A couple reached out to designer Gautam Shewa of Gautam Shewa Architects to conceptualise the interiors of their 5,000-square-foot, three-storey penthouse in Bandra, Mumbai. The ‘perfectly imperfect home’ features an irregular shape with few rectangular spaces. The ground floor of the home, which has a tropical Goan-Portuguese feel, serves as a home office and an entertainment area. The sixth and seventh-floor houses a living and dining area, a kitchen, a master bedroom, two guestrooms, a laundry room, and a small pantry. The living areas exhibit a marriage of contemporary and vintage design styles and offer panoramic vistas of the Arabian Sea and the Bandra skyline. The interior designer utilised the irregular shape of the home to create cosy nooks.
“The owners—a well-travelled couple, desired a vibrant home that embodies their cheerful outlook and cultural heritage. The apartment is an amalgamation of modern and vintage, where we matched both old and new elements to create a design concept that embraces the best of both worlds. It exhibits a clean and uncluttered look of modern design, along with timeless furnishings from the past, adding character to the spaces,” says Gautam Shewa, interior designer and founder of Gautam Shewa Architects.
Showcasing mustard yellow walls, vintage-themed flooring that continues from the inside to the outside, the ground floor of the home is a tropical paradise. This area serves as a studio, a meeting space, and an informal gathering room. Here, wooden French doors open into a perfectly landscaped garden with rocks, hidden lights, and a mini pond.
The sixth floor houses an expansive central living area with a dining area on one side, and a custom bar area on the other. This living area is a bright space with thoughtfully curated furniture and decor pieces. It features a double-height ceiling, a sloping roof, and large windows. A small water pond with fish runs across the centre of the living room.
The living room opens into the dining area and bar, making it the perfect space for hosting. The custom bar is adorned with stone and rattan. The dining area comprises a six-person, vintage-themed dining table with a wooden table top and cane and wooden chairs. This floor also houses the kitchen and a guest bedroom. “Even though the apartment’s layout is of an irregular shape without any straight walls, the design elements, detailing, natural light, materials, flooring, and fabrics make it look like a perfectly imperfect home. I loved designing the central living space where the residents experience a play of volume, lights, and shadow. The custom bar counter, the regal dining table, and the central living area are the highlights of this home,” remarks Shewa.
Guests can take the lift or the stairs to reach the seventh-floor lobby that opens into an internal walkway that overlooks the sixth floor. This level also has a central living area with a wall of framed photographs, a console made of rattan and stone, and some antique décor pieces. At the end of the central living area is a study area with a vintage study table and a Winchester chair.
Furthermore, the main living areas of the apartment feature a neutral colour palette. “The neutral interiors reflect more natural light, and make the space look airy and welcoming. The neutral colour palette is elevated with contrasting shades and textures that add a touch of drama. On the ground floor, we have sought to craft a feeling of escapism by adding depth and vibrancy to the interiors with mustard-yellow walls” adds Gautam.
The seventh floor of this Bandra home comprises the primary bedroom, a guest room, a laundry room, and a small pantry. A balcony with plants connects the living area to the master bedroom. The primary bedroom and guest room are minimalist yet elegant. The primary bedroom remains warm thanks to additions of a veneer and fabric finished wardrobe, cane furniture, sheer curtains, and plants. The main bathroom features a steam facility and is an elegant and relaxed space. The staircase on this floor opens into a quaint terrace with wind chimes, cosy seating, and warm lighting.
