This small first home in Mumbai is functional and stylish

“I purchased this apartment in 2009 when I wanted to move into a home I could call my own. After growing up in South Bombay, it was important for me to find a place that would be close to my parents’ house, and the regular haunts I’d frequent since I was a child,” explains Karishma Bajaj, when recounting how she bought her apartment in the verdant neighbourhood of Malabar Hill in Mumbai. As the co-founder of Red, Blue & Yellow, she and her team have been renowned for creating unique high-quality contemporary furniture using traditional Indian craftsmanship and woodworking techniques for over two decades. Using solid Burma teak, each piece of furniture tells a quiet story of attention to detail with striking yet simple, pared down design. As we step into her home, we begin to see this design language translated across her apartment, as well.

“I looked at several spaces in the area before choosing this one for the abundance of natural light that seeped through it. The energy in the home was also very magnetic,” she recalls. While the home wasn’t in the best condition when she bought it—with everything from the floors to the plumbing requiring rework—its potential was immediately obvious. She also had to work around a humble floor plan of 650 square feet. “A small space calls for precise planning. I also have a preference for clean and uncluttered design, which helped optimise every bit of space available here.”
 

room for designs that didn’t exist in the original floor plan. One of the first changes she decided to make was to convert the only bathroom in the apartment into two separate spaces—an ensuite to the master bedroom and a powder room. And, what was the original area for the kitchen now houses the study.

“The pandemic brought with it the need to carve out a dedicated work-from-home space. So, I used a fluted glass screen to demarcate the study without losing any light or a general sense of openness in the rest of the home. While this area was part of the living room, it’s now the perfect at-home office where I get sucked into long Zoom calls!” It’s also her favourite place in the house, where everything has a designated spot—making it easier to find documents and work efficiently.
 

QUALITY IS KEY

As one would expect, the apartment is filled with handcrafted furniture pieces from Bajaj’s store, Red, Blue & Yellow. In the living room, the large ‘Paradigm’ coffee table was chosen for its glass top that offers ample space without looking bulky. A nest of tables stacked neatly serves as a clever trick for more tabletop space when entertaining.

Bajaj also stresses the importance of choosing quality wood for a furniture piece’s longevity. “These are legacy purchases which future generations will cherish. Most of the wood that is available today is substandard…and sometimes is not even wood! Poor quality wood will warp or attract borers,” she warns.

Instead, she advises buying pieces that will adapt to most interior styles. “You won’t feel the need to change your furniture every time you renovate. And, never over-customise something for a space available in one specific house if you’re likely to be moving homes often. Invest in a good sofa bed if you live in a compact apartment—something that is perfect for entertaining but also generous and comfortable as a guest bed,” she muses.

Karishma Baja’s go-to tricks she always relies on when designing a home…

•    Plan, plan plan—deciding everything down to the smallest detail before you begin a renovation will help in the long run.

•    Don’t ape trends you don’t relate to—your home should always be an expression of your personal taste.

•    Always try to keep things simple, functional and classic.

•    Your home should respond to your needs, and be an authentic representation of who you are. If you enjoy cooking—focus on crafting a kitchen
       that will bring you joy. If you are a voracious reader—plan storage for your books, and carve out a quiet nook where you can read in peace.