This 1,200-Sq-Ft Santacruz Apartment Interior Design Redefines the Modern Bachelor Pad

• 1,200-sq-ft Santacruz apartment designed for both socialising and solitude

• Concrete-inspired interiors achieved through texture, not raw material

• Central Siporex column becomes a defining placemaking element

Mumbai: A thoughtfully designed home often mirrors the personality and lifestyle of its resident. In this 1,200-square-foot Santacruz apartment, interior designer Jay Shah of DR&W Studio has created a space that does exactly that—balancing the energy of a bachelor pad with the calm needed for introspection and downtime.

Developed for a young entrepreneur, the Santacruz apartment interior design reflects both personal taste and professional influence. The client’s background in ready-mixed concrete (RMC) inspired a strong inclination towards raw, industrial aesthetics—particularly the colour grey. Rather than appearing cold or monotonous, the home demonstrates how grey, when layered with texture and light, can feel refined, welcoming, and deeply expressive.

A Concrete Aesthetic Without Concrete

Although concrete was central to the design narrative, practical constraints ruled out its direct use. Since the apartment was part of a pre-constructed building, exposed concrete finishes were not feasible. The design solution came in the form of grey lime plaster, applied to the walls to replicate concrete’s rugged texture while maintaining structural practicality.

This earthy shell set the stage for contrasting finishes. According to Jay Shah, once the walls embraced rawness, all other elements needed to feel sculptural, crisp, and intentional. The interplay between rough and refined became the defining theme of the home.

Light Enables a Darker Palette

Abundant natural light entering the apartment allowed the designer to confidently experiment with darker shades. The living room features deep grey marble flooring, anchoring the space visually while adding a sense of luxury. A Siporex structural column, positioned near the centre of the living area, bridges the tonal gap between the floor and walls, becoming a subtle yet striking focal point.

Accents of rust and olive green appear through leather sofas, softening the cool palette. A metallic coffee table introduces a contemporary edge, while wooden furniture—used sparingly—adds warmth and balance to the dominant materials of marble, metal, and leather.

The Siporex Column as a Design Statement

One of the most distinctive elements of this Santacruz apartment interior design is the central Siporex column. Initially questioned by the client, the column evolved into Jay Shah’s favourite feature of the home.

Rather than disrupting the space, the column gently divides the living area into zones—one oriented towards the balcony and the other towards the main seating area. Its rough, unfinished texture stands in deliberate contrast to the polished surfaces around it, reinforcing the design’s raw-meets-refined philosophy.

Designing for Social Energy and Solitude

The brief called for a home that could function as a lively entertainment space while also offering moments of calm. The living room and balcony together form the social heart of the apartment, ideal for hosting gatherings. At the same time, the layout ensures that quieter corners remain accessible when needed.

The balcony, in particular, plays a dual role. During social gatherings, it acts as an extension of the living room. When solitude is required, it transforms into a sanctuary with Kadappa stone flooring, built-in seating, lush greenery, and a subtle water feature. The sensory shift—from noise to nature—allows the resident to pause, recharge, and rejoin social life on his own terms.

A Private and Thoughtful Bedroom Layout

In contrast to the open social spaces, the bedroom is designed as a fully private retreat. Natural light filters in without compromising privacy, shielding the room from external views. To avoid isolating the bedroom entirely from the rest of the home, the architect introduced a sliding door connecting the bedroom directly to the terrace.

This thoughtful move allows the resident to access a social space without passing through the living room—an understated but highly functional design decision that reflects a deep understanding of daily movement and behaviour.

A Study in Materiality and Placemaking

Beyond aesthetics, this Santacruz apartment interior design serves as a case study in placemaking. It demonstrates how material choices, texture, and spatial hierarchy influence how different areas of a home are used. Grey, often misunderstood as dull or energy-absorbing, is reimagined here as versatile, layered, and expressive.

The apartment ultimately proves that good design is not about excess, but about intention—where every surface, column, and connection has a purpose. By blending industrial inspiration with human-centric planning, the home becomes both a social hub and a personal refuge.