To create spectacular spaces at home and work, clients are increasingly leaning towards designers who “think differently”. And that’s what the free-spirited Supraja Rao of Design House loves to do — she loves to look at things from an unconventional perspective. “I like to try new things and explore. It even reflects in my dressing sense. When everyone is doing the same thing, I can’t do it,” says the designer.
However, Supraja did not ever imagine that she would go on to become a successful interior designer one day; she always thought that her career would be in weaving textiles. “Most designers have a signature but I didn’t study architectural design. Destiny had something else planned and I accidentally got into this profession at the age of 20 — just one week after I completed BSc in home science,” she shares.
A designer’s world
Even though Supraja did not attend design school (probably this is what makes her designs so idiosyncratic), today this city-based designer has an impressive repertoire of work ranging from India to USA and the Middle East. Supraja is in love with her job — which is what makes her life as vibrant as her designs.
“Every room in my studio is designed in different materials, products and a few also have names. Two conference rooms for clients — one is Rani Mahal, done up in classical style with a 75-year-old chandelier and the other studios are called Asman and Zameen. Asman is for all the creative brainstorming — presentations happen here. For the technical drawings, we have Zameen,” says Supraja, for whom a lot of learning has been hands-on.
The detailing that goes into each and every piece of Supraja’s work speaks volumes about her passion. “My recycled café at the office is named Plata n Platu keeping in mind how we address plate in Hyderabadi Hindi and Telugu. Every month end, we do an organic bazaar at our office garden,” she adds.
Planet Saviour
An inspiration for architects starting out with eco-friendly designs, Supraja feels that even though money is a big concern in today’s world, it is more important to save the earth. Last year for her studio’s silver jubilee celebration, the team organised an open house event.
“We had Lambada women sitting with organic fruits and paper bags to promote the concept of ‘Gifting Health’. So instead of giving away silver or other gift items, we thought of gifting health and knowledge. In one part of our studios, we had put a table full of books and named it ‘Gifting Knowledge’,” says the designer, whose style of design focuses on bringing out the client’s personality.
Seed to sapling
If the optimistic Supraja knew one thing while growing up, it was about her wish to become an entrepreneur. Her following words are but a testament to Supraja’s enterprising nature: “I don’t take or give no for an answer. Don’t give up till it’s actually over. In college, I had spent my time going for exhibitions. I also worked at the potter’s wheel at art workshops. I had converted the maids’ quarters at my mom’s place into my workshop when I was in college. It had a potter’s wheel, cotton loom, carpentry tools, etc.”
Narrating how she started making furniture, Supraja says: “During my college days, I had got a carpenter to make furniture out of leftover wood from work at my mom’s house and polished it with my hands. I still have two stools which I had polished at home. I had also made folding chairs and sold them to my lecturers.”
Coming from a family of people who did very well in academics, there was a lot of pressure on her to study well but Supraja’s passion steadily grew in another sphere. “In my house, I used to move things around and decorate them. My mom is creative and dad is an academician. I got the best of both. Once my friend had asked me to give an interview in a furniture company but I didn’t have any knowledge. I gave an interview and went forward with one month probation. Aoon I realised that this is what I wanted to do in my life,” she says. and continues, “One day I got a call from my cousin saying that his company needed some work to be done. I obliged and everything went uphill from there. The client was happy with the work,” she shares.
The early years
Supraja’s go-getter attitude always worked to her advantage; she did not face many challenges while expanding the company’s reach. “In a consulting business, not much of funding is involved. I have spent my early childhood in different parts of India and that had a huge influence on me. Delhi helped open up and dream big. Progressive upbringing, all thanks to my parents!” she states.
In her initial days of setting up the business, Supraja had to source things from Delhi and Mumbai. “Hyderabad started blooming only after 2000. Thailand is very good for sourcing,” she adds.
Evidently, Supraja has grown by leaps and bounds over the last 26 years and learnt how to handle situations and people ingeniously. But what keeps her going are the unexpected challenges and situations at work that demand unorthodox solutions. “The biggest lessons I have learnt are to manage my own personality, strengths and weaknesses. For our high-end clients, it’s important to retain privacy and not name places from where I source. The aim is to bring in the person’s personality and to tell a story,” reveals Supraja.
