Aesthetic Office Space

Essajees Atelier is an offshoot of Essajees found in 2014 by Sarah Sham. Being part of a family that has been in the interior decoration business for over a century, did Sarah always dream of being an interior designer?

“Not in the least”, smiles Sarah. Sarah always wanted to fly with her own wings. She had a shot at Psychology, she studied finance at Stern University in New York and went on to work as a News Anchor for Bloomberg. She got wised up to the career path of interior designing during her 5-year stint at Essajees, where she not only stockpiled experience in furniture manufacturing and production but also developed a keen interest and love for designing.

Simple yet Stylish Lounge Area

Here is our heart-to-heart conversation with the Charismatic and humble Designer

Who has been your greatest inspiration in the Design Industry?

My inspiration has not been any Designer in particular but I admire a lot of Businesswomen. One of them is the founder of Saffronart – where I interned in 2005 at the initial stage of my career. I extol Minal Vazirani for her aesthetic vision and revolutionizing the way Indians view art. And about her designs, she take her design inspiration from almost everywhere and from everything that catches her attention.

Sarah’s favorite work is her parents Abode

Of the numerous projects that Essajees Atelier has worked on which one do you treasure?

I must admit it is my parents’ home that I went on to design premarriage. Being a family project, executing this one had its own set of challenges, becasue I wanted to decorate the house with the modern interior desing. But the end result was totally worth it. It is not just the design or the love that went into conceptualizing the design, but the fact that I can take joy in my own creation time and again which doesn’t usually happen, as once a client’s work is complete we never get to visit it again. I frequent my parent’s place and truly relish the experience of home decor.

Naturally Lit Living Space

What are the key things you consider at the outset of your design process?

The primary aspect for me is the context of the space being designed. Location of the area, the direction of sunlight, and the entire design sphere in consideration. By and by it is the brief of the client. It is their space, so their style and choice ought to reflect in their space. Amidst the context and client brief, is where our design ideas spring.

What is your individual style when it comes to interiors?

My style is contemporary. I like the blend of traditional and modern design. I love colors and design! Well-nigh everyone feels that colors start to get monotonous with time but that is not true at my end. Colors boost the energy of a room and bring in great vibes. In fact, I have the impression that too much white in a room makes it dull and boring. And most certainly I would prefer a vibrant room to a blank dull space.

I’m a crazy Biophilic fan. I love surrounding myself with greenery and you will find my little abode filled with plenty of plants in every nook and corner.

Inviting Appeal with Pastel Hues

What projects is your team working on currently and what is your future vision for Essajees Atelier?

The team is working on multiple projects at present. We have 3 projects in Goa, 4 High end residences in Kolkata, a 3-storey residence at Hyderabad and other commercial and residential spaces are also in the pipeline.

When it comes to the future vision for my firm, I am not too big a dreamer. My aim is not to expand extensively but to focus on super-specialized projects. Great design element and projects that are beyond imagination is my vision de facto.

5 years ago, my goal was to build a team of 10. It is the 6th year and I have achieved my goal. If you ask me 5 years down the line then I aspire to increase my strength twofold. I would like to limit my expansion to that and focus on my design in its entirety.

Beautifully Distressed Interiors

How do you maintain a work-life balance?

While I have help at home to manage my kid, I give no credence to micromanagement. Neither at home nor at the office. I place confidence in my team and strongly believe that each member knows his responsibilities. The accomplishment of assigned tasks is all that matters at Essajees Atelier. Apart from that, I end my workday at 7 (which includes not attending work calls) and I also make sure my weekends are work free.

An Elegant Dining Area

What advice would you like to give to AHL readers?

The best advice I would say is No Advice. It is your space and it should reflect your own style! Glam up your space with things and colors you truly love. Like they say, “Beauty lies in the eyes of the beholder”. What is unattractive for you might be appealing to me and vice versa. So simply decorate by your choices.

Had it not been for interior designing, you would find Sarah Sham cooking some delicious meals as she loves the role of a chef. I find the art of baking and icing the cakes extremely satiating she expresses. An ardent fan of MasterChef, this foodie is on the hunt for the best restaurants in every place of her travel.

http://www.essajeesatelier.com/
@EssajeesAtelier

She owes her great eye towards detail, to the experience that she has gained in the film industry. She has recently done a short film by the name “Knock Knock Knock “, this movie has made its way to many film festivals and she has worked on it as a Production Designer. It has won the Remi Gold Award in the 53rd Houstan International film festival.

In 2015, she started a consultancy firm named “EARTHWORKS” with Ar. Pushkar Joshi. They work across a wide spectrum ranging from architecture, interiors, interior styling, and art direction. Her career has also revolved around numerous Ads, Hollywood, Bollywood, and Short films. Their firm’s expertise spreads across styling Resorts, Restaurants, and high-end Residences. Vasudha has been collaborating with architects and photographers for print and photoshoots.

We had a quick colloquy with Vasudha to know more about her journey.

Have you always wanted to be an interior stylist? What drove you towards this career?

After working as an Architect, I realized I have an inclination towards designing spaces that are people-centric. Interior design has given me opportunities to work incoherent with color, textures, material, furniture, and light. In addition to that, creating compositions that are aesthetically good and still functional became my passion.

In your home which is your favorite space and how do you go about styling it?

Favorite spot in my house is my workspace, my table. It gives me a feeling of calmness in chaos. I have kept it very simple. It includes nice sketches by my husband and some travel and architecture books.It gets immense natural light. A touch of green is utmost necessary for me.And yes I like to sit on the floor and work.

Which Trends have been your personal favorite and what is currently trending?

I personally like clean lines and visually simple compositions.I think categorizing work under a certain trend might limit the expression.Rather in my work,I try to blend together different styles to get the desired look.

One cannot look at interior styling stand alone.The trends followed in architecture and interior setup a tone for styling.

What advice would you give to the people styling their own home?

Whether you are a first homeowner or a renter, the key to nailing beautiful interiors all lies in the details. I would start by doing away everything and reaching a state of emptiness. And then, with a simplistic and functional approach inject a personal style. Items with a story are what turn an average room into a stunning space. Design with timeless pieces you love instead of just following trends.

What projects are you working on currently?

Some of the recent projects include a resort in Kerala. I’m collaborating with a
photographer who is into interior and food. We have taken a step into food styling too. Residences and a few advertisements are also keeping us busy along with a short film that we are styling.

A beautiful red wall paper designed by earthworks studio

Styles by earthworks studio

Firm : Earthworks

Instagram : earthworks_studios  

Webpage : www.earthworks.net.in