Eclectic Living In Verdant Surrounds

This residence in Juhu, Mumbai, designed by Rakeshh Jeswaani is a brilliant example of how an understated design can still be eloquent; its inherent simple elegance is artfully balanced with bursts of bright colours and unconventional fun elements.

- Ramya Srinivasan

In Juhu, Mumbai, this 3000 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 little children. So 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 often turn out to be challenging. To imbue the place with an elegant and unassuming quality and also seeing that it does not look too plain was a challenge. But with a clever execution of nuanced design strategies, Jeswaani has achieved this goal.

The colour scheme in the apartment is a modern mix of light and dark grey most walls are in light grey with some highlight walls embracing a darker shade. 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.