Mumbai: Luxe finishes, metallic tones and a seamless floor plan set this flat apart

This article details the transformation of a 2,360-square-foot apartment in Milan's Quadrilatero della Moda district, which was once a Franciscan convent. Inge Theron, founder of FaceGym, initially sought a simple pied-à-terre but, influenced by the district's ecclesiastical history and the design prowess of Giuseppe Porcelli, decided to make it her family's full-time residence. Porcelli, known for his English eclecticism with an Italian flair, was given a blank canvas, as the apartment was stripped bare when he began the renovation. Porcelli's design approach for the apartment drew inspiration from his Neapolitan roots, favoring a romantic aesthetic that suggests a curated collection of pieces accumulated over time. He started by establishing a foundational layer of surfaces, including blue grass cloth walls, solid oak herringbone parquet floors, and cream-colored gypsum moldings, a nod to pre-World War II Milanese homes. He then integrated a mix of custom-designed furniture and vintage pieces sourced from antique dealers and galleries. The living room, for instance, features a large ottoman upholstered with a vintage carpet, 19th-century Kutani porcelain lamps with Indian dupioni silk shades, and an overstuffed sofa in a cotton jacquard with bullion trim. A 1968 Ingo Maurer faux-bamboo floor lamp and an emerald green love seat complete the space, alongside a Napoleon III mirror above the hearth. Moving into other areas, the kitchen showcases Amalfi Coast floor tiles and a custom trompe l'oeil wallpaper that mimics their pattern. Floating glass shelves display Theron's collection of Venini glass vases and Venetian goblets, complemented by mocha-hued lacquered cabinetry. The dining room, connected to the living room via a transparent bar cabinet, is adorned with hand-painted wallpaper designed by Porcelli with Pictalab, featuring a floral motif inspired by Impressionist art on a patinated gold background. A glossy mahogany Regency dining table is surrounded by Art Deco-style lacquered chairs with burnt orange silk velvet seats, and a 19th-century French Fior di Pesco marble fireplace anchors the room. The apartment also includes a sophisticated smoking room, originally conceived for business meetings but retained due to its comfortable and inviting atmosphere. This room features mahogany-framed walls with sections upholstered in Braquenié floral fabric, a custom sofa, and Napoleon III armchairs on an antique geometric rug. A hidden wall panel conceals a small bathroom, offering an impromptu suite for guests. Theron particularly cherishes the private quarters beyond the dining room, which include a dressing room with a brass-doored armoire. These spaces subtly incorporate spiritual references, such as a 17th-century portrait of Santa Cecilia above the canopy bed in the primary bedroom, which is upholstered in a gold-toned floral jacquard and moss green velvet with a fringed canopy. The family's linens are embroidered with an image of the Holy Mother in oxblood red, a detail that Theron views as a tribute to the street's historical and spiritual significance, reinforcing a sense of blessing and divine watchfulness over their home. #MilanApartment #InteriorDesign #GiuseppePorcelli #LuxuryHome #VintageFurniture #EclecticStyle #ItalianDesign #ArchitecturalRenovation #SpiritualInfluence

For many years, glossy surfaces were the dominant aesthetic in interior design, with reflective finishes on kitchen counters, lacquered wardrobes, and marble floors symbolizing luxury. These high-shine materials were favored for their ability to reflect light and create a sense of opulence, making them popular in both residential and commercial spaces. However, design preferences are dynamic, and a new, more subdued aesthetic has emerged as the latest trend: matte finishes. These finishes are now considered the epitome of luxury, offering a sophisticated and contemporary appeal that is both understated and refined. Matte finishes seamlessly integrate with current design palettes, whether in Scandinavian-inspired homes, modern Indian apartments, or boutique workspaces, providing an adaptable and harmonious visual experience. When paired with woodgrains, matte textures soften the wood's appearance and enhance its natural warmth, making them a popular choice for kitchens, wardrobes, and living areas where wood is a primary material. Matte is also an ideal partner for the increasingly popular pastel colors such as sage, pink, lavender, and blue. These gentle hues appear richer and more velvety on matte surfaces, preventing them from looking childish and instead giving them a more elevated and mature feel. Furthermore, matte finishes elevate neutral tones like beige, cream, greige, mushroom, and charcoal, giving them a plush, tactile quality that contributes to a polished, composed, and visually balanced space. Unlike glossy surfaces, matte finishes diffuse light rather than reflecting it, resulting in softer, warmer interiors that are well-suited for modern homes. The increasing preference for matte finishes signifies a broader cultural shift towards interiors that evoke a sense of calm, groundedness, and refinement, moving away from overtly flashy aesthetics. Matte surfaces embody this understated elegance, where luxury is expressed subtly. They convey an intentionality that speaks to a homeowner's refined taste and appreciation for craftsmanship and subtle expressiveness over ostentatious displays. This trend is evident across various product categories, including paints, with brands like Birla Opus offering matte-finish emulsions that provide rich color depth and a velvety, premium look without reflective glare, creating a timeless and contemporary appeal. A common misconception about matte finishes is their perceived difficulty in maintenance, with concerns that their textured surfaces might trap oil, fingerprints, and dust more readily than smooth, glossy alternatives. However, advancements in technology and research have dispelled this notion. Modern engineered materials are now designed to be non-porous, hygienic, stain-resistant, and highly durable, often surpassing the performance of glossy finishes. For example, Specta Quartz Surfaces offers matte quartz slabs that are non-porous and resistant to heat, stains, scratches, and heavy use, making them practical for Indian homes. Many brands now feature matte options with anti-fingerprint technology, micro-scratch resistance, and long-term durability. Matte textures find practical application in living rooms, where matte wall paints create a soft, uninterrupted visual field by diffusing light, making them ideal behind sofas or TV units. This eliminates glare and enhances visual comfort. Storage and furniture are also embracing this shift; glossy wardrobes, bedside units, and side tables can be updated with matte laminates, transforming them into modern, understated pieces that integrate seamlessly into a room without dominating it. The muted texture allows the form and color of these pieces to take center stage, contributing to a more refined and contemporary look. In kitchens, matte finishes are favored for their elegance and practicality. Matte quartz countertops, backsplashes, and kitchen islands are increasingly popular, offering the luxurious look of stone without reflective glare. They provide a warmer, more architectural aesthetic and a premium user experience. These diverse applications demonstrate why matte finishes have become the modern standard for luxury, offering a tactile yet durable, expressive yet subtle, and visually rich aesthetic that aligns with contemporary preferences for relaxed, thoughtfully designed spaces over ostentatious, high-gloss displays. #MatteFinishes #LuxuryDesign #InteriorDesignTrends #HomeDecor #UnderstatedElegance #ModernInteriors #DesignPalettes #KitchenDesign #LivingRoomDesign

The Arch Studio has transformed a home in Pune, India, named Jade, into a vibrant and comfortable living space, focusing on bespoke design and a rich interplay of textures. The design ethos revolves around creating a home that reflects the owner's personality while maintaining a functional and aesthetically pleasing environment. The project emphasizes the use of varied materials and thoughtful color palettes to evoke distinct moods and experiences throughout the residence. The living areas of Jade are designed to be both stylish and comfortable, featuring unique furniture pieces and artistic elements. The Arch Studio incorporated custom-designed furniture that not only serves practical purposes but also acts as sculptural art within the space. For example, a bespoke wooden coffee table with intricate carvings complements plush sofas adorned with textured fabrics, creating an inviting atmosphere for relaxation and social gatherings. The use of natural wood, soft velvets, and woven textiles adds depth and a tactile quality to the room, encouraging interaction with the environment. The color scheme plays a pivotal role in defining the home's character. Instead of adhering to a monochromatic palette, the designers introduced a dynamic range of colors, from earthy tones to vibrant accents. This approach ensures that each room possesses its own identity while contributing to the overall harmonious flow of the house. For instance, the main living room might feature a dominant cool blue, offset by warm yellow or orange throw pillows and art pieces, creating a balance between calmness and energy. Lighting is carefully curated to enhance the textures and colors within the home. A mix of ambient, task, and accent lighting is employed to highlight architectural features, art collections, and functional areas. Recessed lighting provides a soft, general glow, while statement pendant lights and table lamps add focal points and introduce layers of illumination. Large windows allow ample natural light to flood the interiors, reducing the need for artificial lighting during the day and emphasizing the interplay of light and shadow on textured surfaces. Throughout the design, an emphasis was placed on integrating bespoke elements that tell a story. This includes custom-made cabinetry, artisanal decor pieces, and unique wall treatments. In one area, a feature wall might be clad in a textured wallpaper mimicking raw concrete, while in another, a hand-painted mural adds a personal touch. These bespoke details not only elevate the aesthetic appeal but also imbue the home with a sense of individuality and craftsmanship, making it truly unique to the homeowner. The overall objective of the project was to create a home that is both visually captivating and profoundly comfortable, serving as a personal sanctuary in the bustling city of Pune. By blending traditional influences with contemporary design principles, The Arch Studio has successfully crafted an interior narrative where every texture, color, and design element contributes to a cohesive and inviting living experience, reflecting a bold and creative spirit. #HomeInteriors #TexturedDesign #PuneHome #BespokeFurniture #ColorPalette #ArchitecturalDesign #LuxuryLiving #CustomDecor #ModernFlair

This article details the style editor's growing obsession with chrome and other shiny finishes in home decor, a trend ignited by a trip to Milan. Having recently documented her studio apartment's initial design, the author expresses a desire to refresh the space by incorporating more high-shine elements, particularly chrome-finish decor. This interest in shiny objects dates back to a visit to a Dimore show at the Salone del Mobile design fair in 2022, where the furniture gallery's shimmery surfaces, including silver-painted exteriors, left a lasting impression. The article notes that shiny objects are now ubiquitous, appearing on social media feeds and within the author's own apartment, from reading lamps to bedside tables. The author advocates for the idea that there's no such thing as excessive shine, comparing these objects to mirrors in their ability to reflect light and make small spaces feel brighter and more expansive, regardless of external weather conditions. The article then highlights a selection of current favorite high-shine finds. These include a Frama Rivet cart made of aluminum with utilitarian orange wheels, lauded for its durability and rust-proof nature, even outdoors. Another favored item is a mini metal table lamp from Zara Home, admired for its vintage-inspired switch, braided cable, and compact size. A stainless steel floor lamp from CB2 is also mentioned for its polished finish, which effectively illuminates a living room in multiple ways. Further inspirations include mercury glass balls, envisioned by the author for placement atop kitchen cabinets to reflect the entire studio, drawing inspiration from architect Luis Barragán's designs. The article also references Casa Josephine's Instagram feed, noting how the design studio balances stainless steel appliances and mirrored cabinets with warmer elements like a butter-yellow brick wall in a Madrid project, proving that shine doesn't necessarily lead to a cold aesthetic. Practical yet stylish items like a charming, house-shaped tabletop waste bin from Puebco and Elsa Peretti-esque bean-shaped candleholders made of sterling silver-plated copper from Gohar World are also featured, with the latter appreciated for its weight and perceived value. Finally, the article points out an affordable side table from IKEA’s Nytillverkad collection, which resembles Marcel Breuer’s more expensive Laccio table, highlighting its vintage appeal as a design from IKEA's 1971 catalog. The author's intent is to break design rules and continue shopping for these reflective pieces to further enhance her living space. #HomeDecor #InteriorDesign #ShinyFinishes #ChromeDecor #ApartmentLiving #DesignTrends #MetallicAccents #StudioApartment #HomeInspiration

Homeowners Jeremy Tan and Theresa Ng sought a modern luxe interior design concept for their ground-floor unit at Faber Walk, with a specific request to avoid an overly opulent aesthetic. Carmen Tang of Wolf Woof, the interior designer, embraced this vision, challenging the common misconception that luxurious design is exclusive to larger apartments or must involve excessive embellishment. Tang's approach focused on achieving elegance and charm through understated means. A key feature of the unit is its 4.27-meter high ceiling, which Tang leveraged to enhance both aesthetics and functionality. This substantial vertical space allowed for the integration of two lofts: one situated above the dining area and another within the master bedroom. These additions significantly increased the available storage capacity while also introducing unique spatial elements. The loft above the dining area functions as a private "chillout" space, offering a mezzanine-like experience with views over the living room. This area is further equipped with storage cabinets lining one of its walls, demonstrating how vertical space was utilized for practical storage solutions without compromising the luxurious feel. A cozy reading nook is nestled within this loft, providing a secluded retreat within the home. In the master bedroom, the high ceiling similarly permitted the creation of a loft. The area directly beneath this loft is designed with future adaptability in mind, capable of being converted into a walk-in wardrobe. This forward-thinking design element ensures that the space can evolve with the homeowners' needs. To materialize the modern luxe aesthetic without incurring exorbitant costs, Tang carefully curated a palette of materials, textures, and colors. This selection aimed to project an elegant and chic style throughout the residence. Metallic accents were strategically incorporated into the neutral-toned bedroom decor. These accents serve as focal points, elevating the overall design and contributing to the desired luxurious ambiance in a subtle yet impactful manner. #Clementi #HomeTour #Loft #InteriorDesign #ModernLuxe #HighCeiling #StorageSolutions #ElegantDesign #WolfWoof