Mehrab: A sanctuary of soul and structure
In the leafy folds of Juhu, where Mumbai’s rhythm slows to sway with the breeze, sits a home born of memories and heritage. For Tania Shah, founder of TS Design Works, designing her family’s home wasn’t about perfection but peace and presence. It was about weaving roots into the rhythm and gestures of everyday life.
The journey begins with a bold cerulean door, vintage-knobbed and full of promise. Step through and you’re in a space where nostalgia and nuance meet. To the left, a weathered wooden cabinet runs its length, topped by an arched mirror catching fragments of light and movement. To the right, a buffet and slatted wooden screen work in tandem creating a quiet sense of arrival. The screen offers slivers of the home ahead, while the buffet subtly defines the dining.
Beyond this veil, the living room reveals itself in hushed, sun-dappled layers.A hand sketch of a Kashmiri building’s facade, delicate and detailed, rests on a cream wall with subtle moulding. Below, a white sofa lounges with ease, its wooden legs peeking like whispered accents. Beside this, two leather chairs sit in tan and teak with curved backs echoing traditional crafts in a modern contour. Across the room, arched niches punctuate a beige wall, each recess holding a vase like a patina of personal history. At the center, a wooden coffee table gathers the room’s rhythm over the room’s muse, a richly textured Persian carpet.
The dining area is nestled into the edge of the room. It’s a pause in the spatial flow. A floating L-shaped banquette, wrapped in soft blush, cradles the corner in comfort, while a marble-topped table and wooden chairs lend an earthy elegance. Behind it, a wallpaper with organic motifs brings a refreshing and natural charm to the space. The walls become storytellers; mounted ceramic plates, each one steeped in memory, chart a map of Tania’s journeys and roots. Some speak of travels; others echo generational legacy. Together, this nook is a gallery of lived experiences.
The kitchen unites sharp lines with a refined palette. Walnut overhead and washed grey cabinetry beneath, sit against a noir drama of black marble countertops.
Outside, the passage becomes a moment of theatre. Two tall arched alcoves carved into lime-washed walls hold tall wooden candleholders, while a Turkish rug beneath, whispers stories of souks.
Her daughter’s room hums with a gentle, English charm. Cream and teal tones, classical mouldings, fluted sconces and grooved wood panelling set stage for the bed welcoming quiet rest. A wallpaper by William Morris traces the walls with delicate motifs, setting a poetic tone. On the other side, an open cabinet of books frames a floating niche where she often retreats with a book, surrounded by calm and curiosity. Even the wardrobe, with jute encased in glass, feels like a soft-spoken secret. Every detail is tender and composed, an extension of her personality, curious, thoughtful and quite full of wonder.
Just like him, the son’s room feels young and modern, with touches hinting at his tech-savvy spirit. Defined by a crisp grey-and-white palette, the space balances energy and ease. Wooden accents add warmth, gently breaking the monochrome and lending a tactile softness to the clean lines. Every element is intentional and layered with personality,playing with details yet composed at heart.
The master bedroom is a quiet crescendo. Facing treetops dancing with skyline silhouettes, two chairs in soft pink perch on a crimson Afghan carpet. Mauve headboard, fluted side tables and floor-to-ceiling soft blue shutters are perfectly placed to greet dawn and dusk. Around it, a cream and teal wallpaper traced with maple leaves echoes familial threads.
Beyond the palette and furniture of the rooms, every corner of this home expresses devotion. It doesn’t just reflect the family’s persona but holds together memories, lineage and longing for rootedness in a restless city. In crafting this home for her own family, Tania has given shape to a timeless memoir that remembers and receives.
