Literally in the Clouds

Photography by Ishita Sitwala

The interior design firm Purple Backyard, led by Kumpal Vaid, designed a 200 m² holiday apartment in Mumbai with the breathtaking views while creating a transitional sanctuary for a couple.

Located on the 73rd floor of the tallest building in India, the apartment offers the boundless views of the eternal sky, sea, and the teeming metropolitan. Edgy and yet suffused with repose, the home bears a Transitional Avant-Garde DNA that walks the line between bold sensibilities and minimalism. The family’s requirements were centered around a functional home that would function seamlessly as a secondary residence with snug spaces to entertain loved ones and privacy-laced zones in the form of independent home offices for the couple.

The quaint foyer is steeped in a pareddown identity which devotes itself to the romance of monochromes. A carved, wood relief-inspired backdrop graces this nook and travels further into the shared zones to create a contiguous visual. Threedimensional motifs of foliage crown the top of the walls, travelling down as smooth panels which inconspicuously anchor storage. A pair of Victorian-style chairs with turned legs anchor this corner, accompanied by the Leviosa Design funnel lamp.

Moving into the heart of the residence, one is lured into a rendezvous with Mumbai’s enticing skyline, which morphs as dawn melts into dusk. The living area sits nestled within an envelope of a glazed façade on one end, a porous skin that beckons abundant light inside. The silhouette of every element within this open-plan living area has been painstakingly devised in relation to the views. Hence, the soft-edged and sweeping forms debut here while keeping the eyeline focused outwards. A pair of bean-form sofas sit facing each other to create a conversational layout resting atop an eclectic circular area rug.

Bordering the living, the dining space emulates the indescribable bliss of conversations and shared meals with loved ones. The protagonist of this space is the bespoke Banswara white marble dining table with stone from Rajasthan's rich quarries. This element is the linchpin, around which the other components were designed. The chairs have been upholstered in a houndstooth and junglethemed pattern, paired with classic, blackstained wood and accents of brushed brass. The contiguous elevation of panels can be opened to offer discreet storage. A certain section reveals itself to be a concealed built-in bar, complete with its tropical print-doused wallpaper, embodying a touch of whimsy in unexpected details! The clean-lined fabric pendants levitate over the dining nook, introducing poise into the space.

Leveraging its wee blueprint to create a theatrically immersive experience, the powder bathroom within the study indulges in a decadent green hue, slivers of brushed brass, and a monochrome canvas of illustrated patterns. Adorned in swirling veins, the Indian green marble variety makes its way across the flooring and pedestal-style vanity. The hand-illustrated frescoes of faces have been transformed into the ubiquitous wallpaper which clads the bathroom’s volume.

The galley-style kitchen crafted by Ernestomeda carries forward the overarching aesthetic of the living spaces. A deep green hue claims the floors in the form of acid-grooved tiles, visually elongating the petite kitchen’s expanse. The integrated construct of the space anchors a light veneer variety and a speckled Quantra quartz stone which seamlessly melds the countertops and dado.

Leading one into the home’s resting spaces, the passageway presents itself as a segue that draws one into its seductive simplicity. An array of voluminous arches frame the path, punctuated with globe pendants that inculcate a visual rhythm. The entrance into the passageway is earmarked by a green marble accent table with a checkered top (created in situ with surplus marble) and a suave, linear wall light conceived by the studio for this space.

THIS PART OF THE RESIDENCE IMMORTALISES THE CLIENT AS ITS MUSE, OFFERING HER AN EDGY YET TIMELESS MILIEU TO CALL HER OWN.

In her study, the wainscoting along the walls exudes an ombre finish, with the greys bleeding into a forest green tint. The black and white stone desk has been positioned in centre to soak in the views of the skyline. The ochre-bathed backdrop to the desk is, in fact, a pair of wallpaper-clad pocket doors that divulge a tucked bar - a hidden gem to mark the day’s end with the city night lights flickering in the distance.

The master suite bears a raw appeal, with a palette of taupe, ivory, and greens layering its entirety. An organic-form silhouette defines the colossal headboard finished in beige and white gingham. The nightstands flank the bedside, allowing the colours of the linen, upholstery, and light fixtures to come through effortlessly. Against the tall fenestrations, two emerald armchairs create a conversation space atop an abstract rug.

Her bath is reminiscent of the charm of regal Turkish Hammams, viewed from a modern gaze. Hinting at stated luxury, the bathroom dabbles in shades of taupe, rust red, white marble, and artisanal tiles with intricate motif work that take centre stage. The checkered floors meet the extensive canvas of printed Jamavar series tiles by FCML in the shower cubicle, conjuring imagery of finely detailed Pashminas.

In his bathroom, weighing over 150 kg, the monolithic Indian panda stone basin was conceptualised to be seemingly jointless and warranted a large group of people to aid in its installation. The ornate, black, and white patterned tiles delineate focal zones along the floors and walls, framing nooks tastefully.