Project Fact File:
Name of Project: Hues of Saar
Name of Design Firm: Infinity Designs
Location: Mumbai
Typology: Retail (Store)
Area: 2,050 sq.ft
Date of Completion: March 2025
Principal Architect/Designer: Suresh Yadav
Photography Credits: Yadnesh Joshi
Design Team: Vaishali Kamble, Bhumika Agarwal
Design Highlights:
● Facade crafted entirely in natural sandstone, inspired by Rajasthani forts
● Handmade cement flooring with inlaid leaf and floral motifs for wayfinding and artistry
● Arches and niches referencing palace architecture, refined into clean, modern profiles
● Seamless spatial flow without physical partitions, aided by lighting and visual cues
Concept:
The client behind this bespoke menswear store carries an unmistakable cultural legacy — as the official costume designer for Jethalal Gada from the iconic Indian sitcom Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah. With decades of expertise in crafting festive, occasion, and traditional attire, they came with a clear ask: create a retail environment that elevates the shopping experience into something immersive, culturally rich, and visually unforgettable. The brief called for a destination — not just a store — that would celebrate India's regal traditions while appealing to the sensibilities of the contemporary Indian groom.
Inspired by the grandeur of Rajasthan’s royal architecture, the design narrative unfolds as a modern reinterpretation of heritage. The store's façade, built entirely in authentic sandstone, establishes an immediate sense of opulence. It evokes the fortified elegance of historic palaces, setting the tone for the experiential journey that lies within. Earthy sandstone textures continue indoors, enveloping walls in a palette that feels rooted and noble. Handmade cement tiles with pigmented inlays form a tactile flooring underfoot — an artwork in itself, patterned with scattered leaf motifs that subtly guide movement across the space, leading visitors to a blooming floral crescendo at the store’s heart.
The spatial planning avoids rigid partitions, instead relying on carved arches, niches, and visual cues such as lighting, material shifts, and form continuity. Each section is defined without disturbing the spatial flow, creating a seamless, almost narrative progression through the different product categories. These interventions serve a dual role — they frame the merchandise while also reinforcing the design’s architectural vocabulary.
Furniture throughout the store has been custom-designed, drawing from the silhouettes of vintage palace interiors. Classic forms with hand-turned legs, warm natural woods, and heritage upholstery blend into the larger palette while retaining their own character. Brass accents — used sparingly but with precision — echo traditional craft and add moments of understated luxury. Every detail, from hanging rods to drawer handles, contributes to the overall sense of cohesion and care.
Functionality has been carefully choreographed. Built-in storage, concealed service areas, and compact yet statement display systems maintain a sense of openness while enhancing product visibility. The layout is intuitive — visitors move fluidly between sections, subtly guided by the flooring pattern, changes in lighting, and the tonal rhythm of materials.
The store’s strongest USP lies in its deep commitment to craft and detail. Nothing was off-the-shelf — from the custom limestone-hued wall finishes to the handmade cement tile flooring, and from the bespoke furniture to the brass detailing, everything was designed to fit a singular design vision. Even the bold choice to use one solid colour across the entire store — walls, ceiling, and key surfaces — was a carefully considered move, tested across multiple mockups and samples before being finalized.
But this design journey wasn't without challenges. Time constraints pushed the team to rely on precise planning and close collaboration with artisans to ensure that every handcrafted element met both the design vision and the deadline. Convincing the client to embrace a monochromatic palette also required a leap of trust — one that was earned through process-driven sampling and shared conviction in the design ethos.
The result is a space that embodies timeless Indian elegance while speaking fluently to a modernaesthetic. It pays homage to history but isn’t trapped by it — a space where sandstone meets minimalism, where craftsmanship tells stories, and where each detail works quietly to support a larger narrative of sophistication and tradition.
