Print exclusive: Step inside a theatrical age

Vaishali Kamdar and Komal Sanghavi Vasa unfurl Parisienne flair at a South Mumbai home

27 Jun 2025

Is this in Provence, South France? Have I teleported back to the beautiful origins of Art Deco or is this somewhere between the Regency-era Europe and the Mediterranean terrains? These thoughts without abandon kept my gaze affixed at the entryway as I stood inside this home in South Mumbai that unravelled alive with a multitude of expressions at the very onset. Think an enigmatic red artwork gently brushed with daylight; the disciplined linearity of black and white striped flooring, and the curved boundaries of soft-white walls meeting an ochre-toned dome on the oval ceiling above. For me, so much to see. For the home, so much to tell!

A short expedition up on the high-rise’s floors, the residence for a family of four stands emblematic of urban Indian homes going through a roaring renaissance — a decisive, almost inherent rejection of common, templatised Indian dwellings, fronted by Vaishali Kamdar of her eponymous firm and Komal Sanghavi Vasa of Gesamt Design, for whom this home is their fourth such collaboration. And fourth such triumph together to create something extraordinary. The 3,000 sq ft abode sheds the skin of overused checklists and parading of repetitive aesthetics.

“What would a Parisian respond to out of an Indian palette, this was the narrative that shaped the project” — Vaishali Kamdar

Jewel tones and art of planning
Instead, it subscribes itself to methodical planning, finding solutions that respond to utility as well as artistry, and regular conversations with the homeowners, drawing from their spiritual beliefs and cultural roots. “The family was keen on using classical overtones and detailing,” reveal Vaishali and Komal, who balance their individualistic yet unified ways of design experiments with grace. Wrapped in layered aesthetics, the focus is on jewel tones, exquisite materials and visual patterns of interest that declare the homeowners’ love for contemporary-classical interiors and collecting rare art and antiquities. “Imagine being a collector of Indian art in Paris. Let’s design the house through that lens. What would a Parisian respond to out of an Indian palette — this was the narrative that shaped the project,” says Vaishali.

Originally a four-bedroom layout, they rearranged it to a three-bedroom space with a generous alcove for a mandir, a small study, a dining room with two entryways, walk-in wardrobes, a powder bathroom and an expansive kitchen outfitted with an island. Look up when in the dining room, the ceiling cloaked in green matte velvet surprises you — like a frame borrowed from the theatrical, regal age of India. “This was actually inspired by Beyond Designs. I’d seen a red velvet ceiling done by Sachin Gupta somewhere and it stayed with me. Though of course, we brought our own interpretation to it,” tells Vaishali.

Moments of personalisation…
They recur at every turn here. “For instance, the generously proportioned kitchen with a central island is custom-designed and detailed from scratch, with an olive green cabinetry straight from the Provencal landscape, oatmeal-toned countertops, herringbone tiles and a brass accent backsplash. The kitchen is an extension of the design language of the home,” expresses Komal. Equally significant to the overall canvas are the clever storage areas. The goal for these elements is to remain discreet — only noticeable when one intentionally opens them.

“We incorporated hidden storage wherever possible. Like the curved partition, mirrored cabinets, the TV projector that disappears, a disguised bar to blend effortlessly with the aesthetics of the home,” divulges Komal. With space planning and Vastu at the core, one sees eclectic materiality perform in this home, from semi-precious stones like agate to hemp wallpaper, velvet, boucle, wood, brass and pyrite.

Beyond the design decisions, intuition played its part in making art a consequential identity of the home. Especially, the meditative artwork dubbed Naadi (A2) by Indian artist Kaimurai that drapes the living room wall like a focal point of curiosity. “We tried this artwork in several spaces. But when we put it here, it just felt like the jigsaw was complete,” says Vaishali.

While the spaces are designed with an artistic savoir-faire yet embedded in their individualistic stories, the designers observe that, “Not all art necessarily demands attention. Often, its quiet presence is enough. Unassuming and subtle, like a thoughtfully placed chair or a shadow in the room, an integral part of the whole.” And lest we forget, it is often expressions of quietude that make a home worth the homecoming.

Sourcing details
Furniture: DeMuro Das, Ravi Vazirani Design Studio, Yasanche, Artemide
Furnishings: Jaipur Rugs, Phillip Jeffries, Dialogues by Nirmals, Sarita Handa, H&M Homes, Jamini Ahluwalia, Bonnie & Saks, The Pure Concept
Lighting: Beyond Designs, Galerie Glustin, Paris, Porta Romana, Flos, Taherally’s, Hesperus, Terra Trading, Devon & Devon
Art & Decor: Pandit Khairnar, Rajendra Dhawan, Pottery Barn, Mahendra Doshi, Jain Handicrafts, Shruti Mahajan, Kaimurai, Atelier Ashiesh Shah, Marina Homes, 101 Copenhagen, Beyond Designs, Rumit Donga, Mood, Dubai, Vanshika Rathi, HB Studio, Vayu, Lalu Prasad Shaw, Kinokuniya
Finishes: FCML, Stonex
Sanitaryware: Gessi, FCML, Quarticia, A-Class Marble
Plants and planters: Passion Green Nursery, Mahendra Doshi