Inhabit Design Studio crafts a richly layered residence where elegant maximalism, bespoke craftsmanship and thoughtful spatial planning come together to create a refined expression of contemporary Indian luxury.
Luxury is often defined by scale, but this 4,700 sq. ft. residence designed by Neeta Kumar, Principal Designer, Inhabit Design Studio, proves that true luxury lies in thoughtful planning, exceptional craftsmanship and meaningful layering. Conceived as a turnkey project, the home reflects the clients’ desire for gracious living, where formal entertaining and intimate family life coexist effortlessly while maintaining privacy, warmth and a strong sense of identity.
From the outset, the clients envisioned a residence that would feel complete in every detail. They entrusted the studio with every aspect of the project—from spatial planning and architectural detailing to bespoke furniture, furnishings and accessories—allowing the design team the creative freedom to shape a cohesive narrative throughout the home.
Describing the design language as “elegant, chic maximalism,” Neeta Kumar explains that the project challenges the common perception of maximalism as visual excess. Instead, the residence celebrates a carefully disciplined layering of materials, colours, textures and craftsmanship. Every design decision contributes to a unified story, where richness is achieved through restraint rather than abundance.
The inspiration behind the home evolved organically over years of travel and observation. Rather than drawing from a single reference, the interiors reflect visual memories accumulated across countries and historical periods, interpreted through a distinctly personal lens. This layered influence is particularly evident in the entertainment area, where emerald green and mustard hand-painted shutters evoke a vintage aesthetic inspired by a memorable visual reference. Similarly, the master bedroom’s bespoke wall treatment borrows inspiration from European travels before being reimagined to suit the personality of both the home and its owners. The comprehensive turnkey approach enabled these inspirations to be seamlessly woven into a complete design narrative.
Spatial planning played a pivotal role in achieving the clients’ vision. The primary objective was to establish clearly defined formal and informal zones within the apartment while ensuring that neither compromised the privacy nor the character of the other. Separate drawing rooms were designed with distinct moods and identities, yet connected through a shared architectural language. One of the most significant planning interventions was the creation of a transitional zone adjoining the master bedroom. A carefully positioned partition in front of the store and powder room effectively shields the private suite from activity in the dining and lounge areas, addressing a complex spatial challenge within a relatively compact footprint. Throughout the residence, arched openings and layered ceiling treatments visually connect spaces, adding architectural depth and continuity to the apartment layout.
Among the project’s notable design challenges was accommodating the pooja room in accordance with Vastu principles. Since Vastu dictated that the pooja room be located within the entertainment area, the designers developed an elegant solution by concealing it behind wooden sliding doors. This thoughtful intervention allows the sacred space to remain discreetly integrated into the entertainment zone without disrupting its flow or visual harmony when not in use.
Wood serves as the defining material throughout the residence, reflecting Inhabit Design Studio’s in-house woodworking and furniture manufacturing expertise. This capability allowed the team to exercise complete control over craftsmanship, detailing and execution. “Most of the architectural arches and bespoke elements were fabricated through the studio’s own production facilities. Marble flooring extends across the home, providing a timeless foundation for the richly layered interiors. Equally significant is the extensive use of hand-painted finishes. In the master bedroom, every individual line of the wall treatment was meticulously hand-drawn on site by skilled artists, resulting in a level of craftsmanship that belies its understated appearance. Similar hand-painted techniques have been thoughtfully adapted for the guest bedroom and living spaces, each tailored to complement the mood and palette of its surroundings,” explains Neeta Kumar.
Colour forms the emotional thread that ties the residence together. The living areas are anchored by textured finishes with warm yellow undertones, softened by cream highlights to create an atmosphere that feels established and enduring rather than newly finished. Deep maroon appears repeatedly throughout the home as a subtle accent, quietly connecting one space to another. The entertainment room introduces emerald green and mustard through vintage-inspired hand-painted detailing, lending the space warmth and theatrical character. In contrast, the master bedroom embraces muted pinks accented with maroon detailing, while the guest bedroom and children’s room reinterpret the recurring green and maroon palette in their own distinctive ways. Together, these carefully curated colours create a residence whose richness unfolds gradually, rewarding those who experience the home as a complete composition.
Among Neeta Kumar’s favourite design elements are two particularly meaningful features. The first is the sculptural Kila chandelier suspended above the dining area—a handcarved piece originally designed for the Design Democracy show before being specially adapted for this residence. Its remarkable craftsmanship and commanding presence transform the dining room into a dramatic focal point. Equally significant is the master bedroom’s hand-painted wall treatment. While its dusty pink palette and delicate architectural linework appear quietly refined, every line was painstakingly executed by hand on site, embodying the invisible craftsmanship that defines the home.
What ultimately distinguishes this project is its ability to deliver a residence that feels immersive, layered and luxurious within a 4,700 sq. ft. footprint. Despite its relatively compact size for such an ambitious vision, the home balances decorative richness with intelligent spatial planning. Every material, colour and architectural gesture has been considered in relation to the space it inhabits, resulting in interiors that feel visually expressive without ever becoming overwhelming.
More than anything, this residence reflects Inhabit Design Studio’s belief that Indian luxury possesses a unique vocabulary—one rooted in craftsmanship, memory, richly layered surfaces and meticulous detailing. Rather than referencing a single design period or stylistic tradition, the home draws from the breadth of India’s decorative heritage while presenting it through a thoroughly contemporary lens. Made possible by the clients’ complete trust in the studio, the project stands as a thoughtful expression of refined living, where every detail contributes to a home that reveals something new with every experience.
Photography: Prachi Khasgiwal
