Terrariums, teak and the city

We Design Studio brings the outdoors inside a Mumbai home

28 Apr 2025

Enter this home in Mumbai and a stunning glass-walled terrarium drapes the length of the corridor, serving as a sculptural symbol that bridges the interiors with nature. A pared back palette, an intriguing medley of materials, clean lines and open layouts. Minimalism as a concept indicates a joyous diversion from clutter and trends by surrounding ourselves with things that truly matter. From our treasured collections of trinkets and art, the objects we can’t part with, to the furniture that fits effortlessly into our daily hum, a sense of being home echoes the most here. At this expansive 4,000 sq.ft home in Mumbai dubbed West Coast Residence, Nupur Shah, Saahil Parikh and Saahil Chhaya of We Design Studio make a compelling argument for minimalism with a lens of living the city life. Trick is for all you subtract, you add. This home just gets the recipe right: part art, part warmth, part nature and three furry cats — it’s the antidote to cookie-cutter minimalism.

"The project began by reimagining two bare-shell apartments within a high-rise, into an expansive six-bedroom sanctuary tailored to the needs of its owners, including their three cats" — Nupur Shah and Saahil Parikh

The geometry of the study room: a larger-than-life bookshelf in bold squares contrasts with the softer shapes of the wooden furniture; Photography by Studio Kunal Bhatia

BARE NECESSITIES

“The project began by reimagining two bare-shell apartments within a high-rise into a six-bedroom sanctuary tailored to the needs of the family and their three cats,” share principal architects Nupur and Saahil. The keywords being sprawling yet intimately personal. The transformation speaks through a familiar and comfortable space — fluted glass pocket doors that disappear into the walls, a sculptural terrarium filling the corridor with life, and balconies that open up to the endless sea, letting the sky breathe into the home.

Recycled Burma teak leads the material narrative, runs through the floors, doors and bespoke furniture, giving every piece a depth. While exotic granites and marble lend a more luxurious touch to the more intimate spaces. Each material is chosen with care and rooms flow into each other naturally, as if they were always meant to be this way, marking a deliberate sense of comfort.

A striking glass-walled terrarium punctuates one side of the corridor leading to the master bedrooms, while the opposite wall remains a pristine canvas, adorned with vibrant frames of contemporary Indian art; Photography by Studio Kunal Bhatia

WHAT MAKES WARMTH?

A walk through this home feels like a kaali peeli ride through Bombay– seaside, art, cafes and speakeasies. It’s not just sleek and curated, but carries an undercurrent of warmth and life, as though it’s lived in and loved. The recycled Burma teak underfoot, rich with history, evokes the old buildings of Colaba, sagging under the weight of memories, timeless. The kitchen and the coffee bar finished with exotic granite are pure Bandra cafe buzz. And then there’s the cigar-lounge-inspired lift lobby — a nod to Bombay’s speakeasy secrets — warm, intimate, lit by dim amber tones.

But there’s something more here: the art adorning the crispy white walls, a collection of contemporary Indian pieces, it captures the pulse of Kala Ghoda galleries and Bandra’s ever-vibrant art scene. These works breathe life into the space, reminding you of the eclectic charm and spirited creativity that fill Bombay’s streets. From the sea-facing balconies with their panoramic views to the three cats lounging in sunlit corners, this is a home that feels just like the city.

Curios and books are scattered throughout the study. A lifelike cat trinket perches atop the wooden desk, adding a playful yet personal touch to the space; Photography by Studio Kunal Bhatia

In the bedroom, Indian domesticity softly unfolds in the floral bed drapery that adds a touch of warmth, while art above the headboard brings a layer of personal narrative to the space, seamlessly blending tradition with contemporary comfort; Photography by Studio Kunal Bhatia

Floor-to-ceiling windows? Check, because sunlight and sea views for days. Floor-to-ceiling bookshelf? Check, tucked in a cosy study wrapped in supple whites and warm teak. And to follow suite: floor-to-ceiling terrarium. Soft olive and moss, earthy tones spill into the space as the glass-walled terrarium unfurls along the corridor. It’s not just greenery, it’s a miniature ecosystem that with each gentle sway of the plants brings the outdoors inside. It offers an organic counterpoint to the minimalistic design, carrying a calming presence, not demanding attention but quietly adding a touch of life and freshness to the sleek lines of the apartment.

“West Coast Residence is a celebration of material authenticity, refined craftsmanship and spatial fluidity,” share Nupur and Saahil. Burma teak floors ground the home in warmth, spaces transition seamlessly stitched together by fluted glass doors and the living heart of a terrarium. Here, old Bombay charm meets modern-day elegance, like the rhythm of an RD Burman track stuck in your head during peak traffic hours — that sweet, swaying motion between nostalgia and the city’s relentless energy.