The Ideal Home and Garden August 2019 | 107
Feature
at odd nooks and corners, representing anarchy.
The designs transcend visual sensibility since they
are created with a combination of “form, function
and aesthetic.” The key element to the designs are
that they are mostly DIYs, assembled, refurbished,
thereby saving lump-sum of money you’d spend
on interiors with ‘just the good looks.’ Koval
specifies that aesthetics and utility are not mutually
exclusive. In fact, she lets out an interesting secret
- curios for display are found in day-to-day articles.
Another significant aspect to Koval’s designing
philosophy is the ecological and economical
consciousness. She shares, “I cannot bring myself
to buy something expensive and mass produced, if
I can just create it or salvage it myself and add a bit
of myself to the piece.”
Among the many curios she has hoarded, her
love for fabrics is palpable. The interesting solid
curtains, new and old upholstered reading chairs,
brightly coloured rugs, printed cushions are all
placed in an orchestrated manner to disseminate
a warm vibe. Her love for natural light, and green
spaces also contribute to the overall simplicity and
cost-cutting interiors. She credits the architect
of her office, Kavita Singh for turning a barren,
decrepit spot to a vibrant workspace. “The second
floor of my office is 2,000 sqft of plants. I chose
glass walls instead of concrete for cabins to keep
it open and airy. I let functionality dictate how
the rest was designed.”
Koval’s favourite and reliable markets for her
beloved fabrics, furniture and artefacts include,
Wholesale Market at MG Road in Delhi, Artisan
Markets, Amar Colony for colourful furniture,
Hauz Qazi for ceramics. She points out that
her furniture and design are reused, repainted,
reupholstered and refigure at different locations
to keep the monotony at bay. Her love for wood,
fabric, plants and books had driven her to
assemble a shelf that cost less than `1,300. This
reflects her conscious effort at creativity that is
conducive to both her budget and philosophy.
With a smile she says, “I think setting up a space
is like telling a story, about who you are, what
has shaped you and what you think about. I
tell stories using the work I do, and the things
I write, and the spaces I design. (You) work
backwards (from an object of use to an object of
muse) to place it and make it in a way that goes
well with the aesthetic you want. I love adding
green to my spaces - I like to garden and I find it
very therapeutic!” TIHG