As peaceful as an afternoon siesta

Shraddha Shah of Olive Roof creates a home in Mumbai reminiscent of the dreamy daze that settles in after a nap at dusk

07 Mar 2026

Have you ever woken up from an afternoon slumber so comforting that it almost feels like the next day? The dusk light filtering in through the sheers, playing pretend as dawn with a serene daze filling the air. If that same emotion could be condensed into a space, it would look a lot like what Shraddha Shah brings to a 1,400 sq ft home in Mumbai. As the founder of Olive Roof, when she was approached by the homeowner, Sohini, they decided to forego chasing trends and instead channel a calm undercurrent.

“Drawing from the couple’s homes in Andheri and Kolkata, we brought a few meaningful pieces they’ve collected over the years into the BKC apartment,” says Shraddha. The story of these objects is what guided the direction. Well, that — and travel. When Sohini first reached out to Shraddha, both were separated by land and ocean. While Sohini was in France, Shraddha was away in Hong Kong. That globe-trotting spirit finds a voice in the choice of materials, colour palette and artwork.

“Most of my projects usually feature a lot of floral and botanical elements throughout the home. This one, however, takes a slightly different route — with more plain, tactile wall textures and minimal use of floral prints, limited to soft furnishings and artwork”

Shraddha Shah

(L to R) Carpet on the living room floor is by Jaipur Rugs. The artwork above the bench is by Nirupa Rao; Dining chairs are made by Olive Roof and the lamps from The Kaleido Store; The bench cushion in Indian chintz fabric is from Baro Market and cast aluminium coffee table from Beruru; Photography by Vineet Velandy

UNEXPECTED RED THEORY

After Sohini and Shraddha’s conversation, the latter decided to take an approach that was a detour from the studio’s typical design language. “Most of my projects usually feature a lot of floral and botanical elements throughout the home,” says the founder of Olive Roof, “This one, however, takes a slightly different route — with more plain, tactile wall textures and minimal use of floral prints, limited to soft furnishings and artwork.”

Reclaimed wooden rafters and walls coated in lime in the living room overlook a bijou (and coveted) balcony. The flooring of the dining space is dotted with jewel-like octagons, finding a geometric reflection in the wooden ceiling above. However, in this sea of calm, there is also an element of playfulness. A pop of red appears in the kitchen door. But it was no last-minute addition or attempt to liven up a neutral space. “This was one of the first design decisions we made,” Shraddha tells us. The richness of the hue balances the green-stained wood in the family room, creating a contrasting shift of complementary colours.

The red kitchen Door is painted in the shade Gunter Chilli from Birla Opus; Photography by Vineet Velandy

(L to R) Artwork on the wall is by Veenita Chendvankar, the wall lamp is from The Kaleido Store, cushion from Tula Home and the furnishings for the curtain and armchair are from Cotton and Satins; The wallpaper is from Boråstapeter and the rug from Obeetee. The artwork on the right is from Baro Art Artwork and on left is Poumelin Richard’s work from Galerie d'art Carré d'artistes. The bedside table is made by Olive Roof; The furniture is made by Olive Roof and the rug is from Aadyam Handwoven. The wallpaper is also from Boråstapeter and the end table from Spin; Photography by Vineet Velandy

COLLECTOR AT HEART

Each home responds to its residents, whether it is designed to do so intentionally or moulds around their lifestyle over the years. Here, the furniture anticipates the family’s love for reading. Informal benches across the space allow one to move around with a book, and daybeds make their way into all the bedrooms but the master. “Since both the kids study overseas, Sohini and her husband, Biswa, happily took the liberty of calling dibs on each room for their quiet reading and working hours,” adds Shraddha.

Another interest that captures the homeowners is their love for art. Arunima Choudhry’s Dawn graces the living room wall. Sukraat’s woodblock artwork Marco Polo keeps it company. A work that is especially close to Sohini is Veenita Chendvankar’s Swapna Sundari, which is given pride of place in the master bedroom, right above a plush armchair and beside a generous window. Between the scale, the treatment of daylight, and the pockets of quiet, the residence sits somewhere between a still from a dream and a lived-in sanctuary. Sometimes, the most peaceful homes do not rely on dramatic gestures but instead aim to resonate deeply with the people who reside in them. They do not change the way the residents live, but through small, mindful gestures that bring joy to the everyday.