The Sourcebook: Insider design finds with Hardik Shah

Gujarat’s design identity is a masterful dialogue between a vivid material heritage, and deeply intuitive and climate responsive building traditions. As a landscape, it has been a living archive of Indian craftsmanship right from its traditional textiles to the time-honoured furniture making techniques. Hardik Shah’s design philosophy perfectly embodies Gujarat’s design ethos, but through the selective lens of Lagom, a Swedish philosophy that translates to ‘just the right amount’. In a region which is defined by its artistic visual exuberance, Hardik brings in a quiet balance by practicing restraint and material honesty, seamlessly marrying modernism with subtle cultural elements like reclaimed antique doors, traditional swings or textile art like Mata ni Pachedi. “We are less interested in objects that demand attention and more interested in those that quietly gain meaning through use and time.” says Hardik.

Beautiful Homes: What are some of your go-to studios (textile, furniture, décor etc.) in Surat or anywhere in Gujarat, where you know that you will most definitely find something that catches your eye?

Hardik Shah: There isn't one particular studio that we rely on exclusively. Different projects lead us to different makers and discoveries. That said, for décor and objects, we often find ourselves returning to Studio Champa in Ahmedabad. For bespoke artwork, we enjoy collaborating with Nehal Desai Studio and Kruti Sheta-Patel. For furniture, A Cube Inc. in Ahmedabad is one of the studios whose work resonates with us.

BH: Which are some local studios that you source furniture from?

HS: A Cube Inc. in Ahmedabad and Tectona Grandis Furniture are among the studios we have sourced furniture from over the years.

BH: Where do you source artifacts, reclaimed goods and vintage furniture?

HS: We enjoy exploring local markets as much as established stores. Jain Handicrafts, along with the Sunday flea markets along the Tapi and Sabarmati riverfronts, have often yielded unexpected finds.

BH: Are there any artists on your wishlist with whom you wish to collaborate in the future?

HS: Sachin Samson from Kerala and Bansuri Chokshi from Ahmedabad are two artists whose work we deeply admire and would love to collaborate with in the future.

BH: One new and emerging brand/studio recommendation from Surat or anywhere in Gujarat?

HS: Nehal Desai Studio is doing interesting work and is a practice worth watching.

BH: Do you also look to other regions of India for sourcing any specific categories or objects?

HS: Absolutely. Inspiration and resonance are not bound by geography. We often look beyond Gujarat when a maker's philosophy aligns with ours. One example is Tribolt, whose furniture embodies a balance of craftsmanship, material honesty and contemporary thinking.