A South Mumbai home that blends Japandi and mid-century modern design

While the desire for an immersive, contemplative ambience was one reason for converting the 2BHK apartment into a 1BHK one, the fact that the couple had other apartments in the same building also made this transformation functionally viable. “For guests, the clients have a bigger home in the same building. There they did not need a full-fledged dining space, for instance. A breakfast counter was enough. This was to be their primary personal space,” the designer reasons.

Also read: A South Mumbai home that’s defined by a seamless blend of the old and the new

Before she could embark on any spatial re-sculpting, however, Savani made sure she had the necessary structural clearances for the apartment, which was housed in an old, almost-heritage, art deco building. That done, now, half of the new program comprises a living room and kitchen, while the other half is taken up by a suite-like space with a sleeping area connected to an expansive walk-in wardrobe that houses the couple’s appreciably large collection of fashion-wear, footwear and accessories. It also segues into tiny nursery nook, so that the young parents can be connected to their newborn at the end of the day as well.

Stylistically, the narrative treads an eclectic path: a mix of Japanese and Scandinavian sensibilities, combined with a touch of modern mid-century style home. “Timeless with a dash of trendy” is how Savani encapsulates the visual expression, which is mainly articulated using natural oak veneer, PU finish and cane.

“In this project, we judiciously used solids and intentionally avoided too many patterns as they tend to make things busy. We also bought in a combination of natural and self-textured materials, with pops of colour/pattern here and there to make the house look modern and clutter-free.” The balance of the old and new is seen both in furniture elements as well as finishes. The furniture features a mix of updated heirloom pieces and new designs, while distressed finishes contrast with a super matte PU surfaces. The result? Old Bombay flows into modern Mumbai, creating a characterful mix—which is just what the home-owners wanted!

Also read: Designer Sarah Sham’s Mumbai home breathes new life into a heritage structure