A first look at a new furniture brand which is decidedly Indian without trying too hard

Bhate credits her reinvigorated ability to focus on the essentials to her experience as a resident designer at Vista Alegre Atlantis, Portugal, and the Fabrica Research Centre in Italy. “There were designers from all over the world in Fabrica, who employed cultural references to create furniture that is relevant to daily living and not just aesthetically appealing.” These designers from countries as culturally diverse as France, Korea, Taiwan, Australia, Italy, Ecuador and England are also the minds behind SĀR’s latest range, ‘Here, There’.

The uniqueness of this furniture brand though lies in the way it not just adapts to functionality but also to changing needs. Once you buy a SĀR furniture, you have the freedom to upgrade, expand and downsize the piece as you wish—in parts or as a whole—over the years. “This way, the furniture evolves in your space with time. You don’t have to discard things when you renovate your house,” explains Bhate. “Say, you have a small budget and buy a wooden chair at first. A few years later, you can send it back to us and have it upholstered with Indian fabrics or Danish Sorensen leather, whenever your budget allows for more luxurious fittings. Basically, you can commission a change in size, shape or materials of the furniture in parts or as a whole.”

The ‘Pfaffe’ sofa, designed by Italian designer Georgio Gasco, is one of Bhate’s favourites in the collection. It can be cleverly configured to suit your preference—from an ottoman to a daybed, from a single-seater to a three-seater. A leather quilt or tappetino that serves as an armrest can be detached and used as floor mat.