Today, we’re looking at a room that does double duty, the Study of Vahaal. Most days, it’s a study, but when guests come over, it can turn into a bedroom too.
Study of Vahaal
We wanted it to feel like a comfortable place to work without making it look like an office, and still be welcoming enough for someone to stay over.
Let’s take a closer look at how we made this little room work a little harder!
A Layout That Does Double Duty
The first thing you’ll notice about the study is the desk by the window. With the Mumbai skyline right outside, it’s a pretty lovely view to have while you’re working!
The sofa sits opposite the desk, with a coffee table and rug bringing the two sides of the room together. The sofa opens up into a bed when guests come over, so the room can switch from a study to a guest bedroom whenever needed.
We wanted to make sure the room worked well for both, without feeling like we were trying to squeeze two different rooms into one.
The Sofa Wall
The first thing you see when you walk into the study is this lovely stretch of warm wood and a cosy sofa.
We used the full height of the wall for storage, with louvred shutters that bring in a bit of vintage charm. They also break up the large expanse of wood, keeping the cabinetry from feeling too heavy. The lower cabinets give us space for everyday bits and pieces, while the overhead storage makes good use of the space above.
And then there’s the sofa, with its rust upholstery, colourful cushions and artwork above. It keeps the room feeling like a living space rather than a home office, which was exactly what we wanted, especially since it doubles up as a guest room when needed.
A Little Space That Does Double Duty
Here’s a small detail we really like about this unit. The gap between the upper and lower cabinets isn’t just there to break up all that wood. It has a job to do!
When the room is being used as a study, it works as a side table for the sofa, keeping little essentials within reach. And when the sofa opens out into a bed for guests, the very same space doubles up as a bedside table.
One little ledge, two uses. In a room that has to work as both a study and a guest bedroom, it’s these small details that make all the difference. 😊
A Study That Works, and Feels Like Home
The study takes up the opposite wall, with a desk by the window to make the most of that lovely Mumbai skyline. There’s plenty of room to work, and when the laptop is shut, the shelves have space for all the little things that make the room feel personal.
We designed the desk and storage as one continuous unit, with open shelves above for books, plants, ceramics and a few quirky finds. There’s even a dedicated spot for the guitar, because practical storage doesn’t have to be boring!
The drawers and cabinets below take care of the less display-worthy essentials, while the warm wood ties this wall back to the rest of the room.
It’s a workspace that gets the job done without feeling too much like an office. And that’s just what we wanted for a room that has to do double duty. 😊
Warm Wood, Vintage Charm
With the layout and storage sorted, let’s look at what brings the study of Vahaal together: the finishes.
The rich wood and louvred shutters give the sofa wall a lovely vintage feel. The shutters also break up the large expanse of wood, adding character without making the storage feel too imposing. Paired with the rust-coloured sofa, patterned rug and artwork, the whole corner feels warm and a little nostalgic.
A Closer Look
The same wood finish carries right across the cabinetry, keeping the wall cohesive while letting the little details do their bit. The brass handles add a touch of shine, and the open niche gives us a spot for books and small decorative pieces.
The green wall lamp adds a little contrast to all that warm timber. It’s a small detail, but it picks up the greens used elsewhere in Vahaal and gives this corner its own personality.
Grounding the Room
The wood continues into the coffee table, but the glass top keeps it from feeling too heavy. It lets the rug remain visible and gives the seating area a more open feel.
The rug brings in green, rust and earthy tones, tying together the sofa, the artwork and the woodwork. It’s doing a lot of work here, adding colour and pattern without needing anything else on the floor.
Across to the Study
Across the room, the same warm wood carries through to the study desk and shelving, tying the workspace back to the sofa wall. We kept the backdrop lighter here, so the shelves and the things displayed on them stand out without the whole wall feeling too dark.
The desk sits right by the window, making the most of the natural light and that lovely view of the Mumbai skyline. Not a bad place to get some work done!
A Different Mood After Dark
And when evening comes around, the lighting changes the feel of the room. The wall lamp creates a cosy pool of light beside the sofa, while the light inside the niche draws attention to the little display shelf and brings out the warmth of the wood.
It’s a softer, more relaxed mood than the room has during the day. The space works as a study when it needs to, but when it’s time to put the work away, it feels just as comfortable for sitting back and unwinding.
Before → After | The Entrance Corner
Today, it has a bit more personality. The bathroom door is framed in warm wood, while the black-and-white family photo gallery adds a personal touch to the otherwise simple wall. Across from it, the wooden study unit brings in warmth and gives the room a more finished look.
It’s a small corner, but it does a lot. It connects the different parts of the room while adding a little glimpse of the people and stories that make Vahaal home.
Before → After | The Sofa Wall
Another bare concrete wall..
We turned it into the star of the room, with a cosy rust-coloured sofa framed by a wall of warm wooden storage. The louvred shutters bring in a lovely vintage feel, while the open niches keep the whole thing from looking too heavy. Add a couple of wall lights, some cushions, a rug and a painting, and suddenly that empty shell has a whole lot of character.
And here’s the best part: this isn’t just a pretty wall. All that cabinetry hides plenty of storage, while the sofa doubles up as a bed when guests come over.
Before → After | The Study
This room had a pretty spectacular view going for it. The rest? Well, let’s just say it needed a little help!
We turned the bare concrete shell into a study that does a lot more than just give you a place to work. The custom wooden unit brings the desk, open shelves and storage together, with a special spot for the guitar and plenty of room for books, plants and all those little things that make a space feel personal.
The desk faces the Mumbai skyline, so even a workday comes with a pretty good view. And when work is done, the sofa across the room doubles up as a bed for guests.
Little Room That Does a Lot
And that’s a wrap on the study of Vahaal! From a bare concrete shell to a room that works as a study, a guest room and a cosy spot to unwind, this one is all about making every square foot count.
We hope you enjoyed this little walk through the space as much as we enjoyed bringing it to life.
Click here to explore the complete Vahaal project, where every room has its own story to tell.
And if you’d like more design stories, ideas and inspiration delivered straight to your inbox, don’t forget to sign up for our blog.
Until next time…
.
Photography: Biju Gopal of @bizou.photos