JOSMO’s Anjali Mody portals us to an old world tropic Miami with Villa Vida in the Pearl of the Orient

Time and again, people from all over the country, especially Mumbai, find their way to Goa, for much-needed downtime. And for this family of four, Villa Vida becomes a haven to retreat to. Hailing from the maximum city, the young couple enlisted JOSMO’s founder and creative director Anjali Mody to transform their 3,200 sq ft villa into a sanctuary of positivity, quirk, verdure and of course, comfortable design.

“The clients were complete strangers to us at first, but over the course of the project, we became very familiar with each other and over time it became clear that the personality of the couple living there had to shine through every corner of the home. It was important that the space felt very uniquely ‘theirs’,” shares Mody.

Perched on a lush hill in Parra, with a stunning view of the valley, Villa Vida is nestled within a forest as part of a gated community, thus offering ample privacy to its inhabitants. Tropical Goa meets Miami in every nook and corner of the abode with a material palette that boasts of natural raw wood, tropical metal lights, neon murals, cement tiled floors, cane furniture and a bouquet of vibrant colours!

Mody has made sure to accentuate simple walls with arresting hues, along with textures for layering and art to tell stories throughout the home.

A long staircase in laterite stone leads us to the teak wood entrance that is adorned with two antique cow heads. We’re greeted by a beautiful handwoven fabric panel that defines the living space. A dining table on the left becomes the central axis of the ground level, separating the kitchen from the living area, and also leads us to the outdoor garden.

In the dining room, art on the wall by Priti Gokani pairs perfectly with graphic yellow Bharat Floorings patterned tiles. The space is furnished with pendant lights from Rangeela, coupled with textured cane chairs from JOSMO to create a rustic backdrop. The table is accompanied by a regal staircase tucked in the back and comes with columns to hold artefacts.

On the right, the informal living area opens up to the den which is a space for the family to come together and make memories. “I enjoyed designing the Den the most,” says Mody, adding, “I had the opportunity to work with Rohan Joglekar—a friend and brilliant artist from Goa. We worked with each other on how the mural should complement the furniture and add to the tropical feel that I wanted to retain. We derived upon multiple sketches, visualising form and how it would curve around a light fixture or how it would interact with the curtain pelmet. Watching the entire idea come alive was certainly a high point.”

While the home came with a kitchen that was done up, the designer added a bar counter setup with sliding white Duco doors, completely camouflaging the culinary area, adding a sense of tranquillity. 

The ground level also houses a larger than life powder room that features antique frames and a beautiful tub tucked away in the corner. A long verandah sprawled across the depth of the home overlooks the large garden, welcoming pockets of serenity into the home.

We trail along to the first level via the wood-clad balustrade, dipped in white. Upstairs, lie the bedrooms and the foyers in between have been revamped as lounging corners for the children.

A bright palette envelops the main bedroom with blue flooring, muted whites and blacks, allowing the room to personify the romantic charm of Greece. Here, art is paired with a custom vanity counter in the room’s colour scheme binding the space together.

A white cane TV unit from JOSMO complements a jute carpet from the same brand, while, wardrobes and storage spaces have been planned in a way to not overcrowd the room.

Adorned with JOSMO’s Troy bookshelf, the library at the top of the stairs becomes a breakout space for the children and welcomes a pop of electric blue. The passage leading us to the guest room is dressed with art by Alex Gallagher, becoming an arresting attraction.

Wrapped in a play of earthy tones, the guest room emulates a museum-like charm, featuring curated art on the walls. A colonial bed in eggshell white adds a modern vibe and JOSMO’s fluted side tables create a muted texture. The room also features a balcony allowing the guests to unwind.

The end of the corridor is home to the children’s bedroom that is done up in a restrained palette, allowing the art, accessories and toys to become the hero. Small framed paintings by the kids adorn the walls and the pink flooring tiles by Bharat Floorings add a playful charm.

Excelling in the realm of quirkiness, Mody treats Villa Vida with a passion for intuitive design. “My design philosophy has always been to be open and intuitive. I design off the space’s energy, light and the client’s eagerness to experiment. It’s always been an endeavour to allow different spaces to spark conversation,” concludes the designer.

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