Location: Lower Parel, Mumbai
Project Type: 4-BHK Penthouse (3,000 sq. ft.)
Client: Rajiv & Neha Malhotra – Mid-40s, corporate professionals with two teenage children
Design Brief: Transform a sterile, builder-grade penthouse into a warm, sophisticated home that reflects both opulence and mindfulness

Client Vision & Story

Rajiv and Neha had spent over a decade living in high-functioning but emotionally sterile homes that served their professional lives more than their personal ones. This penthouse—perched 36 floors above the city’s chaos—was their chance to build not just a house, but a narrative of who they were becoming as individuals and as a family.

When they met the team at Awesome Creators, they were clear on a few things:

• They wanted luxury, but not the kind that screams; it needed to feel subtle, tactile, and deeply personal.

• The house had to serve multiple generations and offer both communal gathering spaces and private sanctuaries.

• They wanted to integrate sustainability wherever possible, without sacrificing aesthetics.

Before: The Blank Canvas

The original layout was a cookie-cutter builder finish:

• White tiles, low-quality wood finishes, dim lighting

• A segmented layout with an enclosed kitchen and a claustrophobic dining area

• Bedrooms that felt boxy and airless despite generous square footage

• Almost no thought given to acoustics, natural ventilation, or view optimization

Photos from the original walkthrough show a flat, lifeless space with uninspiring design.

Design Challenges

1. Maximizing Natural Light Without Overheating
   Mumbai’s intense sunlight meant large windows couldn’t be left untreated. Smart glass coatings and automated blinds were essential.

2. Balancing Luxury with Practicality for a Busy Family
   The home had to look elegant yet withstand everyday mess—from school projects to weekend guests.

3. Acoustic Treatment in an Open Layout
   With the living room, dining, and family lounge flowing into one another, minimizing echo and noise travel was critical.

4. Sustainability Without Compromise
   Every major design choice had to balance ecological impact with luxury. Sourcing locally while maintaining high aesthetic standards was non-negotiable.

The Design Transformation

1. Spatial Reimagining

• The kitchen was opened up using sliding glass doors and a breakfast island. It became a space that invited interaction rather than hiding the mess.

• The dining area was relocated closer to the deck to create a seamless indoor-outdoor flow, using collapsible wall panels.

• The former study became a meditation room with cork flooring, handmade lime plaster walls, and natural aromatherapy infusions via HVAC.

2. Materiality & Texture

• Living Room: Italian travertine accent wall with embedded lighting. A custom sectional in recycled velvet brought richness without heaviness.

• Flooring: Locally sourced Kota stone with matte finish in living areas, reclaimed teak parquet in bedrooms.

• Kitchen: Bamboo composite cabinetry with brushed copper handles; quartz counters made from post-consumer recycled stone.

• Furniture: Every piece was either custom-built by local artisans or restored vintage items sourced from Mumbai’s Chor Bazaar and reimagined.

3. Lighting Strategy

The penthouse relied heavily on layered lighting:

• Cove lighting with dimmers for ambiance

• Task lighting in work zones

• Motion-activated underlighting in walkways for night safety

• Chandeliers made from upcycled glass in the dining and lounge areas

4. Color & Art Curation

The palette moved away from greys and beiges to earth tones—sage green, burnt sienna, ochre, and sand—to ground the sky-high home in natural warmth.

Art was curated to reflect the family’s heritage and travels. A large Madhubani mural was commissioned for the entrance wall, painted on handmade paper and framed in reclaimed mahogany.

Sustainability Highlights

• Solar thermal panels heat all water in the home, reducing grid load

• Rainwater harvesting from the rooftop and terrace garden (converted into a semi-hydroponic herb patch)

• VOC-free paints and clay-based wall textures for healthy indoor air

• Energy-star appliances and centralized greywater reuse for garden irrigation

• Local sourcing reduced the carbon footprint by 40% compared to traditional procurement

After: The Rebirth

Photos taken post-completion tell a completely different story:

• The living room now faces the horizon, framed with breezy linen sheers and hanging planters that cool the windows passively.

• The children’s rooms are modular, with adjustable partitions, foldable study desks, and wall murals reflecting their passions—skateboarding and astronomy.

• The master suite is a haven, anchored by a fabric-panelled headboard, terracotta floor tiles, and a private reading nook with an antique jhoola suspended from a carved ceiling beam.

Every room now offers choice—to engage or retreat, to energize or reflect. The entire home echoes a rhythm that’s felt rather than seen.

Client Reaction

Neha was teary-eyed during the final walkthrough.

“It’s like walking through our own story—one we didn’t know we were writing. This isn’t just a beautiful home. It’s where our family feels whole.”

Rajiv added:

“Awesome Creators didn’t just design a space—they held a mirror to our aspirations and brought them to life, ethically and beautifully.”

Takeaways

This project is a hallmark of what Awesome Creators stands for:

• Design rooted in identity

• Sustainability with no compromise on beauty

• A human-first approach

The Skyward Sanctuary is not just a residence. It’s an experience.

Would you like me to proceed with Project #2 next? (For example: a 150-year-old Goan Portuguese villa restoration, or a Scandinavian-inspired Bangalore duplex.) Let me know your preference!

Scandinavian inspired Bangalore duplex

Excellent choice! Here’s Project #2 of 5 – a full 1,000-word narrative featuring a Scandinavian-inspired duplex in Bangalore, executed by Awesome Creators. This detailed case study includes the client’s story, design process, materials, challenges, sustainability features, and the transformation journey.