Article Category: Get Inspired

Roman architect Vitruvius defined the three principles of architecture as solidity, utility and beauty. I would like to add one more to the list—harmony. A prime example being my striking penthouse in Goa, which not only fulfils all three prerequisites of a Vitruvius-certified home but is also in acquiescence with its peaceful surrounding. 

I’d envisioned the home for a long time. Being its designer and builder myself, I had the freedom to plan it so. The bigger challenge, however, was to build around obstacles and find solutions to the hurdles along the way—that’s what’s this an exciting journey.

I turned this 1,000 sq ft space into a sleek, imaginative, non-fussy and fairly rustic home, using a distinct warehouse-style. Concrete, brick and steel are employed for an unfinished look that’s complemented by the many shades of grey. Since it is set on the banks of Goa’s Nerul river, the home’s fluidity is derived from the confluence of neat, straight lines. 

The untouched location has inspired the toned-down palette of raw timber, wood and steel. The blend of light and concrete works well together. It not only adds style but also provides a sense of peaceful cleansing (almost like removing any hint of commotion). 

I’ve always used windows as a critical design element. In the case of this penthouse, they offer abundant access to breathtaking views of coconut treetops, verdant fields and spectacular sunsets. The most interesting as well as the most enjoyable aspect of this build was the kitchen window. The unique sash window opens horizontally upwards, using counterbalance weights to assist and relieve the overall weight of the window section.

The kitchen features interesting and unique materials. Unlike a modular flat-pack job, it is hand-built with doors textured for an aged-timber appeal. The drawer fronts are branded with text like in the markets of 1800s London. All the furniture is designed and made by hand onsite. The kitchen also features a double fridge freezer, gas oven, hob, water kettle, toaster and cutlery, all of which I’ve carefully selected myself.

The bedroom is spacious with an ensuite bathroom but the best part of this penthouse, especially for a guest, is, without doubt, the plunge pool. As you move to the terrace, bright pops of colour act as a pleasant surprise with breezy plants to complete the homely feel.

Coming to my principle of harmony—harmony with the environment holds up high for me. So, this home is environment-friendly and uses locally sourced materials and textiles. Our toiletries are organic and paraben-free; we use solar geysers and LED lighting. In fact, even some of the glassware in the bathroom is made from recycled beer bottles.

After growing up in London, I chose to settle in Goa and establish my company Vadgama Real Estate Developers here. (We’re now working on our third project here in Goa!) This penthouse is a reflection of my love for architecture and design.

Joe Vadgama’s penthouse is available for short-term leases on Airbnb. Click here for more information

There’s nothing that says traditional yet informal than having a swing inside a home! And while every person undoubtedly has an element in their home they adore, this one always leads to interesting results. 

Reminiscent of our childhood days, times spent with our loved ones and rooted in tradition, swings have always been a staple in Indian homes. However, with the rise of modern aesthetics, they’ve lost relevance.

We’re here to tell you that swings are back and are now more stylish than ever! Explore these homes that use swings to create the perfect balance between tradition and modernity…

NR Apartment by Studio Saransh

Most homes in Gujarat feature swings and this spacious four-bedroom apartment fashioned by Studio Saransh in Ahmedabad is no different. Helmed by lead architect Kaveesha Shah and designer Aashna Khetan, the 1,900 sq ft living room features an arresting, highly carved wooden swing with metal chains! Nearby is a brass and wood partition between the living and dining spaces, which balances the traditional design with its modern materiality.

An elegant home by SAGA Design

Partners Deval Shah and Mayur Gujare of SAGA Design have complemented the vintage Indian vernacular style of the living room of this residence with the help of a mostly minimalist swing. “The length of the living room needed a break from a regular seating arrangement,” avers the duo, further adding, “The swing was planned to break the formality of the space and accentuate the character of a free spirit in the confined language.” The simplicity of the swing, the baithak-styled sofa, the cabriole-legged, marble-top tables tautly balance a minimal narrative and sensitive composition.

Wabi Sabi home by Sathvikala Design Studio

Sathvika Ketha, founder and architectural designer of her namesake design studio, incorporated wabi sabi in this 2,500 sq ft apartment in Hyderabad. Her design for the living room includes age-old teak accents, modern rustic pots, wall textures, indoor plants, patterned flooring and earthy hues. To break the seriousness of the organically designed space, the designer has added a sleek and simplistic swing for a touch of fun! 

Prive by Pinakin Patel

When it comes to this villa in Alibaug, Pinakin Patel has brought everything down, not to the bare minimum, but to the absolutely essential. The property is also one of few that makes optimum use of its natural surroundings. Large pivot doors and windows open towards the northeast, offering a cool, sunlit view outside. This glass swing offers a spot for quiet contemplation, overlooking the lawn and is a perfect addition to this expansive home.

A tranquil duplex by Architecture Brio

This 3,000 sq ft, serene duplex for a couple and their son designed by Shefali Balwani and Robert Verrijt of Architecture Brio to be conspicuous for its nature-swamped, urban-styled interiors and construction. A breezy corner in the home is flanked with exposed brick pillars and textured green stone strip flooring. It is spruced with four symmetrically positioned, natural cane and cotton rope hanging lamps and outdoor furniture, including a swing from The Retyrement Plan.

A mansion in Dubai by SAK Designs

Uninterrupted views of the golf greens in Dubai’s Emirates Hills makes this home one of the most exclusive and coveted of its kind in Dubai. The staggering 29,000 sq ft residence is designed by Ashish Kesurvala and his team at SAK designs as a three-storeyed structure with a basement. The central courtyard features a swing set that’s suspended over chevron-patterned flooring tiles, making this corner perfect to relax in while offering stunning views!

Stripped Mobius by Matharoo Associates

“The house is named “Stripped Mobius”, a pun on the minimalistic approach to the design. We adhered to strict Vaastu guidelines to fulfil the client’s wishes and the resultant box-like structure was broken by juxtaposing large sweeping curves onto the composition,” says Gurjit Matharoo. An ode to the Brutalist movement, this Ahmedabad home features rectangular blocks that are parallel to each other and oriented along the north-south axis, where a temple and large shaded verandahs open to gardens. A yellow-tinted swing is seen here, adding a touch of tradition amid the bold interiors.

When Mumbai-based Bhavya Parekh and Nirav Nirmal of Pan Design Studio met with the well-travelled inhabitants of this 1,700 sq ft home, their discussions led to the renovation of Kamdar House—a cove that boasts pristine tones and a mid-century Bombay aesthetic.

The home is enchanting for its use of organically sourced materials, contemporary furniture, restrained palette and neutral hues with accents of black, marble and teakwood. “Experimentation was key. It easily enabled practical functionality, enhanced the lifestyle experience and, above all, helped us stay true to our aesthetic sensibility,” shares Nirmal.

The designer duo completely reshuffled the home’s layout, and transformed the formal and intimate areas to create space and a seamless blend of design.

The home opens up from the unconventional, rectangular arch-shaped main door. It is finished in an open-grain oak veneer and painted in the shade of sage. Just inside, a black marble waterbody lies on the left and two similar arches in white marble are seen. While the left features wooden shutters and louvred panel treatment, the right archway leads into the house.

A walk into the residence reveals a C-shaped multipurpose storage unit, a kitchen with pantry and then, a storeroom. Parallel counters in an exquisite olive green granite, mined from southern India, are perfect for the farmhouse-style kitchen sink. Nearby is a prayer space and the dining area. The latter houses a bespoke ensemble—the table is crafted from a solid tree live edge wood and paired with customised black dining chairs for a wabi sabi effect.

Inspired by the lobbies of old buildings, artist Vishwa Shroff’s Series of Illustrations of Staircases adds character to the dining space. A bench, attached to the wall nearest to the window, becomes  a cosy reading nook with a marble bookcase. And behind the shelf is a sliding door that conceals the television. This long, teak-finished media unit divides the dining from the living space.

The Playful Pachyderm metallic elephant figurine by Arzan Khambatta grabs attention in the living space, which is furnished using bespoke olive green bucket chairs, a customised pink sofa and a 1930s-inspired centre table produced by Pan Design Studio. A POD (Pieces of Desire) swing by Nishita Kamdar and Veeram Shah is perfect to lounge in. 

Interestingly, a crockery unit separates the bedrooms belonging to the homeowners’ son and daughter. The son’s space is playful with an almost industrial style—his study desk is made out of cricket stumps and the wardrobe is made to look like a shipping container. Nirmal and Parekh have perfectly captured the young man’s love of golf with a circular grid on the wall that holds golf ball depressions and embossments. 

In contrast to the industrial vibe, the daughter’s room is rather chic and contemporary with a four-poster bed. One of the key highlights is the bedside wall that is entirely done up in fire bricks and painted white for a brick wall effect. “We designed the wardrobe with steel shutters, powder-coated in white, with finely ribbed glass, which was quite a challenge to pull off!” shares Parekh. A study desk is seen with a custom-made cane chair, inspired by Pierre Jeanneret.

While the son and daughter’s boudoirs are contrasting. Their ensuite bathrooms have one thing in common—tiles. The son’s uses subway tiles that are paired with black granite and a black powder-coated door, while the daughter’s uses Spanish handmade tiles, which is matched with a single colour mosaic on the floor.

Our favourite space is the elegant master bedroom that has a teak bed with a unique basket weave headboard. Opposite it is a matte black granite fireplace feature with charcoal-hued fire bricks, which is actually a TV unit. Aside from the diverse wardrobes for the couple, blue floral chandeliers by Arjun Rathi are also seen here. 

Tiles are seen in the homeowner’s ensuite facility too. These mimic a light grey concrete finish and offset the custom-made, mosaic-finished flooring in a Santorini blue hue. The bathroom partition is specially designed as a seamless checkered metal paint fluted glass structure and the shower is equipped with industrial-styled fittings in antique brass finish. 

“We enjoyed designing the whole home. It was a very cohesive and continuous implementation. Giving an individual identity to every room yet maintaining the design continuity was the challenge,” concludes the duo.

The Long House is simply named for the fact that it’s a combination of two homes to make one. Having worked with the homeowners before, Mumbai-based Anushka Shetty has conceptualised the residence with one thing in mind—the manipulation and reflection of sunlight, especially considering it is cocooned by trees.

“The apartment lies on the first floor of an old building in Mumbai. It didn’t come with high ceilings or large windows, so we based our entire design on filtering ample sunlight into the home,” explains Shetty.

To create more space, the home is redesigned to have three bedrooms and an expansive living room, where an adjoining bar and dining area is accommodated. The designer’s raison d’etre was to avoid visual clutter because of the narrow site. 

The mood-based home is light and airy. It boasts a unified design language that’s infused with a play of subtle colours and textures. Bold forms and clean lines are seen throughout with a neutral-toned material palette of oak wood, textured stone walls, grey and white marble, linen wallpapers and more. A pop is added through colours such as dusty rose, cyan, olive and rust seen on handpicked art and artefacts.

An arresting arched wall separates the living and bar areas. Oakwood panelling conceals the room’s storage spaces and an abstract painting is mounted on the centre-most panel. A bespoke ribbed console divides the dining from the living, which is an expansive space featuring a large sectional sofa and a concealed TV unit in black glass.

The living room lies at the heart of the house and a long passageway runs on either side. The kitchen and master suite lie on the right of the hearth, while on the left are the powder bathroom, daughters’ and guest rooms. The kitchen is done up in glass and lacquer in white and taupe, paired with cement tiles from Bharat Floorings and a handmade subway taupe dado tile. 

The custom-designed master bed is a cyan quilted, softly winged element that breaks the monotony of the neutral colours seen in the rest of the house. It greets us with an entry to the walk-in closet. Nearby is an oakwood panel that conceals the ensuite facility.

Shetty says the master bedroom “was fun to create because of its many clever design interventions such as the plug-in bench seating and the outdoor lounge space, which I really loved designing especially because such features make a space more exciting to the user and are perfect for downtime.”

The powder room is bold with chevron-patterned flooring in black Marquina and white Bianco Oro marble. Next in the hallway is the daughters’ bedroom, which features a walk-in wardrobe and an ensuite, dusty pink bathroom, which is nothing if not chic! 

The daughters’ room also features a bed back with a ribbed panel. This acts as an indirect source of light washing the rose coloured stucco wall. Balancing this is a balcony-turned-study nook, which brings natural light in.

The last door on the left passage is the guest room, which is rather quaint in comparison with the others. It is washed in muted tones that align with the theme of the house.

“My design philosophy is to avoid visual clutter and unnecessarily or over-complicated detailing. I like to practice restraint while designing such that only a few masterstrokes speak volumes and eventually result in understated elegance,” concludes Shetty.

When asked about her experience of designing her own home in Mumbai, Kumpal Vaid of Purple Backyard says, “Designing it is a memory I’ll always cherish. It’s a culmination of two forces and an amalgamation of aesthetics. I’m more into muted tones, whites and neutrals, while my husband enjoys a bit of colour, so we had to find a balance.”

The one thing they did agree on was to have an open layout for the 850 sq ft apartment such that the space is continually enriched as they go through life and make memories together.

Vaid not just balanced the contrasting choices of hues but also created a design framework of minimalism layered with inspiring textures.

The material palette is dominated by timber in varying textures, brass accents and organic fibres such as linen and cotton. It is paired with soothing shades of white, wood, blues and (surprisingly) black. 

The first space that opens up on entering the home is a serene lounge, followed by a snug dining nook on its right. Blue units feature on either side of the dining ensemble, which is inspired by one of Vaid’s favourite cafes.

“The dining nook is one of my favourite places to work from. It’s cosy, comfortable and creates an ‘out-of-home’ conversational and quaint vibe. I’m glad that both of us always dreamed of having a nook rather than a conventional dining area,” shares Vaid. 

The entire home is drenched in soft daylight, owing to its north-facing orientation. So, Vaid has used light linen curtains with convenient blackout rollers to accentuate this positive attribute.

A blend of mid-century influences reveals itself in the bedroom, where a bold wardrobe is in use. Aside from it, the space is simplistic and tranquil with shutters designed of bleached wood and whitewash being the prevailing colour on the furniture.

Another treasured space, Vaid says, is the guest room. It serves multiple functions—ranging from her home office, her husband’s music room, a ‘me’ time room and even a home gym. 

“It’s a personal space that we can’t stop romanticising, I guess, and it breaks away from the realm of trends or themes. It has a lived-in vibe and is constantly evolving, so let’s see what it ends up looking like in the years to come,” concludes Vaid. 

The founder and executive director of India Circus, a Godrej venture is at an all-time high. Literally and figuratively. Alongside the launch of the limited edition Krsnaa Mehta Signature Homes by U&Us, Krsnaa Mehta also moved to the 52nd floor of the iconic Lodha Park in Mumbai.

His 2,000 sq ft cove is luxurious and contrasts Mehta’s previous home design schemes. “It is a lot more muted in terms of wall colours and textures, and I’ve used hues such as black, military green and blue with burnt lavender to make it noteworthy,” shares Mehta. 

Mehta decided to break down one of the four bedrooms in this home and transformed it into a den of sorts for entertaining and downtime.

Fashioned with walls ranging from deep tones to burnt pastels, the material palette is matte-finished in terms of textures with a melange of handmade elements.

At the very entrance, we’re greeted with panoramic views of the city. And we get a peek into the expansive living and dining areas that are decorated with a number of artefacts from Mehta’s personal collection.

About the design, Mehta says, “I enjoyed working on the living room and its extension—the den. I knew that these spaces would be experienced by visitors, so it has been realised to be warm, enveloping them with a feeling of pure comfort and bliss.”

A hallway leads off to connect to the other sections of the home—the media, guest and master rooms. 

Even though Mehta veers away to create a whole new home with different features, the one element that is obvious even in this one is his love for Indian arts and crafts. And this home truly captures the essence of contemporary modern India in its design.

“I’ve used classic tapestries and textiles as well as artworks by leading Indian artists. In that sense, the space symbolises our tradition. From the moment you walk in, the home greets you with multiple regional arts and crafts from across the country, alongside some artefacts from Bhutan,” divulges Mehta.

“My design philosophy is to wow, create wonderment and mystery. I believe in transcribing the essence of India into a colourful experience and use local inspirations dramatically with nuanced heritage designs,” concludes the designer.

Scroll to see more images from Krsnaa Mehta’s home in Mumbai…