A Celestial Apartment in the City
This Mumbai home by White Luxury Studio is inspired by the moon and all its phases
00In Mumbai's upscale Hiranandani neighbourhood, this apartment is far removed from the hustle and bustle of the city. 'The client wanted a modern, minimalist aesthetic rooted in high function and low maintenance,' say Raj and Roshan Tatia, co-founders and principal designers of White Luxury Studio, who were brought on board by the homeowners to help give the property a facelift.
With moon-inspired forms and artworks and pearlescent finishes, the home is characterised by cosmic references. 'The living room features bespoke resin art depicting the various phases of the moon, while graphic abstractions in the master bedroom show the moon moving through the sky,' explains Raj of the home's celestial narrative, which he and Roshan balanced with earthy elements like bamboo-panelled walls, cane pendants, a natural grain dining table and wooden accents. But the designers were careful not to overwhelm the home’s limited footprint. ‘Given that it is a typical Mumbai apartment and is compact in size, we used reflective surfaces to augment the sense of volume. In the dining room, for example, we installed this larger than life wall mirror,’ he says.
Though there’s an overarching theme, each bedroom has a distinct visual identity. While the master suite is restrained to a palette of beige and wood, the guest room features prints and textures like louvred wardrobes and foliated wallpaper. 'We gave the master bedroom classic appeal with white wainscoting and herringbone flooring,' says Roshan. ‘And for the guest bedroom, we took inspiration from nature. We wanted to create a fresh living environment with invigorating colours and plenty of natural light and indoor plants.’ The third bedroom, on the other hand, has rich cocoa tones that backdrop pockets of green. 'The velvet-like headboard is almost camouflaged against the grooved backdrop, standing out only because of its contrasting texture,' he notes.
When it came to storage and appliances, the duo was careful about straddling form and function — the television, for example, is concealed in a black back-painted glass box to hide the wiring. Similarly, in the kitchen they kept the palette to a bare minimum, favouring simple, monochrome subway tiles. ‘And yet, unassuming as it is, it’s the altar that is the centrepiece of the home,’ Raj says. ‘Tucked away inside a recess and steeped in subtle tones, the kitchen is a peaceful sanctum that brings the family together.’
Text / Vaishnavi Nayel Talawadekar
Images / Yadnyesh Joshi
