Beating in the very heart of old Bombay, Abode sits amid a street made busy with street hawkers and the charm of nostalgia along every step of your travel experience. Oozing with a distinct character merging the aura of the olden days and the thrill of a modernistic theme, you’ll sense the personality of a home – your home at Abode.
This boutique hotel has laid down solid interior design and soulful aesthetics to pay tribute to Bombay’s rich ancestry. Every piece of furniture has a vintage built to put forth the elegance of Mumbai’s past. The colour coordination starkly resonates with the boutique hotel’s historic-cum-modern theme, captivating its guests from across the globe.
For instance, the bedside stands are designed using chaat stands, whereas the library shelving seeks inspiration from the rugged aesthetics of the city’s roadside bookshops. Also, all rooms have drinking water stored in copper jugs.
To top it up, the fabrics involved in curating the cosy furnishings are sourced from old-fashioned saris or the depths of surrounding local markets. Even better, Abode Bombay supports local communities to stay indulgent in Abode’s activities. For example, some of these fabrics are hand-woven by the charitable foundation known as WomenWeave.
Lastly, trained craftspeople have repurposed ceramic lampshades into wonderful hardwood lamp holders.
Vacationers can find several 20th-century colonial and art deco pieces sourced from the rich repository of architectural items stored in the city’s 2nd hand markets. Each of these items has been created or refined by local craftsmen. Moreover, they’ve been restored to fit the aesthetic demands of Abode Bombay.
One afternoon in either of Abode Bombay’s different categories of rooms, you’ll see how creativity and collaboration have unveiled the secret behind developing aesthetic mastery.
Many rooms also use reclaimed Burma teak that has done the rounds, from mixed hardwood forests to South Bombay’s demolished buildings to woodworkers and finally to Abode’s floorings. As the evening proceeds and you shift to use the in-room lights, there’s a tonne to appreciate in their lighting fixtures as well. Skilled artisans have transformed ceramic lampshades from junkyards into aesthetically-fitting hardwood lamp holders.
Owing to partnerships with local artisans and NGOs, there’s a long list of must-know attributes about Abode Bombay’s social principles. One example is how they rely on a slum area, Kalwa, for recycling leftover soap ends. The knowledgeable slum dwellers use age-old techniques to purify the half-used soap bars and create new ones.
Abode Bombay has partnered with an all-female taxi service company that supports dozens of single mothers with no real source of income. Besides getting exposure and developing a skill set, they get to communicate with our clients during airport pickups and drop-offs. This is a win-win for international travellers and female drivers.
Tucked away in the downtown district only 700 meters from the Gateway of India, this boutique hotel works with the Victoria School of Blind and the National Association of the Blind for spa services. Whether you want a foot massage, acupuncture therapy, ayurvedic treatment or a Thai massage, the techniques and razor-sharp awareness of blind people trained in massages will leave you wanting more.
As opposed to marinating in the mundanity of everyday hotel experiences, Abode Bombay believes that it’s the little services as such that brush the heartstrings of their visitors.
