Life as we knew it has changed. Homes have become workspaces, recreational zones and have also replaced gyms, salons, among other places one would usually step out for. Needless to say, this has caused a major shift in the way people adorn their homes and the kind of interiors they invest in.
Interior design companies are therefore well-placed to address this changing market and count as one of the few industries doing well in this difficult period of time. Delhi-based The Works Interiors (TWI), founded by Devika and Raj Khosla in 1998, is a good example of a home-furnishing brand that offers a variety of interior design experiences that range from small bespoke furniture units to large spatial executions.
“At TWI, we pride ourselves on delivering bespoke furniture, interior experiences, architectural spatial arrangements and relationships. We are committed to building elegant, contemporary and luxurious interiors, pan-India and across the globe. Every design solution is customised to give the client a unique project experience. This has allowed us the patronage of loyal clients, some of whom have been working with us for over a decade on multiple projects and have highly recommended our work,” shares Devika who is the Creative Director of the brand.
After a stint at Delhi University, Devika went on to pursue a specialized course in Interior Design Management at Pratt University in New York. She is best known for her discerning design eye and collaborative approach to creating spaces. She likes to think out of the box and always keeps an open eye and an open mind, and has adopted the mantra, ‘Design is not always about doing something different, it’s about doing mundane things differently’.
When asked what the real strength of TWI is, Devika responds with, “It is the attention to detail we bring to the table, the rapport we share with our clients, and most importantly, our incredible team. All our designs are translated into reality by our incredibly skilled master craftspersons.”
She goes on to add, “At TWI, we are very hands-on. You meet and interact with the principal designers throughout different stages of project implementation. Apart from that, we are a boutique firm and take on new work only after ensuring that it won’t make us compromise on our time management and the work of our existing clients.”
With lockdowns and delayed deliveries of imported goods, Indian homegrown brands are enjoying their moment in the sun. However, Devika believes this preference of ‘Make in India’ products began before the pandemic. Recent developments have further strengthened the market for bespoke and custom work made in India, enabling some beautiful design studios to come up in the recent past. She highlights that nowadays, people are more aware and conscious of good design, which can only be achieved as a partnership between clients, designers and craftspersons.
People today are looking for detailed and holistic solutions – good designs made with indigenous materials, and many designers and architects are able to provide this. Devika explains the reason for this, “I think this is because people are becoming more conscious of the climate and taking initiatives to protect the environment. Joining the cause, designers are looking for more sustainable solutions as well. In India, we have an incredible heritage of craftspersons and varied options of materials available. These days, designers are creating great designs that these craftspeople are able to handcraft and build.”
At TWI, the focus has always been on the client’s needs. They base their design strategy on the brief provided and attempt to understand the client’s needs and design ethos. “The very fact that they have come to us means they are somewhat aligned with the work we do. Based on the design brief, we prepare our theme for that space accordingly. We ensure that each space and each site is tackled differently and keep an open mind towards new ideas,” explains Devika.
As far as work from home trends go, Devika shares that many of their clients have converted one room of their home into a den or workspace. Some also convert a section of their homes into art studios and libraries. In terms of furniture, people are looking for comfort, quality and practicality and are willing to go the extra mile to achieve that.
The future looks bright for the team at TWI, as they are working on some ongoing outstation projects where they have been given a free hand to design not only in terms of space but also materials. Apart from the bespoke handcrafted furniture they currently make only on order, in the future, the team hopes to design its own line of furniture which will be sold online.
The writer pens lifestyle articles for various publications and her blog www.nooranandchawla.com. She can be reached on nooranand@gmail.com.