Heema Chhabra is one of the most sought-after interior designers of her generation. Her interior design practice is known for her couture interior, and her ability to provide detailed advice on every aspect of the project. Over the years, she has built a diverse portfolio which includes exclusive commercial projects, private houses, farmhouses and builder projects. She spoke to The Daily Guardian about her interior design consultancy practice.
Q: Please tell us about yourself and your journey to being the successful design consultant you are today.
A: I have been creating spaces through my practice for over 10 years. The journey so far has been a rollercoaster ride full of doubts, second guessing myself, tears, frustrations and loads of hard work, which has contributed to make me the successful design consultant I am today. I had always wanted to design interior spaces but never realised it was an actual job. I learned most of what I know working with interior firms throughout the years. The experience gained from being thrown into things and having to figure it out, is the best kind of learning. I have worked on projects with small and large budgets and am confident and happy with my design consultancy practice today.
Q: How would you describe your design aesthetic? How is it different from others?
A: My projects are known for their ever-evolving style and are a subtle fusion of clean lines with luxuriously neutral tones. My designs shape an intuitive balance between opulence and warmth. I feel that my design aesthetic is different from others because I prefer to work on the aspect of utility first and foremost. Our home is a reflection of ourselves and our lifestyle, and I try to design each space to reflect my clients’ personalities.
Q: What are the benefits of engaging an interior designer?
A: Hiring a designer can help you avoid costly mistakes and increase the value of your home. A designer provides a professional assessment of your living situation, and saves you time and effort in identifying reliable contractors, plumbers and electricians for projects. Most importantly, designers provide the “wow” factor that can be hard to find.
Q: What has been the most interesting project you have worked on so far?
A: For me, every single project is close to my heart and interesting, but I have faced my biggest challenges and been rewarded the most with farmhouse designing. For one particular farm, I wanted to create a contemporary staircase in the main entrance hall. The double-height space was an impressive design idea where we could show the metalwork, curves and beautiful Calcutta marble of the final design. When the project was complete, the clean lines of the staircase spiralled around the chandelier, providing a modern twist to a design classic.
Q: What are some of the challenges your business has faced with the pandemic? How have you overcome them?
A: Covid-19 has been difficult on all businesses because of low liquidity making it difficult to run operations, shortage of manpower on sites, shortage of resources increasing costs and delays in hand-over. We have overcome these challenges by ensuring cash flow to avoid delays, keeping our employees working, keeping safety measures in place for clients and workers and operating in virtual environments.
Q: Tell us about a current trend in the interiors space that our readers would benefit from learning.
A: At the moment, sustainable materials are the biggest buzzword in design. Apart from that, earthy and grounded shades are very welcoming when used for interiors. I believe these tones can enhance the opulence of a space while allowing it to blend with the other accessories and accents of that space.
The interviewer is a lifestyle columnist and blogger at www.nooranandchawla.com. She can be found on Instagram @nooranandchawla.