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    • Layers? Check! Textures? Check! Insitu Design Studio rethinks minimalism in a Mumbai apartment

    AUG 8, 2023 | By Rajlakshmi Dastidar
    The sofa from Sarita Handa, wooden bench and artwork from Kalakaari Haath enhance the overall aura of the living room. Individual furniture pieces are custom-made by Insitu Design Studio while the upholstery, wallpaper and cushions are a part of a collaboration with Kalakaari Haath; Photography by Yadnyesh Joshi
    The warm and earthy colour palette engulfs the son’s bedroom. The quirky pendant light, a classic striped black and white side table by Sarita Handa and grey bedspread blends harmoniously in the bedroom; Photography by Yadnyesh Joshi

    Who knew minimalism could feel so pronounced? Insitu Design Studio purposely kept this 1,700 sq ft home in Mumbai, free of clutter. But what Ami Mody, Project Lead and Sahiba Madan, Principal Architect chose to include in this home is refined, polished and high end. The result is a minimalistic home which still manages to create a space where the eye just glides from zone to zone. 

    “The design of the space is a combination of effective space planning in a city apartment and using simple but effective design gestures and clean forms, to create a sense of timelessness in every space,” Sahiba shares.

    Insitu Design Studio
    The living room has a puja room enclosed within a wooden door with little intricate details on it. The flooring also has small details of artwork on it. As sunlight gently peeks through the white curtains, the circular coffee table, a clay planter makes up for a cosy corner; Photography by Yadnyesh Joshi

    An organic canvas 

    Clean minimalism and sleek lines meet nature-inspired shapes, organic textures, brass, marble and rustic elements in a Vastu-centric home where the homeowners were open to experimenting to make their house distinctive. This modern organic style also praises the airiness of the entire space.

    The living room has artwork and an upholstered bench from Kalakaari Haath, sofa from Sarita Handa and circular wooden coffee table customised by the studio; Photography by Yadnyesh Joshi

     

    Insitu Design Studio
    The monolithic dining table has been custom built by the studio. The upholstered dining chairs with matte black legs and ceiling lights give the space a lively atmosphere; Photography by Yadnyesh Joshi

    As you enter through the walkway, you’re enveloped in a visual experience in the form of a ribbed ceiling and a whimsical screen with features inspired by nature. Next, through an arched service window, the living and dining rooms create a visual dance with the kitchen. 

    Insitu Design Studio
    The primary bedroom is home to bright and soft shades in the form of bedspreads and cushions. The wall panelling in the room has been done by MCM Cladding. The flooring of the room has a minimalistic set of patterns drawn onto it; Photography by Yadnyesh Joshi

     

    In the daughter’s bedroom, shades of grey, black and white take centre stage. A wooden bedside table with a table lamp completes the corner by the bed; Photography by Yadnyesh Joshi

    A huge monolithic dining table, built by the design studio firmly asserts its position in the centre of this exceptional room. The wall opposite the kitchen is built with solid wood, glass and wall-painted MDF accentuating a surprise here and there in brass. The living room incorporates the mandir as well. Intricate carvings on a wooden traditional door help the entrance stand out from the rest of the house and adds to the area’s eye-catching traditional appeal by making it resemble a village temple.

    Insitu Design Studio
    The sanitary fittings in the daughter’s bedroom are by Gessi. The mirror from Nappa Dori framed in gold finish against the patterned tiles create a perfect spot for all the self-care moments; Photography by Yadnyesh Joshi

     

    The son’s bedroom has a study corner by the window. A compact yet sleek wooden study table and an upholstered chair completes the space. The wall has a wooden shelf for all the books and decor curios as well; Photography by Yadnyesh Joshi

    A sense of calm washes over one as they walk into the bedrooms. The materials and design elements come together to become the backdrop to everyday life, one that is defined by the aspirations of the very people who live here. The interior partitions between the primary bedroom and the daughters’ bedrooms have been reconfigured. Instead of one walk-in wardrobe that was originally intended, two have been eventually carved out.

    The son’s bedroom welcomes you in an earthy colour palette. A classic black and white striped side table from Sarita Handa, grey bedspreads, soft and fluffy cushions tie the bedroom together; Photography by Yadnyesh Joshi

    This home is yet another example of putting just enough inside a house where you can live comfortably but calmly. Every corner has been designed to create a family of features that reverberate throughout the apartment.

    You may also read: Coastal lullaby — Flip through layers of light, monochromes and luxury in a Mumbai home crafted by Urban Studio