Name of the project: RK HOME
Location: RKS Godrej, Chembur
Size of the plot: 1250 sq ft approx
Date of Completion: March 2024
Design Firm: WishIn Design
Principal architects/designers of the firm: Vishakha Shetye
Photography: Pranoti More
A cosy precedent is set as one wanders through this home. WishIn Design’s recent residential project is a mid-century modern home decoding parallels between comfort and luxury. The residential layout spans approximately 1250 sq ft in RKS Godrej in Chembur. The conceptualisation aims to create a subtle ambience, evoking a sense of refreshment and relaxation just as one enters. For this Chembur home, the architect opts for a mid-century modern theme, one of the most common styles in residential architecture. To incorporate modernism, the architect frolics around varying forms and functions, bold and neutral colours.
The design trajectory inclines towards more neutral and warmer backgrounds. The home’s identity pivots around minimalism, but the architect tweaks it minimally by adding tinctures of colour. A play of geometric and organic silhouettes is visible in terms of furnishings. A rectangular swing sofa hangs from the ceiling against two arched armchairs and an elliptical coffee table. Contrasting materials like wood and glass are amalgamated with textures of rattan and linens. Ample windows generate the illusion of bringing the outdoors indoors.
Client expectations to retain existing flooring and not demolish any walls pose challenges for Shetye. To effortlessly amalgamate the “old” and the “new,” the architect merges the client’s antique furniture collections with modern elements of art and upholstery. This cherished bevvy of collectibles is given new spaces, thus allowing an Indo-contemporary modification.
As bibliophiles, a dedicated space for their avid book collection is arranged. The compact guest room is altered into a snug reading den, quietly hidden behind bi-fold doors. In synchrony with the existent floorings, the den’s palette is mainly opted to be of a milky-white hue. A monochromatic wallpaper showcasing floral accents sets a biophilic tone for this space.
Most spaces in the home are designed with a white, chalky theme to coordinate with the existing flooring. Alterations are commonly observed in furnishings, wall artefacts, and decor pieces, where the architect successfully reinforces her artistic ability to elevate every space in this home.Â
All the corners of this home, from the living room to the kitchen, are bathed in abundant natural light. White-washed walls and chalky-toned flooring enhance the incoming light even more, retaining an original sense of warmth, rejuvenation, and refreshment throughout.Â
Architect Vishakha Shetye makes an appropriate choice of mid-century modern aesthetics to revamp this residence. The shift between medieval and contemporary concepts represents the contrast between its mature and young residents. This duality in design philosophies enunciates the objectives set for this home—the parents’ desire to spend their retirement leisurely while their daughter embraces a youthful embarking.