A sight to sea: Inside a sublime Mumbai home designed by Agavi Vora Design Studio

When Agavi Vora, Founder and Principal Designer of her eponymous firm Agavi Vora Design Studio, also known as AVDS, was entrusted by a family to renovate their Mumbai home with an industrial touch, she was thrilled to discover that the space in fact had a great potential than what just met the eye! “Yes, quite a few walls were broken down and the layout was changed quite a bit. The apartment went from a three-bedroom to a two-bedroom,” recalls Agavi, subtly outlining the joys of creative freedom that often push us to make grand, grander, and make good, better. 

The 1,200 sq ft space located in Marine Drive in South Mumbai, underwent a massive transformation. With a few walls broken down and the layout reimagined, the living room was expanded to invite natural light and create a place to entertain guests while capitalising on the unperturbed sea views.

Leading with light and architectural clues

“We’re totally breaking away from the trend of wall panelling and highlighting architectural elements subtly, letting the walls breathe to make the entire space look lighter and more open,” tells Agavi.

The abode’s long passageway hosts rooms on either side. This passage, however, is set apart by its flooring: square tiles made from waste marble that add texture while retaining subtlety. A sense of cohesiveness permeates the passageway, setting the tone for the rest of the home. The curved false ceiling running through the area works as a single element to tie up the entire space and transitions into doors at regular intervals. The lights and fluting on the wall that conceals the storage shutters offset the straight lines, tidying up the space and offering a seamless appearance. 

One first crosses the son’s bedroom, their attention caught by the pops of yellow and blue in the cosy space. The beams and columns are exposed in the room, as in the entire home, and give the space an industrial touch. 

The area between the column and the wall functions as a divider to create a separate study area and is a storage unit for books and other study materials. A bookshelf under the bed and a column on the wall to hang the sports equipment and trophies add storage space and cater to the son’s enjoyment of sports and reading.

Next to it, the powder room is inspired by the Japanese art of Kintsugi. Waste marble is used artfully across the walls, transitioning into a monolithic basin counter in one corner. 

One then stops by the kitchen to appreciate the distinctive pastel pink hues interwoven into grey granite and oak. “The owners didn’t want a monochrome or muted kitchen. We had summer in mind picking out the finishes of the kitchen,” says Agavi.

The heart of the home   

Towards the end of the passageway, one comes across a sliding pocket door, the partition of which becomes a unique design feature with a floral wallpaper upon entry.

The space is awash in sunlight that weaves across the beams and columns, much like the furniture. An L-shaped sofa, upholstered in a soft colour gradient, moving from coral to salmon to white, into beige and finally grey. The softness of the space is offset by a bold, monochromatic rug.

Across, the bar is placed in a city close to the window so that it does not obstruct the view of the television yet allows for inclusivity in conversations that happen in the living room.

The adjoining dining area is tucked away into a nook created by the beams and columns and overlooks the view outside. The lights add a whimsical touch while maintaining the industrial tones of the space. 

One corner of the space is taken over by a swing that gives the room a pop of colour and allows one to unwind while looking out to the expansive sea.

The primary bedroom is a space that emphasises privacy while welcoming ample sunlight. A bespoke bed and a cosy reading corner  with a curved headrest entices its inhabitants with a promise of peaceful relaxation. 

The bathroom retains a sense of symmetry with statuario marbles. The walk-in closet is discreetly tucked next to the bathroom. To enhance the depth and aesthetics of the space, its entrance features synchronised fluted mirrors with black frames. Minimalist lighting fixtures on either side of the mirrors frame the entrance and create an element of interest.

Black, white and everything in between

An emphasis on cohesiveness and flow of natural light bring white marble to the forefront in this home, making the space appear larger and seamless. The home is replete with minimal black details across the many rooms, inspired by the white marble flooring with black lines, adding a touch of colour and visual interest. Grey finishing for columns and beams that added an industrial touch are offset by warm colours and pastel hues inspired by the shades of sunshine.

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