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# Lily Pad-Detailed Apartments
A Borrowed Memory Draws on Kerala Backwater Landscapes

By Amy Duong | Published 2026-08-06 | Art & Design
Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/a-borrowed-memory
References: [dezeen](https://www.dezeen.com/2026/08/06/mumbai-apartment-kerala-backwaters-lily-pads/)

![Lily Pad-Detailed Apartments](https://cdn.trendhunterstatic.com/thumbs/625/a-borrowed-memory.jpeg)

A Borrowed Memory is a multigenerational apartment renovation in Mumbai by The Act of Quad, created for a family spanning three generations. Inspired by the lily pads and waterways of Kerala's backwaters, the interior features continuous green flooring, [curved lime-washed walls](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/gulzars-residence), and bespoke furnishings with softly organic forms. Rounded architectural details replace sharp corners throughout the home, while handcrafted timber elements, including a carved pillar sourced from Kerala, reinforce the regional reference without directly recreating the landscape.

Custom furniture includes a [lily pad-inspired coffee table](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/srivan) cast in fiber with a jade finish and resin detailing, sculptural dining chairs, and a leaf-shaped door installation. The grandparents' bedroom adopts a restrained palette with handcrafted timber furniture, while the primary bedroom incorporates a concealed walk-in dressing area behind sliding timber panels. Accessibility improvements include an enlarged [wheelchair-friendly bathroom](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/bone-studio) created through a curved partition wall.

Image Credit: Nayan Soni

## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter)

- Score: 6.2/10
- Popularity: 72% | Activity: 30% | Freshness: 84%
- Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women
- Primary generations: Gen Z, Millennial, Gen X
- Top markets: North America, South America, Europe, Asia, Africa

## Categories

[Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Art & Design](https://www.trendhunter.com/artdesign)

## Key Themes

### Why This Trend Is Growing

- **Biophilic Heritage Interiors:** Regional landscapes and cultural memory become sophisticated design cues for homes that blend nature-inspired forms with emotionally resonant personalization.
- **Soft-edge Accessibility:** Curved partitions, rounded corners, and widened layouts show how universal design can be integrated into elegant residential environments without clinical aesthetics.
- **Custom Organic Furnishings:** Bespoke pieces shaped like leaves, lily pads, and sculptural natural forms create differentiation opportunities for interiors that feel collectible and site-specific.

### Industries Being Reshaped

- **Interior Design:** Design studios can distinguish residential projects through localized storytelling, handcrafted details, and immersive material palettes rooted in place.
- **Furniture Manufacturing:** Makers of custom furniture are positioned to explore organic silhouettes, resin finishes, and artisanal timber work for premium residential markets.
- **Accessible Housing:** Inclusive home renovation is evolving toward discreet mobility support, allowing multigenerational families to combine comfort, safety, and refined aesthetics.

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