Singer Armaan Malik’s Mumbai home is halfway between London and Los Angeles
At 10 AM on a Sunday, the last thing you’d expect is for Armaan Malik to be crisping the edges of a frittata. And yet, that’s exactly the sight that greets me as I step into his kitchen, a California-cool bolthole with a London-esque edge. “I love making breakfast and treating myself to a good spread,” he says, drizzling butter on bruschettas. Dressed in a casual button-up and chinos, he looks like a laid-back version of his on-screen alter ego, who, as fans of The Voice (on which Armaan appears as a coach) will avouch, has a thing for slick hairdos and psychedelic bomber jackets. “This is his free-and-easy side. He truly is an out-and-out homebody, probably happiest in the kitchen, with his friends and his food,” says Mansi Sethna Pandey, founder and principal designer of The Design House Company, who helped Armaan give the bare shell an LA-inspired facelift.
An International Appeal
“I’m a sucker for Los Angeles,” Malik declares, as we settle down at the dining table, which, with its cornucopia of confections, looks like it could have manifested out of MasterChef. “LA is my go-to city. I love the vibe, the aesthetic and the general atmosphere there. It’s always been super special to me. I wanted to bring home that vibe, and connect it with another favourite city of mine, London.” Indeed, even in the crisp summer light, the home breathes a refreshingly breezy air, with whispers of green lending an earthy touch to the corners. “This is my favourite spot,” the singer continues. “I have always loved indoor plants and raw wooden textures, and the reclaimed wood dining table is hands-down my favourite piece of furniture, and not just because of the food.”
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A Tale of Two Cities
For someone with a larger-than-life on-screen persona, the muted design scheme seems curiously antithetical. “It reflects his personality perfectly,” says Pandey, as we perform a full-bellied waddle into the living room. “He is organized, articulate and poised, and he wanted the house to be understated in a nod to those qualities,” to which Malik adds, “I’m glad we were able to find that balance and bring to life a home that not just straddles two cities, but is also neutral, functional, light-filled and uncluttered.”
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His words ring true in the living room’s pared-back appeal, brought together by way of a daisy brick wall, minimalist wooden flooring and oodles of air space. When it came to the furniture, Pandey opted for comprehensive customizations in a bid to tailor each piece to the exact space available. “Given that the upholstery was all white, we used water-based nanotechnology on the couches and dining benches to make them stain-resistant,” she says, leading me into the balcony, where the term ‘down-home spirit’ takes on a whole new meaning in the way of a drop-down bar. “Armaan likes hosting family and friends at home, and the interior-exterior connection is designed in a way that allows the spaces to be enjoyed separately, or together as a whole,” the designer explains, musing, “Come sundown, the bar takes on a life of its own.”
A Room for Every Mood
With a ruminative charcoal wall and grey upholstery, Malik’s bedroom is a zen departure from the luminous palette of the common areas. “It was envisaged as a meditative escape for unwinding after a hectic day. We created a nice little reading nook by the window where he could enjoy his morning coffee or curl up with a book before bed,” says Pandey.
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By now, it’s abundantly clear that each room is a world unto its own, far removed from the one before it. This is none more evident than in Malik’s studio, formerly a spare bedroom, where he admits to spending most of his time. “Every room and every corner has a purpose, and has been put together to mirror the various moods I experience in a day as an artist. My studio is a cherished space; it’s where I think and create. It was important to me that the room be pragmatic yet playful, both aspects that I imbibe while working on my craft,” he finishes.
