Saniya Kantawala's homely Mumbai restaurant draws on warm materials and earth tones
by Stu Robarts | 16 Oct 2019
Saniya Kantawala has designed Mannrangi, a 2,100sq ft (195sq m) restaurant in Mumbai, India, that was conceived to celebrate Indian cuisine and culture in a homely, communal setting.
To foster the feeling of cosiness, a mixture of warm materials and earthy tones were used. Kantawala also used fabric as a key design element, with linen, jute, cotton and polyester providing contemporary, earthy decorative touches.
Off-white plastered walls provide a basis for the restaurant's sense of warmth, while brighter contrasting highlights, like Prussian blue and wine red, give a sense of earthy eclecticism that references India's heritage.
The restaurant's bar is backlit and decorated with a mix of fabrics and wooden elements, while furniture like floor lamps and chandeliers from the 16th and 17th centuries celebrate Indian tradition. Nooks and corners are filled with Indian artefacts and books.
Different styles of seating are used to give visual interest and flow to the space, with elevated step-up sofas, low-centre table sections, high communal tables and a two- and four-seater layout that can be joined together for larger groups.
restaurant Mumbai Saniya Kantawala Design
Fabric was incorporated as a key design element Credit: Darshan Savla
A mixture of warm materials and earthy tones give a sense of homeliness Credit: Darshan Savla
Brighter contrasting highlights, like Prussian blue and wine red, give a sense of earthy eclecticism Credit: Darshan Savla
Furniture like floor lamps from the 16th and 17th centuries celebrates Indian tradition Credit: Darshan Savla
Saniya Kantawala has designed Mannrangi, a 2,100sq ft (195sq m) restaurant in Mumbai, India, that was conceived to celebrate Indian cuisine and culture in a homely, communal setting. To foster the feeling of cosiness, a mixture of warm materials and earthy tones were used. Kantawala also used fabric as a key design element, with linen, jute, cotton and polyester providing contemporary, earthy decorative touches. Off-white plastered walls provide a basis
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