On the 46th floor of a high rise building in Mumbai, the grey house is the abode of a young couple, their daughter, and their shih tzu Mango. Being prior clients, they came to us with a lot of trust and faith that we would be able to give them their vision of a stark, minimalistic home. Open spaces, white walls, and only the bare necessary furniture.
Editor’s Note: Located in the heart of Mumbai’s bustling skyline, this home is meticulously crafted that embodies tranquility amidst urban chaos. From its double-height living space adorned with striking artwork to innovative features like concealed kitchen panels and bespoke furniture, every detail reflects a commitment to elegance and functionality. It’s a testament to how thoughtful design can transform living spaces into havens of peace and inspiration. – Shagun Shah
This Grey Abode On This High Rise Building Has Only The Bare Necessities | GA Design
The planning stage of this home in a high rise building took a while. We wanted to give space to the living and dining area.
The double-height living room is followed by the dining area, a corner dedicated to the bar unit and the opposite corner to the mandir, whose location was determined as per Vastu.
As you enter the flat of this high rise building, a short passage leads you to the double-height living room with the double-height wall in black texture. Holding pride of place is the art by Yusuf in an off-centred setting.
For this project, given the minimalistic look we wanted to achieve, we decided to treat the doors in a different way, where we only see a minimal groove instead of the full door frame.
These specialised door frames and shutters were supplied by WALTZ Doors. When finished, it provided a seamless look to our white and black walls.
To the left is the open kitchen, which is open most of the time, except when entertaining. The kitchen can be enclosed with 10′-high’aluminium sliding panels with fluted glass. In its open form, it slides behind a panel and is completely invisible.
The living area in this high rise building opens out to the open-to-the-sky balcony. The balcony has very interesting chevron-patterned black and white tiles. A favourite place for sundowners and morning yoga for the family.
From the living room, we move on to the dining area. This area is peppered by very interesting pieces.
The dining table, designed in-house and specially customised for us by RIZO, has amber-coloured crystals embedded in a carbon platform with a black metal cylindrical base. The bar unit is also unique. Cladded completely in brass panels of varying sizes, where the metal has been oxidised to different levels in a chemical solution and then PU coated to prevent any more oxidisation, the unit is a statement piece!
On the opposite corner is the mandir. Resonating with the sliding kitchen doors, the mandir also has pocket doors, which, when in use, slide inside, leaving the space open without any obstruction for prayer. The doors are made of black frames with fluted glass panels. When in the closed position, it escapes the eye as the outside is in the same grey concrete texture as the walls around it.
The dining unit is a simple combination of open shelves and storage (for crockery and miscellaneous items) finished in black pu colour with a natural finish of teak veneer.
Another interesting feature of this house, which is normally barely noticed, is the skirting. The normal procedure is to use as skirting the same material we use for the floor, in this case, concrete finish tiles.
Not wanting to break the seamlessness of our walls, we decided to go outside the box and change the skirting material for each wall as per need and color. So, the white walls have a white tile skirting, whereas the black walls have a black tile skirting. The concrete texture walls have concrete finish tile skirting.
The kitchen is completely modular from FCML Ernestomeda, an Italian company. The look goes with the overall look and blends with the outside look and feel. The furniture from Minotti Italy and the carpet from OBEETEE complete the minimal look we wanted the house to reflect.
To the right side of the dining area, is a glass door leading you to the study area. With natural light flooding in throughout the day, this space is apt for working from home, Zoom meetings and classes, and accounting!
One wall is designed with shelves from edge to edge to house the countless book collections of the family and organised with colour coding! The concrete tiles flow into this area as well as the concrete texture paint on all walls.
Leading from the lower level to the upper level is the staircase. Space constraints and a good slab height led to various permutations and combinations on how to fit the staircase, which is comfortable, sturdy, and timeless. A metal plate was embedded inside the circular wall, from which came the metal treads, which were clad in real teak wood.
The metal plate was camouflaged with Plaster of Paris cladding, making the treads appear to be floating from the walls. A simple railing was made in white Corian to adhere to the simplicity of the house. The staircase is also the starting point of the transition from concrete tiles to wood on the floor.
As you reach the upper floor, the transition of the flooring, which started in the lower level from the stairs in wood, continues to the upper level, where the whole upper level is in real wood flooring from HAVWOODS.
Here we have the family room, overlooking the double-height living room, the master bedroom, and the daughter’s room. The family’s private space.
Many Saturdays are spent lounging on the Blazer-Minotti sofa in the family room, watching whatever catches their fancy on the huge projector screen. With a full pantry upstairs and a coffee machine, the need to venture down on weekends is only for the big meals. Also very prominently displayed is artist Sanjay Kumar’s representation of the Buddha.
The powder bathroom which opens from the dining area, is completely made of concrete finish tiles on the floor and wall cladding as well. The counter stands out in live edge wood with a black stone wash basin. The mirror design here takes on an amoeba shape, adding fluidity to the rigid structure of this space.
The master bedroom on this high rise building is extremely bare and minimalist, with just the Reeves-Minotti bed in dark blue fabric. All the walls feature a concrete texture, while the cupboards boast a white matte finish with back-painted glass.
The bed backdrop conceals ample storage space behind cleverly camouflaged fluted panels that slide open when needed.
On the left, the fluted panel also camouflages the duct shutter behind. This panel slides for easy access during maintenance.
Grey matte tiles from Nexion and a black artificial marble counter completely outfit the master bathroom. A large space with a bathtub and shower area, the bathroom is luxurious but minimal.
From the dining area we enter the guest bedroom with a murphy bed. This room is a multipurpose room, where kids have their play dates, read a book, and listen to music.
When the family has guests, they pull down the bed to use as a proper king-sized bed for visitors. With ample storage space, this wall housing the Murphy bed also holds travel memorabilia from the family’s vacations. Lego pieces, which the family is fond of making together, stone collections, and of course, books!
The look becomes seamless when the Murphy bed is closed, with the façade interspersed with veneer and teak wood flute cladding.
The attached bathroom is a special favourite with guests visiting their home. In terrazzo and concrete-finish tiles, it carries on the overall theme from the living room but with a dash of vibrancy provided by the terrazzo. The mirror, designed in a black frame, adds to the drama of the bathroom.
The daughter’s bedroom, reflecting her young age of 9, features her favourite shades of colour. With a single bed against the wall, the room stays open for the space children need for their various activities. The wall behind the bed has custom-designed and printed wallpaper, giving the room a gentle and soft look.
The study table and the vertical storage have ample space for her individual book collection! The bathroom is again in soft pastel-coloured tiles in varying shades of blue and green, as is her room, with a terrazzo counter and beige matte tile flooring.
This home in a high rise building is for a family of three plus a very lovable dog is very contemporary and chic, minimal, and serene. But though the look is minimal, the attention to detail and fruition of simplicity are at their maximum.
Fact File
Designed by: GA Design
Project Type: Residential Interior Design
Project Name: The grey house (The Serene Home)
Location: Oberoi Exquisite, Goregaon – east
Year Built: October 2022
Project Size: 3000 Sq.ft
Design Team: Akshita ,Manoj & Bhushan
Principal Designer: Ritu Goregaoker
Photograph Courtesy: Prashant Bhat
Clients: Manushi and Anand Baldawa
PRODUCTS / VENDORS: Carpentary: RC Interior / Electrical – Omkar Electrical Works / Paint / Texture paint – Mahesh Chandra Decor / Plumbing- Himani Enterprise / Lights – Hive lights / White teak / Loose Furniture – Minotti – Italy, Rizo / Wallpaper – Elemento / Soft Furnishings – The Pure Concept Home Curtain Tracks – NBT Curtain systems / Curtains – HC Curtains / H.V.A.C- Nova / Tiles – Glittorium Carpets – Obeetee / Artist- Yusuf / Sanjay Kumar / Art Gallery – Aura Art / Marble – CMC – Kalinga
The Firm’s Website Link: GA Design
Firm’s Instagram Link: GA Design
Firm’s Facebook Link: GA Design
For Similar Project>>A MINIMALISTIC APPROACH THAT INFUSES THE IDEA OF ‘LESS IS MORE’
The fusion of mid-century modern style and contemporary Indian elements in this 2500-square-foot property nestled in Gandhinagar represents a harmonious blend that celebrates nature’s beauty while providing residents with a serene haven. The design narrative, open kitchen living room intricately weaves a seamless connection between the interior and exterior, emphasizing the importance of integrating natural […]
Showcasing a beautiful amalgamation of Indian aesthetics with a modern touch, Saldhana Vilas in Bengaluru is a multi-generational home for a family where three generations seamlessly co-exist. The young couple working in the IT sector, hailing from Kerala and Mangalore with two boys aged four and one and a granny deserved a space that was […]
A project is so close to my heart. The client is a dear friend and former college roommate, a resident of Dubai originally from a small village in Thrissur, Kerala. A significant advantage of this project was my familiarity with her tastes, likes, and dislikes, as well as my understanding of her personality and preferences. […]
The project was deeply influenced by the unique site context. Balancing the design of the temple and the house was a significant challenge. While the house interiors followed a contemporary modern aesthetic, the temple required a traditional approach. We worked carefully to harmonize both styles, ensuring they complemented each other while meeting the client’s needs. […]
A 3-BHK home’s interior design always offers a special chance to combine the client’s vision with inventiveness. The client’s request for this project focused on a calming beige color scheme with bohemian-inspired design elements infused with Mediterranean elements. Editor’s Note: This 3-BHK home breathes warmth and ease, unfolding like a story woven with soft hues […]
The vision for Mr. Utkarsh Khemani’s residence, located in Safdarjung Enclave, New Delhi, was to craft a luxurious, sophisticated residence reflecting Mr. Khemani’s status and refined taste. The residence was designed featuring warm, rich color palettes, premium materials, and elegant finishes and textures in interior design. The feature of the residence is its spatial planning, […]
For this project, the client and US had a very clear vision for their home. The theme of this home design revolves around modern Indian thought with minimal furniture and maximum functional spaces. The furniture layout reflects efficient planning to accommodate the family of five in this cozy 3BHK. The use of single wooden laminate […]
The exciting challenge presented to us was from a wonderful family of six, consisting of a couple, their two kids, and their parents, making it a 6 bedroom house design. The objective was to create an interior that exuded grandeur and modernity. Each room was tailored to match the preferences of its intended user, creating […]
The design brief for this apartment, spanning 1300 sq. ft. house design, aimed to create an open, inviting atmosphere with plenty of natural light. The clients, who have demanding jobs, wanted a home that offered comfort and tranquility, where they could unwind and enjoy life’s simple pleasures. The goal was to design an efficient, functional […]
The micro-condo project, nestled within the vibrant urban environment of Pune, presented a unique design challenge that required a thoughtful approach to space and aesthetics. Our task was to transform a 2BHK builder-finished apartment, which unfortunately felt devoid of warmth and personality, into a welcoming and inviting home for a young couple. The challenge for […]