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    The Iris Home in Mumbai by Quirk Studio is a quintessential millennial sanctuary

    MAY 22, 2024 | By Pooja Prabbhan Srijith
    The presence of organic silhouettes, natural textures and contrasting colours lends a clean and calming touch to the interiors. The fusion of sublime beauty and functionality is a rarity and is a hallmark of the premium contemporary style. The dining table is from Blue Loft, while the dining chairs are custom-made. The lights are from The Kaleido Store and the art is by Rutva Joshi; Photography by Nayan Soni
    The guest bedroom features a soft green and neutrals palette, with linens from Altrove; Photograph by Nayan Soni

    A refreshing change from the usual modest-sized homes in Mumbai, the Iris Home by Quirk Studio is a 2,500 sq ft sea-facing high-rise in South Bombay that fuses the charm of slow living with a contemporary appeal, aptly capturing the essence that its homeowners wanted to bring forth — feelings of warmth, peace and joy within its subdued interiors, which feel both classy and current.

     “The site was handed over to us as a bare shell by the builder, giving us the opportunity to construct the space from scratch,” reveals Shivani Ajmera, one of the principal designers at Quirk Studio. “The unflinching faith in the designers by the homeowners served as an added bonus,” she states further. 

    Quirk Studio
    Muted colours like off-white hues, beige, grey and light earthy tones lend a sense of openness, calm and warmth to the space. The flooring comprises full-bodied stone-finished tiles, the coffee table is from Bombay Design Lab, the sofas and bench are from Tianu, the armchairs are from Dtale Modern, the chandelier is from Hatsu, while the rug and artwork are from Rugberry and Rutva Joshi respectively; Photograph by Nayan Soni

     

    Quirk Studio
    The home’s aesthetic was carefully curated to feature a balanced and sophisticated neutral colour palette, interwoven with tasteful pops of vibrant hues; Photograph by Nayan Soni

    While the interiors largely bear a neutral colour palette with natural textures, a surprise pop of colour was thrown in to bring in an element of fun. 

    Quirk Studio
    The presence of organic silhouettes, natural textures and contrasting colours lends a clean and calming touch to the interiors. The fusion of sublime beauty and functionality is a rarity and is a hallmark of the premium contemporary style. The dining table is from Blue Loft, while the dining chairs are custom-made. The lights are from The Kaleido Store and the art is by Rutva Joshi; Photograph by Nayan Soni

    “Monochromes served as the perfect backdrop, enabling us to bring in some bolder shapes and styles into the interiors through the furnishings,” explains Disha Bhavsar, a principal designer who’s worked alongside Ajmera on the project, adding, “We’ve added pops of colour but with restraint, to add a dramatic statement and focal point in the space.” 

    Quirk Studio
    A black beauty indeed, this dining set from Blue Loft is a vision, clearly giving off a modest yet polished vibe to the space; Photograph by Nayan Soni

     

    Quirk Studio
    The large Buddha painting reminds one to be calm, even amidst the chaos; Photograph by Nayan Soni

    The living room with a personality 

    A quick home tour makes one thing certain: The floor plan was designed to address the couple’s common love for staying cooped up indoors, cherishing solitude and some peace and quiet. 

    The presence of several cosy nooks in the informal living area is proof. “We loved creating a floor-to-ceiling bookshelf in a vibrant tone of blue, with a tucked-in love-seat, serving as a reading nook or space to have a quiet cup of coffee,” explains Ajmera, adding that this space becomes a focal point in the living area, which seamlessly ties in with the other neutral spaces.

    Quirk Studio
    The informal living area is a space where one is reminded to enjoy the little things in life — a warm cup of chai, a hug or a nice read. The coffee table is from Fleck, the sofas are from Tianu, the armchairs were custom-made by a local vendor and the bookshelf lights are from Hatsu; Photograph by Nayan Soni

     

    Quirk Studio
    The guest bedroom features a soft green and neutrals palette, with linens from Altrove; Photograph by Nayan Soni

    While the house embodies a design philosophy that bears a classic yet functional touch, Bhavsar asserts some areas came with a set of challenges — the long passage area in the apartment, for instance. “We wanted to ensure that it wasn’t only rendered to be transitional space, but rather be able to stand out aesthetically and tie the home together,” she explains.

    Quirk Studio
    The long passage area in the apartment was a challenging space that was transformed into a spot that arouses visual interest. “We wanted to ensure that it wasn’t only rendered to be transitional space but rather be able to stand out aesthetically and tie the home together,” says Shivani Ajmera, one of the principal designers at Quirk Studio. The custom terrazzo flooring is by Rawsteen, the console is from Tianu, bench by Opaque Studio and lamp by West Elm: Photograph by Nayan Soni

     

    Quirk Studio
    The master bedroom features wooden flooring, with a customised bed and curved wooden bed back panel. The rug is from The Rug Republic, while the bed linens are from Altrove; Photograph by Nayan Soni

     

    Quirk Studio
    Soft woods are offset by hard marbles; Photograph by Nayan Soni

    For the flooring in the passage, an exquisite, custom-made terrazzo floor was commissioned and was meticulously crafted using a variety of premium marble samples. “The resulting product was nothing short of perfection, exactly as we had envisioned,” she adds.

    Quirk Studio
    The daughter’s bedroom takes a playful turn, young in its pastel colours; Photograph by Nayan Soni

     

    Quirk Studio
    Quirk Studio adds wooden flooring to the daughter’s bedroom, with wallpapers from Wall Paper Scissor. The bed and side table are custom-made and the bed linen is from Altrove; Photograph by Nayan Soni  

    Stylishly sustainable 

    Replete with new-age eco-friendly practices, a volley of thoughtful decor inclusions like energy-efficient light fixtures that help reduce carbon footprint are reflective of the homeowners’ commitment towards environmental sustainability. Irrefutably, this is a breezy and spacious address that gently nudges its inhabitants to celebrate the joy of little things in life. 

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