The well-travelled home

Moodboards from Goa, Bali, and Beyond

Ask any designer, and certain names crop up on repeat—Goa, Bali, Tuscany, Santorini. These places have become aesthetic shorthand for laid-back luxury, breezy living, and nature-infused charm. “Goa and Bali represent an almost meditative kind of relaxation,” says Minnie. Think rattan furniture, cane pendant lights, and linen curtains that sway with the wind. Tuscany brings with it the sun-washed glow of terracotta floors and rustic wooden beams, while Santorini calls to mind whitewashed walls and cobalt accents that mimic the Aegean Sea.

Rukmini notes how even European styles come with their own emotional tone—Tuscany is warm and grounded, the English countryside is comforting and nostalgic. The request is rarely to “replicate a room,” but rather to summon the same joy or tranquility that a destination once offered.

The Balance Between Rooted and Worldly

The challenge lies in harmonising these global influences within the Indian cultural context. Designers are not erasing tradition, but reimagining it. Nikita believes pooja spaces, for instance, need not be ornate chambers—they can be minimal, integrated, and emotionally powerful. Quirk Studio often plays with partitions and clever spatial layouts to hide a wet kitchen while keeping the open-plan aesthetic intact. Rukmini brings in the colonial blueprint as an elegant example—European structure adapted to Indian climates, materials, and rhythms. Brass utensils lined on open shelves, terracotta against white stucco walls—it's about finding the sweet spot where local roots meet global flair.

When Keepsakes Shape Space

Sometimes, the travel memory isn’t a concept but a physical piece—rugs from Istanbul, textiles from Nagaland or an artwork from a flea market in Prague. These aren't just props, they are plot points in the homeowner’s personal story.

Minnie Bhatt often treats such pieces as visual anchors—building corners around them, or using their colours and materials to inform the rest of the palette. Rukmini recalls Moroccan tiles being used as a feature wall in a bathroom or kitchen, their story deepening the visual richness of the space. And then there are deeply personal objects. Kunal Bhatia speaks of palm leaf blossoms crafted by hand with the gardeners at Jumeirah Olhahali Island in Maldives, now resting on his centre table in Mumbai.