# Essajees Atelier: Best Interior Designer in India Choosing an interior designer for a luxury residence, hospitality space, or commercial property is an important decision. A premium interior is not created simply by adding expensive furniture or decorative finishes. It requires thoughtful planning, strong design direction, material expertise, attention to detail, and careful execution. For clients exploring the best interior designers in India, Essajees Atelier stands out as an established design practice with experience across residential, commercial, hospitality, and other interior projects. Founded in 2014, the studio has developed a portfolio spanning multiple Indian cities while maintaining a focus on personalised spaces. But what makes a design studio suitable for a luxury project? And what should clients consider before choosing one? Here's a closer look at Essajees Atelier, its approach, services, experience, and portfolio. **Who Is Essajees Atelier?** Essajees Atelier is a luxury interior design company established in 2014 by Sarah Sham, who serves as its Principal Designer. According to the firm's official website, the studio has completed more than 130 interior design projects and has over 600,000 sq. ft. of commercial and residential space currently under construction. The company also states that its work extends across 11 cities and that its team includes 60 members. Its multidisciplinary team includes architects and interior designers who work on projects from the initial concept through completion. This combination of design expertise, project experience, and multidisciplinary collaboration is particularly relevant for clients looking for a complete interior design solution rather than assistance with individual decorative elements. **What Makes Essajees Atelier Different?** A luxury design studio needs more than a recognisable visual style. Every project has its own architecture, location, requirements, lifestyle considerations, and functional challenges. Essajees Atelier describes its approach as creating projects from scratch rather than applying one standard formula. The company states that each project is treated as a new canvas and that its design process is shaped around the individual client and space. This philosophy allows different projects in the portfolio to have distinct personalities. **Personalised Design** Personalisation is central to a high-end interior. A residence should reflect how its occupants live, while a restaurant, office, or hospitality property needs to respond to its specific users and purpose. The design process can therefore involve understanding: Lifestyle and daily routines Functional requirements Architectural characteristics Preferred materials Colour and texture preferences Storage requirements Lighting needs Furniture requirements Overall atmosphere Instead of designing a space around a predetermined trend, this approach helps create an environment that feels connected to its users. **Attention to Materials and Details** Materials have a major influence on the appearance and atmosphere of an interior. Stone, wood, metal, glass, textiles, finishes, and custom furniture can be combined to establish depth and character. However, material selection is not only about choosing visually impressive products. The designer also needs to consider how different materials work together, how they respond to the space, and how they support the intended design concept. This attention to detail can be seen throughout Essajees Atelier's project portfolio, where different combinations of materials, lighting, furniture, and architectural elements are used to create individual design identities. **Services Offered by Essajees Atelier** A complete interior design project can involve many stages, from the initial concept to the final styling. Essajees Atelier describes its services as including: Design consultation and conceptualisation Architectural planning Bespoke furniture design Material selection and sourcing Lighting design Complete project execution Post-installation styling This end-to-end approach can be valuable for clients who want one design team to coordinate multiple aspects of the project. **Design Consultation and Concept Development** The initial stage establishes the direction of the project. Designers need to understand the client's requirements, study the property, identify opportunities, and develop an overall concept. The concept then becomes a framework for decisions about space planning, materials, furniture, lighting, colours, and decorative elements. **Architectural Planning** Interior design and architecture can influence one another significantly. Changes to layouts, walls, circulation, lighting, services, and other architectural elements can affect the overall interior experience. Having architectural planning integrated into the design process can help create better coordination between the structure and interior environment. **Bespoke Furniture** Custom furniture can help designers address unusual dimensions, specific functional requirements, and individual aesthetic preferences. It also provides an opportunity to create pieces that are designed specifically for a particular space rather than relying entirely on standard products. **Material Selection and Sourcing** The right materials need to work with the design concept while also considering practical requirements such as durability, maintenance, scale, and installation. A structured material-selection process can help create consistency throughout the project. **Lighting Design** Lighting influences how materials, colours, furniture, and architectural details are perceived. It can also help establish different moods and functional zones within the same space. For luxury interiors, lighting therefore needs to be considered as part of the design rather than treated as an afterthought. **Project Execution and Styling** A finished interior depends on how accurately the design is translated into the physical space. Execution involves coordination between different teams and specialists, while styling brings together furniture, artwork, accessories, textiles, and other finishing elements. **Essajees Atelier's Luxury Interior Design Portfolio** One of the strongest ways to evaluate a design studio is by looking at completed work. Essajees Atelier's portfolio covers multiple categories and cities, including residential, hospitality, restaurant, office, and commercial projects. **Residential Projects** Residential work in the portfolio includes projects across Mumbai, Kolkata, Hyderabad, Delhi, Pune, and other locations. Examples include: Sea-Facing Sanctuary Duplex in Mumbai Bagri Residence Merlin Residence Celica Home A Burst of Colour Indigenous Charm These projects demonstrate how the studio adapts its approach to different property types, sizes, locations, and client requirements. **Hospitality and Restaurant Projects** The portfolio also includes hospitality and restaurant projects such as Koko Restaurant, RU, Fountain Sizzlers, Otoki, and Foo - Palladium. Restaurant interiors require a different approach from residential spaces because the design needs to consider customer movement, seating arrangements, atmosphere, operational requirements, lighting, and brand identity. Essajees Atelier's portfolio demonstrates experience across these different requirements. **Commercial and Office Projects** The studio also works on commercial environments. One example is the Essajees Atelier headquarters in Mumbai. The official project page identifies it as a 4,000 sq. ft. office project completed in 2024. The existing lawyer's office was demolished and rebuilt as an open studio designed around the growth of the design team. This project illustrates how commercial interiors can be designed around both spatial requirements and the way a team works. **Essajees Atelier in Mumbai** Mumbai is one of the key locations represented in Essajees Atelier's portfolio. The studio's Mumbai work covers residential, office, hospitality, and commercial spaces. Its official Mumbai page describes services ranging from conceptualisation and architectural planning to furniture, materials, lighting, execution, and styling. For clients searching for a [luxury interior designer in Mumbai](https://www.essajeesatelier.com/interior-designers-in-mumbai/), reviewing relevant completed projects can provide a better understanding of the firm's capabilities than relying on general claims. The portfolio includes projects such as the Sea-Facing Sanctuary, Duplex in Mumbai, Essajees Atelier headquarters, EON, and 33 South Bombay. **Essajees Atelier in Kolkata** The firm's Kolkata portfolio includes several residential projects, demonstrating experience with different scales and design directions. Projects include Merlin Residence, a 6,000 sq. ft. home; Celica Home, a 5,000 sq. ft. duplex; and A Burst of Colour, a 2,000 sq. ft. apartment. For people researching luxury interior designers in Kolkata, these completed projects provide useful examples of how the studio approaches residential interiors in the city. **Essajees Atelier in Hyderabad** Hyderabad is another location represented in the studio's portfolio. Projects include Koko Restaurant, RU, and Indigenous Charm. Indigenous Charm involved remodelling an older bungalow in Srinagar Colony into a contemporary living environment, according to the firm's project portfolio. This variety demonstrates that the studio's portfolio is not limited to one type of property or one design aesthetic. **Sarah Sham: Principal Designer of Essajees Atelier** Sarah Sham founded Essajees Atelier in 2014 and is the firm's Principal Designer. According to the company's official profile, her educational background includes Art History from Duke and Oxford University, Business Administration from NYU Stern, and Interior Design from Rachna Sansad Mumbai. Her multidisciplinary educational background brings together design, art, and business perspectives, which are relevant to managing complex interior projects. The company also states that she has received recognition through design awards and industry platforms. For stronger claims about specific awards or external recognition, clients should refer to the relevant award or publication independently. **How to Evaluate a Luxury Interior Designer** Calling a studio “the best” is ultimately subjective. The right designer depends on the individual project. Before making a decision, clients should consider several factors. **Review the Portfolio** Look for completed projects that are relevant to your property type and scale. **Understand the Process** Ask how the studio handles concept development, drawings, materials, execution, communication, and final styling. **Check the Scope** Understand exactly what services are included and which elements need to be managed separately. **Discuss Your Expectations** A designer should understand your lifestyle, functional requirements, aesthetic preferences, and priorities before proposing a design direction. **Evaluate Communication** Clear communication is essential when multiple decisions and professionals are involved. **Consider Long-Term Functionality** Luxury should not come at the expense of comfort or usability. Materials, furniture, lighting, circulation, storage, and maintenance should all work together. **Why Choose an Experienced Luxury Interior Design Company?** Experience can be valuable when a project involves multiple teams, detailed customisation, unusual materials, architectural changes, or complex execution. An experienced firm may already have established processes for coordinating design decisions, consultants, suppliers, craftsmen, and execution teams. However, experience should always be evaluated alongside project relevance. A firm with many completed projects may not automatically be the best choice for every type of property. The most suitable designer is the one whose experience, design approach, communication style, and capabilities align with the project's requirements. **Final Thoughts** Essajees Atelier has built its practice around luxury interior design, with a portfolio spanning residential, hospitality, commercial, and office environments. Since its establishment in 2014, the firm says it has completed more than 130 projects and expanded its work across 11 cities. Its portfolio across Mumbai, Kolkata, Hyderabad, and other Indian cities provides prospective clients with examples of different project types and design approaches. For anyone comparing the [best interior designers in India](https://www.essajeesatelier.com/), the most important step is to look beyond a title or ranking. Examine the portfolio, understand the process, review the services, and determine whether the designer can translate your requirements into a space that is functional, personal, and visually refined. For clients seeking a design studio with an established luxury portfolio and an end-to-end approach, Essajees Atelier offers a strong option worth considering.