As friends from college, we shared a special bond as well as similar aesthetics. We started out together as interior designers eight years ago in Raipur, Chhattisgarh. We took up small projects to gain practical experience of working independently, and to make our mark in the market. Among all the teething problems we faced, there were some peculiar challenges. We were quite young, and the clients couldn’t believe that women like us could take up such work. They always thought that designers were middle-aged men. They felt we were too young, and we were women!

So, it took some time for the clients in the tier-2 city to accept us as competent designers. There was also this myth in people’s mind that men were better at this kind of work as they were believed to be more technically sound than women. It was hard to convince them that women were equally proficient at technical matters.

And once we started working, we were too shy to ask for our fees! It’s strange, but it is true. We didn’t know how to talk monies with our clients. It was only with time that we realised that we needed to be clear about commercials at the starting of the project, and just be professional about it. Also, often, in a service sector like ours, a lot of things are not tangible. It is not always possible to show in physical terms the work that has been accomplished at the site. So, it is very difficult to make the clients understand that the work cost us a certain amount. 

With hard work, patience, and every passing project, we have learnt to deal with many challenges. Talent is not enough, there are so many other practical issues one needs to handle, especially when you are young and you’re a woman. There is no substitute to learning, and being smart about it along the way. 

So, we can say that we have evolved over the years. Starting from small projects to handling large farmhouses, villas, corporate and hospitality projects, we have come a long way, and completed 150 projects. Our highly customised solutions, tailored to suit the client’s personal taste and lifestyle have endeared them to us. In order to add a more authentic flavour to our luxury projects, we have also started creating custom-created furniture that boasts the most unique designs and superlative quality. 

People often wonder about the synergy between the two of us, but we are lucky to share a similar design sensibility and a seamless understanding of each other’s working style. They perfectly match most of the times. On occasions when they don’t, we both take that situation maturely and let the best idea go ahead. 

It’s been eight years of growing, learning and evolving for us. We can’t say we have achieved a lot, but it’s been a spectacular career time for both us. Usually it’s the older and established interior design firms that have sprawling office spaces for themselves. We are happy to tell you that today we have the largest office in Raipur among the interior firms. And we are all geared up to take up projects pan-India. We are looking at another phase of expansion and learning.