A grid in the mind’s eye suggests structure, a repetitive motif that confines. At Gingham Dreams, the script flips. Peering over Versova’s shoulder from the 25th floor is this 3,000-square-foot apartment, which invites long views of the Arabian Sea indoors.
Project Name: Gingham Dreams
Studio Name: MuseLAB
An unexpected perk? The client’s closest companion happened to reside in the adjacent upper unit. A shared zip code with loved ones, stunning vistas, and a home that beats with the pulse of Tokyo colliding with Bombay. What’s not to love?
A MARBELLED MUSE
Can a motif comprise a home’s personality? Well, at Gingham Dreams, it does. The fundamentally straightforward pattern’s genius lies in restraint. In this three-generational abode, it makes a steadfast debut in morphing forms. The materiality is a constant kit of parts — four varieties of marble articulated as crafted inlay work. Hues of fiery coral, pale blue, warm beige, and lake placid green headline the palette, manifesting in the vast canvas-like floor, surface finishes, and furniture.
LIVING OFF THE GRID
Colour makes an early debut, a green-apple-hued wall marking one’s arrival, with a snug duo of armchairs and light box-style luminaire standing sentinel. The home’s nucleus assumes a rectilinear form, comfortably hosting a dozen guests.
At Gingham Dreams, looking both up and down comes highly recommended. The floor unfolds as an intricate tapestry of inlaid marble, its geometric grids flowing underfoot like a woven carpet. The grid’s rhythmic structure is met by amorphous, rather amoeba-esque forms that drift and glide under the chequered plane. The wainscoting is also rendered in stone, crowned by sculptures by Sycaro. A distant call of the past echoes through the home — its voice preserved in stone tabletops that bear the intricate patterns of cherished board games. Look up to discover geometric motifs extruded from the ceiling, their mirror image emerging symmetrically within the floor’s inlay.
GEOMETRY ON THE MENU
Today’s specials include a monolithic marble bench and a customised marble table donning inlay. The sleek, cruciform legs of the table bleed a heady coral, their imprint surfacing on the table top. A ruddy jacket installation from Hands and Minds by Abin Chaudhuri is the crown jewel, a playful tribute to the bond between the client and his next-door buddy.
A sight for sore eyes, the eastern-light-bathed kitchen is a vision sculpted in Lake Placid quartzite and Corian. The central island is swathed in veiny rivulets which flow into a chequered skin across its fascia. The inlay details form grids and vertical motifs in the backsplash and window mullions, guiding the gaze dynamically.
SHAPING SPACES
With a swath of powder blue glazing the ceiling and wood-skinned walls, the activity room doubles as a study and guest bedroom. The dual-toned veneers create a flowing tapestry of motifs that cascade from the wardrobe facade across the desk surface and into the flooring below. The bathroom features blue-grey stone surfaces that seamlessly complement its carefully curated cool-toned aesthetic.
HOLD ME WITHIN
If a quiet read, a colour-coded checklist, and daydreaming sound like absolute perfection, one might find their footsteps naturally leading to the study. Emulating the Shoji screens of Japanese descent, the room’s edges are conceived in latticed wood and glass, square inserts in lockstep with the home’s visual theme. Inside, the floor grid becomes denser, creating an intimate retreat. A cryptic owl by Sycaro stands vigil, serving as the librarian on duty.
VISTAS BEYOND THE GRID
Terrazzo floors script a grounded welcome to the outdoors, from which granite table and bench ascend, drinking in views of the city. A cabana-style daybed lures one to linger, whether for a scintillating game of poker or savouring a brew.
GRITTY LUXE
In the primary bedroom, an umber sky takes over. The grid and embedded motifs descend onto the headboard, a scalloped detail interjecting the stoic linearity of the pattern. A coral stone vanity stretches across the primary bathroom’s length, integrating colour playfully into its pared-back beige embrace.
IN THE GREEN
A zesty apple green and white wrap the children’s bedroom in zesty energy. Rectangular forms expand and contract across the feature wall, giving rise to beds that emerge from this dynamic backdrop. The green palette continues into the ensuite, where it mingles with warm blush tones around a coral stone vanity bearing a pixelated texture.
A ZEN RETREAT
The parents’ bedroom witnesses a deepening of the palette, with nostalgic sepia tones now commanding the composition. The floors feature a geometric carpet of mosaic-style inlays that define the room’s spatial flow. This interplay of colour and form extends into the bathroom, where grey, coral, and white stones create bold, definitive statements throughout the space.
