This expressive Delhi home redefines the city’s concept of opulent luxury

For a space shared by three different generations—a couple, the couple’s parents and their three children—Garg imbued a thoughtful balance between open, communal zones and private retreats within the linear configuration. It thus splits into three: the grandparents’ room, children’s room and a work den on one end; the couple’s private ensuite and walk-in wardrobe on the other; and an expansive hub with an open kitchen and dining at its core, bringing the family together.

One enters into a grand double-height foyer with staggered, checkered black-and-white marble flooring. A stark black spiral staircase anchors the area, leading to the second floor of the duplex.

The foyer opens into a vestibule, with a custom-designed deep red, wave-like console lining its eastern edge. Two amorphous dollop-like decor pieces strategically embedded echo the rich red—shifting focus from the wall’s sharp edge—and bespoke artwork references the checkered flooring.

The Delhi home’s bones are contemporary and modernist, characterised by clean lines and spatial fluidity. Upon this, an art-centric lens injects vibrant personality. “We went for a strong, almost gallery-like curation, filled with structured, modernist elements, monochromatic contrasts, and unexpected pops of colour that keep it from feeling cold or too minimalist,” explains Garg.

The vestibule is inspired by the Japanese genkan—a traditional entryway/mudroom where shoes are removed before entering the main house. Peach-cream ottomans break the formality while the muted, matte brass tones bring in an element of luxury.

The kitchen opens into a tucked-away prayer room, its isolated location evoking a sense of tranquillity. It is designed as a contemporary reinterpretation of a traditional prayer space, finished in liquid brass finish.

Layers of inviting textures and statement pieces of bespoke furniture (conceptualised by Garg) allow a rich personality to develop. To find the middle ground between the striking tonality of some of the elements with creating a comforting space that still functions as a cozy home for daily life was in fact key to the design.

The open kitchen is strategically designed with an array of built-in storage units. Shades of muted charcoal grey, beige, and peach dominate, with the black handmade stools adding contrast.

In the adjoining dining area, a sculptural, green quartzite table and wooden chairs with textured upholstery compose the space. A hand-painted black-and-white mural stretches from the walls to the ceiling (complementing the mural on the structural column).

The design took initial cues from the homeowners’ personal art collection as well. For them, the home had to feel collected over time, with a design suited to not only display art, but weave it into the narrative. For Garg, this became the core concept. “Walls, floors, furniture—everything acts as a frame, an extension of their artistic expression,” she reveals. From the staggered checkered flooring that anchors the foyer to the bold, red console, she sets off visitors on this art-filled journey right from the entrance. In fact, there was no off-the-shelf solution for the bespoke elements Garg envisioned dotted around the space. From the hand painted murals to the sculptural furniture, every detail employed meticulous craftsmanship, supporting local artisans.

The master bedroom features three distinct zones—a peaceful sleeping retreat with a cosy nook, a luxurious ensuite, and an expansive, 9ftx9ft museum-like walk-in-wardrobe. Defined by checkered black-and-white flooring, a section of the bedroom is designed as a cosy den, featuring a wooden mantle with a firebox, accentuated with a knitted ceramic decor piece to evoke a traditional fireplace. A black-and-white mural depicting a forest infuses the space with a sense of calm.

The creamy white-toned walls with oakwood bedrest panelling round off the cohesive colour palette, while textured wall panels, tactile fabrics, honed marble, and bespoke art pieces, including zig-zag patterned panels painted in poppy colours, add subtle drama.

The en-suite is cladded in red ceramic tiles and features plants as vibrant accents. The chandelier mimics the geometry of tree branches and the warm lighting and earthy red tones create an intimate experience.

For Garg, any limitation also serves as an opportunity. Structural constraints transform into works of art, as seen in the texture-painted column—becoming a conversation piece rather than being camouflaged and hidden away—and functional elements hide behind grooves on the plastered wall, which appear on all walls of the common area to tie the space together. The ceiling of the long, linear corridor connecting the two ends of the home undulates akin to waves, lending an illusion of added depth. The varying needs of the young children, the teenagers, the parents and the grandparents had to co-exist without the home feeling like a patchwork (most often seen in bedrooms). But here, while the private ensuites are rich with personalised themes, they maintain a visual thread.

A mix of playful and functional, the sons’ room bridges tastes of a 5-year-old and an 18-year-old—with a colour palette that feels fresh but not childish.

The daughter’s space plays with pops of primary colours against a soft, neutral backdrop.

“This residence is actually a response to a question: how does one live with art rather than around it?” avers Garg. It also offers a challenge to passivity in design by eschewing any ornamental details. Every element here—whether conceptual, functional or experiential—carries a weight that aims to allow evolution (just as an art gallery would) against a backdrop of a comfortable, lived-in space. “As the homeowners continue to collect and engage with new pieces, the space will adapt—never frozen in time, but always in conversation with its inhabitants,” concludes Garg.

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