Every home has a story. Some begin with a floor plan. Others begin with a feeling. Vahaal is one of those homes.
A 900 sq. ft. two-bedroom apartment, Vahaal was gifted to our client by her late father. The interiors, in turn, were lovingly commissioned by her brother. Before we even picked a colour palette or sketched the first layout, this home was already wrapped in love. Designing it was simply our way of carrying that story forward.
The name Vahaal comes from the Kutchi language and means cherished. It couldn’t have been more fitting.
Our client’s roots trace back to Kutch, and she wanted her home to reflect that quiet connection. Rather than recreating traditional Kutchi architecture, we drew inspiration from the region’s rich craftsmanship, earthy colours, intricate motifs and handcrafted character, reinterpreting them for contemporary living.
At its heart, Vahaal is about belonging. It honours family, celebrates heritage and embraces the memories that travel with us across generations. The result is a home that feels warm, personal and deeply connected to the people it was created for.
Welcome to Vahaal. Over the next few posts, we’ll take you through this cherished home, one space at a time. Today, we’ll begin with the Entrance and Foyer of Vahaal.
The Journey Begins
The journey begins even before you step inside the entrance and foyer of Vahaal.
The apartment is accessed through a shared lift lobby, but instead of leaving it as a purely functional common area, we transformed it into the first stop on the journey home. A bespoke shoe cabinet along with a wooden bench offers a comfortable place to slip shoes on or off, keeping footwear outside the apartment while making the daily routine that much easier.
Step through the entrance doors, and you’re greeted by a spacious foyer measuring almost 9 feet by 8 feet. Rather than opening directly into the living room, this dedicated entrance creates a gentle transition between the outside world and the spaces within. It allows the home to unfold gradually, making every arrival feel just a little more special.
A Door with a Story
If first impressions matter, the entrance to Vahaal has a beautiful story to tell.
The deep green double doors immediately catch your eye, introducing a colour that quietly flows through the rest of the home. Green is our client’s favourite colour, making the front door the perfect place to welcome her home every day.
The design itself draws inspiration from the charming village doors of Kutch. Rather than recreating them exactly, we reinterpreted their graceful proportions and detailing in a contemporary way. Framed by warm brick walls and set against a cobbled floor, the entrance hints at what’s to come before you’ve even stepped inside.
A Courtyard before Home
The shared lift lobby was transformed into a space that feels less like a typical apartment corridor and more like the courtyard leading to a home. We replaced the builder’s flooring with a cobbled pattern, clad the entrance wall in warm brick, and used soft architectural lighting to bring the textures to life. As the light washes across the wall, it casts gentle shadows that celebrate every little imperfection in the brickwork, adding warmth and depth to the space.
At one end, a simple wooden trellis frames the window. Today it’s home to a young money plant. In time, it will climb and spread, gradually turning this corner into a lush green backdrop. We loved the idea that the entrance would continue to evolve, becoming more beautiful with every passing year.
Designed for Everyday Rituals
Beautiful entrances are wonderful, but they should also make everyday life easier.
On the opposite side of the lobby, a bespoke shoe cabinet with a wooden bench creates a comfortable spot to sit while putting on or removing shoes. It encourages footwear to stay outside the home, a simple ritual that keeps the interiors cleaner while creating a natural pause before stepping inside.
Together, the thoughtful storage, warm materials and inviting seating complete the courtyard-like experience. Instead of rushing from the lift into the living room, Vahaal gives you a moment to pause, settle in, and arrive home.
A Divider That Doesn’t Divide
Rather than separating the foyer from the living room with a solid partition, we wanted the spaces to feel connected while still giving the entrance its own identity.
This bespoke double-sided unit creates just enough of a visual pause as you step inside, gently screening the living room from the main door without ever making the home feel enclosed. Framed by mirrors on both sides, it reflects light and views through the space, adding depth and making the foyer feel far more open than its footprint suggests.
Sometimes, the best partitions are the ones that almost disappear.
The beauty of this piece lies in what you don’t immediately notice.
It’s designed to serve a different purpose depending on which side you’re standing. From the foyer, it provides convenient shoe storage, keeping everyday essentials tucked neatly away as you enter the home. From the living and dining side, the very same unit transforms into storage for crockery and cutlery, perfectly placed for entertaining and everyday meals.
It’s one piece of furniture doing two jobs, making every inch of this 900 sq. ft. home work a little harder.
A Place to Pause
The foyer isn’t simply a passage into the home. It’s a space that invites you to slow down for a moment.
A comfortable lounge chair and side table create a quiet corner by the entrance, offering a place to pause before heading out or to simply set down your bag after a long day. The deep green entrance doors remain within view, gently reinforcing the colour palette that runs throughout the home.
It’s a small gesture, but one that makes the entrance feel less like a thoroughfare and more like a room in its own right.
Every Detail Tells A Story
The foyer may be understated, but look a little closer and you’ll find layers of thoughtful detail.
The marble flooring is framed with deep green marble and finished with a bespoke marble and brass inlay, inspired by traditional geometric motifs. It quietly anchors the space while echoing the colours and craftsmanship seen throughout the home.
Above, a pair of vintage brass taps has found a second life as wall hooks. Once designed to carry water, they now hold everyday essentials instead. It’s a playful little detail that celebrates the beauty of repurposing while adding a touch of character that’s impossible to miss.
Look Up
And you see the most beautiful detail above your head.
The foyer ceiling draws inspiration from intricate patterns, reimagined as a statement ceiling. It welcomes you the moment you step inside. Rich colours and geometric motifs create a striking focal point. The warm brass chandelier beneath it adds a soft, inviting glow.
Together, they transform the act of entering the home into an experience. Before you even reach the living room, Vahaal has already shared a little of its story.
Before → After | The Entrance
The entrance to Vahaal underwent one of the most dramatic transformations in the home.
What was once a plain apartment lobby became an extension of the home itself. Instead of treating the area outside the front door as a forgotten common space, we reimagined it as the first chapter of the arrival experience.
Inspired by the courtyards of traditional Kutchi homes, we gave up the builder’s plain finishes. A cobbled floor underfoot and warm brick walls instantly added texture and character. A bespoke pair of deep green entrance doors, inspired by the charming village doors of Kutch, now welcomes visitors with a sense of warmth and identity.
Today, the journey home begins long before the key turns in the lock.
Before → After | A Forgotten Corner Finds Its Purpose
This was once an empty, unfinished stretch of the shared lift lobby. It is now one of our favourite corners of the entrance.
Inspired by the courtyards of traditional Kutchi homes, this once overlooked space was transformed with warm brick walls, a cobbled floor pattern and a simple wooden trellis that frames the window beyond. At its base, a young money plant has already begun its climb. It promises to slowly cover the trellis in lush green over the years.
As daylight filters through the window casts playful shadows across the textured brickwork, the space feels alive throughout the day. More than just a passage, it has become a quiet pause before you step through the front door. Just like Vahaal itself, this little corner was designed to grow more cherished with time.
Every home has a story…
.. and we’ve only just stepped through the front door.
I hoped you enjoyed this tour of the entrance and foyer of Vahaal. Join us in the next post as we continue exploring Vahaal, one thoughtfully designed space at a time.
Click here to explore the complete Vahaal project and see every room in this cherished home.
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Until next time… 👋
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Photography: Biju Gopal of @bizou.photos