Situated on the highest floor of a luxurious building complex, this penthouse project offered Esha Pandya-Choksi and Aashni Pandya-Kumar, co-founders and principal designers of Studio Flamingo, an interior design opportunity that spanned approximately 5000 square feet. “The clients were keen on neutral palettes, strong forms and a minimalist appeal. They envisioned an aesthetic characterised by stylish and sophisticated furnishings and accessories, with a design language seeded in both formal and casual sensibilities,” says Pandya-Choksi.A stately teak door opens into the entrance area of the house. A generous monochromatic passageway, channelling classic forms and high-end luxury, sets the tone for the rest of the home.“Intricate, European-inspired wall mouldings serve as the central theme of the home, of which the passageway offers a first glimpse. We translated a quintessentially Mughal geometric pattern into the typical linear construction of a moulding panel. We tailored the moulding designs to suit the context and function of each room,” Pandya-Kumar says.

A ribbed bench on the right sits in striking juxtaposition with the ivory moulding of the wall behind and the darker grain of the wooden floor. The bench also marks the entry point to the living room opposite.

“We employed a potpourri of wood tones, stark white finishes, shiny metals and glass forms throughout the home. For this wall, we innovated the moulding to represent a modern Indian style. We have maintained a soft, neutral colour palette, so as to retain a modern and contemporary feel,” Pandya-Choksi says.

The living room is a melange of soft fabrics, sinewy curves and clean lines, modelling an ebony-and-ivory appeal. The minimalism of the angular four-seater sofa and slender bench are offset by the curvy shell chair, globular cluster floor lamp and unconventional leaf-shaped coffee table.

“The living room is blessed with plenty of sunlight, thanks to its floor-to-ceiling windows. To enhance its natural luminous quality, we studied the scientific impact of natural light and designed layouts that flowed into one another. We also extended this design philosophy to the rest of the home,” says Pandya-Kumar.

The living room opens into a bar area with a backdrop of black-and-white family photos on the wall. The space is simple and cut-back, evocative of the silent-movie era.

“We curated a mid-century modern furniture range for the home, with eclectic pieces that symbolise various decades in history. We introduced a sense of cohesive harmony by maintaining uniformity in colour palette, texture and material,” says Pandya-Choksi.

The dining room is an organic extension of the bar area, featuring a rose-hued stainless-steel dining table and classic, old-world dining chairs. From the dining area, a spiral staircase serves as the connecting link between the ground floor and the terrace floor of the home.

“To create an air of formality in the master bedroom, we opted for classical moulding. The wall panels, embellished with dull gold lines, conjure a scene of sophistication and luxury,” Pandya-Kumar says.

The wall-to-wall tone-on-tone wardrobes in the master bedroom exude vintage charm. A pared-back wooden sofa accentuates the daisy backdrop while also serving as easy seating. The wooden floor works as a powerful visual stimulant in its contrast with the peripheral vanilla elements.

The bedroom of one of the sons is a sky blue and white cocoon, punctuated with charcoal accents. The space tears up the traditional design rule book by combining a plethora of distinct patterns, forms and shapes.

“The room is an expression of free-thinking, of colouring outside the lines. The asymmetry and abstract quality of the wall syncs perfectly with the bespoke complementary artwork,” Pandya-Kumar says.

Upstairs, on the terrace floor, lies the den, a relaxation zone that serves as a crossroads between the residence and the formal terrace. Enveloped in soft finishes, subdued colours and sweeping French panelled doors, the space models a ritzy old-Hollywood glam vibe. Concrete-finish checkerboard flooring, sumptuous sofas and gilded armchairs round off the swish decor scheme while diffused light pours in through the skylight, bathing the area in a natural and consistent glow.

The formal terrace hosts a sequence of three luxe seating arrangements – a grey-and-white woven rattan layout in the centre, a bar area on one side, and a canopied daybed on the other.

“To maintain the consistency of the wooden flooring of the residence, we chose flooring tiles made of sustainable wood for the terrace,” says Pandya-Choksi.

Adds Pandya-Kumar, “The project allowed us to bring the outside in, and draw attention from the inside out, by highlighting the Pune skyline.”

An overhead concrete grid, fitted with wooden bars, serves a dual purpose. Aesthetically, the bars provide a geometric ceiling design against the backdrop of the blue Pune sky. Functionally, they offer relief by filtering sunlight in the city’s hottest seasons.