Mumbai Houzz: A City Penthouse Fit For Royalty

Oozing luxury, this Khar penthouse shows us how to be grand without looking overdone

Nadezna SiganporiaAugust 22, 2019

Houzz India Contributor. Nine years ago, I jumped into the world of freelance writing. It combines my love for this art form and the ability to carve my own path. I have extensive experience in content development and creative writing predominantly in the fields of design, décor, interiors, architecture, travel, food, lifestyle, art and culture. My work has been published in Lifestyle Asia India, Houzz India, Elle India, Elle Decor India, India Design ID, Lonely Planet Magazine India, Conde Nast Traveller India, Square Inch by Ogaan Media and Beautiful Homes, among others. Follow me on @nadezna_s (Instagram/Twitter).

“The space has to be opulent.” Presented with this one-sentence brief, Nirav Shah, principal designer, ACDS, set about designing this two-storeyed apartment that had to be both grand and elegant. Shah and his firm were asked to create the ambience of aristocratic European homes in this penthouse, where the family also wanted dedicated spaces for hosting get-togethers. They did this by incorporating a design palette of neo-classical architectural elements. However, it presented the challenge of using the desired colour scheme and achieving a sense of grandeur in a small space. It required the right balance when scaling down the design elements. “The colour palette chosen was of shades of blue bordering on teal, black, white and gold, which signify royalty,” Shah says.

Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: A family of three
Location: Khar West, Mumbai
Year built: 2017
Size: 260 square metres (2800 square feet); 2 master bedrooms; 2 guest rooms; 2 ensuite bathrooms; 1 powder room; dining and living rooms; puja room; den, terrace, and service areas on the second level
Interior architect: Nirav Shah, principal designer, ACDS

Photographs by ACDS

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The entrance lobby is accessed via a private elevator and opens into the living and dining areas. A deep teal colour has been used on the walls, doors and ceiling beams, which demarcates the entryway from the rest of the space. Adding a sense of opulence to the area are gold light fixtures and door handles paired with a statement console and an accent mirror. The running pattern in gold along the cornice brings continuity to the entire space. White marble flooring forms the perfect foil to the luxurious colours, furniture and fittings.

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“The living room and dining room are the stars of the space,” Shah says. Both spaces are framed by pairs Corinthian columns between which stand full-length windows dressed in gold blinds and layered with sheer gold curtains. Ornate chandeliers in gold form the focal lighting, surrounded by soft recessed lights hidden within drop ceilings. In the living room tufted leather sofas are paired with patterned cushions and custom-made furniture. “Materials used throughout the house include Statuario marble and Golden Portoro marble, as well as wooden and leather panelling,” Shah says.

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Brass wall fixtures and side lamps are used in both the living and dining areas to bring a sense of symmetry. Shah says, “They present the perfect juxtaposition of both colour and tactility to the leather furniture and polished paneling.” An intricate carpet is the final piece that ties in the décor of the living room.

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The living area seamlessly flows into the dining area, pictured here. “The most interesting rooms in the house are the living spaces,” Shah says. “The ambience of the formal spaces teleports one to the aristocratic homes of European capitals, at the same time conveying the tastes of the patrons.”

A brass-rimmed dining table is paired with formal tufted leather dining chairs. Forming the backdrop is a polished sideboard with a gold accent mirror flanked by two ornate free-standing cabinets.

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“All the bathrooms were treated as an extension of the formal spaces,” Shah says. The powder room is accessed from the living area. Deep teal has been offset with gold accents and fixtures, along with white marble counters and flooring. “A high ornamental chandelier acts as an anchor for the space.”

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The walls and door panels feature the same deep-teal-and-gold colour scheme that runs through the formal areas. Matte walls balance the highly polished effect of the door panels.

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The penthouse has two master bedrooms, each with a lounge area, sleeping area and walk-in closets. The master bedroom shown here “is a combination of deep-blue wall coverings with cream and gold furnishings, backed by window dressings in gold”. Dark marble floors, a leather-upholstered bed featuring a tufted headboard and ornate bedside tables add drama.

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The lounge area in the master bedroom is furnished with cream leather armchairs and ottomans that match the upholstered bed. A golden carpet not only ties in the entire décor but also sections off this area of the bedroom.

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In this ensuite, Shah made use of a black, gold and olive colour scheme. “The materials used include marble and leather, paired with curated wallpaper and artefacts,” Shah says. A sense of continuity from the master bedroom to the bathroom comes with the use of dark marble on the floors and counters. The backlit under-sink cabinets and full-length mirror feature leather panels framed with brass rivets. A paisley-inspired patterned wallpaper forms the backdrop to the decorative wall lights while a panelled drop ceiling conceals recessed light fixtures.

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The second master bedroom belongs to the son. “There was a requirement to bring an element of quirkiness to the space while maintaining the original design theme,” Shah says. This was done with the use of pastel-blue wall coverings and rich purple upholstery. Gilded bedding and dark floor-to-ceiling drapes balance the velvet-upholstered bed and the matching bedroom bench.

Looking for inspiration for your bedroom design? Take a look at these photos

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This ensuite uses a white, green and gold colour scheme. A drop ceiling with recessed lighting forms a frame around an olive-green panelled ceiling and decorative chandelier. The wall covering features a running diamond pattern that is used on the olive-green cabinet and door panels as well.

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Accessible by a personal elevator, the second level opens out on to an informal den and an elevated deck. This space serves as a dedicated entertaining area, where social gatherings can spill out to the terrace with an alfresco setting. “The idea was to create a completely different décor within the opulent bandwidth,” Shah says, “The stylised space had to create a relief from the formal space environs. The ambience of the den is that of a sun room … keeping in mind the hot and humid weather conditions of Mumbai.” Polished wood flooring sets the tone for the room, which is furnished with brown leather sofas. A wooden false ceiling that runs only along the periphery of the room conceals recessed lights. Keeping the artwork and décor accents to a minimum, the room is a welcoming and open space for soirees.

Read more:
10 Ways to Bring Luxury Into Your Home
Houzz Tour: A Delhi Outhouse Teases With its Luxury and Opulence

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