Project name: Writers’ Retreat Location: Mumbai Size of the Plot: 7500 sq ft Number of Bedrooms: 4 Date of Completion: June 2023 Design Firm: The Orange Lane Principal Designer: Shabnam Gupta Photographer: Kuber Shah
Guests are welcomed into the Writers’ Retreat through an ornate, hand-carved vintage door. Image credit: Kuber Shah
Mumbai’s Four Bungalows area is a hub for artists of all kinds. It only makes sense, then, for an artist like Shabnam Gupta to have designed “Writers’ Retreat”: a maximalist duplex that has its inspiration in its name. Designed for two prominent writers to live in, in this home, art and inspiration are ubiquitous. Maximalist aesthetics are infused inside the space with geometric shapes, vibrant hues, dramatic interiors, contemporary design details, striking art pieces, and varied materials & textures woven together.
In the living room, wainscoted walls are complimented by plush furnishings in deep hues. Carpets: Jaipur Rugs, Furniture: Peacock Life, Furnishings: Tulio, Lighting, Accessories & Art: Peacock Life. Image credit: Kuber ShahAmple sunlight filters in through the home, and every corner is an artistic nook. Carpets: Jaipur Rugs, Furniture: Peacock Life, Furnishings: Tulio, Lighting, Accessories & Art: Peacock Life. Image credit: Kuber ShahTrunks turned into tables, rattan chairs, wooden artworks and vintage lamps infuse the house with a rich connection to Indian roots. Carpets: Jaipur Rugs, Furniture: Peacock Life, Furnishings: Tulio, Lighting, Accessories & Art: Peacock Life. Image credit: Kuber Shah
When the clients contacted The Orange Lane, their goal was pretty clear: to have a home that serves both as a creative oasis and an inviting refuge for family and friends. Principal designer Shabnam Gupta designed the contemporary home with traditional elements and plush furnishings, striking the right balance between opulence and comfort.
The black winding staircase is partnered with a regal falling chandelier, while a soothing wallpaper anchors the scene. Image credit: Kuber ShahIndoor greenery is ubiquitous in this Mumbai residence, a much needed respite from the concrete jungle. Image credit: Kuber ShahIn classic Shabnam Gupta fashion, every single decor item in this house has been handpicked to reflect its owners’ personality. Image credit: Kuber Shah
“Writers’ Retreat” is an ideal name for this idyllic home. An ornate hand-carved wooden doorgreets visitors at its entrance while teal and red colours dramatise the interiors. Soft lighting options and a soaring 14-foot ceiling take centre stage, while vintage temple panels add cultural character to the residence. On entering, the ground floor opens into the living and dining spaces and the family bedrooms, while the upper level includes the study, den, and an informal meeting room. Contrasting its monochromatic colour scheme, the living room’s colourful furnishings, curated artworks, and intricately carved decor bring the space to life. The living room is then turned regal with a cascading chandelier and wainscoted walls.
Prominent arched doorways create a strong and sturdy presence throughout the duplex. Image credit: Kuber ShahThe monochromatic base palette continues in the dining room. Furniture & Accessories: Peacock Life, Furnishings: Peacock Life & Tulio, Lighting: Hesperus, Fabrics from Tulio, Art: Framed Suzani – Peacock Life. Image credit: Kuber ShahWith custom lighting, colourful wall art and velvet seating, this room is modern-day royalty. Furniture & Accessories: Peacock Life, Furnishings: Peacock Life & Tulio, Lighting: Hesperus, Fabrics from Tulio, Art: Framed Suzani – Peacock Life. Image credit: Kuber Shah
As you walk into the dining room, a vintage-inspired table is complimented by custom velvet cushions and elegant lighting. Here, you also find a contemporary black-and-white mandir; a tranquil space designed in a most unexpected fashion. This modern mandir and a glass conservatory on the ground floor, along with a creative den on the first floor, are unique spaces that could only have been imagined by an artistically-driven, selective designer.
Making the mandir monochromatic amplifies its tranquil and serene presence. Image credit: Kuber ShahThe Orange Lane turned the glass conservatory into a stylish bar and seating lounge. Image credit: Kuber ShahSurrounded by greenery, the conservatory’s bar is a refreshing oasis soaked in natural light. Image credit: Kuber ShahBacked by a deep plum wall, the den has soft furnishings and dark decor, making it ideal to curl up in and watch a movie. Image credit: Kuber ShahUpstairs, the study is minimally coloured, and carries a studious presence. Image credit: Kuber ShahStrong lines and geometric squares are found throughout the study — in the hanging light, rattan details, sculptural art, etc. Image credit: Kuber Shah
Adjacent to this, the designers set up a transformed glass conservatory that hosts a stylish bar and seating area punctuated with hand-picked artwork. The conservatory pockets lush green plants, enhancing the artistic floor with greenery and making it a scenic spot for the writers. On climbing up the stairs, one finds a den and a study—both of which are bathed in natural light and contemporary artwork—the ideal “room of one’s own” for the writers to work from.
The master bedroom. Furniture, Furnishings, Accessories: Peacock Life. Lighting: Hesperus & Peacock Life. Art: Baro Art. Image credit: Kuber ShahThe master bedroom. Furniture, Furnishings, Accessories: Peacock Life. Lighting: Hesperus & Peacock Life. Art: Baro Art. Image credit: Kuber ShahBed curtains help turn the space into a cocoon of warmth and coziness. Image credit: Kuber ShahThe vanity is regal with velvet cushions and an ornamental chandelier. Image credit: Kuber ShahAnother bedroom is awash in light colours: yellow wallpaper and grey-brown wooden furniture set the warm tone. Image credit: Kuber ShahGreys, light browns, yellows and pastel colours have infused a serene atmosphere in this bedroom. Image credit: Kuber ShahThe kids’ room is a place of wonder, colour, and rest. Image credit: Kuber ShahSoft pastel colours and floral stickers add a touch of playfulness in the children’s room. Image credit: Kuber Shah
Designers of The Orange Lane ensured that each bedroom reflects the owner’s personality; the children’s room is a magical world of its own, and the master bedroom acts as a haven away from the city’s noise. Paying homage to heritage designs, the master bedroom has louvred wardrobes and trunk-like side tables, an opulent aesthetic and rattan accents, Warli art, jewel-inspired furnishings and ornate lighting. In contrast, the children’s bedroom is a playful sanctuary with a canopy bed, a soft teddy bear chair, and an enchanting attached bathroom adorned with aquatic murals.
The family room pivots around a vintage trunk-turned-table, a piece that adds personality and character to the modern home. Image credit: Kuber ShahTrunks-inspired side tables are a common feature throughout the home. Image credit: Kuber ShahStriking orange tiles inside the bathroom contrast perfectly with the outside room’s neutral tones. Image credit: Kuber ShahCozy nooks and corners like this one make for comfortable seating areas, with wood-carved furniture and velvet furnishings. Image credit: Kuber Shah
Peppered through the house are innovative design elements that accentuate the interiors with renewed personality. Through The Orange Lane, Shabnam Gupta does what she does best: mixing and matching various patterns, materials and textures to create a home that becomes a live character of its own. Curved archways contrast with ornate ceiling mouldings, and metallic, hand-painted walls anchor the home in a sturdy design foundation. The rest of the house’s interiors are rich with lavish fabrics, vintage elements, art deco pieces, and miscellaneous textile tapestries.
Mixing materials and playing with colours, this space has marble tiling and wooden furniture, wooden candle holders and an elegant chandelier. Image credit: Kuber ShahThe bathrooms reflect the rest of the home’s aesthetics, wtih vintage furniture and muted colours adding richness to the space. Image credit: Kuber ShahA hand-carved traditional wooden divider is at the threshold of the kitchen, which is covered in pastel green. Image credit: Kuber Shah
Glamorous, maximalist, vibrant and unabashedly alive, the Writers’ Retreat is a home that could only have been made by an artist herself. Every single design element in this home has been catered for writers to consistently feel inspired and comforted, in a city otherwise too busy to enjoy artistic pleasures. Ultimately, The Orange Lane put together a space that allows for art to seep out of every nook and cranny, nurturing an environment that is both homely and one-of-a-kind.
Writers’ Retreat has multiple design nooks like this one, with accented lights, colourful rigs, and plain furniture that are all in dialogue with one another. Image credit: Kuber ShahThe outdoor balcony is a haven for those who love gardening, and ornate sculptures accentuate the space’s beauty. Image credit: Kuber ShahAlthough rich with curated products and art, the home’s vast open spaces make one feel free and uninhibited indoors. Image credit: Kuber Shah
