Some houses have minimalistic designs that should look bland but are truly remarkable without much. In the same way, some homes have everything, from the latest designs and famous arts, but as a whole, it doesn’t just make sense. It's because home and interior designing are much more than putting any wall art or metal art decor in your home.
For centuries, interior design trends have been a prominent part of human civilization as our aesthetic aids to get the most from our surroundings. Take the ancient Indian art of Vastu shastra, where spatial positioning corresponds with energy flow inside a space or Romans using earth-tone colors and geometric patterns to mimic the harmony of nature.
Home and interior designing is a perfect combination of science and art, which is why there are lots of skills that go into it. A home may belong to those who live there, but a beautiful and comfortable home is a masterpiece that requires a true vision of maestros, designers and artists who knows what they're doing. At Punam Metalcrafts, we salute the contribution these creative power players are bringing much-needed diversity to design.
So instead of giving you regular gifts and home decor ideas to celebrate the upcoming women's day, we've decided to celebrate the women who are changing this space in India. And maybe reading about these great women will also inspire you to find a perfect gift and showpiece online for your home or loved ones. In this blog, we have curated a list of the five most influential women who have used their creativity as their weapon to turn their good ideas into liveable solutions.
- Teja Amonkar
Co-founder, Field Atelier, Goa
A protégé of Bijoy Jain, a prominent name in Indian architecture, she started her Panaji-based architectural practice with her husband in 2015. She was also shortlisted for the National Awards for Excellence by the Indian Institute of Architects. Known for building primordial spaces that inconspicuously blend contemporary designs with traditional Indian arts, their designs embrace the emblematic ecological and cultural sensitivity.
- Simone Arora
Founder, Simone, Mumbai
A designer, curator and now a founder of an Interior store, Simone Arora opened her boutique store four years ago. And in such a short time, this 8,000 sq ft retail space has expanded to a new level to provide Indian homeowners with fresh choices and ideas in home decor.
Her designs contemplate a hint of nature luxe that leans towards a monochromatic palette and matte textures with a hint of sheen. She's personally invested in the selection and curation of each design and merchandise to avoid risking quality control and dilution of her brand.
- Srila Chattarjee
Founder, Baro
A multi-hyphenate, she has helmed a production firm, co-founded Bluefrog, curated Kala Ghoda Arts Festival and co-founded her home decor and furniture store in 2016. Her strength is that she mixes textures and styles in inventive ways. By pairing modern abstract furniture and decor pieces with traditional designs and textiles, she has invented a perfect combination of the vibrant and minimalistic design form. Her style reflects her affection for Indian arts and folk artists and constantly collaborates with artists from Jaipur and plans to host a Bengal Craft Bazar and a pop-up on sustainable living.
- Aakriti Saraf
Founder, Aakriti Saraf Design
A founder of one of India's most prominent design studios, she has made her mark in the industry by finding the right balance between design and functionality. Born and raised in Mumbai, she has proven her mettle while interning under stalwarts like Nozer Wadia and Ajit Shilpi. Then she moved on to start her eponymous practice and started her venture in Bengaluru in 2017.
She had done several projects for big names across India like conceiving the terrace penthouse of the former CEO of LinkedIn India. Her penchant for fine design can be found in the designs and furnishings she has hand-picked for this project which has also become everyone's favorite on Instagram.
- Ishrat Sahgal
Founder, Mishcat Co
Founder of a brand of carpets and rugs along with architect-designer’s interior practice, she has turned head by focusing on conscious design, craft and sustainability. She first made headlines by launching a line of hand-knotted, upcycled carpets in 2013. Each carpet was weaved from yarn sourced from silk sari weaving units in South India, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh and sold all across the globe.
Her interior design service is equally successful as her signature design in which she curates an entire room around one of her bespoke sari-rugs has become wildly popular. She finds inspiration from unexpected places, whether it’s the tribal motifs of the Kuba textile from Zaire or Swedish minimalism.