THE BAREFOOT HOME

Inspired by the undulating curves of the bay, this soulful home by Ashiesh Shah unfolds like an interesting story punctuated with art and fresh bursts of colour

- PRAGNYA RAO

Its a balmy day, and the occupants of the house are prepping for the day ahcad, some on the way out for what seems to be a busy one. A moody glow washes over the living room while the gusty wind is a reminder of a rough monsoon brewing. As you make your way past the octagonal entrance lobby, splashes of colour peek at you, all very gently. It is very uncharacteristic of Ashiesh Shah to use colours, he’s known for a play of neutrals that straddles wabi-sabi, “It’s one of the most colourful projects I have done especially when you consider the space, which is so intimate but they wanted a home that was playful and cheerful,” smiles Ashiesh as he takes us through the expansive, art-filled apartment in Mumbai. Designing for friends has its merits, for one, you know how they live — the tiny things that you have seen them do, how their life unfolds in their homes even when they don’t tell you, “I am glad we are still friends,” laughs Ashiesh, “they wanted a home, where they could be themselves, walk around barefoot, put their feet up on the couch — relaxed living with people and objects they love.”

The home is as much inward-looking as it is outward-embracing. The sinuous lines of the furniture travel all the way to the ceiling, punctured by beautifully curated works of art. “To the eyes, the city is very linear but as you go up, you discover the undulating curves of the bay, and this is what inspired us to create these soft contours that help the eye move, from one space to another,” says Ashiesh, while stopping at the oversized works of art on the opposite side of the seating.