Houzz Tour: Innovative Minimalism in India
A palette of birch plywood and concrete contributes to a simple but cozy Mumbai home
Architect Mahek Lalan’s home in Mumbai, India, shows that minimal decor doesn’t necessarily translate to stark spaces devoid of warmth. Working with limited square footage, he chose to eliminate excessive embellishments and materials and to let a simple palette of birch plywood and concrete do the talking. Strong, clean lines dominate, while a few pockets of color and greenery bring warmth and a sense of homeyness.
The front door opens directly to a dining area, which flows into the living room. The dining table is made of birch plywood, as is the fixed slatted screen partially separating the living-dining space from the rest of the house.
Past the screen is the kitchen. Next to it, where this photo is taken from, is a passage that leads to a guest bedroom and a master bedroom.
Past the screen is the kitchen. Next to it, where this photo is taken from, is a passage that leads to a guest bedroom and a master bedroom.
The architect pared back the color palette, giving the space a tidy appeal. The warm beige of the plywood forms a neutral backdrop for contrasting black furniture in the living area. The accordion windows tuck together to flood the space with natural light. The use of birch ply on most surfaces imparts cohesiveness.
“The sense of continuity is further enhanced with the use of the other major material element, the concrete floor that unifies the apartment,” Lalan says. Adding elements of visual interest are the exposed Edison bulb pendant lights and the patterned throw pillows.
Find similar pendant lights in the Houzz Shop
“The sense of continuity is further enhanced with the use of the other major material element, the concrete floor that unifies the apartment,” Lalan says. Adding elements of visual interest are the exposed Edison bulb pendant lights and the patterned throw pillows.
Find similar pendant lights in the Houzz Shop
The vertical screen strikes a balance of keeping the space light and airy while giving the nighttime areas a measure of privacy.
“The biggest challenge was to free the house of the heavy masonry walls that existed. I altered the configuration of rooms to enable greater utility as well as a sense of an expanded space within the limited area,” Lalan says.
Find an architect on Houzz
“The biggest challenge was to free the house of the heavy masonry walls that existed. I altered the configuration of rooms to enable greater utility as well as a sense of an expanded space within the limited area,” Lalan says.
Find an architect on Houzz
Lalan made the dining area’s sleek table from birch ply that’s about three-quarters of an inch thick. The legs echo the pattern of the slatted screen.
The black wire chairs were specifically chosen for their unobtrusive appearance.
Three concrete pendant lights with simple black wiring illuminate this area and complement the overall color and material palette.
Browse wire dining chairs
The black wire chairs were specifically chosen for their unobtrusive appearance.
Three concrete pendant lights with simple black wiring illuminate this area and complement the overall color and material palette.
Browse wire dining chairs
The kitchen cabinetry picks up on the birch ply of the living space. “The durability of the material is increased by using a sealing coat of clear matte oil,” Lalan says.
The storage unit’s clever design maximizes its functionality, with wall cabinets, open shelves, base cabinets and drawers. Fluted glass, custom-designed door knobs with raw and exposed edges, and a concrete countertop are interesting details.
Your Guide to 15 Popular Kitchen Countertop Materials
The storage unit’s clever design maximizes its functionality, with wall cabinets, open shelves, base cabinets and drawers. Fluted glass, custom-designed door knobs with raw and exposed edges, and a concrete countertop are interesting details.
Your Guide to 15 Popular Kitchen Countertop Materials
The guest room adheres to the minimal aesthetic. The storage bed features vertical surfaces angled inward. The vertically paneled black headboard, flanked by conical wall lights, adds interest to the design.
Along one wall of the guest bedroom is a simple built-in closet.
The closet’s long handles showcase the plywood’s exposed raw surface as a design element.
Like the kitchen cabinetry, the closet was treated with a layer of clear matte oil.
Like the kitchen cabinetry, the closet was treated with a layer of clear matte oil.
“The bed in the master bedroom is a unique piece. It’s designed as a stepped platform, which one can use in multiple ways to sit,” Lalan says.
A built-in cubby along the length of the bed holds books. The room was planned so that it can be utilized as an informal space to host friends.
A built-in cubby along the length of the bed holds books. The room was planned so that it can be utilized as an informal space to host friends.
In the en suite bathroom, Lalan clad the wall with black tiles. They’re offset by the plywood-framed mirror and the custom marble sink.
Throughout the house, vintage toggle switches are set in a birch ply switchboard.
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Get That Calming, Minimalist Feel With Any Decor Style
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Throughout the house, vintage toggle switches are set in a birch ply switchboard.
More
Get That Calming, Minimalist Feel With Any Decor Style
Tour other small homes
House at a Glance
Who lives here: Architect Mahek Lalan of SML Architects
Location: Mumbai, India
Size: 807 square feet (75 square meters); two bedrooms, two bathrooms