The Iris Home in Mumbai by Quirk Studio is a quintessential millennial sanctuary
A refreshing change from the usual modest-sized homes in Mumbai, the Iris Home by Quirk Studio is a 2,500 sq ft sea-facing high-rise in South Bombay that fuses the charm of slow living with a contemporary appeal, aptly capturing the essence that its homeowners wanted to bring forth — feelings of warmth, peace and joy […]
A refreshing change from the usual modest-sized homes in Mumbai, the Iris Home by Quirk Studio is a 2,500 sq ft sea-facing high-rise in South Bombay that fuses the charm of slow living with a contemporary appeal, aptly capturing the essence that its homeowners wanted to bring forth — feelings of warmth, peace and joy within its subdued interiors, which feel both classy and current.
“The site was handed over to us as a bare shell by the builder, giving us the opportunity to construct the space from scratch,” reveals Shivani Ajmera, one of the principal designers at Quirk Studio. “The unflinching faith in the designers by the homeowners served as an added bonus,” she states further.
Muted colours like off-white hues, beige, grey and light earthy tones lend a sense of openness, calm and warmth to the space. The flooring comprises full-bodied stone-finished tiles, the coffee table is from Bombay Design Lab, the sofas and bench are from Tianu, the armchairs are from Dtale Modern, the chandelier is from Hatsu, while the rug and artwork are from Rugberry and Rutva Joshi respectively; Photograph by Nayan Soni
The home’s aesthetic was carefully curated to feature a balanced and sophisticated neutral colour palette, interwoven with tasteful pops of vibrant hues; Photograph by Nayan Soni
While the interiors largely bear a neutral colour palette with natural textures, a surprise pop of colour was thrown in to bring in an element of fun.
The presence of organic silhouettes, natural textures and contrasting colours lends a clean and calming touch to the interiors. The fusion of sublime beauty and functionality is a rarity and is a hallmark of the premium contemporary style. The dining table is from Blue Loft, while the dining chairs are custom-made. The lights are from The Kaleido Store and the art is by Rutva Joshi; Photograph by Nayan Soni
“Monochromes served as the perfect backdrop, enabling us to bring in some bolder shapes and styles into the interiors through the furnishings,” explains Disha Bhavsar, a principal designer who’s worked alongside Ajmera on the project, adding, “We’ve added pops of colour but with restraint, to add a dramatic statement and focal point in the space.”
A black beauty indeed, this dining set from Blue Loft is a vision, clearly giving off a modest yet polished vibe to the space; Photograph by Nayan Soni
The large Buddha painting reminds one to be calm, even amidst the chaos; Photograph by Nayan Soni
The living room with a personality
A quick home tour makes one thing certain: The floor plan was designed to address the couple’s common love for staying cooped up indoors, cherishing solitude and some peace and quiet.
The presence of several cosy nooks in the informal living area is proof. “We loved creating a floor-to-ceiling bookshelf in a vibrant tone of blue, with a tucked-in love-seat, serving as a reading nook or space to have a quiet cup of coffee,” explains Ajmera, adding that this space becomes a focal point in the living area, which seamlessly ties in with the other neutral spaces.
The informal living area is a space where one is reminded to enjoy the little things in life — a warm cup of chai, a hug or a nice read. The coffee table is from Fleck, the sofas are from Tianu, the armchairs were custom-made by a local vendor and the bookshelf lights are from Hatsu; Photograph by Nayan Soni
The guest bedroom features a soft green and neutrals palette, with linens from Altrove; Photograph by Nayan Soni
While the house embodies a design philosophy that bears a classic yet functional touch, Bhavsar asserts some areas came with a set of challenges — the long passage area in the apartment, for instance. “We wanted to ensure that it wasn’t only rendered to be transitional space, but rather be able to stand out aesthetically and tie the home together,” she explains.
The long passage area in the apartment was a challenging space that was transformed into a spot that arouses visual interest. “We wanted to ensure that it wasn’t only rendered to be transitional space but rather be able to stand out aesthetically and tie the home together,” says Shivani Ajmera, one of the principal designers at Quirk Studio. The custom terrazzo flooring is by Rawsteen, the console is from Tianu, bench by Opaque Studio and lamp by West Elm: Photograph by Nayan Soni
The master bedroom features wooden flooring, with a customised bed and curved wooden bed back panel. The rug is from The Rug Republic, while the bed linens are from Altrove; Photograph by Nayan Soni
Soft woods are offset by hard marbles; Photograph by Nayan Soni
For the flooring in the passage, an exquisite, custom-made terrazzo floor was commissioned and was meticulously crafted using a variety of premium marble samples. “The resulting product was nothing short of perfection, exactly as we had envisioned,” she adds.
The daughter’s bedroom takes a playful turn, young in its pastel colours; Photograph by Nayan Soni
Quirk Studio adds wooden flooring to the daughter’s bedroom, with wallpapers from Wall Paper Scissor. The bed and side table are custom-made and the bed linen is from Altrove; Photograph by Nayan Soni
Stylishly sustainable
Replete with new-age eco-friendly practices, a volley of thoughtful decor inclusions like energy-efficient light fixtures that help reduce carbon footprint are reflective of the homeowners’ commitment towards environmental sustainability. Irrefutably, this is a breezy and spacious address that gently nudges its inhabitants to celebrate the joy of little things in life.
Completely transformed into a space unafraid of colours and deluged in textures, this home in Greenwich, Connecticut defines a genre of its own. Designed by Monica Fried of her eponymous interior design practice Monica Fried Design, the home pre-glow-up as described by her was, “A new construction home with beautiful bones but not much colour […]
Nestled amidst balmy breezes and sun-dappled landscapes, this holiday home is a soulful ode to the susegad way of life. Designed by principal architect Leanne Alcasoas of Studio Detailine with principal architect Sharon D’mello of Studio Nola, spread across 2,337 sq ft the retreat echoes the rhythm of the sea—seamlessly blending old-world charm with modern-day elegance. Conceived […]
The Gulmohar Street house is a traditional abode at the cusp of modernity while both the interior and exterior bask in natural light. Located in Aurangabad the home is a reflection of the homeowner’s spiritual selves and exudes traditional minimalism. Featuring a trove of sleek lines and simple but loving elements.
Imagine lounging in a beach house perched at the edge of the world where the sea is its living companion. Designed by Principal Architects Kunal Barve and Mihir Barve of Interface Architects, along with their team, including Tanmayi Dhir, this aesthetically modern abode on the coastline of Kashid, Maharashtra borrows inspiration from its surroundings.
Every home has its own ineffable allure, some imbued with an understated poise, others with a grandeur that defies the ordinary. But then, there is this neoteric pied-à-terre in Mumbai that immerses you in the heart of an art lover’s dream. Converted to a two-bedroom apartment from a three-bedroom, this refreshingly stylish 2000 sq ft […]
Though Mocha Mousse is Pantone’s 2025 colour of the year, this home in Mumbai revels in its own vocabulary that reminds one of coffee and more coffee. A rather fun but surprising visual, contrary to the ordinary assumptions of neutrals being monotonous, this 3,800 sq ft home displays a medley of textures and curves posing […]
Do you also believe a clutter-free home is a myth? Well, then you’re in for a ride, because we have found an abode that will change your perception. This 4,500 sq ft family home in Pune, designed by Simran Kanungo and Preksha Shah of The Open Door design studio is straight out of any homeowner’s […]
People who feast on aesthetics like a cuisine of their choice, look at homes differently. It is no different in the case of this Chennai home woven by Arvind Varuna Associates and owned by a young couple who had a clear-cut vision of what they wanted their first city home to look like: a minimalist […]
A visceral home with memory-filled pictures as they cascade the walls, nostalgic books sit in the foreground while Scandinavian design stands at the fore. Spread across 3,200 sq ft and orchestrated by principal architects Ritu Yadav and Kulveer Bhati of TOD Innovations is this Gurugram earthy treasure-filled trove.
