An office cabin by the River Tapi in Gujarat? Designer Eshita Marwah says yes!

Working by the riverside may not seem like a viable option all year round.  But, is that reason enough to not dream? Not really. Or so believes designer Eshita Marwah founder of by e & co., who’s yearning to work out of a space that transcends the sensibilities of a traditional office cabin manifested itself as The Peppermint Room — a 315 sq ft cabin, nestled within a larger 4,000 sq ft office in Surat, that overlooks the serene Tapi river in Gujarat.  

“We went all out and let our wild imagination take shape in the form of colours, patterns and prints. The process was very organic, and I just let one thing lead to the other. I let the space and my mood define the design,” shares Eshita.

Colour, colour on the wall

A subdued tone and an overall cohesive colour scheme lend a grounding vibe to the space, a decision, which the designer feels came by rather effortlessly. “The sources of inspiration for all of these things were different but I was sure I wanted to mix things up in terms of the design language for each piece, while tying everything together with a cohesive colour scheme,” the designer says, who’s always drawn to bold and bright colours, especially reds! “I’m usually drawn to bold and bright colours, and especially reds. So, while I wanted to use a red in the space, I wanted to tone it down with a muted hue to make the space feel harmonious. I wanted the cabin to feel fresh and fun. Again, it was a subconscious decision.”

The custom story

The striped couch, the ladybug rocking chair, the office desk with its solid wood legs, popsicle chairs, and the custom lamps all serve as constant reminders of Eshita’s creative spirit.  “I think it’s come out to look a bit English-country. I wanted to design everything in this space from scratch so that’s what we’ve done — from each piece of furniture to all the lighting, to the switchboards, to all the fabrics, rug and even artwork.”

Details that define

Besides being blessed with an eye for detail, Eshita’s entrepreneurial vision takes a tactile form within this cosy, cocoon-esque haven. “We are in the process of building our custom product line ranging from furniture to fabrics to other home decor, called The Afternoon Library — many of the pieces in the cabin are designed and made under the same vertical,” she reveals. 

While it’s not uncommon knowledge that trusting your gut will keep you in good stead, The Peppermint Room feels like an embodiment of the adage. “During the entire process I went with my gut, we didn’t plan things much, we let the design happen very naturally, so while each element in the room has its own personality, everything comes together beautifully. As a team, we like to do things naturally and organically — everything has to flow, nothing has to be forced.”  There’s a palpable sense of peace in the air as she speaks these words. Clearly, the Peppermint Room feels like a vision board brought to life—one leap of faith, at a time.

Read more: Art and the artist: Inside a Mumbai home by Eshita Marwah and V Create Architects