Interior: Rooted in Color, Lifted by Light
Every now and then, a space already carries so much of its story in its bones. This one did. It had the arches, the domes, the kind of carved elegance that speaks softly but unmistakably of tradition and pride. The moment I stepped inside, I could see what the client saw—a quiet kind of magic, just waiting to be stirred awake.
She came to me with a vision: a soft Bollywood-inspired look, but without the dazzle. No sparkle, no glamour. She wanted something that felt grounded—rooted in nature, in memory, in warmth. But she still wanted those little moments of joy, the kind of brightness that reminds you of home.
The staircase had already been shaped with traditional Indian motifs, its alcoves carved like petals frozen in bloom. When I first arrived, those spaces were empty—waiting, like open hands. She wanted to gather here, to make this the heart of the home. So that’s where we began.
Her sofa was the first anchor point: a soft, creamy L-shape scattered with white pillows blooming in teals and pinks, like wildflowers tossed in the breeze. A buttery yellow blanket rested on one end, unbothered and cozy, as if someone had just left it behind to pour a cup of chai.
The coffee table was clean and simple—a round white top with pale wooden legs that curved just enough to feel modern without feeling cold. Beneath it, a woven rug in a natural tone grounded the space and added quiet texture.
But the real transformation came with color. We painted the inside of those staircase alcoves a deep turquoise—a bold choice, but one that felt entirely at home here. The shade shifted depending on the light, sometimes bright and lively, other times dark and soothing, like a slice of the sky just before dusk.
Each alcove was filled with treasures: statues, dolls, heirlooms that had traveled across time and oceans. They belonged here. They made the room feel lived in, loved, known.
To give the space structure, a carved turquoise divider was placed at the foot of the stairs, its pattern echoing the same floral geometry that framed the room’s architecture. It gave the space privacy without closing it off—and tied everything together in a way that felt effortless.
Tropical plants added breath and life, each one chosen for its shape and movement rather than its origin. And then—just as the finishing touch—a trail of fairy lights was draped gently across the ceiling. This last detail wasn’t the client’s, but her daughter’s request. A simple wish, made with childlike wonder. When she saw them, glowing softly like stars strung in a dream, she gasped. And that moment, that little flicker of joy? That’s when I knew the room was finished.
