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The hyperreal folds of the silk carpet on the Antonio Santin painting are the first to catch your eye inside this Mumbai apartment. The large artwork, flanked on both sides by lamps that emulate tree trunks, is complemented by several monochromatic portraits placed across the room. And all of them follow the larger colour scheme of the home where matted black plays hide and seek with a neutral canvas. Bright day light streaming in from large window reflects softly from the curves of the iron frame of the sofa even as an onyx table glistens faintly. This 1,500-square-foot, 6th floor apartment could belong to any modern city in the world, but in this case, it stands as a quiet haven in the middle of India’s busiest metropolis, Mumbai.
Designed by Nakul Munim, founder of Nakul Munim Design, the family home is an ode to nature, art and materiality which, incidentally, equally inspire both Munim and his client. “My clients wanted a chic city apartment with clean lines and earthy tones. Since they are fond of wood and stone, we primarily used these in the project,” informs Munim who believes in spotlighting key elements while keeping the rest of the space minimal. Here he does this via custom furniture, handpicked art and bespoke light fittings. While the brass chandelier is by Paul Matter and the art pieces are sourced from the client’s personal collection, the furniture is designed and produced by Munim and his team especially for the project.
The quiet Mumbai apartment presents an interesting juxtaposition to the cacophony of the busy street outside — and the natural day light along with the soothing colour palette accentuates this feature further. The material palette meanwhile, made up of Burmese teak wood and forged metal, placed within lime plastered walls and ceiling, lend texture and form. And the soft furnishing — made of cotton, linen, jute and hand knotted wool and silk rugs — bring it all together.
The only colour you see here is black. Added via the custom made Paul Matter light fittings in aged brass, it lends a modern twist to the otherwise classic design. One cannot help notice elements of mid-century modernism too — in the form and shape of the easy chairs and the large custom teakwood dining table. “I wanted the table to sit perfectly under the chandelier. This light fitting is central to the dining space and the rest of the components – the table, chairs, rug and console – all come out from its shape and lines,” explains Munim. A moss green rug underneath, also custom made for the project, completes the composition.
To say the tables in the home are as crucial as the art will not be an exaggeration. Apart from the modernist dining table, the side tables, consoles and coffee tables all draw attention with their unique design. A pair of end tables, made with weathered timber and foraged brass sheet on top, is the most unique of them all. Called Nara, the pair is inspired by the designer’s recent trip to Japan and reflect the minimalism and form of Japanese design philosophy. The onyx centre table and green marble console add elegance and character in equal measure. “My love for natural materials like lime plaster, stone and wood, terracotta and terrazzo, jute and linen is a part of my design language and I wanted to bring that into this space, while allowing it to remain a slick city home,” quits Munim. Looking at this pad, he has clearly succeeded.
Also read: This San Francisco home by Richa Bahl is a refreshing take on Indian modernism
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