The Alimond Show

Aditi Bangad Designer & Founder of Vishok Interiors

• Alimond Studio

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Have you ever envisioned the perfect living space, only to be overwhelmed by the thought of bringing it to life? Our guest this week, a former IT Professional by education background who got into interior designing purely by passion. Aditi offers a peek into the alchemy of crafting homes that resonate with the soul. With an astute eye for blending styles from glam to farmhouse modern, she's not just designing spaces; she's curating experiences that mirror each client's essence. Through a meticulous process of consultation, design, and setup, she conjures up interiors that aren't just visually striking but also deeply personal, employing innovative tools like clickable shopping lists and mood boards. Her journey from capturing moments through the lens to setting the stage for life's stories to unfold in beautifully arranged rooms is nothing short of inspiring.

The tapestry of our conversation is rich with threads from her childhood in India, woven with stories of equality and progression that influenced her philosophy in parenting and business. It's a testament to how values can shape visions, both in life and in the spaces we inhabit. As for the future, it's clear that the interior design landscape is on the cusp of a renaissance, propelled by our collective yearning for sanctuary-like homes in a post-pandemic world. Tune in for a heartfelt dialogue that traverses continents and creative realms, delivering sage advice for working with designers and a glimpse at the burgeoning prospects of interior design, an industry that promises to help us all find our place in a world that's constantly redefining the meaning of home.

Speaker 1:

started it in 2019. Before that, you know, there were friends and acquaintances who were who had been asking me to, you know, do their houses and decor, because they just love my style and design.

Speaker 2:

So how would you explain your style and design Like if you could?

Speaker 1:

know my style and design would be like, dependent on what the client wants. It's completely client centric. I can create like glam, I can create vintage glam, I can create simple, modern, rustic, farmhouse modern, anything. But I think if you, if there are clients who do tell me that, okay, this is on, you do what you want. So I do add a lot of modern features with some glam elements, especially if it's a formal living or a family room.

Speaker 2:

And how did you learn to like, like? People will come to me and they're like oh, because you're a photographer, I'm sure you know how to like, design the space and like no, it's like its own. You know arts, its own, I you have to have. So how did you learn how to do it?

Speaker 1:

I think for me it was mainly about, you know, looking at how to create that place of comfort and then adding decor items on top of it. So I think in every room or every space that I do or I take as a project, I just try to see what the client is looking for in terms of functionality. See, if it's a family room, it's like a lounging place for the family and kids and also hosting and entertaining guests. So it should be fully functional, but adding some more decor items and some nice, cool looking furniture which is good looking and it creates the right vibe. So I think this is how I mainly design each and every thing.

Speaker 2:

So your process that you have it's not just like a boom, it is a process. Tell me a little bit about your process of interior design and decor.

Speaker 1:

So our process is pretty, I would say, curated per client and it's a very customized package and it's one of its kind. That's what our clients tell us Because it's a very organic process that I started with. So it has three phases consultation, design and setup Consultation the usual I visit the client in person. I look at the architectural features, I listen to their challenges, I get all the inputs about the lifestyles, their goal, the budget, and when I have the whole perspective of what the client how do they do life, what is their liking, what are their colors, what do they like in patterns and textures. After I get all of that, that's when we I create like a theme for them and that theme will be like a combination of the furniture floor plan in a particular room the colors, the accent walls, draperies, chandeliers, everything together. So that's consultation phase, where I give them all the inputs and it's a verbal consultation session, so there's no deliverable out of it.

Speaker 1:

Once we are set with this and we get a base out of this, that's when the design phase starts. That's in the second phase. Design phase is where we do the concept development, we create the mood boards, we create the furniture layout plan and we create a fully clickable shopping list. I think that's the unique most feature which Vashok Interior provides. We create all of these. This is a part of concept development. Then we present it to the clients so that it's like a design presentation and then, based on the client's feedback what they like about it, what they want to do, some changes or revisions then we do design refinement. Once all of this is done, the third phase is install or set up phase. Initially, styling of services and staging. So this is like a step by step process and the design phase, which has the three deliverables, which is shopping list, mood board and the furniture layout plan. That's, I think, one of the favorites that our clients are really a fan of.

Speaker 2:

So, in terms of how you got started, you said that it was basically friends who were asking is that the basis of it.

Speaker 1:

Yeah, so it started like that. I mean, we were in a townhouse then maybe 2014, 2015,. And then friends and family who ever visited our small townhouse they really loved the decor and they asked us, like, can you just stick our whole house and do it? So at that point, because my kids were very young, I thought I would do it just room by room. So I did that for a few friends and then, I think, when pandemic hit, that's when I really got some time in my hand which I thought let me put it to good use and then those friends kept asking that we bought new house. Can you please come and do the whole house and then do it like a full on project? That's when the whole idea came into the implementation form.

Speaker 2:

Yeah, so basically, your house was your showroom. Yes, that is how it started. And then they're like so inspired with this all they're like can you please see this here? Yes, amazing, tell me about where you are today with your business.

Speaker 1:

So I think I'm in a very good space. We have a set you know process that we follow. We have set clients and most of my new clients they come from referrals of my ex-clients, which just tells me that I've done something right. And also my clients keep coming. They keep coming like if I've done their main level and second level, they would come to me After six months. Adi, you want to do our basement? Do you have time on your schedule, things like that? So right now I think it's a full you know booked. I would say it's a full scheduled calendar that I have right now.

Speaker 2:

What a great way to grow your business If it can stay full from just referrals like that's amazing. Yes.

Speaker 1:

I agree.

Speaker 2:

They already know a little bit about your process because their friends already told them a little bit about it. You don't have to worry about it. Like getting clients that you have to like start from the ground up. They're like I've seen so-and-so's house, I loved it and that's why I'm coming to you.

Speaker 1:

And I think most of them they are coming because they have visited my ex-client's house. As soon as they enter they're like, oh my God, who did this, who did that? And that's how they just get my number and then they call me that okay, we went to the so-and-so person's house and we love the family room. We want replica Copy-paste. And I tell them I can't do replica, that would not be fair. But yes, and that's how it comes.

Speaker 2:

It'll be inspired by yes, absolutely, tell me a little bit about how long have you been in the Northern Virginia area? Since 2010. Okay, so you've been here for quite a while. Yeah, and how about before?

Speaker 1:

that. So I came to US in 2008. Okay, so we just moved to Atlanta where we had my husband had a project, and then we moved for the second project to DCM. Since then, we've never been able to leave. We love this area. We love this whole vibe around Virginia. What do you love about it? I think the best thing is I love the weather. By the way, I love the being close to Washington DC, where you get these nice big. Of course, you can see White House and all the museums et cetera. But because we live in the suburban area, so it's like a good combination. When you want to get that city life, you go there and then you can be in the suburban area, which is like more peaceful and just a little more paced out.

Speaker 1:

And then you can go west and you get into the hills and the hills yes, yes, you have the best of both, I think, and then we have a good circle here as well. You're just blessed to have good friends around.

Speaker 2:

I was going to say. I think our area is pretty diverse. No matter which country or which area of the world that you come from, or if you were just born and raised in this area, you can find your community. Yep, I agree. What are some special projects that you're working on?

Speaker 1:

So I'm mainly working on a lot of main levels or full houses of my current clients, where they're very varied and that is what I think makes it more interesting. One of the client wants it completely contemporary, with a touch of glam here and there. The other client they want some Indian elements, some ethnic artifacts, some handicrafts to be used. There's this third client where I'm doing. There are a lot of non-local clients as well, so for them I'm doing main levels. So it's very interesting. It's just a creativity high for me.

Speaker 2:

Yeah, what's been one of your hardest projects or something that you learned from a project I always call. Anytime something bad or hard happens, I'm like, okay, what did I learn from this? I agree.

Speaker 1:

So that was my approach for one of the client where I think we had an agreement of once the project is done, there's a photo shoot, obviously right For every area that we work on, and they agreed to it.

Speaker 1:

And then in the middle of the project they said no, we are not comfortable. And it was one of those initial projects which is, I mean, I'm so passionate about all of my projects. So when you really work so hard and you put your heart and soul and of course you have to showcase your work through the photo shoots, and then that client was probably not comfortable. And that was the whole discussion before we started, that we need the photo shoot right, we won't do the projects if this is not the or at least there should have been a discussion before. So that was. I think it was just a learning lesson for me. I, of course, I finished the project to the completion and then after that, I think it was more of a learning lesson that before I start any new project there has to be like full-fledged discussion contracts in the clause I was gonna say yeah.

Speaker 1:

Clause is in the contract and things like that. So that was a big learning lesson?

Speaker 2:

Yeah, and I bet that was, and I don't know about that specific case, but it could have been, if you didn't understand the why. Painful because you're like, I poured my heart and soul into this project and now I can't even use it to Absolutely.

Speaker 1:

And I do understand the sentiments or maybe restrictions that people may have. It's their private property, I totally get it, but it's just after the fact. You cannot say you have to also understand a designer's point of view. And I do have projects where we sometimes don't showcase the work because this is a discussion which we have before starting the project and then we remove the clause.

Speaker 2:

I was going to say and you know, and that's great, because then that happens. On the front end, expectations are clear, and sometimes I mean for a photographer at least, or other designers, artists you might charge more if it's not part of your portfolio, correct? You might say like, well, since this is no longer serving my business, I'm going to serve my business in this aspect. Then it'll just be a different combination.

Speaker 1:

Different yes, a great advantage. So that really helps. You know if expectations are set right right in the start. So that really helps.

Speaker 2:

Yeah, so tell me about your kids in terms of how do they see you as you're building this business.

Speaker 1:

So I have a 13-year-old boy, a middle schooler, and a seven-year-old very naughty girl, a very, very hands-on, very cute.

Speaker 2:

But now he wants to end up growing out to be the best and the younger one so more spoiled, you know.

Speaker 1:

So my elder one is like literally like a clone of me in terms of looks and personality, like he's really my replica. So he's also into a lot into. He'll do that with his room and all so when he sees, when I started this, he was like the biggest fan of Vishorek Interiors and he still is very excited and very supportive. Mom, can I help you with this, with that, and, you know, can I create some mood boards for you and things like that. So they're very excited. And whenever I have a project which just freshly started, he asked me about all the details and all so it's very nice, you know, when your kids also take equal interest.

Speaker 2:

Yeah, that's exciting. What do they want to be when they grow up?

Speaker 1:

My son has probably 10 or 15 careers Perfect and still now, current career that he wants to pursue is, I think, a lawyer. He's been into the game designer and the Lego designer and all that zone and software engineer. Now he's going to become a lawyer Perfect, it's his current choice.

Speaker 2:

So you like to stand up and discuss things often? Oh yes, and he's a middle schooler. He's a regular interviewer.

Speaker 1:

All those negotiations and arguments and because he has such great negotiation skills, I kept telling him Aranya, you should have been a lawyer. Yeah, I think that's probably the starting point. He's like really, mama, I said you negotiate like the best, you can be a good lawyer. So he's like okay, I'm going to become a lawyer. So that's his current choice. How about your daughter, my daughter? I think she wants to become a teacher.

Speaker 2:

Nice yeah.

Speaker 1:

Teacher run an art teacher, an artist, something like that. She's very good in art.

Speaker 2:

Who did you want to be when you were a kid? I think I wanted to be a dancer.

Speaker 1:

A dancer, I think that Kathak is an Indian classical dance, classical form of dance. I wanted to be a dancer because I'm very passionate about dancing, especially this Kathak and Bollywood style both. So I wanted to be that.

Speaker 2:

And he says you're passionate because you've done it, or is there another reason why you're so passionate? No, because I've done it. I've danced for a while.

Speaker 1:

Because I'm really good at it. Aliyah, I'm very I like I love dancing and I've done that all my life. Yeah, in terms of making a career, my background is like I'm a software engineer, so I am in computer applications and I'm an IT professional as well. Have you done that? Dancing here, locally, Very casually, right Like performances on stage, like very casual ones, not like not as a career path, but I've done quite a few.

Speaker 2:

You didn't have that dye or anything.

Speaker 1:

Keep that passion alive. Yes, absolutely, I still do that and I put my younger daughter in that same dance form. So at least you know if there is any say you know. See it's growing in there, yeah probably she can take it up yeah that's just my ambition.

Speaker 2:

Different type of dance, mom, yeah, yep, yep, tell me a little bit about your upbringing.

Speaker 1:

So we have been raised. I have a sibling, I have an older sister, so we've been raised in a very modern, I would say very open-minded kind of environment. My dad always, always treated us like he has two boys, Because back in when we were growing up in India especially in those times like I was born in 1981, those times they were not really like open and there was no equality, I would say, for a girl and a boy. But the way my dad has brought us up, I never felt like I'm a girl who can be a little anything you know which is not capable of as what a boy can do. So I think it's very modern and it's very open minded. They always taught us very good things about, you know, compassion, kindness, compassion for poor people, kids, for animals, all of those things. So we've just been in that kind of environment and I think that's the reason why we are creating that environment for our kids like me and my husband.

Speaker 2:

Yeah, that's beautiful. Do you like to see your parents? Option.

Speaker 1:

We do visit India. They come here, they're coming here in June, this June. So, yeah, we get to see every year or so.

Speaker 2:

Nice, it's always hard sometimes when family's not around.

Speaker 1:

But I talk to them like daily, absolute daily, like FaceTime. 30 minutes it's a minimum, bare minimum. I have to see their face daily. No, it's beautiful and I think at this age, obviously you just feel that all you can do is just talk to them. Right, they're done with their, you know all the duties and everything and they're nicely settled, but they do want us. It's nice to just at least talk to them daily.

Speaker 2:

I love that In terms of I'm gonna kind of shift gears here, in terms of if you could give some advice to somebody who is looking for you to come in and help them with their space, like what are usually the first or not first, but what are three tips you would say to somebody before you guys start working together?

Speaker 1:

So, in terms of tips, I think I would just say that they should be open about the ideas that a designer brings in. They should be open to take some risks in terms of a color that they have not introduced ever in their house, say, a black accent wall. Right, sometimes you know many people, due to some different religion, background or some you know thought process that they've had all their life. They sometimes they just get very anxious oh my god, is this gonna look nice? Oh, a black vase, will it look nice, a black accent wall? Or you know, a checkered pattern on a wallpaper. So I would just advise that you know and 99% of my clients are very open but there are always some clients who are a little anxious. But in the end, when they say the end result, when they see it like how it turns out, they're always happy. But yeah, this would be one thing that you know. If they are just open to new ideas and a little risk-taking, I would say that'll be great.

Speaker 1:

The second one I would think is just trust the process. Sometimes, because obviously you're putting in a lot of money, you're buying furniture, buying decor, they may feel that is it all going to look together nice and which is why we create the mood boards. Mood boards really help them to, you know, envision what everything would look like together. Sometimes they do feel anxious even after that. So some, I just think, if you trust the process, sometimes you've hired a designer for a reason. You've seen the work, you've seen what is the style of this designer. So when you're hiring the designer, sometimes it's just about trusting the process, and 100% of my clients in the end have always been like really, really happy, like they give me blessings, that, oh, my god, we are in such a good space. So and that gives me a lot of satisfaction because, you know, I mean, that's what my job is right To make them happy and to create those beautiful spaces for them. So that is, I think that's about it, just the two tips I would like to give.

Speaker 2:

You know. So some unsolicited marketing advice if you haven't done this already, because your calendar is full already from referrals is to get a couple of testimonial videos. Videos, yeah, yeah, and just kind of like we're doing right now, just a raw conversation with them and especially the people that were hesitant. That way they can say I was so uncomfortable when she showed it to me. I trusted her, but I was still very hesitant.

Speaker 1:

Very anxious yeah.

Speaker 2:

And then, when I saw it pulled together, I was like I should have just.

Speaker 1:

So, on that note, I do have clients. Every client writes a testimonial and obviously they write very good stuff whatever they feel right, it's very organic, but I don't know if they'll be comfortable with the video.

Speaker 2:

You know, try it, ask them. Yeah, that's a good idea, and you can ask like 10 of them. If two people say yes, that's perfect. That's actually a very good tip and you can take that video, because then people see it and they hear it and then they're like oh, I remember that video I saw they said the same thing. Now I'm feeling it. Yes.

Speaker 1:

I think that's a great tip. Thank you, you're welcome. Thank you so much. That's a great tip.

Speaker 2:

Just to kind of wrap this up, what would you say like where do you see your business shifting in the future, or even just the interior design business shifting in the future overall?

Speaker 1:

For my business. I think of course I have. I don't have like any strategic plans as of now. It's just been very organic, the way we've started and the way it is now I do think probably five years down the line, I do see it growing leaps and bounds. I do have like a PAC schedule right now so I hope I'm able to do justice and take up more projects and give them more time. And overall I think interior design business it's here to stay. I mean, obviously, with the kind of real estate market that we have right now and I think it's after pandemic, since people are more homebound, I think people are opening up to getting all the spaces done nicely and get that feel of really living in that space and having that feel good factor, not just putting one recliner, one TV and that's it. They do want to live in a nice space, which is a great change. So I think for interior design business it's awesome.

Speaker 2:

It's here to stay. Thank you so much for being on the podcast and for sharing so much.

Speaker 1:

Absolutely, it was my pleasure.