Decorating

The AD Design Show 2023 opened with a bang as patrons of the art and design community gathered at Jio World Convention Centre in Mumbai. Komal Sharma, the head of editorial content at AD, regaled everyone with a welcome speech, and inaugurated the AD Design Show 2023 with the unveiling of Shankha. This brass installation by artist Shilo Shiv Suleman was a feminine take on the otherwise masculine architectural structures, and showcased a cowrie shell in all its glory. Followed by a garment presentation ‘AGAMA’ by Sanjay Garg, founder of Raw Mango. Paying an ode to India’s textile heritage, especially kantha, the collection showcased sarees, jackets, skirts and more in mashru. The periphery of the AD Lounge became a makeshift ramp as models strutted away wearing these regal apparels. A key highlight of the event was the reimagined Lal Dera, or red tent, designed with a contemporary perspective by Sameep Padora of the architectural firm sP+a. Here’s a recap of those three fabulous days.

The apartment, the home of a self-made billionaire and his wife, is located in a new building on Altamount Road, aptly known as Mumbai’s Billionaires’ Row. Inside, quiet luxury rules. The various wall treatments that Shah has employed throughout the space, which include parchment, embroidery, marble and wood, are part of his mission to bring warmth and character to what was essentially a vast and featureless empty shell, with full-height metal-framed windows, sharp corners and a rectangular floor plan. He countered this by creating a series of curved walls and screens, to “break free from the boxiness of the rooms”; a device which not only brings much-needed softness and flow, but also serves to subtly separate the rooms and delineate the public areas from the private spaces beyond.

With plenty of natural light, indoor plants and a controlled colour palette, Ananya Panday’s 1,100-square-foot apartment has been designed by Gauri Khan as a light and breezy space— one that feels very calming!

Sonam Kapoor Ahuja gives AD India a tour of her London home and studio.

With personally curated art and emblems of her childhood, Aahana Kumra's home, designed by Shireen Mahna, is at once trad and tony. For Kumra, the home is a manifestation twenty years in the making, and one that nods equally to her Lucknowi roots and her life in Mumbai. "There are whiffs of Kashmir, London and Delhi too. It's a collection of all my favourite places," she says, adding that the vision was largely informed by English design, because "I travel a lot to London". But really, as I step inside, what strikes me isn't the English-ness at all, but rather the glimmers of India that peep through the pastels.

An ‘exploded’ wall, lots of prints, and intimate corners – Aparshakti Khurana and Aakriti Ahuja give us a glimpse of their Mumbai home, designed by Rupin Suchak. “The intent for their home was to create a cozy, homely vibe that drew inspiration from Tropical Modernism; something textured, layered, poised, and accented with beautifully restored elements,” says Rupin.

Step inside the home of the principal designer at Essajees Atelier, Sarah Sham whose vibrant, plant-filled Mumbai abode has vintage bones that add to its quaint, old world charm. While Sham’s home is indeed a reflection of the designer’s own aesthetic—and in many ways, the confidence she has earned to trust her instincts, even when they go against the grain–it is also an homage to the heritage of the city. “When you’re in this beautiful heritage building, you do owe some respect to the space that you’re coming into.” Sham opened up to what the apartment had to offer, and the space obliged. “It is comfortable, modern living, with an aesthetic that is based in heritage.” Stay tuned for the full tour!

With muted accents, minimum furniture, and a room for every mood, Singer Armaan Malik's suburban apartment is a surprising antithesis to his larger-than-life on-screen persona. In our next AD Visits, step inside the singer's Mumbai home, which, according to Mansi Pandey, founder and principal designer of The Design House Company, who helped bring this space to life, reflects his personality.