By Appointment Only : Lab-Grown Diamonds Shine Bright In The Iconic Kitab Mahal

Luxury, it is widely agreed, is not simply bought—it is experienced. In the retail space, nowhere is this more evident than in the quiet opulence of a flagship store in a heritage building. When it came to defining its first physical retail space, the House of Quadri leaned into a narrative built on both legacy and location. The jewellery design house occupies a light-filled space in the historic Kitab Mahal, a building dating back to 1890 in the heritage-rich financial district of Fort in South Mumbai. The brand, trusted for its contemporary approach to lab-grown diamonds, tapped into the expertise of designer Aashni

Kumar to craft an immersive retail space reflective of the jewellery design house and its timeless pieces. 

The House of Quadri store in Fort is an exemplification of contemporary minimalism. Exuding warmth, its design incorporates earthy tones, natural textures and a muted palette punctuated by rich red accents that echo the brand’s core identity. The project, says Kumar, was as much about shaping a spatial experience as it was about defining the brand’s visual and emotional identity. It would also set the stage for future retail zones. 

Also Read: Orange Tree Offers A Fresh Take On European Classics With The Launch Of Swoon In India

Powerful Design Strategy

Working closely with the brand’s founder, Vaibhav Karnavat, Kumar and her team responded to a design brief that envisioned a space reflective of the brand’s evolving modern, refined sensibility rooted in timeless elegance. The boutique, then, was to be reflective of a forward-thinking generation of consumers that seeks conscious craftsmanship and innovation in lab-grown diamonds. “One of the key observations Karnavat made resonated strongly with me. We needed to build a space that was both aspirational and approachable,” says the designer. 

Heritage-Informed Design

Designing a retail store in a neoclassical building already rich in history and architecture requires a sensitive and nuanced approach. Kumar with a heightened sensitivity to projects like these equates this unique position to having big shoes to fill.“The arched windows and large volumes in the existing structure guided us as we approached the space with our design,” says Kumar whose projects span retail, residential and hospitality across India, the Middle East and London. The designer is known for her narrative-driven designs rooted in context and craft. 

Also Read: Art Basel 2026 To Debut In Doha: A New Chapter In Global Art  

Anchored By Neutrals 

With design details that convey comfort, warmth and understated glamour, the reception all at once sets the tone for the retail experience to follow. A white curvilinear sofa by Bareeki is a chic pairing with a wooden table by Josmo Studio and an earthy hand-tufted rug by Loops by LJ inspired by the rhythmic patterns of tree rings. Stone flooring, lime-plaster walls and warming wooden accents work in cohesion in this tactile–rich space. The vitrified floor tiles are from Nexion, the textured paint is by Neocoats, and the wall tiles by MCM cladding. 

Whispers Of Colour

Lush indoor greenery ushers in biophilic elements for a touch of calm. The colour red, intrinsic to the brand’s identity, makes its first appearance as a gradient pink, red and burgundy wall of art featuring a curated grid of abstract composition prints inspired by Mark Rothko. “For us, the colour red conveyed strength. We wanted it to act as both a focal point and a storytelling element, anchoring the reception with vibrancy while balancing the otherwise pared-back interiors. Rather than saturating the space, this layering allows the red to stand out meaningfully without overwhelming the serene atmosphere,” Kumar explains. 

Also Read: Sourcing Secrets With Interior Stylist Meetu Swani 

Minimalist Vitrines

The visitor is intuitively drawn into the store, where a slew of decidedly tall, slender and minimal glass displays by Arjunvir Gujral Design Studio skirt the periphery, ensuring that the lab-grown diamond jewellery pieces are the glamourous stars of the show. “The showcases feel refined yet understated, much like a quiet stage where the pieces would stand out in the spotlight. The glass enclosures bring in a sense of lightness and were deliberately kept crisp and frameless, eliminating visual noise to allow for the brilliance of the diamonds to shine through,” Kumar explains.  

Larger central display units crafted from marble and wood by Arjunvir Gujral Design Studio ground the space with a sense of permanence, she goes on to say. “The choice of natural stone, paired with warm wood, created a balance between solidity and softness, echoing the dual qualities of strength and delicacy found in the jewellery itself.”

Tactile Warmth Of Wood

Vertical fluted wall paneling fashioned from natural oak wood by Magvee grounds the interiors in warmth, while adding scale and contributing to the openness of the space. Kumar employed these surfaces to draw the eye upwards, accentuating the double height of the store, and to shape the overarching mood of the store. 

The Final Flourish

To add to the fluidity of the store, the wall panels were interspersed with an abstract hand-painted mural by Rudranee Chiman composed of organic, flowing forms in soft, earthy tones of beige, taupe and warm browns—a design element introduced after the store design and execution had been completed. Kumar found herself looking for that missing detail—a striking yet sophisticated backdrop to the clean-cut jewelry displays; motifs that would add depth and character to the space without overpowering the senses. “The motifs introduce a contemporary layer of artistry, adding depth, rhythm and movement to the otherwise calm backdrop. Together, the wood and patterned mural create a balanced visual rhythm that ties the space together sophisticated yet approachable,” says Kumar. 

Also Read: 7- Dining By Design Destinations That Blend Playfulness, Global Culture, and Modern Mumbai

Interplay Of Light

Light plays a crucial role in any retail environment, quiet easily making or breaking a space if not integrated in a well-considered manner. In the case of this site that would soon showcase the brand’s lab-grown diamond jewelry, light—both natural and artificial—was masterfully controlled to prevent distractions or an overall washed-out appearance. Thanks to generously proportioned windows, the space harnesses the generous flow of natural light bringing in a palpable authenticity to how the jewelry was perceived. Then, a nuanced artificial lighting scheme was integrated with precision after trial and error. “We carefully calibrated the lighting to reveal the diamond’s brilliance without overwhelming the eye.” Further, an existing skylight in the reception allowed for an abundance of natural light, prompting the team to work with the inherent strengths of the heritage structure. 

Fluidity Encourages Discovery

The scope of the project extended well beyond a retail space and reception for the House of Quadri; it encompassed private meeting rooms, ancillary spaces and an office space for the brand’s executive, production, sales and marketing teams to work out of. “Intricate spatial planning and flow was undertaken to ensure a smooth transition from retail to office spaces with the reception acting as the common middle ground. Each zone was conceived as part of a cohesive narrative, ensuring that the brand identity was consistently communicated across the entire store,” she explains. 

Also Read: French Luxury Lands In Delhi: Baccarat’s Dazzling New Outpost

Navigating Site Constraints

Indeed, every project comes with its own set of challenges. And, in the case of the House of Quadri, Kumar admits that the biggest one was working within the framework of a heritage building. “While the tall ceilings and large windows gave us a beautiful canvas to start with, they also came with structural constraints of restoration that required careful planning and execution,” she says. Achieving the perfect balance between minimalism and luxury was yet another challenge. “We wanted the space to feel serene and understated, but at the same time it needed to carry the sense of exclusivity that jewelry retail requires without intimidating its audience. Achieving this balance through materials, detailing, and lighting pushed us to be more thoughtful, and ultimately shaped the distinctive character of the store,” says Kumar. 

Ultimately, the House of Quadri’s flagship boutique offers an intimate experience to immerse oneself in the beauty, grace and elegance of the brand’s pieces in an unhurried manner with old-world charm and historical integrity retained for posterity.