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    Notting Hill comes to Bandra in a pastel-hued Mumbai home by Jannat Vasi

    JAN 27, 2025 | By Chiransha Prasad
    The living room features lighting by Flos, flooring by FCML, curtains by TPC Home, paint by Colourcoats, an L-shaped sofa by Bolia Italy, wall art by Rooshad Shroff, a rug by Jaipur Rugs, a side Table by Jannat Vasi Design, cushions from Pottery Barn and a table lamp by Maison Sia, golden coffee table by Scarlet Splendour; Styling by Samir Wadekar, Photography by Ishita Sitwala
    The master bedroom contains furniture by Jannat Vasi Design, vases by Tom Dixon from Angel Ventures , bedding by Sarita Handa , wall lighting by Aromas Italy and a rug by Jaipur Rugs; Photography by Ishita Sitwala

    Jannat Vasi knew that designing a home for her newly married younger brother would be a breeze. Shehzad Vasi, or “Shehzu” as Jannat fondly calls him, has watched his sister draw up floor plans and design spaces for more than a decade. His trust in her abilities is implicit.

    But this time around, the principal designer and founder of her eponymous firm wasn’t just designing for one — she was designing for two. “Shehzad is a pure-blood Bandra boy and (his wife) Juhi is a doctor from London”, explains Jannat. “While I know every pulse of my brother, I had to deeply study and map his wife’s living preferences into the space.”

    The result? A 1,500 sq ft Mumbai apartment equal parts London and Bandra, with delectable pastels straight out of the homes dotting Notting Hill.

    The living room features lighting by Flos, flooring by FCML, curtains by TPC Home, paint by Colourcoats, an L-shaped sofa by Bolia Italy, wall art by Rooshad Shroff, a rug by Jaipur Rugs, a side Table by Jannat Vasi Design, cushions from Pottery Barn and a table lamp by Maison Sia, golden coffee table by Scarlet Splendour; Styling by Samir Wadekar, Photography by Ishita Sitwala

     

    The dining table has been crafted by Jannat Vasi Design, with dining chairs from West Elm and
    vases by Maison Sia, the wall mural and lighting have been customised in-house; Photography by Ishita Sitwala

    A family affair

    Rare are the siblings that get along, with no parental influence (or bribes) involved. One can easily chalk Jannat and Shehzad in that category. Albeit spirited, even their banter relays a deep respect on both sides.

    Add to this a simple list of non-negotiables, and all creative conflicts are easily circumvented. Shehzad’s list? “ He wanted me to focus on optimising the layout, creating functional designs and including plenty of storage,” Jannat elaborates. Add to this a private terrace and bar for his house parties and poker nights, and he was all too happy to relinquish all aesthetic control to Jannat and Juhi.

    The accessories in the living space are by Reflection Copenhagen and vases from Sources Unlimited; Photography by Ishita Sitwala

     

    The beige wall panels in the dining space are Latho by Sources Unlimited; Photography by Ishita Sitwala

     

    The mint-green kitchen contains electronics by Smeg and tableware by Tom Dixon by Angel Ventures; Photography by Ishita Sitwala

    Building a pastel cocoon

    To optimise the existing interior space to the best of its abilities, it had to be planned from scratch. “We completely demolished the home and designed the layout to factor in all their requirements”, explains Jannat. And so, down went the walls. They were scooped out to make space for extra storage and memories alike.

    With family and friends close by, plenty of visitors drop in to meet the newlyweds. While the expansive open-air terrace with an inbuilt bar makes for the perfect hosting spot, Mumbai’s humidity, more often than not, proves to be a foe rather than a friend. In case of bad weather, the breezy interiors more than suffice.

    The guest bedroom features furniture by Jannat Vasi Design, a sofa bed by Felis Italy, a throw by Hermes; Photography by Ishita Sitwala

     

    The white vanity set up in the guest bedroom features a pouffe by TPC Home; Photography by Ishita Sitwala

    The entrance opens to a flood of light pouring in through the windows. A golden coffee table by Scarlet Splendour (one of the few aesthetic picks Shehzad was adamant about) fits in with the beige walls and a bespoke woven canvas by Rooshad Shroff like pieces of a puzzle.

    Much like the L-shaped sofa in the living space, the layout for the interconnected living and dining area follows suit. “We moved walls to carve out a dining area for six,” states Jannat. Here, the beige sofa swaps hues in favour of six, rust-hued chairs topped with a white sculptural chandelier. A minimal faux fireplace sits adjacent to the entrance — a nod to the British winters Juhi is so familiar with as a longtime London ex-resident. Now it is the perfect space to prop up decor, pictures and other memorabilia.

    The powder blue guest bedroom spills over to the master bedroom, separated by sliding doors; Photography by Ishita Sitwala

     

    The master bedroom contains furniture by Jannat Vasi Design, vases by Tom Dixon from Angel Ventures, bedding by Sarita Handa, wall lighting by Aromas Italy and a rug by Jaipur Rugs; Photography by Ishita Sitwala

    Beyond the fluted doors rests the guest bedroom. Sans sleeping guests, the sofa bed and the space shapeshift into a powder-blue vanity room straight out of Pinterest. Whilst Jannat confesses to not even have an account on the infamous platform, we’d bet the white vanity setup would rake in saves and pins galore with ease.

    Calculated dosages of colour

    The guest bedroom wardrobes are fitted with panels that resemble Monet’s dreamy watercolours. The master bedroom, too, adheres to the baby blue brief — sans the headboard embroidered with depictions of flora and fauna in brilliant, jewel-toned threads.

    The open-air terrace seating contains cushions and a throw by TPC Home; Photography by Ishita Sitwala

     

    The terrace contains coffee tables and a bar constructed by Jannat Vasi Design, a rug by Jaipur Rugs, a bowl by Maison Sia, a tray and glasses by Tom Dixon from Angel Ventures; Photography by Ishita Sitwala

    An interesting detail about the home is its lack of protruding handles in favour of concealed opening solutions. A compelling observation, pointed out by Jannat’s brother himself. “If you notice all the places she’s designed, there are no handles. It’s all concealed,” notes Shehzad. To be loved is to be known, indeed.

    A recurring problem with designing for family is the compensation — or lack thereof. However, that is far from a problem for Jannat. A certified Boojee cafe addict, Shehzad plans on paying her back through a lifetime supply of free coffee. A worthy bargain, indeed!

    Read more: Visual poetry in motion: the Parisian Lounge is a cosy Mumbai pad by Jannat Vasi