See a Small Apartment Become a Glamorous Dream Home
A homeowner uses Houzz to find designers to update her 860-square-foot flat in India with bold furniture and materials
Vaishnavi Nayel Talawadekar
December 10, 2019
Houzz India Contributor. Internationally published architecture, design and art journalist. www.mangomonk.com
Houzz India Contributor. Internationally published architecture, design and art journalist.... More
As an army kid, Shalini Sekhri lived a nomadic existence. “We were on the move every few years,” she says. “Wherever we went, we took home with us. Back then, ‘home’ was defined by people, not place.” As she grew older, though, Sekhri began to feel the need to put down roots and create her own feeling of place. In fact, she wanted to customize everything to her style and sensibilities so much that when she found an apartment still under construction, she worked out a deal with the builder to leave the interior pretty much a bare shell, the better to personalize it. “As a finance professional with a demanding job, I wanted a place with calming vibes to come home to,” she says.
Sekhri lives in Mumbai, India, but her sister in the U.S. encouraged her to try the Houzz app, which Sekhri used to browse photos and create ideabooks. After scouring design professionals in her area on Houzz and reading lots of reviews, she decided to hire architect Smit Bhagat and interior designer Rajvi Mehta of deSigneR to harmonize her ideas and breathe life into her dream home.
Sekhri lives in Mumbai, India, but her sister in the U.S. encouraged her to try the Houzz app, which Sekhri used to browse photos and create ideabooks. After scouring design professionals in her area on Houzz and reading lots of reviews, she decided to hire architect Smit Bhagat and interior designer Rajvi Mehta of deSigneR to harmonize her ideas and breathe life into her dream home.
Photos by Photographix
House at a Glance
Who lives here: Shalini Sekhri, a finance professional
Location: Mumbai, India
Size: 861 square feet (80 square meters); one bedroom; 1½ bathrooms
Designers: Architect Smit Bhagat and interior designer Rajvi Mehta of deSigneR
The entrance of Sekhri’s home opens to a deep formal living room steeped in a palette of minty blue and pearl pink, which runs through much of the home, uniting the spaces. A three-seater chesterfield sofa and matching daybed create a sumptuous, indulgent vibe, while a high-back gray chair exudes classic sophistication.
Lightweight side tables flank the sofa, complementing the four-piece coffee table in the center. Intricate Parisian-style moldings, abstract black-and-white paintings, elegant sconces and ornate cornices adorn the walls. The floor is warm-toned Botticino marble. The aesthetic is inspired equally by classic and contemporary French elements.
“The space mirrors my love of color, brightness and sparkle,” Sekhri says. “I was keen on an aesthetic rooted in visual fluidity, with free-flowing, airy spaces.”
Watch now: See the Houzz TV episode of this glamorous renovation
House at a Glance
Who lives here: Shalini Sekhri, a finance professional
Location: Mumbai, India
Size: 861 square feet (80 square meters); one bedroom; 1½ bathrooms
Designers: Architect Smit Bhagat and interior designer Rajvi Mehta of deSigneR
The entrance of Sekhri’s home opens to a deep formal living room steeped in a palette of minty blue and pearl pink, which runs through much of the home, uniting the spaces. A three-seater chesterfield sofa and matching daybed create a sumptuous, indulgent vibe, while a high-back gray chair exudes classic sophistication.
Lightweight side tables flank the sofa, complementing the four-piece coffee table in the center. Intricate Parisian-style moldings, abstract black-and-white paintings, elegant sconces and ornate cornices adorn the walls. The floor is warm-toned Botticino marble. The aesthetic is inspired equally by classic and contemporary French elements.
“The space mirrors my love of color, brightness and sparkle,” Sekhri says. “I was keen on an aesthetic rooted in visual fluidity, with free-flowing, airy spaces.”
Watch now: See the Houzz TV episode of this glamorous renovation
The original layout hindered sunlight, ventilation and spatial distribution. Designers Bhagat and Mehta reconfigured the home to optimize previously dormant spaces and maximize function.
From conceptualization and design through to development, detailing, prototyping and manufacturing, every piece of furniture was customized to Sekhri’s tastes.
Sekhri, Bhagat and Mehta decided at the outset to use the Houzz app to share ideas and inspiration. “Shalini came to us with an entire ideabook made on Houzz,” Mehta says. “She had a vision but needed some help executing it.”
The door seen at the back of this photo is the entrance to the home. Bhagat and Mehta sought to create an elegant and dignified backdrop, infusing color through furniture and furnishings. They also took care to conceal all wiring inside a cabinet behind the television. The panel to the left of the TV opens up to reveal the electronics.
Find a professional to remodel your home
From conceptualization and design through to development, detailing, prototyping and manufacturing, every piece of furniture was customized to Sekhri’s tastes.
Sekhri, Bhagat and Mehta decided at the outset to use the Houzz app to share ideas and inspiration. “Shalini came to us with an entire ideabook made on Houzz,” Mehta says. “She had a vision but needed some help executing it.”
The door seen at the back of this photo is the entrance to the home. Bhagat and Mehta sought to create an elegant and dignified backdrop, infusing color through furniture and furnishings. They also took care to conceal all wiring inside a cabinet behind the television. The panel to the left of the TV opens up to reveal the electronics.
Find a professional to remodel your home
Three contiguous, visually connected zones divide the living area. The formal living room is seen here. Reflected in the ivory-toned, brass-bordered mirror grid on the wall to the right of the main door are a casual sitting area and a zone comprising a bar and open kitchen.
Shades of purple dominate the sitting area, where a violet sofa bed rests against a shallow backlit wall alcove that bathes the space in a warm glow. A mauve rug, dove gray wallpaper and plum accent pillows provide a rich and regal feel.
Sekhri hosts a lot of family gatherings and parties at home, and Bhagat and Mehta decided to make the sitting area the heart of the living space, with the kitchen and bar on one side and the formal living room on the other.
Watch now: See more of this dramatic transformation
Sekhri hosts a lot of family gatherings and parties at home, and Bhagat and Mehta decided to make the sitting area the heart of the living space, with the kitchen and bar on one side and the formal living room on the other.
Watch now: See more of this dramatic transformation
The bar is the most distinctive feature in the home. A play of lights, textures and proportions elevates the aesthetic. The bar shelves were tailored to hold specific-size bottles and glasses. Instead of a traditional chandelier, a custom array of globe lights illuminates the space. The dining table doubles as a bar counter.
To the left of the bar is the streamlined kitchen, and beyond that a powder room and utility area.
To the left of the bar is the streamlined kitchen, and beyond that a powder room and utility area.
Sekhri initially wanted a visual disconnection between the sitting area and the master bedroom, but that would have obstructed natural light and ventilation to the sitting area and kitchen.
Sekhri’s bedroom takes its cues from the ocean, with bold hues and luxe textures. The deep green headboard is balanced by shimmery peach curtains and a pearl-inspired stone wall backdrop.
Watch now: See more of how this renovation came together
Watch now: See more of how this renovation came together
Bhagat and Mehta turned the apartment’s second bedroom into a sunny walk-in closet that includes an island display unit and mirrored closets. A dressing table and blush pink chair occupy one corner of the room. The wall opposite the table features open, backlit shelving.
“I didn’t want to compromise on my dressing area and closet space,” Sekhri says. “I envisioned this as my private oasis, where I would spend a significant amount of time getting ready every morning.”
“I didn’t want to compromise on my dressing area and closet space,” Sekhri says. “I envisioned this as my private oasis, where I would spend a significant amount of time getting ready every morning.”
Warm wood flooring complements the gray cabinetry and walls. Tinges of peach and pearl echo the flow of colors in the bedroom and tie in with the subtle hues in the rest of the home.
The aesthetic of Sekhri’s bathroom is far removed from the rest of the home. Glossy black, matte white and warm wood tones highlight the brass accessories, creating an elegant feel. The wall abutting the sink holds three backlit mirrors mounted on black marble. The countertop is the same Nero Marquina marble as in the powder room.
The shower features an accent wall of black tile laid in a herringbone pattern — a dark backdrop that enhances the brass hardware.
For Sekhri, who for years yearned for a home to call her own, the apartment is a dream come true. “Every inch of space was conceived for a particular reason,” she says. “With the help of Smit and Rajvi, I turned these four walls into a home, one that is unapologetically all about me. I enjoy every moment of my day here and I can’t wait to come home every day.”
Watch now: See the latest Houzz TV episode featuring Sekhri’s glamorous apartment renovation
More on Houzz
See more episodes of Houzz TV
Get home design ideas
Find design and building professionals near you
Shop for furniture and other home products
For Sekhri, who for years yearned for a home to call her own, the apartment is a dream come true. “Every inch of space was conceived for a particular reason,” she says. “With the help of Smit and Rajvi, I turned these four walls into a home, one that is unapologetically all about me. I enjoy every moment of my day here and I can’t wait to come home every day.”
Watch now: See the latest Houzz TV episode featuring Sekhri’s glamorous apartment renovation
More on Houzz
See more episodes of Houzz TV
Get home design ideas
Find design and building professionals near you
Shop for furniture and other home products
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Hi Naman, the house was executed in 5000 Rs. / Sqft.
Amazing
It's definitely not 860 sq ft. If it is what you claim, it's nothing less than a conjuring magic trick.