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    A Mumbai home by Spacedays proves it’s possible to find stillness in the bustle of city life

    JUL 30, 2024 | By Ria Gupta
    Yale door lock adds an additional level of security. The Maison Sia sculpture adds flair to the console, Photography by Fabien Charuau
    A rug from D’Decor and striking pieces of decoration by Maison SIA and Details Decor add depth to the neutral palette of the living room. Styling by Meetu Swani, Photography by Fabien Charuau
    Textured bedding from A A Living and lime concrete paint from PRATTA India aid in creating a cool sanctuary, Photography by Fabien Charuau

    In a city where everything is always on the move, it’s befitting for a home to celebrate the transience of life. While Mumbai calls you to stay sharp, this 1,780 sq ft apartment by Spacedays Architecture & Design inspires soft sensibilities by embracing the many shapes and moods we take on through a single day – and lifetime. 

    Set in Bandra, the four-bedroom haven is a realisation of  spirituality and stillness. “We kept the foundational elements like flooring and furniture muted with neutral tones, while the interiors make the space visually striking,” says principal designers Rishi and Amit Shukla. 

    spacedays architecture design
    A rug from D’Decor and striking pieces of decoration by Maison SIA and Details Decor add depth to the neutral palette of the living room. Styling by Meetu Swani, Photography by Fabien Charuau

    Softening the edges

    Upon entering the lift lobby, the terracotta hues of a lime concrete wall strike a chord of warm welcome. Preceded by a carved wooden console, this arched wall echoes what’s coming up inside. “The house is done up with a key mandate in mind: no sharp corners,” Rishi reveals.

    spacedays architecture design
    The main door is arched on both sides with a level difference, and is clad in veneer with a smart lock by Yale India. A concealed door right next to it leads to the first bedroom. Styling by Meetu Swani, Photography by Fabien Charuau

     

    spacedays architecture design
    The living and dining space sit under a slim-profiled ceiling lit by Spectrum Lights, with couches and chairs upholstered by Pride Furnishings. Styling by Meetu Swani, Photography by Fabien Charuau

    From here, a similarly arched main door opens into the living room, which boasts an elliptical ceiling with a silk fabric chandelier. Small elements contribute to a sense of space and quietude, like the inverted arch holding a picture of the homeowners’ spiritual master and the sun-kissed dining table that’s part of the living room. Plush fabrics, from the bouclé on the sofa to the rug from D’Decor, sit waiting to absorb the banter that echoes through the home. 

    spacedays architecture design
    Concrete Italian marble by Nitco on the floor and lift door frames inspire a monotone look in the lift lobby. The wall opposite the lift is finished with MCM Cladding. The safety door features a smart lock by Hafele and an arched shaped black metal grill and veneer. Styling by Meetu Swani, Photography by Fabien Charuau

    Discovering space

    But how do you create space where there isn’t any, like in sleek corridors or hidden corners? “We like to create depth without clutter, using earthy materials, muted tones and lots of textures,” Amit answers. The main wall running through the living and dining space is clad in veneer and terracotta, with a wood member dividing the upper and lower ends to create a sense of multitude.

    spacedays architecture design
    The main wall running through the living and dining space is clad in veneer and terracotta, with a wood member dividing the upper and lower ends to create a sense of multitude. Styling by Meetu Swani, Photography by Fabien Charuau

     

    Spacedays architecture design
    The dining wall is highlighted through three carved capsule-like shapes finished in lime concrete. The six-seater dining table has a glass top with a turntable carved out of aquamarine quartzite stone. Styling by Meetu Swani, Photography by Fabien Charuau

    This very wall leads to the kitchen and four bedrooms. The first room sits right next to the entrance door in this wall. To the right is the kitchen, divided into two segments – the main kitchen and a baking area. One look, and you can sense how the vanilla must waft through the house through its seamless connection to the common areas. 

    spacedays architecture design
    The modular kitchen furnished by Metrika– separated from the baking area by a metal profile – features an oven by Miele India and backsplash tiles. All tiles of the house have been supplied by Casamia & Caesar Ceramics. Styling by Meetu Swani, Photography by Fabien Charuau

    Further down the corridor is a powder room and a suite of two rooms connected by a washroom. In Mumbai, there’s nothing bigger than the gift of space, and the family uses theirs wisely. The room to the right has an arched mirror and a full mirror to get prepped for the day, while the adjacent room celebrates winding down as an art.

    With a compact double bed for meditation and a double door wardrobe for extra storage, this one is designed to fill every inch of the room with a purpose. The third room lies to the left of the corridor. 

    spacedays architecture design
    The first room in the house enjoys a light blue PU paint from ICA Pidilite on its side tables, wardrobes, and television console. The headboard of the bed by AA Living has been designed with a curve-profiled mirror. There is a small deck done in wood tiles from Nexion, with plants curated by Vriksha Nursery. Styling by Meetu Swani, Photography by Fabien Charuau

     

    spacedays architecture design
    The bathroom in the fourth bedroom features an overhead shower by Gessi India with mood lighting by Spectrum Lights. A Goccia basin mixer by Gessi is placed on the counter with a deep basin bowl by Vitra. The bizarre-shaped mirrors add to the philosophy of no sharp corners. Styling by Meetu Swani, Photography by Fabien Charuau

    Crafting comfort

    In Japanese aesthetics, the concept of wabi-sabi focuses on the impermanence of things and celebrating the imperfection of life itself. This wabi-sabi is what you feel when you make your way through the house. Stunning pieces of art break the monotony of colour everywhere, taking away the pressure of perfection and symmetry. Change is everywhere, transitioning from the limestone walls of the living room to the aquamarine quartzite in the kitchen. 

    spacedays architecture design
    Soft corners prevail in the fourth bedroom, with a backdrop of natural clay and concrete breaking the lime washed wall behind the AA Living bed. This bed clad in terracotta-colour velvet fabric by Pride Furnishings. Styling by Meetu Swani, Photography by Fabien Charuau

     

    spacedays architecture design
    The first bedroom of the suite boasts arches on either side of the bed clad in a weaving pattern supplied by Phomi. A rose gold wardrobe, curved fluted panels, and brown tinted glass add a soft touch to the pink palette around a bed by AA Living. Styling by Meetu Swani, Photography by Fabien Charuau

    And just as Mumbai is a harmonious microcosm of eccentricity, bound by the waves of the sea, this house comes together in unison with the Italian marble flooring running common through its scale – quietly, inconspicuously, until you feel settled enough to notice its comforting ubiquity.

    Now read: A picture-perfect colonial home in Bangalore by Furbishy is every vintage design savants’ dream moodboard