenched living

04 Jun 2026

Sanskriti Srivastava

Ever felt the urge to return to the spaces that once held your childhood? Perhaps revisiting the school corridors that once echoed our hurried footsteps, passing by the neighbourhood playground, or sitting by the bedroom window where monsoons traced the glass. In Mumbai’s neighbourhood of Malabar Hill, this residence by Quirk Studio evokes a similar reminiscence, transforming the owner’s childhood home into a sanctuary that preserves the emotional sentiment of the past.

“The narrative also balances two contrasting preferences: a neutral base enriched with moments of colour through curated art and bespoke elements that tell the couple’s story”

Disha Bhavsar and Shivani Ajmera

The living area features a chandelier by Jade Design House, a sofa by Arjunvir Gujaral, a coffee table by NH48, cushions by Craft; Kar and No-Mad, fabrics by A to Z Designs, a rug by House of Knots and soft furnishing by Altrove; Photography by Nayan Soni

The poetry of renewal

A renovation is a metamorphosis, an art of whispering new life into worn spaces. Conceived for a young couple and their toddler, this 3,000 sq ft home unfurls with an openness, allowing daily life to flow across spaces. The layout meanders through a foyer, living room, kitchen, dining room, guest room, powder bathroom, baby’s nursery and master bedroom.

Existing structural columns and beams, often treated as constraints in older apartments, are reimagined as sculptural anchors that soften rather than interrupt the interior language. Curves emerge instinctively throughout: arched openings, rounded edges and transitions that temper the rigidity of the original shell. The result is a home that feels less compartmentalised and more continuous.

The living area features a chandelier by Jade Design House, an artwork by Artistry Meraki by Sneha, a sofa by Arjunvir Gujaral, a coffee table by NH48, walls by Kemtex, cushions by Craft and Kar and No-Mad, fabrics by A to Z Designs and a rug by House of Knots; Photography by Nayan Soni

The space features a chandelier by Nitush and Aroosh, art by Neelesh Yogi, a sofa by Arjunvir Gujaral, a coffee table by Bombay Design Lab, a wall texture by Kemtex, cushions by No-Mad, fabrics by A to Z Designs and a rug by House of Knots; Photography by Nayan Soni

Drawing a staircase

At the heart of the home, a sculptural staircase illuminated with customised lighting anchors the interiors; it becomes a connective spine between levels, drawing movement upward into an intimate den. A whimsical architectural cut-out introduces moments of visual connection, forming a nook equally suited for contemplation, conversation or a child’s fleeting curiosity. The lower level envelops a living space that extends to the guest room.

Even amidst its contemporary transformation, the apartment continues to carry memories of the life once lived within it, as if it is still ongoing. Perhaps that is what makes the home feel so enduring; long after the spaces evolve and people grow older, certain corners continue remembering us in ways we never entirely outgrow.