In Juhu, Mumbai, the i, &, our fable apartment unfolds as a dense material tapestry where craft, colour and surface form the primary narrative. Conceived for a family of four, the home rejects a typical palette and draws inspiration from Marc Chagall’s I and the Village. The threshold sets the tone: a heavy, hand-carved timber door inset with miniature figurines transforms joinery into a collectible surface.
Inside, the living room balances daylight and ornament. A brocade-inspired sofa in mixed textiles sits against a hand-painted mural, while a traditional swing introduces polished wood and metal into the palette. A plush rug tempers the visual intensity.
Shimona’s journey into design began with hands-on training in drawing, carpentry and the arts. Early interior projects within her circle revealed her ability to shape elegant, functional spaces. With over 15 years of multidisciplinary experience, she founded DesignHex to create narrative-driven environments. The practice blends craftsmanship, material storytelling and meticulous detail to craft immersive, client-centric spaces, which is guided by a young, dynamic team committed to innovation, collaboration and redefining holistic interior architecture.
Conceived for a family of four, the home rejects the typical material palette and draws inspiration from Marc Chagall’s I and the Village aesthetic.
Material drama heightens in the dining space. A cast-iron base supports a pink marble tabletop inlaid with brass celestial motifs. Below, micro-concrete flooring embedded with coloured fragments and creatures creates a textured ground plane. The kitchen continues the narrative with moulded shutters, an illustrated backsplash and a stainedglass door that filters light through pigment. Across the home, surfaces remain expressive - geometric floor inlays, jungle-themed wall paintings, carved solidwood furniture, antique mirror shutters and moody red wardrobes. The master bath juxtaposes monolithic stone blocks with an open shower and skyline views. Cane-front wardrobes, parquet flooring, layered wallpapers and handpainted murals complete the residence, where marble, metal, timber, glass and textile converge into an immersive, handcrafted material collage.
ID SHIMONA BHANSALI
Principal Designer and Founder, DesignHex, Mumbai
PROJECT DETAILS
Project Name: i, &, our fable
Location: Juhu, Mumbai
Typology: Residential
Build Area: 2,200 sq ft
Completion: 2025
Studio: DesignHex
Principal Designer: Shimona Bhansali
Styling: Studio Pravah
Photo Credits: Kuber Shah