A slice of Japan in Mumbai

Between balconies and biophilia, Agavi Vora Design Studio redefines quiet luxury at a Vikhroli home

11 May 2026

Ask any designer what their major pet peeve is, and chances are, it’s the unrealistic Pinterest-y references that bear little to no resemblance to reality. Refreshingly, for a home dubbed Komorebi, designed by Agavi Vora, the brief (spared of exhausted aesthetics) did not emerge as a byproduct of quixotic scrolling, but cognitive consonance instead. “The family did not arrive with trends or fixed visual references, but with a clear emotional intent,” reveals Agavi, principal designer, Agavi Vora Design Studio (AVDS).

The residents — a family of three generations and a child — carried an affinity towards a minimalistic home that would maximise sunlight, inundated with shared corners and memories. This puts into perspective the Japanese name Komorebi, which comes with full disclosure on the doctrines guiding the space, as it translates to sunlight filtering through trees.

“Nature and light form the core of Komorebi. The uninterrupted green views, shifting daylight, and the idea of openness guided every spatial decision”

Agavi Vora

Styling by Riddhika Jesrani; Photography by @thekuber @evolve.studio_

Here Comes The Sun

“They placed immense trust in the process, giving us the freedom to shape the home based on how it should feel rather than how it should look.” The result? A 1,150 sq ft apartment in Vikhroli featuring three bedrooms, a kitchen, a living and dining space, a balcony, and three bathrooms.

Verdant vistas of this neighbourhood in Mumbai, coupled with the owners’ penchant for travel and art, evolved into a spatial utopia, with nuanced nods to Japan, the Mediterranean, and the outdoors. Immune to manufactured artistry, the space’s strongest Japanese influence is not the bamboo blind or nomenclature, but rather its commitment to creative ingenuity.

Subtly and silently, the home unravels itself, marked by textural and material variations, instead of visual chaos. While white lime-plastered walls lend depth, oak poses as the primary veneer, painting a muted image dominated by earthy hues. For the private powder bathroom, sunset turns muse with micro-concrete, marble flooring, and upcycled fluting details. Elsewhere, across the space, art takes precedence over all else, with meaningful elements that turn mindful, including a Japanese-inspired suji screen bar and sculptural micro-concrete forms on the structural column.

The artisanal hanging fabric light by Radhika Sanghavi commands attention in the dining space, which includes a marble tabletop with fluted oak; Styling by Riddhika Jesrani; Photography by @thekuber @evolve.studio_

Inside the bedroom, two hanging lights flank each side of the bed, which features tan-toned cushions by Sarita Handa. Behind, a wall piece by Cultivate Art makes for a striking addition; Styling by Riddhika Jesrani; Photography by @thekuber @evolve.studio_

No Room For Error

The standout spaces, though, are the son’s bedroom and balcony, the latter being an architectural oddity in Mumbai. For the son’s room, a compact footprint demanded perfection per square foot. “It needed to accommodate a bed, study, wardrobe, ample toy storage, and space to play, without feeling cluttered,” shares Agavi.

Even so, intentional layering with soft blue checks, stripes and oak detailing helped maintain the crisp synergy of the home, with zero compromises on playfulness. The balcony, meanwhile, turned into a semi-alfresco haven. “It was the space we enjoyed designing the most. While there was an initial thought of extending the living room into it, we felt strongly about retaining it as a distinct yet layered zone,” reveals Vora.

Opting for the best of both inner and outer worlds, a sleek synchro sliding divider was incorporated for a semi-al fresco feel. Pockets of green, bamboo blinds and a folding director’s chair make made for truly avant-garde additions. A bit of wabi-sabi and a whole lot of kanso, Komorebi truly feels like coming home.