A curation by The Architect’s Diary that spotlights designers across the spectrum of luxury. Ranging from intimate homes and compact studios to distinctive commercial spaces. With each edition, we explore how luxury takes on different meanings across India’s diverse geographies. Defined by experience rather than extravagance, to Bengaluru, where it emerges through a refined sensitivity to materiality and narrative. Luxury shifts as the cultural context does.
Yellow Brick Road Designs is an emerging voice in India’s luxury design landscape. Founded by architect Nidhi Vaish, an alumna of the School of Planning and Architecture, Delhi. The studio draws inspiration from her international work experience and her deep-rooted understanding of contemporary Indian living. The translation of a homeowner’s emotional landscape into a spatial experience is central to Nidhi’s approach. Every project is begun with fragments of stories, cultural nuances, and unspoken desires. Thoughtful detailing is employed in her work; art is selected for its technique and intent. Handcrafted textiles and carpets are chosen to reflect the maker’s devotion.
At Studio-in-dtale, extravagance is not used to define luxury in interior design. Instead, it is shaped through intention, sensitivity, and refinement. For the studio, true luxury begins with details: the subtle curve of a custom handle, the precision of joinery. And the quiet elegance of perfectly aligned proportions. These nuances create a sense of harmony that feels effortless yet deeply considered. Ultimately, rich textures further elevate this experience. The interplay between polished and matte, soft and structured, and warm and cool allows a space to feel layered and immersive.
Textures invite touch, evoke emotion, and give each surface a story of its own. Material exploration lies at the heart of the studio’s process. They believe every material carries an inherent character. Stone with its natural veining, wood with its unique grain, and metals that age gracefully. By experimenting with combinations and finishes, the studio creates environments that are both contemporary and timeless.
Ankita’s design practice is grounded in the creation of environments that are intended to feel intentional, soulful, and deeply personal. Additionally, it is believed by her that luxury is not defined by extravagance, but by experience. For her, luxury is the quiet confidence of good design, thoughtful proportions, handcrafted details, natural materials, and a sense of harmony that elevates everyday living.
Working within the Indian context, her interpretation of luxury draws heavily from craft traditions and the stories embedded in them. She aims to blend contemporary aesthetics with artisanal excellence, allowing every space to feel rooted yet refined. Each project becomes a dialogue between comfort, culture, and modern functionality.
Established in 2010, Design DNA is a multidisciplinary architecture, interior design, and turnkey execution firm specializing in high-quality residential interiors. What began as a small team of three architects has evolved into a robust practice with over 15 architects and designers working across offices in Bangalore, Chennai, and Hyderabad. However, with a portfolio of more than 300 completed residential, commercial, hospitality, and retail projects.
Their approach begins with understanding each client’s personality, aesthetic sensibilities, and lifestyle, essentially uncovering what truly matters to them. This forms the foundation of their creative process, allowing them to craft design solutions that authentically reflect the people who inhabit them.
IDA is a multidisciplinary design practice founded by Shanawas Moidu and Somya Sharma, whose shared philosophy shapes the studio’s identity. Moreover, their vision places equal emphasis on artistic sensitivity and functional intelligence, thereby creating environments that are not only emotionally grounding but also visually refined. With Divya Vernenkar leading the India office and principal designer Evilin Reji guiding the creative direction, IDA brings diverse perspectives together under a unified design ethos.
Each project begins with an exploration of color, texture, and spatial rhythm, enabling the team to craft interiors that balance softness with structure and contemporary elegance with cultural relevance. At the core of Shanawas and Somya’s approach is the belief that true luxury emerges from restraint, craftsmanship, and purposeful storytelling. IDA’s work reflects a commitment to authenticity and the thoughtful shaping of everyday experiences, resulting in spaces that feel calm, modern, and deeply meaningful.
Based in Kolkata, Devyani’s practice is shaped by a clear design intention and understated luxury expressed through thoughtful planning and material mastery. She crafts each space with a meticulous understanding of proportion and believes that every detail, every finish, and every surface contributes to a luxurious spirit and a distinct expression. Additionally, she explains that defining luxury is about transforming space into an experience, one that is thoughtfully curated with refinement and intention, and ultimately elevated by a touch of the extraordinary.
Anand & Ankit’s design practice is built on a simple yet powerful belief that luxury is an experience, not an accessory. Therefore, it is the instant transformation someone feels when they step into a space we’ve designed, the sense of calmness, confidence, and comfort that only thoughtfully crafted environments can create. He further explains, “We design for the moment a room stops being a room and becomes a feeling.”
Each project begins with careful observation: how a client moves through a space, what brings them comfort, and what kind of atmosphere they gravitate toward. Luxury, to them, is an experience. Furthermore, it’s the quiet moment of calm when you cross the threshold. It’s the warmth of natural materials, the softness of light, the balance of proportion, and the ease of moving through a thoughtfully planned space.
Rajesh’s Mulev design practice is rooted in the belief that true luxury is not a display; it is a feeling. It does not appear suddenly; rather, it emerges quietly through clarity, intention, and an uncompromising respect for craftsmanship. For the studio, luxury is the art of creating spaces that breathe with purpose.
It is the calm of well-balanced volumes, the richness of honest materials, and the comfort of environments that respond intuitively to the people who inhabit them. Similarly, they focus on designing experiences rather than objects, ensuring every detail, visible or invisible, adds value, meaning, and longevity. Although their portfolio encompasses residences, hospitality, workplaces, and lifestyle spaces, nevertheless, their philosophy remains unwavering design must elevate daily living.
The studio’s design practice is driven by the belief that luxury is not defined by excess, but by experience, emotion, and timeless refinement. Shaped by a deep understanding of the client’s lifestyle, aspirations, and the inherent character of the space. For the studio, true luxury lies in thoughtful planning, refined detailing, and a balance between aesthetics and functionality. By seamlessly blending global design sensibilities with the richness of Indian craftsmanship, the studio creates spaces that feel contemporary yet deeply rooted; as a result, the interiors become meaningful, enduring, and beautifully lived in.
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