Leaders

The concept of beauty in our living spaces far outcries any other monetary satisfaction. One may argue, but it’s the beauty in details that serves the purpose of a well-planned home. Payal Shah, a textile designing mogul-turned entrepreneur, has made the best of life to handpick the beauty out of it and deliver it in her works. Below is an excerpt of her journey.

Take Us Through Your Early Education And Priory Industry Experience. What Factors Led You To Undertake The Entrepreneurial Route And Establish The Charcoal Room?

After my schooling in Birla Public School, I finished my under graduation from H. R. College of Commerce, knowing full well that my path lay not in commerce but in design. Two years later I joined Sophia Polytechnic College for a course in art foundation. One year into this course I knew my career goal: Textile designing. I landed a job at Zeba Home even as my graduate course was ongoing; it was fortuitous. I got the opportunity to apprentice with Krsna Mehta; more so, his father Rajan Mehta. I worked with them for a year and half, and then applied for further education in London College of Fashion. Thereafter I was approached by Zeba New York to help set up their flagship store.

Those were my formative years. Later I returned to Bombay and worked for Zeba headquarters, heading the NY store - designing and merchandising department. These were enriching experiences and I got the opportunity to cover almost every division: Designing, Exports, Merchandising, Client interaction and Production.

After this experience, I left and in the next seven years, established the Home Décor division for an export apparel company. After diligently working for other companies to ensure their success, I then began to dream of my own venture. I felt the irrepressible urge to work very hard but now for myself. Thus began The Charcoal Room.

Give Us A Brief Overview Of The Charcoal Room.

The Charcoal Room is a Home Décor Consultation and Styling firm based in Mumbai since 2014. We are a multidisciplinary design firm led by the principal founder Payal Shah. Our creative and technical staff is grouped into teams that follow projects from conception to completion. We are a lean team striving constantly to create stand-out projects with our distinct approach towards design, innovation, detail and above all, customization.

Over the years the Charcoal Room has emerged as a leading full-service Luxury Home Décor and Styling firm. Headquartered in Mumbai, our firm has worked across the length and breadth of India covering week-end getaways, permanent residences, commercial and institutional spaces. Our wide-ranging experience has helped us build a reputation for our bespoke services and an intimate approach towards our clients and their personal styles and preferences.

What Are The Various Interior Design Services That The Charcoal Room Specializes In?

The Charcoal Room provides consultation services to both interior designers and direct clients on high end projects, similar to a landscape or light consultant. The products and services that we render, fall under the bracket of Home Décor Consultant or a Home Stylist. Under Decor, we recommend and style Drapes, Upholstery, Head boards & fabric wall paneling, Bed Ensemble, Dine Linen, and Bath Linen. For the Wallpaper segment, we focus on recommending and designing wall coverings. In carpets we do the same for customized rugs. We also curate artifacts and artworks from world over.

“Over the years the charcoal room has emerged as a leading full-service luxury home décor and styling firm”

Walk Us Through One Of The Most Interesting Projects That You Have Worked On.

A project very close to my heart was in collaboration with ZarirMullan, an acclaimed Interior Designer. This was a 24000 square foot home in New Delhi. The client’s brief was to make his house look uber luxurious. The planning and sourcing for this project took us to unique local artisans as well as the Maison and Object fair in Paris, where we sourced artifacts and international artworks. From the selection of crockery/ cutlery to monograming the bath linen to selection of every coffee table book, no detail was spared. Setting up the entire space was nothing short of a world class project. The cherry on top is predictably special: a satisfied client. This time it was a teary eyed ‘Thank you’ when the client and his family walked into the premises. It was a magical moment. In all honesty, no amount of monetary compensation can compete with the euphoria of a job well done.

Tell Us About Your Expertise As A Designer?

It is difficult to cull what we offer into a neat list, for we put our heart into everything we do; I daresay it is an indefinable quality. Having said that, I will endeav-our to jot a few skill sets: A most important feature of my team is our fundamental approach to a project. We bring integrity into what we do. As a child this was induced very early into my being, and it is deeply embedded in my team as well. This has stood us in good stead. We have built a reputation which has led to us working with some of the top designers and clients in our industry over the decades.

We not only assiduously research global new trends, new brands and new products but also differentiate good and bad trends, brands and products with a keen eye. This ability to discern is a prize attribute of my team and has helped us establish relevance within the industry.

The team at The Charcoal Room diligently works to improve its communication and organizational skills. I personally work on myself to better this every day and strive to lead by example. We ensure that this works in a virtuous cycle and thereby benefits our clients and interior designers as well.

What Would Your Words Of Advice Be To Aspiring Designers And Entrepreneurs?

Identify what you love doing, gain professional expertise in it, and then make it your profession. If you love something so much, you will figure things out. Each investigation will reveal a discovery; each step will be your adventure. Have fun!

Payal Shah, Founder, The Charcoal Room

Her magnetic nature and radiant persona reflect in her design and work ethic, leaving a timeless impression.