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White walls become canvases for quirky art, generous windows dance with soft linens and bold colours pop from handpicked furniture in this 1,200 sq ft home. Interior designer Darshini Shah describes this project as rustic but lavish. The weekend home of a Bollywood film producer, her client gave Darshini a detailed brief describing the atmosphere he wanted and what he liked doing.
The brief was to create an elegant space for entertaining; a hideout where he could find creative inspiration and leisure. Décor-wise, he wanted something classical but not stuffy. Warmth was key.
HOMEBOUND
As soon as you enter this flat in suburban Mumbai, you notice delightful details and textures. The residence with three bedrooms, a living space and a study, faces west, which means beautiful afternoon light and gorgeous views of extravagant sunsets. The view is brought in through generous floor-to-ceiling windows draped in sheer cotton curtains keeping the room airy and filtering in large doses of sunlight.
Throughout the home, Darshini effortlessly blends new and old. The doors are recycled pieces sourced from vintage furniture depots in Rajasthan. She didn’t want any 'new' furniture—every piece in the house had to have a story. “I love India-inspired designs and work with craftsmen from villages and small towns.
In the living room, patchwork armchairs sit playfully with a contemporary sage green sofa and vintage candle stands. These unexpected features add a layer of playfulness to the home.
The furniture and art for this home have been sourced from antique stores in Jodhpur and Kochi as well as flea markets such as Chor Bazaar in Mumbai,” she says. Textiles from various corners of the country find pride of place on windows, beds and even headrests. Cushions and lampshades are unmistakably made with handwoven and antique cloth. These outstanding pieces are partnered with simple light fixtures, so that nothing distracts from the collectibles in the room.
DIVIDED BUT TOGETHER
Darshini is a great believer in creating distinct zones within the home. She does this with the help of salon doors and rugs that help divide areas while retaining continuity. In smaller spaces she settles for wall niches instead of shelves for curios. This helps keep the space clutter-free while providing interesting nooks for artifacts. She also employs used window panels in strategic places throughout the home. These features allow the eye to travel, and this way, you don’t feel imprisoned in a room.
Darshini Shah has cleverly used salon doors and rugs to create a number of distinct zones within the home.
The living room gets beautiful afternoon light and gorgeous views of the sunset.
Artifacts, rustic frames and paintings strewn all over the house resonate with the producer’s interest in art and aesthetics.
A small study room with bold yellow hand-painted stripes catches your attention from the living room. This room is connected to the main hall through a small internal window within the home. It not only adds a pop of colour in the otherwise neutral room but also adds some height to the space.
There is an elegant sparseness to the bedrooms. Soft white walls with sheer curtains alongside pop-coloured cushions. Wooden beds strategically placed in front of large windows command the space and provide eye candy as well. Almost everywhere you look in this apartment, there are clever storage solutions in the form of antique tables, cabinets, dressers, chests and crockery units with drawers that allow storage.
Practical and but eye-catching, eclecticism pared down with minimalism, the home is easy and comforting. Did the finished space deliver the brief? “Being a creative person, he wanted a space where he could unwind, have friends over, write scripts and jam,” says Darshini. That would be a ‘yes’ then!
The dinning area with rustic table and chairs upholstered with hand quilted fabric add aesthetic warmth while keeping things earthy at the same time.
The study room decked up with period furniture is brought to life with a yellow hand-painted wall.
All the doors of this house are recycled doors sourced from vintage furniture depots in Rajasthan. Most of the furniture is refurbished.
The bedroom is sparsely decorated with soft white walls and sheer curtains. Brightly coloured cushions add a pop of colour while paintings and photographs invite moments of wonder into the room.
The living room gets beautiful afternoon light and gorgeous views of the sunset.
Artifacts, rustic frames and paintings strewn all over the house resonate with the producer’s interest in art and aesthetics.
Neutral palettes with the same tiles on the floor and walls and small counters helped make the restrooms less boxy and exude spaciousness.
The bathrooms in this sea facing home are crisp and practical.
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