Rewritten in light and layers

Rohit Bhoite House of Design imagines a Mumbai home with a sculptural calm

12 Jun 2025

Homes carry stories in their corners, history in their walls and quiet potential in their bones. Tucked in the neighbourhood of Chembur inside a gated lane in Mumbai, this 4,800 sq ft bungalow is exactly that.

When Rohit Bhoite of his eponymous Rohit Bhoite House of Design walked into the three-storey home, he was met with the potential of carving an artful living out of a pre-existing shell. The floor plan was a riddle. Natural light could hardly be seen or felt, much like the elusive Mumbai winter. But the family saw past the disorder. They aspired for calm and soul; for a home that felt lived in.

Subtle pops of colour add contrast to the otherwise muted space; Photography by Anuja Kambli

Whimsy can be sophisticated, too

The journey begins at the blue lacquered front door opening into a foyer grounded by graphic inlay flooring and a vintage British-print sofa. In the living room, warm greys keep things sophisticated, while pop-coloured accents like the sculptural chandelier and green table lamps break the stillness just enough.

The dining room hits a perfect note of clean symmetry and natural light elevated by the pièce de résistance: the Illan Suspension Chandelier by Zsuzsanna Horvath, available at AUX Home. It floats above the table like a piece of kinetic art, adding just the right kind of ethereal drama.

Upstairs, the daughter’s bedroom feels like a page out of a design magazine — warm, textural and inspiring with a sculpted ceiling, terracotta headboard and copper-drenched walk-in wardrobe.

The son’s room gets its own moody moment with deep blues, while the master suite leans into understated luxury. And the powder bathroom? Let’s just say if Wes Anderson had a mood board, this would be pinned repeatedly: marble-clad, twisting pedestal basin and a golden figurine vase that adds some theatrical glamour.

Thoughtfully chosen details make the space feel personal and polished; Photography by Anuja Kambli

A terracotta-hued headboard and coordinated colours and textures lends an easy mood to the daughter’s bedroom; Photography by Anuja Kambli

Whisper of greys and more

Anchored to a palette of warm greys, soft ash and moody charcoal, the space creates a tonal cocoon. But just when you’re lulled into the monochrome rhythm, a bolt of drama cuts through.

The deep wine velvet sofa reclining in the media room is equal parts lounge and leading star. In the daughter’s walk-in, copper-textured walls warm the space like a sunlit memory. A cobalt armchair commands attention in the most casual way while an ochre artwork delivers just the right amount of visual appeal. And then there’s the red chandelier swirling over the stairwell like a couture gown caught mid-twirl. As Rohit says, “We focused on turning constraints into creative opportunities, introducing clever storage, reflective surfaces and architectural interventions that elevated the space.”

Built on feeling, not just floor plans

This wasn’t a paint-by-numbers redesign. It was emotion-first. The family didn’t just want another Pinterest-worthy home — they wanted to feel something. And that emotional architecture is baked into every surface. Each space flows into the next, filled with curved mirrors, natural textures and moments of pause. According to Rohit, “Every element was curated with intention: fewer pieces, but with more impact.”

Under Rohit Bhoite’s quiet orchestration, this home in Mumbai is more than a reimagination. It is a reinvention, a design crescendo where structure meets soul and every detail plays its part in perfect harmony.