The weight of warmth

Studio Kreate’s Mumbai home draws its rhythm from material, structure and softness

18 Nov 2025

The theory of sameness is contradicted at this Mumbai home through materials, colours and textures. As Sejal Shah, lead architect at Studio Kreate, the design studio behind the home, recalls, “Our initial design discussions with the family revealed their clear vision for a home with warmth and character.”

That intent runs across this home. Rattan and cane lend earthy tactility, polished stone and wood bring a grounding weight and fabrics like plush velvets and soft linens punctuate the palette. Carpets with intricate weaves, artful accents tucked into corners and beautiful furnishings, all contribute to a sense of warmth. Each room carries its own hue and character, yet the home feels cohesive.

Stone, wood and the soft between

As you step into the living room, it cocoons you into a world of art, snug seating and generous doses of warmth. Underfoot, a cool stoned-tiled floor anchors the space, its cold current interrupted by a dense woven rug that marks the seating zone. Overhead, exposed woven beams give the ceiling weight, their grains add a touch of warmth against the stone below. The seating gathers around a low, wooden coffee table: a brick-red velvet-clad sofa facing a creamy, coarse-textured couch and a navy armchair in between the two, by the window.

"Our initial design discussions with the family revealed their clear vision for a home with warmth and character"

Sejal Shah

In the living room, cool stone-finish tiles by Nexion ground the space, while a veneered statement wall by ZZ Décor and a Flexstone-clad accent surface lend warmth and texture. The wooden rafters and ceiling, also by ZZ Décor, echo that tactile warmth overhead, an overhead hanging installation adds visual depth. Sofas from In Home India, upholstered in Bharat Furnishings fabrics, gather over an Obeetee rug; Photography by Yadnyesh Joshi

Together they read as distinct pieces held in balance by scale and colour, rather than uniformity. Behind the couch, vertical wooden slats rise along the wall. Along the other side of the door, a low sideboard runs parallel to the seating, its doors faced in cane panels set within a wooden frame, the surface above it is smooth and dark. Atop of which, a striking painting, a few artsy baubles and a tall glass holding long-stemmed flowers lend to the character of the space. Close by is a small bar counter with three slender wooden tools marking the bar area. The overall feeling under the hands is one of careful juxtaposition: plush velvet against firm leather, cool stone against warm timber, rough-cut stone against finely finished cabinetry.

A curve in good taste

Just beyond the living area, the dining gathers itself under a soft plaster arch. “The most challenging aspect of the project was designing the dining table arch. Balancing its diameter to achieve the right scale and proportion was crucial, while also ensuring the banquette seating area was spacious enough to comfortably seat four people. Additionally, selecting the perfect texture paint and colour shade for the arch was essential to prevent it from overpowering the space,” shared Sejal Shah. Its surface catches light in the softest ways. Beneath it, a long wooden table stretches out. The chairs around it are shaped with the same generosity—curved backs, solid legs and seats upholstered in a pale, buttery leather. Along the back, a fixed banquette runs the length of the walls, its ridged upholstery tracing a subtle rhythm against the plaster. The tones stay within a family of warmth—beige, honey and soft brown—so the contours stand out and you can trace how every line blends towards ease. The stone is cool underfoot, good timber underhand, comfort with doses of warmth, so that the meals stretch languorously slowly.