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Mumbai and New York feel like twin cities in more ways than one. In these bustling metropolises, time seems sped up and space is sacrosanct; every second and every square foot is accounted for. Both are cities of dreams, and ironically, cities that never sleep. It’s no wonder that designer Jason Wadhwani found the perfect muse in NYC, infusing its essence into his vision for a sparkling, art-filled duplex in Mumbai. This urban oasis defies the ordinary and transcends the conventional bounds of location. "We wanted to create a space that felt truly international aesthetically but still felt like home," Wadhwani explains.
Spanning a total of 5,500 square feet, this home merges two apartments on the 54th floor with a single apartment on the 53rd floor via an internal staircase. “We wanted the space to breathe and feel open, and have the flexibility to use cool art wherever possible (very much like a New York penthouse),” Wadhwani says. The vision is clear at the very outset, as one steps into the home through the 54th floor, into a stunning foyer space. Wooden framed glass doors define the entry, leading into a pristine space with bold wall coverings from Arte and crowned by the exquisite Zeppelin 1 pendant light by Flos. The Occulus console table by Ashiesh Shah Atelier takes center stage, setting the tone for the rest of the home.
The foyer leads into an expansive living and dining area spanning 1,000 square feet, made even more impressive by its view of the Mumbai skyline. With soft white walls and a light herringbone floor, the interior is clean and contemporary; a backdrop to the many art collectibles and statement furniture pieces from both Indian and international brands. In the living area, the Scenario 2 sofa by Roche Bobois is set against a striking coffee table by Bombay Design Lab. The pièce de résistance is an Arun Dev artwork above the sofa, exuding, according to Wadhwani, an industrial Bauhaus vibe that complements the room's aesthetic. The Mesh Wireless pendant light by LucePlan provides a dramatic focal point, pulling the space together.
The dining area features a sleek marble table with a bright pop of orange in the form of Poltrona Frau’s Isadora chairs. Overhead, a striking installation, the Focus suspension light by DCW Editions, adds visual intrigue. Neelesh Yogi's wall art, featuring a series of acrylic boxes with intricate paper cut art, introduces a touch of whimsy to the space. Maintaining a sense of visual cohesiveness with the living area, Wadhwani says, "We didn’t want to suffocate the space with a lot of wall claddings and fussiness. We wanted the space to breathe and feel open."
A sense of quiet luxury permeates the master bedroom on the 54th floor, striking an effortless balance between glamour and constraint. Monochromatic hues of black and white dominate the interior, allowing a vibrant artwork by Vanita Sethi to provide the sole burst of colour. On the charcoal-coloured headboard that spans the length of the wall, lie two wall sconces by Length Breadth Height. Beyond, a floor lamp by Super Loon doubles as a compelling sculptural feature. In the master bathroom, a timeless combination of fluted marble and brass takes over.
The children’s bedroom and playroom stand as testaments to the fact that interiors for children can be free of loud colours and bold themes, yet still be whimsical, fun, and age-appropriate. The bedroom features a statement custom-designed bed and side tables by Wadhwani himself, with an interesting bunk bed railing by Swaddle Cove. In a corner lies the iconic Togo armchair by Ligne Roset.
In a separate playroom, Karman’s playful WOW! pendant light takes centre stage, alongside a Loops rug by LJ and a set of chairs and tables by Swaddle Cove. Adding to the whimsical spirit, a charming jungle-themed wallcovering by Wallpaper Scissors wraps around the room. The space is versatile and adaptive, complete with a Murphy bed that can convert the playroom into a permanent bedroom as the younger of the two children grows.
Serving as an informal living room on the lower floor, the den is an intimate, cosy space furnished with a statement Pipe floor lamp by Lodes for Diesel Living, a reimagined Chandigarh chair by Khenshu, and a dark grey sofa by Excella Furniture. An artwork by Dipesh Raj hangs on the wall. The powder room needed to make a dramatic design statement as a foil to the rest of the house's visual sensibility—it had to be 'anti-muted.' To achieve this, Wadhwani chose a bold Dalmata marble to clad the entire space, complemented by striking pops of red in the mirror frame and the Cerine light by Trueing.
Beyond the rooms, interestingly enough, the passages stand worthy of mention too; they presented a challenge transformed into an opportunity for creativity. Wadhwani tells us, “They were long and narrow and quite unforgiving with zero natural light. So to open the space up and make it less claustrophobic, we softened all edges and created a design in the ceiling with the help of our light consultant Kanchan Puri to accentuate the ceiling curves with cove lighting. In keeping with the theme of the home, we continued the nano coating on half the walls and ceiling and kept the other half in Lisa White marble, creating a juxtaposition of finished vs unfinished.” Perhaps the most compelling highlight in the passageway is the Soft Architecture wall light by Flos, which is textured in the same nano treatment.
As is evidenced by the thoughtful curation throughout this duplex in Mumbai, the right art was an important element. From Arun Dev in the living room to Srimanti Saha and Yogesh Ramakrishna in the passageways, each artwork was thoughtfully positioned to elevate its surroundings. “It’s very rare to find clients who want to invest in art and genuinely enjoy the process. So it was very refreshing to work with a client who had a love for new, upcoming artists in the Indian contemporary art world,” says Wadhwani. “Honestly, at times my client was the one who approached me with new artists he had discovered, and we’d explore their repertoire and see what was available,” he adds.
Wadhwani’s keen eye, coupled with the conscious collaborative process between him and the client, ultimately feels like the je ne sais quoi in this New York-esque Mumbai home. It offers a coalescing of art and design, wrapped in a timeless interior.
Also read: An architect builds a Kerala-style home within a Pune apartment for his beloved aunt
