An Abode In Mumbai Painted In Shades Of Seafoam And Sky

Many homes in Mumbai boast of being near the sea, and rightly so. But this refreshingly elegant abode on the city’s eastern waterfront brings the sea right inside, not by spectacle, but through subtlety. Aptly dubbed ‘Aqua Abode,’ the home is pieced together as a puzzle of coastal influences, inspired by the sea and its surroundings, offering a kind of serenity that city life rarely allows. Helmed by Principal Architects Rashi Lalaji Mehta and Shikha Shah of Studio Raha, the 2184 sq-ft apartment is perched on the 33rd floor in the city’s skyline, and unfolds softly across a butterfly layout, with the living area positioned at the centre and five bedrooms on either side. “The homeowners sought something fresh. A home that felt lived in,” says Mehta. “They came to us with a clear brief of clean lines, minimalism and a visual language that evokes calm. The sea, with all its beauty, felt like the most intuitive inspiration.”

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A Coastal Reverie Above The City 

The apartment’s soul lies in its colour story: an aqua palette that’s thoughtfully restrained and quietly expressive. The moment you enter the foyer, powder blue walls and a cool terrazzo floor quietly announce the palette that is to follow. Moving in, the space breaks into a subdued living area that stuns with its low-key glamour. Soft aqua blue accents ripple across a foundation of monochrome tones, fluted patterns echo the rhythm of tidal waves, and flares of natural light animate every surface. 

There is a joie de vivre kind of composure and poise in the formal living room. It is a tactile cornucopia of textures elevated by the furniture and hand-picked artworks posed against an all-white backdrop. Shah names the formal living room her favourite spot in this home. 

Explaining further, she says, “The structural framework remained largely untouched, but we reimagined the spatial flow, separating the living room from the semi-enclosed den to ensure both flexibility and privacy.” This adjustment was crucial to create a distinct zone for entertainment. The smart design element here is the fluted-glass sliding door, added for a smooth transition and allowing diffused natural light to filter in this cosy nook. 

While the coastal palette lingers in the living area, one corner also delves into tranquil spirituality with a contemporary mandir handcrafted by the skilled artisans of Studio Raha. Its blue fluted shutters, when drawn open, reveal a white porcelain deity placed against a tessellated backdrop from Housewarming. The galley-style kitchen, cloaked in a palette of soft beige and deep blue cabinetry, is clean, efficient and undeniably elegant. By making blue the chromatic core, the home rethinks inhabitation by using a colour as an emotional and spatial tool—a hue that evokes calm, comfort and conscious living. 

A Colour That Knows Its Place

Aqua blue is one of those magical hues that can do it all—calm the chaos, make a statement or simply elevate a space with timeless sophistication. “We didn’t want to go overboard with the theme,” shares Mehta. “Instead of drowning the home in blue, we treated it as a thread, woven gently through the home and appearing just in the right places with grey and white accents, to evoke a sense of calm and continuity.” 

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Impeccably Curated Corners

The architects’ signature style lies in their ability to infuse character into minimalism with the use of purposeful furniture and choice of home decor. Nowhere is this more evident than in the semi-enclosed den. Instead of relying on flashy details, Mehta and Shah let materials and proportions take the lead in shaping the space’s story.  A tactile sofa, low-lighting and dainty decor pieces picked from The Golden Triangle and H&M Home subtly echo the home’s coastal inspiration. Another corner that speaks of their impeccable style is the dining nook, where an oversized textured artwork from Frame Bazaar is paired with a sculptural dining table by NH48, exemplifying a refined sense of balance. Most of the furniture, artefacts and lighting deployed throughout the home are custom-designed or sourced by the enthusiastic architects to maintain the cohesive aesthetics. 

A Layout That Breathes Both Ways

The apartment’s butterfly layout is practical and yet far from ordinary, designed to flow naturally from one space to the next. Unlike the more commonly adopted linear configurations, the butterfly layout brings a sense of equilibrium and maximises the cross-ventilation and natural light across both sides of the apartment. Distributing the spaces around a central hub allows each room to feel more connected yet distinctly independent. This spatial strategy reflects the architects’ thoughtful approach to planning.

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Design Language of the Bedrooms

Mehta and Shah have a special predilection for continuity, and it is effortlessly visible in each bedroom. “It was important that each room carries its individuality while staying rooted in the overall design grammar”, the architects explain. The private chambers are accented with lighting picked from Shimmer Lights and bundled up in strokes of Asian Paints textured paint and PU-fluted wall treatments. While the built-in wardrobes and fabric headboards were crafted on-site, the magnificent beds were designed by NH48. With soft powdery tones, moody greys, and bluish slates, the palette flows harmoniously across surfaces. The same calibrated theme also extends to the study nook, finished in a custom blue study unit meticulously constructed on-site by local carpenters. 

With aqua blue as the reigning hue and textures reminiscent of the sea, this home by Studio Raha feels like a shoreline caught in stillness. From materials that honour the emotions behind the design, to the wondrous furnishings that carry the narrative forward, each detail deepens the home’s dialogue with the sea. The architects have approached the project with deep sensitivity, extreme detailing and a practical sense of ergonomics. And despite the pressure of a five-month turnaround, the duo has scrupulously translated the homeowners’ aspirations into a calm, coastal cadence—elevated both in design and altitude, suspended high above the city’s din.