What started off as Pratibha M Sahi’s attempt to furnish a house in record time with interesting design elements thrown in, turned into the love of a lifetime.

“About seven years ago, when I went around looking for wall textures, furniture and the right drapes for my house, I realised this was so similar to my first love — fashion designing — and got hooked. Ever since, I have done interiors for my friends, relatives and my store in Sector 21, Omana,” says Sahi, who’s been supplying apparel and purses to stores like Aza, Kalli and Anantam.

Fascinated by colours, fabrics and textures — “anything that’s been aesthetically done up always appeals to me and going by modern houses they have much to drool over” — she shows us around a house in Sector 23, where a drawing room in “straight line concept” greets us.

“The trick is to keep it simple and add just one dramatic touch. Just like on apparel, too many elements spoil the look,” she says, quick to add that it’s also vital that no two rooms look alike.

“The theme should flow through the house but then the treatment of each living space should be different,” she gives us a tip as we eye the long pile of interior design magazines on her bedside.

These, she tells us relax her after a long day’s work. With no formal coaching or first-hand experience, Sahi still hooked scores of appreciating glances at exhibitions and from there on her interest increased.

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