Raj Mala by Naksh Design Studio

With a mixed palette of materials, cool tones, and textures this 800sqft. 2BHK residence located in one of Mumbai's plush localities is a project designed by Naksh Design Studio. Tucked away from the hustle and bustle of the city, the home is blessed with a lush green surrounding which set the tone for the rest of the space. In front of the entryway, a cosy living room comes to life with a sectional couch with layers of cushions to snug up the seating and a tan throw to add warmth. The fluted veneer panelling runs along the TV unit continued onto the main door creating a clean and seamless look. The idea was to strike the right balance and maintain the integrity of each material used, be it veneer or PU or Back painted glass. We were fortunate to get clients who were experimental with their design style and were on the same wavelength as us when we proposed a beautiful green moulding wall behind the sofa. The furniture and fixed cabinetry were custom designed and made in-house to achieve the aesthetics envisioned for the space. 

The open living-dining layout enables easy circulation and a certain lightness despite the bold and varied use of colours, finishes and textures. The curved forms in the bar unit added to the quirk of the space. The passageway is embellished with a rather bold patterned wallpaper that runs onto the walls and ceiling, and a functional flushed storage unit with a rattan detail seems to complete the look. While the common areas are of a more mature and sophisticated sensibility, the bedrooms explore the couple’s and their children’s more personal side with each room having its own predominant theme.

The master bedroom greets one with an expanse of customised bharat flooring tiles, with a play of concrete and wood on the full heighted wardrobes. The bathroom door has been flushed with a veneer panel with the dressing mirror to the left which also has storage behind it to maximise the space usage. The arched partition being the highlight of the room has been made in wood and fluted glass. It rests on a unit with rattan detail on its shutter which acts as a headboard from the bed side and a storage unit from the window side. 

Our young clients, both teenage boys had a polar opposite dream room they had in mind. We amalgamated the dark meets splash of colour vibe for the kids bedroom. Remembering that their tastes are still evolving, there were plenty of chic ways we used to meet in the middle with ideas that are youthful yet still refined for once they’ve grown out of their current design style. From a striped wallpaper which added colour to the space to a full-height wardrobe finished in a charcoal grey PU shade. The headboards are seen running to the ceiling to give an illusion of a higher ceiling. 

With the uncertainty of COVID-19 and lockdown rules being altered every 15 days, we had to race against time to execute and deliver. But it all seemed like a cakewalk with a strong execution team and with our clients trusting our design process and working style. The narrow kitchen also did seem to throw in its own set of challenges of fitting in not only a double-door fridge but also the washing machine, while having enough storage for crockery and electrical gadgets. Keeping in mind the practicality while retaining our living room aesthetic, a white composite parallel kitchen adorned by a full black board wall for the client to pen down their recipes. A tall green acrylic unit runs from floor to ceiling and is continued onto the overhead to add colour to the otherwise monochrome space.