Interiors | A living landscape
Perched on the urban fringe of Mumbai, this residence is an ecosystem where shifting metallic greens, mountain-sculpted forms and a chorus of exotic birds co-exist in perfect, calibrated harmony
When I first stood on the site of Roof for 37, I was struck by its incredible location. Perched right on Mumbai’s urban edge, it sits where the concrete city finally loosens its grip and the verdant hills begin to assert their presence. The home is enveloped by a rare microclimate of shifting light, drifting clouds and green slopes that almost graze the windows. I knew immediately that the interior couldn’t be a static box; it had to breathe, listen, and respond to this external landscape.
When I first stood on the site of Roof for 37, I was struck by its incredible location. Perched right on Mumbai’s urban edge, it sits where the concrete city finally loosens its grip and the verdant hills begin to assert their presence. The home is enveloped by a rare microclimate of shifting light, drifting clouds and green slopes that almost graze the windows. I knew immediately that the interior couldn’t be a static box; it had to breathe, listen, and respond to this external landscape.
When I first stood on the site of Roof for 37, I was struck by its incredible location. Perched right on Mumbai’s urban edge, it sits where the concrete city finally loosens its grip and the verdant hills begin to assert their presence. The home is enveloped by a rare microclimate of shifting light, drifting clouds and green slopes that almost graze the windows. I knew immediately that the interior couldn’t be a static box; it had to breathe, listen, and respond to this external landscape.
To achieve this, we wrapped the living room walls in a bespoke green metallic finish that acts as a climatic surface. Depending on how the sun hits it throughout the day, the walls gracefully modulate from a soft, sun-kissed olive to a deep, moody forest green. It absorbs and reflects light like the shaded underbelly of a monsoon cloud. At the centre of the room, a custom sculptural coffee table inspired by mountain foliage anchors the seating arrangement. To truly dissolve the boundary between the interior and the terrain outside, there isn’t a conventional, clinical TV wall. Instead, a wildflower-inspired arched artwork that introduces a mythic meadowscape functions as a permanent visual portal to nature.
A TALE OF TWO ZONES
Adjacent to the living room, we wanted to explore the concept of a visual diptych—two contrasting yet connected spaces held together by material continuity. The bar area leans into a restrained, retro-inflected glamour. Using green-washed surfaces and a rounded marble counter, we wanted to evoke a softened, indulgent 1980s nostalgia. The open shelves here serve as intimate galleries for the family’s personal artefacts, anchoring the luxury in deep personal memory.
In direct contrast, the dining area asserts a quieter, more sculptural formality. The zone is anchored with an eight-seater marble-topped table resting on sleek brass legs. To bring a sense of organic history into the space, there’s a carved white console that mimics fossilised forest matter. Reflective surfaces and strategically placed art installations extend the room’s light and perspective. The two zones are allowed to have their own distinct identities, yet they converse seamlessly across the floor plan.
COOKING WITH MEMORY
For the kitchen, we step away from the sterile, hyper-minimalist aesthetics that dominate modern design. Instead, we chose a colour and material palette that subtly references the familiar domestic languages of historic Mumbai homes. By pairing soft pastel green cabinetry with a vibrant Moroccan blue backsplash, the space immediately feels alive. Beneath it all, a classic black-and-white inlay floor ties the look together. The result is a highly functional kitchen that feels both contemporary and remembered, visually restrained, yet rich in tactile comfort and nostalgic warmth.
BEDROOM SHAPED BY STILLNESS
If this house is a symphony, the master bedroom acts as its ultimate crescendo. Here, architecture, light and ornament converge into a deeply sensorial, private retreat. The focal point is a custom-sculpted, mountain-inspired headboard that rises behind the bed as a bold topographic gesture. On the floor, the parquet woodwork captures incoming light in shifting, almost tidal patterns. Across the walls, painterly birds drift elegantly, echoing the physical aviary that sits just beyond the bedroom windows. To soften the scale of the room and introduce a warm, molten amber glow, we suspended a stingray-inspired luminaire above. Finally, blush mouldings and delicately tasselled drapery introduce a controlled sense of theatricality, perfectly balancing grand design with cosy intimacy.
CHAOS CALIBRATED INTO ART
Designing a home is always a deeply personal process, but Roof for 37 presented an extraordinary, beautiful challenge. The home was conceived for a family whose life is shared with a remarkable constellation of companions—two daughters, two energetic huskies, a resident cat and a spectacular chorus of thirty exotic birds. It was clear from the start that this home had to function as a shared ecosystem rather than a rigid interior.
Despite the sheer abundance of life moving through the home, the design remains composed, measured and serene. We achieved this by layering the spaces rather than crowding them, ensuring every design choice was expressive without falling into excess. The presence of the family’s birds is poetically woven throughout the entire design narrative. From the avian motifs embroidered onto the dining chairs to the painted wildlife on the master bedroom walls, the interior design remains in a constant, elegant dialogue with the living creatures that call it home.
—Shimona Bhansali is the Founder and Principal Designer, DesignHex, a Mumbai-based practice dedicated to crafting spaces that transcend mere aesthetics www.designhex.in
