Living Spaces with Soul: Design Your Personal Sanctuary
The living room is where stories are told and quiet moments happen. I design spaces that feel like a deep exhale, layering textures, art, and memories to make a room that truly feels like yours.
This living room in Calcutta is designed to hold everyone, including Peru the cat, seen here under the coffee table. The warm, earthy tones and comfortable upholstery invite you to sink in and stay awhile, creating a space that feels like a true family hub.
In this Saratoga family room, a repositioned stone fireplace becomes the anchor. The space is filled with deep-seated sofas and a rocking chair, perfect for cozy evenings. The exposed wood beams on the ceiling add rustic warmth, creating an intimate and inviting atmosphere.
A double-height living room in Dhaka feels open and airy, thanks to the massive window wall. I used a dramatic, leaf-like chandelier and a mix of floral and solid fabrics to ground the space and add layers of interest, making it feel both impressive and comfortable.
A mustard yellow sofa brings a pop of color to this calm, textural living room. The space, part of the 'Inde Blue' project, was designed to feel like a deep exhale, with a focus on handmade imperfections and soulful, personal touches.
The entrance to Alia Bhatt's home sets a warm and inviting tone. The white brick wall, stained glass doors, and a simple bench create a feeling of comfort and ease, reflecting her desire for a home that was personal and unpretentious.
For Dia Mirza's home, we created a living space that felt like an embrace. The large L-shaped sofa is layered with handwoven cushions, and a large artwork brings color and energy. It’s a space that holds her stories, her art, and her quiet strength.
This living room, designed for Kangana Ranaut, is a beautiful chaos of collected items. A gallery wall, a vintage gramophone, and a bold blue rug come together to create a space that is deeply personal and full of character, reflecting her unique spirit.
For a young couple's first home, they wanted soft tones of cream and white. I used Parisian-style wall mouldings and hand-picked furniture to add understated detail and warmth, creating a space that feels serene and timeless without being clinical.
The lobby of the Artveda building was designed to create a feeling of tranquility and spirituality from the moment you enter. The grand arched windows, patterned cement tiles, and minimalist seating create a serene, artsy vibe without the obvious use of art.
A quick tour of a warm and lived-in farmhouse. You can see how the double-height living room, cozy seating by the stairs, and the long verandah all connect to create a home that is built for a family that values closeness and warmth.
About Living Spaces with Soul
I don’t believe in perfect, clinical showrooms. A living room should feel like it has been collected over time. My process involves finding unique furniture, mixing patterns, and using light to create a mood that matches how you live, rather than following rigid design rules.
A home should never feel like a museum. When I approach a living room, I look for the pulse of the house. Is it a space for long, tea-filled afternoons, or a quiet retreat from the city? My design process is less about blueprints and more about dialogue. We start by listening to the walls, whether we are restoring a heritage structure in Mumbai or styling a new apartment.
I lean into what I call 'collected character.' This means avoiding generic, store-bought furniture sets. Instead, we hunt for statement pieces, such as a vintage gramophone, a hand-knotted rug from Jaipur, or a custom-built four-poster bed. We layer these with textures like lime plaster, reclaimed wood, and deep-toned fabrics.
Common questions about my process:
- Do you work with existing furniture? Absolutely. If you have heirloom pieces, we find a way to make them the focal point.
- What about lighting? Lighting is everything. I prefer layered lighting over bright, flat overheads. We look for vintage sconces and dramatic chandeliers to shift the mood as the day turns to evening.
- Is this for big homes only? Not at all. A small room can feel grand with the right use of deep color or floor-to-ceiling drapery.
Whether we are working on a 10,000 sq. ft. residence or a single room transformation, the goal is the same: to create a space that holds your stories. My studio in Bandra is always open if you want to walk through these ideas in person.
Richa Bahl
I didn't study design in a classroom; I learned by listening to old buildings and following my gut. My studio in Bandra is where we turn those instincts into homes that feel like an embrace, not a magazine shoot.
Let’s find the right design style for you.
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