Apartment Royalty: Photographing Compact Grandeur in Jorbagh, New Delhi

Framing Palace Aesthetics Within Urban Proportions

Reimagining royal heritage inside a typical urban apartment requires a delicate balance of scale, composition, and visual weight. Designed by Aanchal Mittal of Aasa Concepts, this 2,100-square-foot Jorbagh home in New Delhi blends "princess-in-exile" palace nostalgia with contemporary functionality—featuring antique Pichwai art, emerald jewel tones, and bespoke hidden features.

For The Matter Studio, the focus was on documenting how these maximalist, antique-inspired silhouettes breathe within a modern Delhi layout, ensuring every statement piece receives its intended visual priority.

1. Balancing Statement "Heroes" in Compact Spaces

Aanchal Mittal's core design approach was appointing multiple "hero" elements in a single room while paring down surrounding details to keep the space airy.

• The Heritage Dining Entryway: Right beyond the compact foyer, framing centered on the 45-year-old Pichwai painting anchored by a custom chandelier and a six-seater round table. Controlling reflection and focus allowed the intricate hand-painted details to shine alongside the modern console and mandir.

• Low-Profile Contrast: By pairing statement chandeliers with low-slung, beige-hued couches, our wide-angle framing highlights spatial height without making the 2,100-square-foot footprint feel crowded.

2. Capturing Dark Moodiness & High-Contrast Art Galleries

One of the standouts of the home is the dark, romantic study, designed to function as both a workspace and a guest bedroom.

• Baroque Gallery Wall: Photographing the cluster of custom oil paintings in baroque frames required controlling spotlight glare to bring out the rich oil textures and gold leafing.

• Textural Layering: Framing captured the contrast between the moody wall tones, the Gulmohar Lane rattan daybed, and the ambient glow from Jainsons Emporio lighting.

3. Documenting Hidden Features and Subtle Details

In keeping with royal aesthetics, modern appliances like televisions were cleverly concealed behind hand-crafted red-and-gold painted shutters.

"When the brief called for balancing maximalist touches with everyday functioning, the principal designer began dreaming bigger. Think ‘royalty, but make it apartment-friendly.’" — Aanchal Mittal

• Sequential Captures: To show the functionality of the living room, we documented the space both with the fluted marble fireplace and red cabinet closed, and open to reveal the hidden flatscreen.

• Royal Bedroom Palettes: Transitioning into the private quarters, our photography focused on the grand custom headboards, dainty Life n Colors floral wallpapers, and clean, high-contrast light filtering through the white and beige guest suites.

Project Credits

• Project: Jorbagh Apartment Restoration

• Principal Designer: Aanchal Mittal (Aasa Concepts)

• Location: Jorbagh, New Delhi

• Area: 2,100 sq. ft.

• Photography: Rohit Mendiratta / The Matter Studio