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Vaishnavi Nayel Talawadekar is an internationally published architecture, design and art journalist.

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Vaishnavi works out of a sunny studio called Mangomonk where she writes for publications big and small.

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Latest Articles

The Commercial Project •

[Print] FORTH Atlanta by Morris Adjmi Architects

Atlanta’s Old Fourth Ward holds many distinctions: it is the birthplace of Martin Luther King Jr., a haven of scintillating street art, and now, most recently, the site of FORTH Atlanta, a new hotel and social club by Method Co. and New City Properties, designed by Morris Adjmi Architects. Nestled in the green interlude between Historic Fourth Ward Park and Ponce City Market, this innovative hospitality concept exemplifies wellness, design, and culture.
The Commercial Project •

[Print] Deloitte Sydney by Hassell

For employers and employees alike, the silver lining of the pandemic was the opportunity to establish an ecosystem that allows stakeholders to survive—and thrive—while logging in from anywhere. Enter Deloitte’s new Sydney office: situated inside Quay Quarter Tower, a sustainably built high-rise grazing the Sydney skyline, the company’s new workspace, designed by international design studio Hassell, echoes the reverberations of the lockdown, rewriting the rulebook for large, traditional workspaces.
Architectural Digest India •

A new exhibition in Bengaluru highlights worship and celebration through varied craft forms

Anastasio and Baghel exercised a deft touch with their joint collection of metal lamps—designed by the former and crafted in Dhokra by the latter. But look closer, and there’s more to their repertoire than meets the eye. Each lamp embodies celestial aspects of the goddess, re-explores Dhokra art, and serves as a symbolic lesson in light triumphing over darkness. “The pieces continue KAASH’s exploration of light, but this time through the traditional oil lamp. Andrea has deconstructed the archety...
The Local Project •

The Oasis Project by Homes by Touchwood

The point of departure was reconfiguring the home’s light-starved layout. “Originally, the home wasn’t open plan; the dining area and kitchen were separate spaces, which really limited the natural light,” says Blode, who minimised unnecessary walls, replacing the partition between the kitchen and pantry with a fluted glass wall, and downsized the powder room to free up space. Morsky notes that the kitchen was designed to be the focal point. “The home is always buzzing with friends, partners and...
Architectural Digest India •

This calm and collected home in Mumbai is a one-way ticket to Bali

Jayesh and Archana Patil like a good tropical getaway but don’t always have the time to get away. Referring to the couple’s Bali-themed lakeside home in Mumbai, Jayesh jokes, “So we bought a one-way ticket,” further adding “We didn’t want a typical home, and as avid travellers, we wanted it to feel like a bohemian postcard from holidays gone by.” Their postage stamp in the way of a recommendation came from a mutual friend. By the time they reached out to architects Anand Deshmukh and Chetan Laho...
The Local Project •

Bellevue Hill House by Greg Natale

Located on a leafy street in a harbourside suburb of Sydney, Bellevue Hill House exudes a charm reminiscent of the idyllic Greek island of Mykonos. Defined by Cycladic forms, white curves and a sense of fluidity, this home by Greg Natale nods to the owner’s Greek heritage.
Ask Greg Natale to reimagine the same residence repeatedly, and the Sydney-based interior designer will deliver something new each time. “This was the second time I was asked to design the interiors for Bellevue Hill House, 12...
The Local Project •

Maytor Place by Marmol Radziner

Situated at the end of a cul-de-sac in the star-studded Trousdale Estates of Beverly Hills, Maytor Place is an exceptional home.
Originally designed in 1962 by architect John Elgin Woolf, this Hollywood Regency-style dwelling has been restored by Los Angeles-based design firm Marmol Radziner. The home blends 19th-century French and Greek Revival influences with modernist touches and contemporary luxuries, creating a unique living space.
Once owned by actress and philanthropist Marjorie Lord, May...
The Local Project •

Avondale Hall by Studio Beal

Preserving a historically rich home is an art form, and Vivienne Beal of Melbourne-based Studio Beal has clearly mastered this with Avondale Hall, a heritage residence located on a picturesque, tree-lined street in Melbourne’s Armadale. Featuring Baltic pine floors, decorative fireplaces and ornate ceilings, this 800-square-metre dwelling stands as a time capsule, revealing the charm of a bygone era. Beal, the founder and principal of Studio Beal, emphasised the home’s historic features in the design. “It was imperative that we preserve and celebrate its history and character by approaching the renovation with respectful sensitivity. The project required a delicate balance of retaining original details while introducing modern elements to meet the needs of contemporary family living,” says the interior designer, who softened the design to make it feel as though these updates had always been part of the home.
The Local Project •

North Fork by Lake|Flato

The architect arranged the three buildings around a central courtyard, reimagined from a soft, tree-covered sand dune. The utility barn anchors the northern slope, the living barn anchors the western periphery and the guest barn and pool establish the southern circumference. “To reduce construction time and to create a well-crafted wood structure, we had the bones of the house prefabricated in New Hampshire – a wood construction mecca – and shipped across the channel to Orient Point [a nearby po...
The Local Project •

Ikon Penthouse by Cameron Kimber Design

Achieving a design that celebrates the interior and exterior is an art that Cameron Kimber Design has perfected with Ikon Penthouse, a glamorous, 120-square-metre penthouse in Potts Point, Sydney.
Oriented towards Sydney Harbour on one side and the CBD on the other, the home provides a panoramic experience that culminates inward to the owner’s prized collection of objets d’art. The home exudes a sense of luxury, courtesy of bespoke finishes, fabrics and treatments that create a cocooning effect....
Architectural Digest India •

This 5,000-square-foot farmhouse in Delhi is a tapestry of jewel tones

Every dog has its day, but in the case of one pup in this farmhouse in Delhi, that day was every day. “She took to following us everywhere,” says The Vrindavan Project’s Shreenu Mukherjee. “She would eagerly await our arrival at the gate as if she somehow had access to the project calendar, knowing exactly when to expect and welcome us in.” Whether the pooch in question, a little Indie named Skye, was a metaphor for the opportunities that lay ahead in the 5,000-square-foot farmhouse in Delhi tha...
The Local Project •

Elle by Lot 1

Elle’s all-in-one boutique, located in Sydney’s Inner West, is a monolithic sanctuary that offers a refuge from the city’s hustle. Characterised by hushed tones, soft lighting and curvilinear forms, the idyllic atelier – formerly a warehouse and designed by Sydney-based studio Lot 1 – feels as if it could have been conceived in a single breath.

For any store owner, housing multiple functions within a single space involves hours of strategic planning. The same was true for the founder of bespoke evening wear and bridal wear label Elle, who aimed to incorporate a store, a headquarters and a storage facility all under one roof. As Tammy Miconi, founder and principal of Lot 1, explains, the challenge was to adapt the space throughout the day. “From a user experience perspective, the boutique needed to cater to walk-in clients during trading hours while also accommodating appointment-only bookings for bridal party fittings,” she says.For any store owner, housing multiple functions within a single space involves hours of strategic planning. The same was true for the founder of bespoke...
Architectural Digest •

This Prewar Apartment in Brooklyn Is a Sun-Kissed Postcard From Sweden

Jordan and Ethan Green remember everything about their first visit to what would become their next home: the spectacular ceiling height, the abundance of light, and the oak floors, still in great condition. “There was an aura of calm that we just couldn’t find anywhere else,” says Jordan, a strategy consultant, about the Brooklyn apartment, situated in a prewar building that once served as the headquarters for the Bell Telephone Company. For the couple, who both work long hours, mostly in the of...
Architectural Digest India •

This home in Pune is an extension of the Earth with natural finishes and its meditative spirit

They say that those on the path to enlightenment have few worldly desires. This was true for Mayuri Jadeja and Vishwajit Gohil, who had it on their heart to pursue salvation and self-actualisation—eventually, sure—but also have a home back on earth to tide them over in the meantime. By the time they reached out to architects Tejas Shintre and Ojas Hiwrekar of Pune-based Koriv Design Studio, they already had a clear vision for their home in Pune’s Wakad: something with natural finishes and an ear...
Architectural Digest •

This Historic Queens Apartment Takes Inspiration from NYC’s Cobblestone Streets

For one New York City–based finance professional, coming home to her apartment in Forest Hills Gardens is the ultimate form of therapy. “My favorite thing about it is the serenity you feel the moment you step inside—it’s like being transported back in time,” she says, admitting that the peaceful vibe of the home, built around 1930, and the neighborhood at large—designed like a traditional English village—cast a spell on her during the first visit. In her eyes, in those moments, nothing else mattered: not the tired bathroom fittings, the worn kitchen floor, or the light-starved living room layout. “Plus, discovering that the kitchen garbage chute is fully functional was an unexpected bonus,” she jokes. The home needed updating, sure, but it was nothing a light refresh couldn’t fix. She entrusted Paulina Hospod and Albert Rutkowski of AhA!nteriors, a family-owned design-build firm based in Queens, to work their magic and bring the 1,000-square-foot home to life.
Architectural Digest India •

This set designer’s New Delhi home evokes the magic of the movies

“My design process is all about colour. So when we were figuring out the mood and tone for each room, I knew I wanted colour drenching to be the focus, allowing each space to have its own unique vibe.” It was one thing to draw inspiration from her job, but quite another to replicate that style entirely. “One of the biggest challenges I faced was breaking out of my usual set design mindset, where everything looks great but doesn’t always feel right. In set design, everything is temporary—you’re c...
The Local Project •

Flatiron NYC by Heather Hilliard Design

Five hundred feet above New York City’s Flatiron District, impervious to Manhattan’s constant hubbub, NYC Flatiron by Heather Hilliard Design simultaneously reflects the twinkling city and the soft sky.
In its previous life, the home now known as NYC Flatiron was distinguished by one hallmark: glass walls that showcased the twinkling city below. The golden light, panoramic views and peaceful atmosphere served as the inspiration for the renovation by Heather Hilliard Design. The San Francisco-bas...
Architectural Digest India •

This farmhouse in Tamil Nadu’s Rajapalayam is a labour of love by three generations

Textile designers are well-versed in the art of dyeing with mango leaves, but the tincturing effects of the tropical evergreen, except maybe during festivals, are lost on most architects and interior designers. The architects at Kollam-based The Design Room don’t claim to be the exception. “We learned it the hard way,” laughs principal Nanda Kishor, the we in question being himself and fellow principals Vivin Shankar and Sebastian K. John. It wasn’t until some mango leaves yellowed the grey oxid...
Architectural Digest •

A 900-Square-Foot Prewar Brooklyn Apartment Gets a Kaleidoscopic Spin

Thea Traff doesn’t consider herself a quitter—but when the Minnesota native set out to buy an apartment in the Big Apple, she nearly threw in the towel (and tossed out the plan). “When I began looking, everything I saw felt too small for the price it was listed at. I gave up on the search until the day my apartment came on the market,” recalls the editorial photographer, whose work has been published in The New York Times, The New Yorker, and Rolling Stone, among others.Although the Brooklyn Hei...
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AD Visits

Architectural Digest •

AD Visits: Diipa Büller-Khosla's canal house in Amsterdam is a postcard from 1614

Even from 6,000 kilometres away, Diipa Büller-Khosla’s energy is palpable through the screen. It’s morning where she is, and she and her husband and business partner, Dutch former diplomat, Oleg Büller-Khosla (the couple legally adopted each other's last names when they married in 2018) are perched in the kitchen of their Amsterdam home, in the company of their pet pooches, Kubii and Bimbo.

By their own admission, it’s a scene that just a few years ago, was a figment of their imagination. “We'd
Architectural Digest •

AD Visits: Ishaan Khatter’s Mumbai apartment is a sunset sanctuary

When he isn't busy filming or promoting or air-dashing off to exotic locales, Ishaan Khatter likes to appreciate the little things in life. “On Sunday mornings, when time permits, I slip off for a bike ride. In the evenings, I like to watch the sunset with some music and coffee,” says the actor, who was last seen in supernatural comedy Phone Bhoot, alongside Katrina Kaif and Siddhant Chaturvedi. So when he moved in a three-bedroom apartment along the Bandra sea face, naturally, his first priorit
Architectural Digest •

AD Visits: Actor Aahana Kumra’s Mumbai apartment is a pretty-in-pink princess pad

In a building full of identical brown doors, Aahana Kumra's entrance is the only non-brown curiosity. "I absolutely love pink. It's my all-time favourite colour—that's why it's right at the front," she laughs, holding open the candyfloss-coloured opuscule as she ushers me inside. For Kumra, the home is a manifestation twenty years in the making, and one that nods equally to her Lucknowi roots and her life in Mumbai. "There are whiffs of Kashmir, London and Delhi too. It's a collection of all my
Architectural Digest •

AD Visits: Actor Aparshakti Khurana’s Mumbai home displays drama in the details

Even before they had finalised their house, or decided who would design it, actor Aparshakti Khurana and his wife, events entrepreneur Aakriti Ahuja, had a chandelier picked out and stowed away in storage. "I had spotted it some years ago in Delhi and just knew I had to buy it," laughs Aakriti, and Aparshakti chimes in, "We had no idea what our future house would look like. Nothing was set in stone, except this big, blue bhaisahab." The bhaisahab in question now occupies a corner of their living
Architectural Digest •

AD Visits: 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
Architectural Digest •

AD Visits: Actors Aditya Seal and Anushka Ranjan’s newlywed nest is a storybook come to life

At the door of actors (and newlyweds) Aditya Seal and Anushka Ranjan Seal's new Mumbai duplex, the nameplate is conspicuous by its absence. What is not is the cheery (LED) baby seal that takes its place, animating the wall and nodding to its namesake owners. “It's fun to watch people guess," says Anushka. "Those who get it, get it. And it makes for a great conversation-starter." But the unlikely sea creature isn’t the only thing setting the entryway apart—because if the peach-toned front door (a