THE TRANSFORMERS

Three top industry insiders share their favourite makeover projects for inspiration, ideas and the endless possibilities any space offers

- By RIDHI KALE

CURVES ARE IN

When principal designers Farah Ahmed Mathias and Dhaval Shellugar at FADD Studio were asked to help turn a builder shell into a home, they knew a makeover was needed. They broke down walls, connected the floors above and below to create a unique duplex. “The couple with two young children knew they didn't want a run-of-the-mill home that looked like any other interiors with straight lines and contemporary anonymity,” says Mathias. “They wanted character and were open to explore curves with a definite language,” adds Shellugar.

What's interesting about the space is while it is understated, they have infused it with drama. Now, a sculptural circular staircase in red rose marble anchors two dramatic cutouts and a breezy double-height living space. Floors mix peach-toned marbles with graphic black-and-white inlays; ceilings ripple like topography; walls in soft micro-concrete keep things calm. Craft shines in a mango-motif mosaic powder room and meticulous stonework. Furniture stays hushed and rounded, letting architecture do the talking, save a bold red Moroso sofa. The result? An airy, bespoke space that feels like a home, not a high-rise.

A BOLD STATEMENT