Pichwai Panels And Thikri Mirrors Bring Indian Heritage Inside This Contemporary Mumbai Home

In the heart of Mumbai, ‘Timeless Roots’ by 4th Dimension Architects is a quiet celebration of Indian craftsmanship within the framework of modern living. Designed to house three generations under one roof, the 2750-sq-ft residence draws from vernacular materiality and classical Indian design vocabularies while remaining unbound by nostalgia.  The outcome is a house that is deeply rooted, well-crafted, and emotionally moving.

“The first spark was emotional,” shares principal architect Rinki Kotak. “The challenge was to blend diverse needs – privacy for elders, playfulness for children, and calm for the working couple, into a cohesive, timeless design.”

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The stratified approach begins with the spatial arrangement, extensive yet creating a sense of closeness, flexible yet clearly defined. Every section is understood not as a discrete space, but as an extension of a larger story. The living and dining areas blend seamlessly into one another, highlighted by the material usage: natural terrazzo floors, carefully detailed teakwood screens, and restrained plaster walls augmented with integrated textures. Instead of highlighting grand statements, the home reveals its personality through understated craftsmanship.

A unifying thread throughout the house is its observance of Indian craftsmanship, best evidenced in the use of Thikri mirror work. The ancient method, originating in Rajasthan, consists of laying out the intricate design of hand-cut pieces of mirror embedded in lime plaster. The mirrors scatter light over the surfaces, creating a soft glow and depth. “These elements are not decorative; they tell stories and are functional. It evolves with its users and carries a sense of belonging,” says Rinki. Nearby, a cane and teak screen offers quiet spatial separation while allowing natural light to filter through, casting ever-shifting shadows that animate the space.

Vintage furniture also returns to the curation of art in the home. From hand-painted Pichwai panels in the mandir to heritage paintings picked up from Peacock Life by Shabnam Gupta, Philip Antiques, and The Great Eastern Home, the home is a gallery. Each piece is chosen not only for its looks but to honour India’s storytelling legacy.

This storytelling continues in the private spaces. The master bedroom, for instance, has walls covered in cane panels in muted beige tones, topped by terracotta floors, imbuing the space with a feeling of organic comfort. A large hand-painted Indian work of art placed behind the bed, along with red velvet and cane reading loungers, produces an environment that is solid and reminiscent. Brass accents and indoor plants bring vitality and lightness to the overall look, allowing for a harmonious coexistence between tradition and quiet luxury.

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On the other hand, the kitchen area or rasoi unites cabinetry with an ICA finish, backsplash tiles, and vintage brass handles. In-house designed, the space acquires the atmosphere of a classic Indian kitchen, reinterpreted in the modern era. Adjacent to it is the study,  characterised by its Sabyasachi-designed wallpaper from the Nilaya collection, bringing a sense of craft richness to the otherwise contemplative space.

The bathrooms are where traditional artistry takes a more theatrical turn. Most notably, ‘The Royal Bath’ features wall-highlighting tiles created by JJ Valaya (via FCML), accompanied by antique brass fittings and traditional sanitary ware from Bellezza. A single black urn, an embossed mirror, and a wreath of wheat stems bring a quiet sense of majesty to the space, both lasting and sensual.

The multi-faceted character of the home is also evident in its balconies. The living area balcony opens out to ocean views, panoramic in scope and framed by intricately hand-carved patterns of cement, teak louvres, and heritage-style decorative tile work at the base. The bedroom balcony, however, is held up by a cane swing, flower-patterned floors, and antique wall brackets, and succeeds in transforming potentially transitional areas into richly immersive spaces. Such thoroughly considered details are brought together harmoniously by a lighting scheme sensitive to time of day. 

“We started with daylight, orienting major spaces like the primary bedrooms, balconies, and living area to catch the early morning sun,” says Rinki. “For artificial lighting, we layered it carefully, functional lighting blends into ceilings while warm ambient lights bring softness in the evening.” The lighting not only illuminates spaces but also brings depth to the textures of materials, creates evocative shadows, and influences the emotional life of the space.

Throughout the home, in-house designed elements like the custom partitions, bespoke seating, and handcrafted lights respond to needs that off-the-shelf solutions couldn’t meet. “We always begin with the question: will designing this in-house add more meaning or solve something better? If yes, we take it on.” Rinki says. “It’s a balance we source when the product adds value, and we design when we’re chasing a specific emotional or spatial intent. The end goal is coherence, character, and a story only this home can tell.”

At its core, ‘Timeless Roots’ encapsulates 4th Dimension’s founding belief that Indian heritage is less an immobile aesthetic and more a living, dynamic philosophy of design. Founded by Rinki and Mihir Kotak, the company has spent over two decades creating homes that prioritise craftsmanship, cultural relevance, and human experience. “It represents how we view ‘luxury’ not as excess, but as care, meaning, and timeless relevance,” Rinki affirms. In a design philosophy often represented by global minimalism, ‘Timeless Roots’ charts a path that is decidedly Indian but forward-thinking in spirit. It is about the self-conscious, loving effort involved in craftsmanship. It is about the richness of multi-generational living. And it reminds us that the most powerful spaces are those that feel deeply lived in and deeply loved.