Purple Backyard: Shaping Immersive and Conscious Homes

Kumpal Vaid lives by the ideology of constant learning and unlearning. Her design studio Purple Backyard embodies her fascination for minimal layering with a laid- back atmosphere wrapped in an air of sophistication. Kumpal takes readers of SCALE through her journey in design excellence.

There is an air of sophistication in Kumpal Vaid’s projects. The design features are so subtle that one can miss the details but the comfort and luxury that emancipates from these houses are imbibed by those who live within these spaces.

“Purple Backyard has been shaping immersive and conscious homes since 2011 with a vision to craft spaces that serve a clear purpose while embracing cultural heritage with contemporary interpretations,” says Kumpal.

Be it the Kanso House that was designed in a muted palette with an air of sophistication brought in through the rich details of accessories, or the Hiwaga Project that takes it name for the wonder that is created in each room with the use of organic materials and elements from nature, each project of Kumpal’s comes with a special touch that can now be called the “the Purple Backyard touch”. Purple for the grandeur and backyard for the laid-back, simple, lived-in, comfortable atmosphere the design evokes.

Here she engages with SCALE and tells us about her design journey.

SCALE: When did your journey in design begin? Were you always interested in the field of interiors and art? What could have been the tipping moment?
Kumpal: Ever since I was in the 8th grade, I knew I loved creating things. While I can’t pinpoint a specific moment when I decided to become an interior designer, it was always clear to me that this was the path I wanted to follow. Once I shared this with my mom, my focus naturally shifted toward preparing for a career in interior design, and everything I did revolved around that goal. I was fortunate to have parents who fully supported my passion, even though no one in my family had a background in interiors or architecture. My mom, in particular, was a major inspiration. She was a talented artist who often helped me with my art projects, and her creativity was a key influence in leading me toward space design.
SCALE: Tell us about your education. How did studying in Central Martins help refine your design delivery?

Kumpal: After completing my studies at Rachana Sansad school of interior design, I worked for about a year and a half. During that time, I realized I wanted to dive deeper into a specialisation, which led me to Central Saint Martins, UAL, where I did a course in visual merchandising and staging for homes. That experience really refined how I approached spaces, as visual merchandising focuses on the retail and customer experience. It shaped the way I think about design, emphasising the immersive experience for those interacting with the space.

When I returned and began working, I noticed there wasn’t much of a market for visual merchandising in Bombay, especially with retail brands in 2011. This realisation naturally steered me toward incorporating that experiential aspect into interior spaces. The first five years were all about building goodwill and gaining clients’ trust, proving that we could create exceptional designs. But after that initial period, the goodwill began to flow naturally. Today, we’re known for creating experiential spaces that not only reflect our studio’s aesthetic but also resonate deeply with the client’s personality and needs.

SCALE: Tell us the story behind the inception of Purple Backyard. What is your guiding philosophy?

Kumpal: Purple Backyard began with a simple yet powerful thought—I felt there was so much to express through design, especially in 2011 when design in homes, offices, and retail spaces was emerging but still lacked depth. I wanted to showcase people’s journeys and experiences, blending that with my own desire to merge luxe elements with raw, authentic materials. This idea is reflected in the name Purple Backyard: “Purple” symbolises royalty and luxury, while “Backyard” evokes a laid-back, collaborative atmosphere. It’s about bringing together two contrasting ideas to create something unique.

At the heart of Purple Backyard, I’ve always aimed to stay true to the materials we use, avoiding over-processing and letting their natural beauty shine. From the beginning, these principles guided our work, and now in 2024, we are enjoying the fruits of that clarity and labour. We continue to create dynamic, layered spaces that respect and showcase our clients’ personalities without losing our studio’s aesthetic, which is transitional and quiet yet luxurious.

In 2023, we also launched PB Home, a brand that embodies our love for heritage and storytelling through design. We create objects of desire inspired by India’s rich history, such as the Shatranj table, which evokes memories of the 80s and 90s when every household seemed to have one. Made from Indian green marble, it exemplifies how Indian materials and stories can be seamlessly integrated into contemporary homes. PB Home allows us to bring these beautiful elements from the past into the present, creating pieces that honor tradition while fitting perfectly into modern spaces.

SCALE: Tell us about your mentors and your design gurus.

Kumpal: My background in design hasn’t been traditional, hence I would say my first design gurus were my mom and my dadi (grand mother). I grew up watching them bring so much creativity into everything, especially around festivities, whether it was how they decorated the home or how they meticulously planned events. Their attention to detail really influenced me, long before I formally entered the world of design.

Later, when I began my formal education, my teachers and early work experiences shaped my approach further. I worked for two years across different firms, and I consider my time at Planet 3 Studios, as key mentors who really shifted the way I thought about design culture. Along the way, I also had the privilege of learning from my teachers at Rachna Sansad and Central Saint Martins.

I continued to be inspired by various figures in design across the world. Architects like Richard Rogers, whose approach towards using exposed services has profoundly impacted my thinking, and designers like Kelly Weastker and Kelly Hoppen, who has influenced my perspective on styling, have left lasting impressions. Tinker Hatfield, Tokujin Yoshioka and Es Devlin are a few that resonate with me on so many different levels and keep me inspired.

More recently, I’ve had the opportunity to interact with seniors in the industry, and I continue to learn so much from them about the evolving landscape of design, both what’s new and the lessons of the past. It’s an ongoing journey of growth and inspiration.

SCALE: Which was the project which catapulted Purple Backyard into fame and acknowledgment?

Kumpal: The project that truly became our it project was House No. 7, which we completed during the first lockdown. It came at a pivotal time, right around the nine-year mark of my career. By that point, I had done a significant amount of work, and the forced pause during the lockdown gave me the space to reflect and refine. That quiet period allowed for a more focused synergy to emerge, sharpening our aesthetic, and reducing unnecessary noise in the process.

When House No. 7 was unveiled, the response was different from anything we had experienced before. The appreciation we received was incredible, and several publications even called it an avant-garde creation. This project not only marked an important moment in our journey but also set the tone for the work that followed. It gave us the much-needed momentum to push the studio in a more design-forward direction, cementing a stronger aesthetic and approach within our work.

SCALE: Tell us about the collaborative projects of Purple Backyard and the lessons learned from each one of these.

Kumpal: Great collaborations teach you so much about materials, techniques, and products. You meet talented professionals, and the exchange of ideas broadens your perspective, almost like a crash course in a specific element. For example, in the Eden House project, we collaborated with a lighting and furniture designer, blending perspectives to create something unique. This experience also pushed me toward PB Home, deepening my appreciation for Indian stones and helping me understand the manufacturing process.

These collaborations, often focused on specific products or design elements, have given me a stronger grasp of how each material is unique and how creatives approach them differently. It’s all part of the ongoing learning process in design.

SCALE: When did you decide to start designing luxury pieces? What is the philosophy behind their design? Are they purely functional or are they more of a statement art? What next for PB?

Kumpal: Every piece we create for PB Home is rooted in storytelling—whether it’s capturing a nostalgic element, reviving an art form, or highlighting some small detail with meaning. Despite PB Home being just two years old, we’re still in the R&D phase, focusing on crafting limited, bespoke pieces, often customised or commissioned for specific projects. These are truly pieces of desire.

As for what’s next, we’re currently enjoying the journey of creating these beautiful stories through PB Home. Our future vision includes expanding into full-fledged spatial design, integrating both interiors and exteriors to create a cohesive design experience. That’s the direction we’d like to take.

SHORT TAKES:

• If not a designer, what would you be: A ceramist.
• Your dream project: An estate in the hills.
• Mantra for Life: Believe in Yourself.