In this house, the inherent simple elegance is artfully balanced with bursts of bright colours and unconventional fun elements.
In Juhu, Mumbai, this 3,000 sq ft contemporary apartment conceals a paradise within. Spacious rooms and expansive open spaces, both a rarity in urban areas, make this a unique place to design. Describing the client brief, architect Rakeshh Jeswaani says, “The residents of this house are a young couple with two children. They wanted a practical and unfussy home that wasn’t flashy. A simple, tasteful home with clean lines and requiring low maintenance.”
Designing a residence with an air of unpretentiousness may sound straightforward, but can turn out to be challenging. With clever execution of nuanced design strategies, Jeswaani achieved this goal.
The colour scheme in the apartment is a modern mix of light and dark grey. In the L-shaped wall behind the living room sofa, the dark grey comes alive with contrasting black-and-white photographs of Ladakh. In the master bedroom and the adjoining TV room, too, it’s used as a background to feature colourful art works.
Cream marble flooring, extensive use of beige and brown in the décor and wooden panels add to the earthiness of the place. “We used jute for the curtains in the living room,” Jeswaani says.
The apartment has a 1,500-sqft open area wrapping around its terraces and balconies. Located on the third floor, it has an inherent advantage of tree lines falling in. With a terrace next to the living room, another next to the master bedroom and two verandas, the house is enveloped by open spaces. Pops of colours and quirky elements intersperse the earthy feel of the house, rendering a young vibe.
One of the eye-catching elements in the residence is a large art piece designed by Neeraj Patel that acts as a sliding door covering the TV and the bar unit. Jeswaani’s favourite accessory is the light installation from Vibia, positioned adjacent to the dining table. Another idiosyncratic element in the house is an angular travertine wall in the master bathroom.
The simplicity of the residence is contrasted beautifully with several curated designer furniture pieces. The soul of the house, however, is in its cosy corners and green spaces.
