Purple Backyard proves beige is anything but boring within a home in Mumbai

Within a concrete jungle like Mumbai, sanctuaries are seldom born — they are made and painstakingly so. Amongst its dotted cityscape lies a home named Kanso, inundated in shades of beige with soft, curving corners. The sea-facing home designed by Purple Backyard stretches over 4,000 sq ft, offering a reclusive escape from the city. Despite […]

26 Jun 2024

Chiransha Prasad

Within a concrete jungle like Mumbai, sanctuaries are seldom born — they are made and painstakingly so. Amongst its dotted cityscape lies a home named Kanso, inundated in shades of beige with soft, curving corners. The sea-facing home designed by Purple Backyard stretches over 4,000 sq ft, offering a reclusive escape from the city. Despite being someone who keenly adores being outdoors, I suddenly see the appeal of staying in.

Named after one of the seven Zen principles espoused by the Japanese, the concept of Kanso encourages simplicity — despite the process of designing a home being anything but. Where does one begin? Kumpal Vaid, founder and principal designer of Purple Backyard, boils it all down to one belief she holds dear. She states “It was about how simply we can build a space that feels like home, a place that you want to come back to every day and sort of lounge around.”

Homes are complex, even if the choices are simple

More than adhering to an aesthetic or a persona, the home is peppered with knick-knacks collected from their various travels, cleverly weaved in with the monochromatic palette.“We don’t get into homes from sticking to the overarching theme to the point where it just becomes very clinical. It has to stay in the realm of a home. It’s not going to ever be perfect,” Kumpal smiles. Embracing imperfection not only aligns with the concept of Kanso, but every detail askew (not that we could spot any) or texture that goes against the grain only adds to its charm. Plus we have it on good authority that the sunsets viewed from the deck are truly divine — a compelling point in its favour.

Kumpal Vaid, founder and principal designer at Purple Backyard — Tonal textures emerge across the space in abundance. The fabrics employed for the curtains are from The Pure Concept, while the linen is from Sarita Handa and Pottery Barn. A painting by Altrove hangs on the wall. The room is illuminated by Abner and automated by Digital Dreams; Photography by Ishita Sitwala

Going against the grain

The home reveals itself languidly to those who venture within. Sharing halves with the living room, the dining space features thoughtfully curated decor with a pinch of sentimentality. An abstract reinterpretation of Van Gogh’s The Starry Night hangs on the wall, as the original masterpiece was close to the homeowners’ hearts. A hand-embroidered lighting fixture above the marble table offers a contemporary take on traditional Indian motifs and decor.

The beige hallway connects all rooms within the home. The artwork at the very end is by Rajnish Chhanesh (Graph, Gouache on paper) sourced by Cultivate Art. Framed pieces from ZA Art decorate the sides; Photography by Ishita Sitwala

A white sliding partition offers privacy, separating the family’s rooms from the living space. Beyond it lies the hallway that connects the entire home — the metaphorical spine that holds all rooms together. Two bedrooms face the sea and a third one faces away, next to a den containing a desk and a chair. Each space eschews predictability, unique in its own right.

The roof of the bedroom lies at a slant, built to accommodate the varying roof height. Upholstered and draped with fabrics by The Pure Concept and linen from Sarita Handa, the room’s cosiness intensifies. The general lighting is by Abner; Photography by Ishita Sitwala

Elaborating further on the process, Kumpal explains “Homes are complex, even if the choices are simple. This house is about the three people living in it. So there’s a lot of overlap, there’s a lot of sharing. We were very mindful of decoding each personality and their private spaces, like their bedrooms having their own sensibilities in terms of tonalities and textures.” As a result, each of the three bedrooms sports a distinctive material palette, imbued with bursts of colour that make a stronger appearance within their private confines. A crowd favourite, the lush deck is the ideal place for a much-needed tete-a-tete. Equipped with ample seating, a cleverly placed bar and a large swing smack in the middle, it paints a picture-perfect backdrop for any gathering or moments of quiet solitude.

The den features a cosy amalgamation of textures, materialising itself through layered rugs from Loops by LJ and textured wallpaper by The Pure Concept. The study table is by The Rocking Chair, while the chair is from Spin. The avant-garde floor lamp is called Lightbone, crafted by Farg & Blanche for Oblure; Photography by Ishita Sitwala

Layered nuances

Enshrouded in tonal textures that masterfully pivot from beige to black, the home plays with the concept of yin and yang. Red emerges as a pivotal break from both hues, a central character that makes itself known through varying doses. “While as a studio, we do like the idea of simplicity and celebrating simplicity but we are avant-garde in our own manner. We are bold in our own manner. And I don’t think we shy away from using a strong sense of black,” emphasises Kumpal.

A cane bench by The Wicker Story sits in the living space, next to a black vase by PB Home. The lighting fixtures are from Casegoods, while the Veneer is from Veneer Spot; Photography by Ishita Sitwala

Granite countertops in the kitchen, Basalt in the bathroom and Kota stone throughout have been paired with Italian marble — an outlier amongst an array of stones abundant across India. Most of the hardware retains its original form, which is silver in colour. A metallic accent featured across various topologies, it adheres to the cool colour palette with ease.

Kumpal Vaid, founder and principal designer at Purple Backyard, beams atop a custom swing by The Rocking Chair in the deck; Photography by Ishita Sitwala

Touch: and you will feel an array of textures inlaid across the home where you least expect it. Hear: as the sound of a fountain gushing with water outside emerges bashfully within, leaves rustling joyfully in the stone-hued deck. See: as the story of a family and their lives emerges as plain as day, manifesting in the form of sentimental knickknacks and pictures that lovingly adorn the walls. Homes bear silent witness to the joys, triumphs and challenges of a family, shaped and made richer by those who live within. The Kanso home is an exercise that rings true to this very realisation, memorialising and honouring its residents through every detail — big and small.

Now read: The Basalt Project in Pune By Mind Manifestation Brims With Simplicity Within Its Grounding Interiors