With the change in architectural designs and lifestyles, the interiors of homes had also undergone dramatic changes, discovered Aarti Sud, who grew up in Delhi.

After getting married, with her husband Suresh’s transferable job, she occupied new houses every two years and was decorating them. Travelling to many continents, while in Houston, she decided to do an Interior Designing course, doing an internship with Clear Lake Interiors. “That was wonderful exposure,” she says, adding, “I learnt the values of systematic work and stringent standards of workmanship, which is lacking out here.”

After moving twelve homes in fifteen years, they decided to settle in Bangalore in 1998, which they visited often, as her in-laws lived here. Aarti asserts, it was difficult, and it took a while to adjust to living in this city.
She was offered a job teaching American Culture with NEXT. Though teaching was not her forte, the year she interacted with Computer Science graduates, she says gave her a high. They then bought an apartment at Acropolis, and decorating it was a big challenge. The result she modestly says, was more than appreciated by those who visited her, and many asked her to do their interiors. That was the beginning of being able to use her expertise, professionally.

Her first project was for new tenants, who came from the US to live in Acropolis, followed by five apartments in the complex, and several private homes.

The focus in interiors has shifted to simplified elegance, luxurious materials with familiar forms, with a contemporary twist, projecting the owners’ personality.

“Decorating an existing structure is the challenge. Most people have their furniture, and you have to work around that. Many builders do not allow you to change the superstructure, and the skill lies in giving a new look to the identical designed flats.”

Aarti spoke about colours, which play an important role in your psyche, and the décor needs a dexterous pallet. She prefers to work in neutral colours on the wall, and big pieces of furniture. Then, she can play around with colours in the furnishings.

What’s in
Yellows, greens, browns are for the adventurous outdoor aficionados, pastels infuse serenity. Beige, chocolate brown, maroon, midnight blue, add subtle seriousness with warmth. Orange, gold, bright pinks and red are invigorating, extending a chic quotient, with style. Muted colours like olive, lavender, mauve mixed with silver and crystals, enhance those intimate private moments. Not many opt for an all black room, though interspersing black with colours, always adds that dramatic touch.

Furniture, wall decoration and objet de art, should emphasise lightness of movement, and Aarti believes in accentuating the surprise element in every room. Low slung chairs, a bar tucked away, and exotic plant, unusual lamps, statues, and paintings which have a cutting edge enhancing the atmosphere, of changing lifestyles.

A room cluttered with a variety of art work, family pictures, opulent furniture, carpets - velvet/ brocade drapes, jostling for space with plants, crystal and ceramic displays, is something not everyone can live with. Checks and floral prints are dated. Using silks, polycottons,  textured voiles, suede, velvet, lycra, adding leather trimmings, foil prints, swarovski crystals, she has ingenious ways to add a distinctive touch. If you’re looking for fragile femininity, ruffles and frills give their own definition with a vintage appeal, and leather furniture continues to make a status statement.

Many clients have their opinions, which are always incorporated. Aarti is particular the client accompanies her shopping, because they have to be comfortable with living with the colours and décor.

She finds the lifestyle of the urban youth is trying to cope with the pressures of living, and the home should be the unwinding experience, without compromising on style. Working within the client’s budget, every room explores the creativity of the designer, with an avante garde fusion of vivid imagination.

A perfectionist, and a stickler for meeting time frames, she asserts, when you enjoy your work, the outcome is better, and doing one project at a time, enables her to focus her total attention.