Houzz Tour: This One-Bedroom Mumbai Flat Is a Dream Come True
Take a look at this small flat's exemplary planning that makes ample room for good design, storage and even lounging
Sometimes it’s the limitations that really help bring out the best, most creative solutions. In a space-crunched city like Mumbai, where small homes abound, finding ways to turn those spaces into visually-pleasing havens becomes a laborious yet fun task. “For this one-bedroom home’s interior design, the clients wanted to break away from the mundane. We were given a free hand in creating a refreshing, soothing interior that features colours, art and space-saving designs,” Jasem Pirani of MuseLAB says.
“To meet the client’s storage requirements, we installed a TV showcase made of veneer and laminate. It’s designed in a modular format that wraps around the beam above, too. We made sure it didn’t cover the entire wall so as to not make the space look smaller. The wall behind the TV is painted wild mushroom,” Pirani says. The soft colours help create a light visual impact in the room. The track lights above were specially sourced and coated black.
Rug: Urban ladder; artworks: Etsy
See how these 10 media units steal the spotlight
Rug: Urban ladder; artworks: Etsy
See how these 10 media units steal the spotlight
A small reading room has been created right opposite the main entrance door. “This used to be a store room, which we converted into a lounge. Green (on the wall) and grey (on the floor and seating) dominate this room’s palette,” Pirani says. A marble coffee table with MS framework was specially made for the room.
Structurally, there was already a niche provided in the wall for a wardrobe, “but we constructed a bookstand here in laminate to fill the space. We chose low seating so the clients could lie back and rest, read or take a snooze. Also, close-to-ground seating makes the room seem larger and more open,” Rangwala says. The artworks were specially designed in-house for the space.
Paint: Asian Paints; carpet: Pepperfry
Check out these bookshelves in ingenious spots
Paint: Asian Paints; carpet: Pepperfry
Check out these bookshelves in ingenious spots
Behind the living room is the kitchen. “We specially installed a sliding door in frosted glass here. The reason being, sliding doors tend to save space – these fit right into the wall instead of swinging open inside or outside the kitchen, taking up precious square footage,” Rangwala says
Since the client wanted a simple, functional kitchen, only the fittings were changed to modular ones – the colour scheme was kept clean and uncluttered.
The bedroom continues the tropical colour theme of the home, where blue and green conjure up a soothing ambience. The minimal art in the room ensures the walls (and thereby the space) doesn’t seem too crowded. The door next to the bed leads to the bathroom.
“A niche was already provided in the wall for a cabinet – we decided to construct a wardrobe that didn’t reach up to the ceiling, so as to not let the room look bulky. The shutters were made in green laminate to add a large dose of colour to the room,” Pirani says.
Artworks: Etsy
“A niche was already provided in the wall for a cabinet – we decided to construct a wardrobe that didn’t reach up to the ceiling, so as to not let the room look bulky. The shutters were made in green laminate to add a large dose of colour to the room,” Pirani says.
Artworks: Etsy
A small dressing table unit fills up a corner next to the bed. “We added a wall mirror cabinet and a small table here for the couple,” Rangwala says.
To incorporate storage for the client’s miscellaneous things – books, curios, remotes, wires, loose sheets and accessories – a unit was specially created with the TV placed in the centre. Its design was kept minimal so that the room doesn’t look too crowded. “We built these units as floating cubes with the frame made in wood, painted black and the shutters in laminate. Its organic shape and light colours don’t burden the room’s decor, making it look airy and breathable,” Pirani says.
Read more:
Houzz Tour: This Flat Defies Mumbai’s Space Crunch With 6 Bedrooms
Tell us:
What did you like the most about this home? Tell us in Comments below.
Read more:
Houzz Tour: This Flat Defies Mumbai’s Space Crunch With 6 Bedrooms
Tell us:
What did you like the most about this home? Tell us in Comments below.
Who lives here: A young couple
Location: Mumbai, Maharashtra
Size: 44 square metres (475 square feet); 2 bathrooms; 1 bedroom; 1 reading lounge
Architectural and interior designers: Huzefa Rangwala and Jasem Pirani of MuseLAB
Photos by: Sameer Tawde
The living room is populated with a single sectional, a minimal coffee table and a few artworks, all carefully organised in a way so the space doesn’t seem too crowded. Tropical colours (blue and mushroom green) waft across the entire home. “Nature prints through artworks take cognisance here, all creating a relaxing, rejuvenating atmosphere,” Rangwala of MuseLAB says.
“The living room shows colour-blocking. The custom-made sofa upholstered in royal blue contrasts with the cotton-white shell of the room. The custom coffee table is in white marble with MS framework,” Pirani says.