#DPExclusive – Tour This 6,200 Sq Ft Art-Filled Home In South Mumbai, Designed By Rakeshh Jeswaani
In a city like Mumbai, finding the perfect home is the ultimate dream. Even with all the gleaming high-rises that dot the ever-expanding urban landscape, this is a rare, almost scared occurrence. And so, when a family of four found the ideal residence, a 6500 sq ft apartment in Worli, they knew the interiors had to be faultless too! After all, this was the perfect canvas to work with; an expansive space commanding remarkable views of the city’s skyline and the glittering sea that lies beyond.
As it happens, ‘space’ is the operative word here. Most of us who live in Mumbai view it as the quintessential luxury, whether or not we admit it. And so, what struck me the most when I visited this apartment was how generously open it felt; the indoor and outdoor spaces flowed into each other effortlessly and ultimately extended out onto the cityscape. The design of the home felt like a celebration of this narrative of expansiveness – light colour schemes, reflective surfaces, and elaborate terraces served to further elevate a home that already stands out.
Interior designer and founder of his eponymous firm Rakeshh Jeswaani was commissioned to realize this project. His brief was fairly straightforward. “From the outset, the homeowners wanted a space that had a distinct identity of its own. They love art and wanted the space to accommodate this. The final design evolved through many layers as the concept started taking shape. For me, this was a fabulous design journey because all our sensibilities (mine and the clients’) were very much in sync,” he tells me. The home’s overarching theme was contemporary and clean-lined, with thoughtful interjections of statement-making pieces ranging from bright red doors to gorilla lights.
“We didn’t want to restrict the design to any one particular design style but wanted the look to take shape organically,” adds Jeswaani.
Interestingly enough, you get a sense of the home even before you enter it. The building’s elevator opens into a sleek private lobby that leads into the home through a series of arched mullioned glass doors. Jeswaani explains, “Rather than having a wall with a wooden main door, we wanted the interior of the apartment as well as the magnificent view to be the first thing a visitor sees.” A chic checkerboard floor made up of white and textured grey marble delineates the perimeter spaces such as the lobby and the outdoor deck from the main interior. Adding a hint of whimsy are two wall-mounted gorilla heads the – Ugo Rilla lights from Karman.
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The living room is an airy, open space, made more capacious by the light colour scheme that is used across the area and extended through the rest of the home. “The predominant base colours of the home are white and grey which form the background of all the spaces. The next layer is a trimming of black, which brings in a bit of definition. Then come the strong pops of colour in every space,” Jeswaani says. The central seating arrangement in the living room comprises Natuzzi’s Melpot sofa composition in shades of grey and teal blue, alongside an iron center table from Porro. A Manchaha rug from Jaipur Rugs adds softness to the otherwise cool marble floor, and Kanji table lamps by FontanaArte serve as an interesting visual element. Completing the interior is a striking piece of colourful, sculptural art by Viraj Khanna and a vivid yellow artwork by artist Jin Sook Shinde.
To the right of this seating arrangement lies the focal point of the living room – a maximalist, show-stopping mosaic bar alive with colour, pattern, and texture. Designed by Spanish designer Miriam Alia for the Italian mosaic brand SICIS, the bar adds a glittering sense of opulence and theatricality to the living area. The motif of arches is carried forward here from the glass doors at the entryway. Sleek red stools by Roche Bobois offset the gleaming jewel tones and sparking pastels of the bar. In a home that is decidedly not too loud or flamboyant, the bar area breaks all rules of restraint in the best way possible!
The sprawling outdoor deck is the “heart and soul of this apartment,” according to Jeswaani. Framed by views of the sea, lies an elongated white dining table paired with lime green and pink Paola Lenti chairs on one side, and a vibrant seating arrangement in solid shades of purple, pink, and green on the other.
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Beyond the living room lies the dining area which is screened off by glass sliding doors from Rimadesio. “The dining table was made on site using a striking black and white marble top with a bench and black leather chairs from Natuzzi,” says Jeswaani. A dark olive glass light hangs from the ceiling, adding a hint of colour to the otherwise monochromatic spot. A glossy white dining sideboard from Rimadesio occupies the wall opposite the table, over which hangs the homeowner’s collection of 30 mini watercolour paintings by artist Budhdhadev Mukherjee. Making a bold statement alongside the sideboard, the powder bathroom boasts a bright red classical door. Its interior is clad in pale green marble and a beautiful piece of art by Suneel Mamadapur is displayed across the door.
The dining area leads into the more private spaces of the home. Beyond its glass partition lies a central open space designed as an informal family room. A cushy light blue sofa set by Roche Bobois faces the TV wall which is wallpapered in a bright yellow. “We decided to keep the wall behind the sofa empty for now so that the clients can build up an eclectic art collection over time and use this wall for an art collage,” says Jeswaani. “The first addition to the collage is already in place, which is a quirky portrait of Frida Kahlo by artist Sanuj Birla.” A marble pattern rug from Jaipur Rugs lines the floor, adding texture to the space.
Both the son’s and the daughter’s bedrooms are products of careful consideration; they are child-appropriate without being overly thematic. Ethereal and dreamy, the daughter’s room is swathed in whites and pinks. A plush white leather bed from Natuzzi is layered with neutral bed linen and further accented with shell cushions from Abaca. Clad in pink pearlescent Bisazza tiles, the bathroom further ties into the princess narrative. The son’s room features a combination of blues and greys, with a hint of yellow. A white ash wooden floor adds warmth to both rooms.
With window walls on two sides, the master bedroom lets the view do the talking. A soothing taupe veneer clads the wall, which is contrasted with a teal blue bed and statement blue and violet glass bedside tables from Natuzzi. Two blue chairs from Natuzzi along with a metal and mirror table from Roche Bobois form a quiet seating area that looks out onto the cityscape beyond, accompanied by a small but significant work of art by FN Souza. Standing out against the lighter tones that characterize the rest of the house, the dressing room and master bathroom feature dark grey and brown hues. From black dune granite to sleek smoked glass, material takes center stage here. A set of paintings by artist Kahini Arte Merchant is the only source of colour in this room.
An effortless blend of luxury and restraint, this art-filled Mumbai home is ultimately an ode to thoughtful design.
Photoshoot styling by Meetu Swani of Inspired Living.
