Spatial Duality: Photographing a Two-Story Cafe Hideaway in Matunga, Mumbai

Documenting Play and Contrast Across Two Levels

Photographing a multi-level hospitality space requires capturing how distinct design languages co-exist under one roof. Designed by Ruchika Chabbria, Sanika Gangan, and Tejal Ubhare of Studio RCI, Bomdia Café in Matunga, Mumbai, spans 2,000 square feet across two floors. The space balances a light, pastel-driven ground floor coffee kiosk with a moody, terracotta-hued upper dining lounge.

For The Matter Studio, the goal was to frame the seamless flow between these two contrasting atmospheres while highlighting the cafe's rich, tactile craftsmanship.

1. Framing First Impressions & Spatial Camouflage

The ground floor sets an interactive and welcoming tone with custom woodwork, laser-cut floor tiles, and a signature checkered entrance feature crafted from veneer and PU finish.

• The Focal Coffee Kiosk: As the visual heart of the ground floor, we used wide, centered framing to highlight the curved geometries, ash wood finishes, and open shelving details.

• Geometric Feature Walls: Studio RCI cleverly concealed the restroom doors behind a bold walnut veneer wall with geometric angular patterns. Documenting this required precise frontal angles to capture both the architectural pattern and its seamless integration into the wall layout.

2. Managing Tone Transitions: Pastels vs. Deep Terracotta

The mood shifts dramatically as guests move up the staircase, requiring careful color calibration and lighting adjustments between floors.

• The Breezy Ground Floor: We captured the soft pinks, powder blues, and cream tones under natural light, preserving the airy, French-inspired cafe ambiance.

• The Cocoon-Like Upper Level: On the second floor, deep ink blues, terracotta tones, and wavy laser-cut tile patterns dominate. Our photography focused on capturing the warm, intimate atmosphere created by soft accent lighting without losing detail in the darker material finishes.

3. Highlighting Custom Craft and Tactile Details

From clay totems and cane light fixtures to curved marble-and-wood round tables, the cafe relies heavily on custom artisan elements.

"The visual language of the space is interactive yet intimate, with visually striking elements... setting a playful and inviting tone from the outset." — Ruchika Chabbria

• Custom Light Features: We framed Studio RCI's custom cane light fixture to emphasize the indirect LED glow reflecting off the ceiling.

• Booth Seating Nooks: In the private dining areas, close-up framing highlighted the tactile interplay between Harshita Jhamtani Designs' clay totems, Magnolia textiles, and curved marble table edges.

Project Credits

• Project: Bomdia Café

• Interior Firm: Studio RCI (Ruchika Chabbria, Sanika Gangan, Tejal Ubhare)

• Location: Matunga, Mumbai

• Area: 2,000 sq. ft. (2 Levels)

• Photography: Rohit Mendiratta / The Matter Studio