With a concept that revolves around a painting, Purple Backyard has changed the definition of luxury from opulent, grand and extravagant to muted, minimal and elegant in the interiors of a 3 BHK residence in Bandra, Mumbai.
Founded by Kumpal Vaid, a graduate from Rachna Sansad School of Interior Design in Mumbai, Purple Backyard’s approach since its inception five years ago is driven by aesthetics and a keen attention to detail. Their innovative and eclectic design ideas play with natural light and new textures. Working with the finest artisans and vendors, the firm strives to reinterpret luxury and create refreshing experiences for brands and spaces of varying scales.
“With all our projects, we have one key objective – bespoke,” says Kumpal, when asked to throw light on her design ideology. “Whether it is the side of the bed you wake up on or the feel of a texture that exudes elegance, our meticulous attention to detail creates a completely bespoke design that is both practical and luxurious while emphasising on the atmosphere you want to achieve.”
She has specialised in Visual Merchandising and Styling at UAL – Central Saint Martins, London. Her love for travel and her childlike fascination for the stories that each new place tells her are the foundation of her detail-oriented mindset. For the interiors of the 1500 sq ft apartment, the client put forth an intriguing brief to the designer – a painting that she had inherited from her father. Taking cues from the soothing and not very flashy colour scheme of the artwork, the client sought an understated feeling of luxury.
The plan of the residence did not require any major structural changes or alterations to the layout. The only intervention from the designer’s end was a multi-utility space – a den – which would act as the client’s study, home office, entertainment area and an extended guest bedroom.
The team at Purple Backyard takes time out to understand each client’s lifestyle “ensuring that every job is tailor-made to suit their needs.” In keeping with the theme of minimalist luxury, the firm opted to experiment with textures and tones rather than with too many colours.
“The idea was to let the painting be the hero,” says Kumpal. Since the painting did not have too many bold colours, the material palette consisted of beige, taupe and cream tones and textures. The blue pinstripe sofa, a very outdoorsy and country style piece from Abaca, introduces a pop of colour into the living room. A few splashes of colour creep their way into the design in the form of maroon bathroom tiles, and lime green cushion covers and curtains.
A combination of sourced and custom-made pieces forms the collection of furniture that was selected for the residence. The white shelving unit in the den, in which a refrigerator neatly tucks itself in, was built on site. Kumpal’s team worked hand in hand with RBY (Red, Blue and Yellow), a company that specialises in furniture design, to craft the sofa cum bed in the den.
Another furniture store, Pinakin, customised the dining table to fit the overall scheme of the design. The table top made in back-painted glass firmly rests on finely carved marble legs. Beautifully upholstered chairs were sourced from the same store. The brass inlay bar unit is from Transforme and the oval canopy bed is from RBY. The single chairs and ottomans have also been tailor-made to size by RBY.
The sober mood board becomes the backdrop to key focal elements in the design, such as the revered painting and the sofa from Abaca. Additionally, suspended light fittings above the dining table and in the den manage to draw due attention to themselves.
The oval canopy bed, custom designed by Red Blue and Yellow, boasts of innovative details – neatly integrated lamp shades and a sleek reinterpretation of a headboard.
An abstract pattern of gold leaves strewn across a light grey setting highlights an accent wall in the dining room. The remaining walls, eggshell white in colour, sit at well-finished ninety degree angles to the stark white ceiling. Cove lighting has been tastefully introduced along the periphery of the living and dining rooms, and in few instances, in the bedrooms.
With a vision to maintain a certain level of perfection and to guarantee sustainable methods of doing so, Purple Backyard is constantly seeking new ways to achieve “understated luxury with a twist of rawness.” Their design for this residence in Bandra is a fine example of inspiring work in the realm of interior design – a piece that will remain “timeless in the times to come.”
Text By Priti Kalra
Photographs By Biju Gopal
Contact
email: kumpal.pb@gmail.com
web: www.purplebackyard.com
