STAIRWAY TO HEAVEN

This triplex Kolkata apartment by Spaces and Design has Bauhaus motifs, Nordic forms and Japanese-inspired paintings, but the real crown jewel is the staircase

- VAISHNAVI NAYEL TALAWADEKAR

Steeped in mint and grey tones, the den has a cosy work area strategically placed near a window, with plenty of natural light streaming in

A circular wood dining table and jet black chairs anchor the dining area, while a circular chandelier illuminates the setting. Furnishings are from Skipper Furnishings.

When Karan and Supreet Singh decided to remodel their triplex apartment, they could hardly have imagined that the staircase would emerge as the shining star. "We wanted an aesthetic that was colourful, yet cosy. Considering we already had another home in the building, we had a fair idea about potential layouts and structures. Still, the staircase, rather serendipitously, took on a life of its own," says Karan, who, along with Supreet, roped in Pooja Bihani of Spaces and Design (whose team included Anjana Chatterjee and Samrat Roy) to give the property a characterful makeover.

Indeed, with its waterfall edges, ripple-effect treads and sculptural flourishes, the staircase is the first thing you notice when you walk inside. "Inspired by nature, it acts as the centrepiece that ties the home together," shares Pooja, adding, "It was cast with terrazzo in situ, in what turned out to be an impossibly laborious process that paid off in the end." But as you venture deeper, it's obvious that the staircase is but a tantalising prelude to what lies ahead.