Interior designer Mohak Mehta spent 15 years training with design royalty – architect and designer Pinakin Patel. Mohak is now part of a two-person team, along with Pallavi Choksi; together, the duo is responsible for some of the most stylish design projects seen across the country. Here, we chat with him about a topic that we often struggle with, and wonder how to nail – that of decorating in dark and moody tones. “According to me, moody interiors are beautiful in residential spaces,” says Mohak. “To really make it work, however, it’s all dependent on the brief you have. A lot of people are scared of dark spaces and therefore, either veer away from them completely or end up making the wrong choices. Dark doesn’t mean that an entire room has to be done up in dull (and therefore drab) shades. To the contrary – I always recommend a base of dark colours, complemented by accents in pop shades. Quoting Pinakin himself, who draws inspiration from the sarees of South Indian women, 'Look at their sartorial sensibility. They celebrate their dusky skin tone by wearing bold, jewel hues.' I’ve always found that so true, and that’s the suggestion I always end up giving my clients when we’re working on a moody look.” Discern Exclusive:

Mohak recently undertook one of his most challenging projects – that of convincing his parents to break away from the traditional décor in their home, and instead refurbish – that too, in moody, broody shades! Here, he shares some images of how he was able to magically transform the space.

The apartment in it’s previous avatar had a paler, warmer and earthier foundation based on sand, and off-white shades with a distinct Indian–Modern aesthetic, the infamous style defined by Pinakin himself.



Living Room – After

After this extremely bold transformation, not only did the apartment resonate with a certain depth due to layering of colours, textures and accessories, but there was a dramatic shift from a warm, slightly ‘older’ color palette to a cooler, trendier more upbeat environment. The luscious layering of wood flooring, the magnetic blue walls, plush furniture and a play of accessories add a certain sense of whimsy to the space and personality of the home.

The original sense of seriousness that the home previously conveyed was transformed into a livelier vibe. The apartment now offers a sense of playfulness while still being elegant; trendiness without being kitschy; and being able to suit the needs of residents of any age group, both young or older.





During an intimate design tête-à-tête with Discern, Mohak shared some key insights and tips while incorporating this trend into one’s home. How do you suggest we get started, when choosing to go the dark and moody route?

Once the brief is clear, and the client is comfortable with the direction we recommend, a lot of other factors come into play. While I love working with darker tones, I also prefer to rely on existing elements of the room to help the look really come together. A lot of daylight is helpful. If a room is stuffy and closed up, to begin with, I don’t say it’s impossible to achieve the desired look, but it certainly creates more challenges! I always check for the availability of natural light first and then work to maximise it, however, I can. Tell us some of the important things we should keep in mind when decorating with moody shades?

An important factor when thinking about darker shades for a room is the use of the space. Darker colours will automatically put you into a contemplative mood. That’s something you should certainly consider before embarking on this specific design project. In an urban space like your home, where you want to unwind and really relax, broody shades may end up making you feel pensive, rather than inspired. Think carefully about that. If you have the luxury of owning a second home, darker shades may work better in that space – one where you don’t spend every waking moment. Do you think there is a specific kind of client who would best benefit from – or understands - this design trend?

In my mind, this trend is best suited to young professionals, who are confident about their taste, and willing to take a few risks. The look also works best in a modern contemporary setting – classic décor usually just doesn’t lend itself to stormy shades. I’ve found that younger clients are typically the ones who prefer modern surroundings for their homes. Can you share your top tips on decorating and accessorising spaces that are otherwise dark and broody?

1. Dark colours can tend to sap the warmth from a space if used incorrectly. This is why I recommend pop colours in jewel tones, layered with the dark foundation (walls, ceiling etc) that you’ve created. For example, consider a charcoal wall – it may seem drab on its own, but it will suddenly come alive when a parrot green painting is placed on it.





Jewel Tone Cushion Covers

2. Choose a bold, graphic sofa for the room, which takes its colours from the main artwork. If you don’t want to make large changes, even a colourful vase with striking flowers will do the job. The idea is to create dramatic visual focal points in the room, set against the more muted, dark backdrop.



Lounge



3. Another fun way to add depth to space is by adding sparkle. Accents in metal, brass, gold and silver will go a long way in creating dimension. These can range from lamps to vases, sequined cushions to objets d’art, and even to elements of your furniture, such as the legs of the coffee table.





Mystique Side Table

Grid Collection - Gold Lamp



4. Not many people realise this, but wood adds a lot of warmth. Consider wood flooring in the room you’re working on. This addition will save your space from looking too industrial or commercial.





Barn Rectangular Dining Table



We know you focus a lot on lighting when working on any interiors project. Can you tell us what lighting you think will work best in a dark space such as this?

Lighting is a crucial element when working on any project. Even if you have a well-lit space, light is bound to get absorbed. Especially for a moody room, I would suggest staying away from the light that is too white. Shades of blue (like you find in tube lights) are a strict no-no. Stick to anything from ‘daylight’ (this colour introduces cool tones into your home) to ‘yellow’ light (which adds warmth). A combination of the two is ideal. The bottom line? Mohak sums it all up perfectly for us, with the following pointers:



Light, space, and proportion are the key elements to keep in mind while designing with dark tones. Offsetting with colour and lighting is imperative, and will ultimately result in the success or failure of the project.

Treat accessorising the room the way you would accessorise your person. It’s important! Art, lighting, texture, colour, mirrors and so much more are all integral elements of the finished space. What’s more, the way you accessorise speaks volumes about your personality and taste. You’d want to bring that into your home.

Specifically for dark spaces, work with your lighting system to bring a soft glow to the room. Indirect lighting (such as cove lights) and body-level options (table and floor lamps) will create the desired effect.

Above all – keep two things in mind. Have faith in the professional you’re working with. No project is going to be completed satisfactorily if there is a disconnect between you and your interior designer. And – don’t be scared! Taking a risk or two never hurt anyone. Trust me – you will be delighted with the outcome!