A New Delhi studio channels a warm, lived-in vibe

It was a charming old-world residence, a little worse for wear but brimming with history and personality—and perfect for her studio. “It’s a small courtyard house, one of those post-independent houses that came up where joint families would stay. It had a small central courtyard with rooms all around,” says Dogra. The founder of the eponymous multidisciplinary design studio speaks to Beautiful Homes about what came next—doing up the space just the way she wanted.

Beautiful Homes (BH): What inspired the design of this studio?

Shivani Dogra (SD): We’ve been working on this space for a while, and I’m so glad it has finally come together. The idea was to create a space that reflects both functionality and calmness. I wanted natural light, earthy tones and a lot of tactile materials—wood, linen, stone. I wanted it to feel welcoming but also stimulate creativity.

BH: While you were doing it up, did you consciously keep the traditional elements to balance out the contemporary aesthetic?

SD: I think it’s important to retain a sense of heritage in design. So, you’ll see elements from Indian crafts and colonial architecture woven into the more modern layout.

BH: How much did the sustainability factor come into play while doing up this studio?

SD: We reused a lot of old materials—wood from a demolished site, handmade tiles from a local artisan, even the furniture is either vintage or repurposed. It’s not just about being eco-friendly, but also about celebrating craftsmanship.

BH: What kind of vibe did you want for the studio and were there specific design decisions you took to make that happen?

SD: I think design should have a sense of memory. When you walk in, you should feel something familiar, even if it’s your first time. It’s about making people feel at ease the moment they walk in. We used a lot of curved forms, soft lighting and layered textures to achieve that.

BH: Do you feel that your personal style has changed since you first started working in interior design?

SD: I think so. When I started, I used to focus on getting everything to look perfect, symmetrical, polished. But over the years, I’ve become more comfortable with imperfections. I think spaces feel more human that way. There’s a kind of warmth in the imperfections. Like, a handwoven rug that’s not completely uniform—it has character. Or a wall that shows a bit of wear—it tells a story. I’ve started to really appreciate those details.

BH: The studio has a sort of lived-in feeling to it, in a good way, like the little marks and textures in the walls. Was that intentional? 

SD: That’s exactly what we were going for. We didn’t want to cover everything up. We actually used lime plaster finish that lets the surface breathe and change over time. So, you will see subtle shifts in colour and texture as the light moves.

BH: How do you see this studio evolving? Do you expect to make changes as you keep working here?

SD: Absolutely. I see it as a living space, really. It’s going to change with the seasons, with the kind of work we are doing, even with the people who come in and collaborate with us. I think spaces should adapt. And I don’t believe in finishing a space completely. There should always be room to add, remove or shift things. It keeps the energy moving. It is like a painting that keeps getting small strokes added over time. Some might stay, some might get painted over. But it keeps growing.

BH: What’s the one piece of advice you have for anyone designing their own workspace?

SD: I’d say make it deeply personal. Don’t just follow trends or what looks good on Instagram. Think about what makes you feel calm, or focused, or inspired. It could be a scent, a colour, a piece of fabric—whatever it is, build around that.

Image courtesy, Shivani Dogra