Growing up with a mother like Monica Chawla, someone who has reshaped the design landscape of India, meant that most of what I learnt was from what I saw. She reviewed drawings without looking rushed, paid attention to the smallest detail without ever announcing it and spent many nights working late in silence as I observed and saw that excellence required consistency.

One of the first things I learned from her was respect – for people, process, and time. I watched her treat everyone the same, whether it was a client or a carpenter. She would never cut corners, and even when something seemed ‘good enough’, she would keep at it until it felt right. Such a sense of integrity in your work, and doing it not simply for recognition, but because your name is attached to it, is something I carry with me every day at Essentia Home.

She also showed me what it means to evolve without losing your core. Her style, her voice, her approach to design are unmistakably hers, but never static. She reads, listens, travels, absorbs. That taught me that being rooted doesn’t mean being rigid, but knowing what grounds you, so you can take risks without losing your direction. Working with her now at Essentia Home, I’ve seen upclose how she leads without needing to say much. Her way of setting standards is instinctive and direct; she doesn’t spell it out, but you understand it by being in the room.

In a space where everyone’s quick to speak or make a point, she’s always been the opposite – measured, clear, and focused on the outcome. I’ve learned the most by watching how she handles pressure, deals with people, and refuses to compromise on quality.

 

‘She has shown me that when you build with care, you build something lasting’

Saba Kapoor, Co-founder, Nivasa, on the five things she learned from her mother while growing up

 

 

Some lessons aren’t taught — they’re observed and imbibed silently. My mother’s positive demeanour, her quiet strength and wisdom have been a guiding force for me all through my career.

1. Grace under pressure: No matter what the crisis, my mother is always calm and composed. She believes every problem has a solution if approached with clarity, patience and heart. That mindset has been invaluable in design — where challenges are constant and the answer often lies in stillness.

2. Adapting with ease: Not only did she support my father to make the bold shift from Chartered Accountant to furniture designer, she became his collaborator in every sense. She not only learned the craft, but embraced it wholeheartedly, proving that curiosity and willingness can be as powerful as formal training.

3. Positivity nurtures connections: Her warmth is infectious – always smiling and keenly listening, she liaisons with people effortlessly. It’s something I try to bring into every project and client interaction. A positive environment nurtures creativity, trust and collaboration.

4. Keeping it personal: Design becomes rich when imbued with a personal touch. My mother never believed in cookie-cutter solutions. Whether at home or at work, she always found a way to add soul— to infuse emotion, story or memory into the details. That approach continues to shape my design philosophy.

5. Family, the foundation: Even now, as she mentors a young team and keeps pace with ever-evolving design trends, her approach remains rooted in creating a sense of family. She has shown me that when you build with care, you build something lasting.

 ‘She inspired me to understand how art connects with emotion’

Shuchita Sancheti Garg, Founder and Creative Director, Vyom By Shuchita, on how her mother taught her to view every space as a living artwork and stay curious

 

 

My creative journey is inseparable from the roots of my family and, in particular, from the quiet yet profound influence of my mother. Growing up in a family that has been part of the textile industry for seven generations, I was immersed in colors, patterns, and craftsmanship from a young age. While my father’s entrepreneurial spirit shaped the expansion of Jaipur Saree Kendra to Vasansi Jaipur, it was my mother’s gentle encouragement that nurtured the artist in me.

As a child, I spent countless hours in my father’s textile unit, playing with wooden printing blocks and watching vibrant dyes breathe life into fabric. But it was my mother who recognised my fascination early on and gave me the freedom to experiment. She never rushed me; instead, she allowed me to lose myself in colours and textures. Whether I was printing scarves or simply doodling, she valued these small explorations as meaningful acts of expression. Her patience and belief in the importance of artistic play gave me confidence before I even knew what design truly meant.

My mother’s calm demeanor and love for the handmade also taught me to appreciate details and slow craftsmanship. She inspired me to look beyond surface beauty and understand how art connects with emotion. Even today, when I paint or create, I return to the meditative quietude she embodied in her everyday life.

As I pursued formal education at Parsons and evolved into an interior designer, I carried forward these lessons — to view every space as a living artwork and to stay curious. Through my practice with vVyom, I continue to channel the creative freedom and sensitivity my mother nurtured in me, blending art, craft, and thoughtful design into spaces that touch lives meaningfully. – editor@nrifocus.com