Vinanti Chauhan, NCIDQ
CO-FOUNDER, PRINCIPAL DESIGNER
about me
I am an interior designer, and that comes from being a dreamer, a storyteller, an intuitive person. Passion for my work and authenticity in my interactions with people are core values that drive me and my work. I see design as a way of life. To me design is an art of making place and telling stories through the built environment. At the same time it is also a science of problem solving.
I love travel. My stories and my inspirations come from my extensive travels while growing up in India. Whether it was the jungle safari of Kanha, or the mountain carved sanctuaries of the famous Ajanta caves, or the shikaras (house boats) of Srinagar, or the quaint mall road in Simla, the palatial five star hotels of Jaipur, or the little lodge on the hills of Gangtok, or the trolley ride over the tea gardens of Darjeeling…. these places inspired me subconsciously as I absorbed every bit of the majestic beauty of nature and the architectural feats of humans. I looked for stories in all of these and that’s why these places are forever etched in my memory and are an inseparable influence on my designs.
Growing up as the daughter of an equally passionate hotelier/restaurateur, I was always surrounded by contractors, furniture and mill work craftsmen, as we constantly updated and renovated our hotel and restaurant. I was weirdly obsessed with their work, their skill, and most of all their ability to create whatever one could imagine. Ever since then, I have been following the works of architects and designers around the world, their styles, the cultural nuances in their work, and their incredible knack of transforming spaces into places.
When I moved to the United States, the diverse culture and the opportunities I encountered, made me look at things from a different perspective. I learned to be comfortable outside my comfort zone. Embracing differences became a norm for me and I hold on to this idea as I design for a variety of people.
credentials
I have a Bachelor’s in Interior Design from the University of Kentucky College of Design. It’s a CIDA accredited interior design program leading up to a four year degree.
I am an NCIDQ certified Interior Designer. While this certification isn’t required in the state of Michigan for interior design practice, I acquired it due to my education from an accredited interior design school and my work experience as a commercial interior designer for two years. Both of these factors qualified me to take the rigorous three part NCIDQ examination and acquire the license and title.
What does this mean for my clients? If the project involves selecting building and finish materials, drawing plans for remodeling or new construction, dictating space flow and anything else beyond basic décor selection, the NCIDQ qualification ensures that you are working with a designer professionally trained to handle these. I have an understanding of building codes to meet fire, safety and the Americans With Disabilities Act requirements. I also have a thorough understanding of material quality standards, and sustainability. I am trained to design in a human-centric manner, always keeping the health, safety, and welfare of people at the forefront and always considering the complex physical, mental, and emotional needs of people.
More info about NCIDQ is here:
Interior Designers – Educated Professionals
What Does An Interior Designer Do?
My work experience is in commercial interior design, designing office spaces and retail environments for two renowned retail corporations. After working for five years in the commercial arena, I decided to transition into interior design entrepreneurship, designing for residential clients and small businesses. And that is the beginning of my dream, my design lab, my studio – HUES & SCAPES.
design philosophy
Spaces are blank, or not so blank, canvases. Places have stories and meaning. I see design as a balance of art and function used to create meaningful places. To me details make design more meaningful, well crafted and curated. I strive to design in context of time, place and culture – acknowledging history while looking towards the future. It is critical for me to understand my clients’ personality and have room for conversation so I can bring out their unique personality in my designs. If my clients are not happy with the end result, my personal goals remain unfulfilled.
design style
My personal style is influenced by architecture and nature. I imagine spaces in 3D and so my design solutions are inspired and driven by architecture, art and sculpture. I tend to create dimensional and layered architectural details as part of my design process.
As a retail designer, I dabbled into graphic design, and so graphic compositions tend to influence my interior spaces. I have a deep love for color and while I don’t combine too many colors, I find myself gravitating to one or two vibrant colors used within a neutral palette.
While I love to blend different styles, modern is the one style that gets the process going for me. To me modern is a continuum that encompasses different styles done in the most timeless and fresh manner. It may range from minimal, to warm & approachable, to comfortable, to maximal or eclectic. It can pick up hints of different cultures and styles. One of my favorites is Parisian modern. I love eclectic spaces that tell a story while maintaining a modern aesthetic. It’s difficult to give a name to my personal design style but you can see it throughout the design of my interior spaces, my graphics and my brand story.
Vinanti completely transformed our home. We bought a 2-story home in Decatur, which was outdated in appearance. It did consist of an open floor plan for dining and living areas. She transformed both our dining and living areas into an eclectic abode where we love to spend time and entertain our loved ones. She proposed a giant wall mirror to open up the dining space, and incorporated round dining and breakfast tables that is really doing justice to the space we have and maintaining continuum.
She not only added architectural details by incorporating custom cabinetry in both rooms, but also redesigned our fireplace with the right proportions in mind, and custom made concrete tile. She then continued to amaze us with the furnishings that she selected to fill the space.
Our project is the perfect representation of Vinanti’s design capabilities. Each and every corner has her personal touch and design that incorporates our style, both mine and my wife’s, which is not easy to pull. She made us feel supported through every step of the process, which was lengthy, but so worth it! Our home would not have turned out so incredible without trusting her creative instincts, and taking risks in the space. A massive thank you to Vinanti for this amazing place. We are working with her on our next project and highly recommend her.
We were very reluctant to hire an interior designer to remodel our living room. We thought we could do it all on our own. Vinanti came into the picture and made us feel comfortable about the whole process. She is easy to talk to and answers all questions with great patience.
Her creative streak completely changed our perspective and we went with her vision of adding architectural details to enhance our space. It was a game changer and we loved the outcome. I highly recommend Vinanti to my friends.
