ARTICLE

INTERIORS: Interiors Have a Story to Tell - Sujata Hoon Belwal

For all the lavish aspirations of their clients, simplicity seems to be the core design principle here. In this column we present conversation with interior design experts sharing their experiences and design philosophies. Sujata Hoon Belwal of Design Tec swears by the impoftance of a comfortable home environment. The basic elements seem to be comfort, ergonomics, natural light and ventilation.

GRIHA: It is said that each and every interior of living space has a story to tell, it describes a distinct way of life; what story are you aiming to tell with your interior design & décor?
Sujata Hoon Belwal: Everything has to co-relate, from the flooring to the ceiling. Every surface to me has to speak for themselves. That amends harmony, and when there is harmony in the space, it becomes very comfortable to live in. I do not like empty spaces. To me, space has to grow on you and has to take something from your personality. I do not like clutter in my head at all; I like beautiful things around me. It is very important to have a comfortable environment and that is what I deliver.

GRIHA: What is the essence of your brand?
Sujata Hoon: I like to use the word ‘eclectic’ for my work, which is largely my personality. There is a part of me that likes a minimalistic look and there is a part of me that likes the classic look. In today’s lifestyle, people opt for a minimalistic look as it is very smart. As you grow older, you like to bring back some part of every place and every beautiful moment you experienced in your life to your home.

GRIHA: What are your signature services?
Sujata Hoon: All I need is a structure. I can handle anything from electrical work to tiles to décor. I can do any civil work to the last painting on the wall. It is the whole gamut of designing space. Yes, I am not a manufacturer, but a consultant. I like to align various aspects with each other. I create harmony with my interiors—harmony in the soul, and harmony in life.

GRIHA: What would you consider an ultimate indulgence for homes?
Sujata Hoon: I love doing living rooms as you can show maximum creativity here. You can decorate each corner of the living area in a unique way that looks different, while giving a complete look to the area.

GRIHA: How is your brand unique or distinct from the competition?
Sujata Hoon: I can understand what a client wants. Sometimes I know what they want will not look nice, so I have to mould their thinking and give them what they will be happy with; and that’s a challenge. At times when people return from their holidays abroad, they often want the exact same things they saw there; but I know that these things will not go with our environment, the lighting and weather are different, and here we have to consider Vaastu too. To build that understanding and deliver satisfactory services is what we focus on.

GRIHA: Which socio-economic segment of clients do you primarily cater to? And why?
Sujata Hoon: For a person to be able to afford an interior designer, you have to be a high net-worth individual. I can cater to lower income groups as well, but they will not be willing to spend much just for designing the interiors. I want my clients to be happy with my work without constantly worrying about the cost involved in it. A person with a slightly deeper pocket will appreciate an interior designer.

GRIHA: While designing a living space, what elements do you feel are a waste of resources and ought to be avoided?
Sujata Hoon: When you see a space, you know exactly what and how much will fit in, what size and how many types of furniture. If it looks overdone, we can automatically figure out what is not needed. If someone asks for a fireplace in Delhi, for example, I explain it to them that it will be of no use and will be used only for display.

GRIHA: What are the core inspirations behind your designs?
Sujata Hoon: I have a huge passion for my work. I have trained with one of the best designers in the country, Ms. Reena Singh. She did the Oberoi Hotel, along with Ms. Sunita Kohli (Padma Shri, 1992). She is my mentor, and whatever I am today is solely because of what she taught me. She was very strict and she taught me that there is no shortcut to success. You have to work very hard in order to learn something well.

GRIHA: How do you plan to take your brand forward, any major expansion plans for near future?
Sujata Hoon: I would love to be among top most design people as I have put in so much effort into my work. I have sacrificed so much. I want to take my brand a little higher. Expand my market.

GRIHA: What is the prevailing trend in home décor in India and how do you see it evolving in the coming years?
Sujata Hoon: The prevailing trend in the hospitality industry in India is to hire international interiors to get an international look. But I feel that we need to educate them as the person coming from abroad will not be interested in spending his holiday in the same atmosphere as that back home. He would love to have the contemporary look here and get to know Indian culture.

In home interiors these days, an industrial or semi-industrial look is very popular among the new generation. It also translates into a very cheaper look and follows a minimalistic approach. Nobody wants to buy expensive fabric for the curtains as they want to change it every season, they want to experiment with their interiors and try out new looks.