Making a statement

Furniture designs in the Indian hospitality sector is witnessing an interesting metamorphosis. Whether the concept is contemporary chic or traditional elegance, the focus is now on innovation, eco friendly designs that are both practical and aesthetic. Sagharica Sawhney, MD and founder, SJ Impex talks about the factors that have brought about this change. By Sudipta Dev

The last decade has seen hospitality projects across the world come up with many interesting furniture design concepts that have a lot to do with the evolving preferences of the global traveller. Whether it is a business hotel or a luxury resort, the ambience and interiors are focused on providing a comfortable and memorable stay to the guest. The look, feel, functionality and aesthetic elements of hotel furniture is an important factor in making this possible.

In India, the concept of furniture design has witnessed an interesting evolution. “Furniture designs for hotels, earlier was very restricted to leather upholstery and basic straight line furniture, especially this started with China imports in bulk, where design component is not the key but mass manufacturing is the focus. However, now people have ventured out of China also, and have explored many different countries with aesthetic taste and design capability like Italy, Dubai, Vietnam and India, etc., to procure furniture,” says Sagharica Sawhney, MD and founder, SJ Impex. Her company offers design consultancy, manages turnkey projects, manufactures and supplies customised interior products and fittings, including customised furniture for large scale projects. Some of the important projects include The Trident, Hyderabad; The Claridges, Surajkund; Renaissance Hotel, Dubai; Rotana Hotel, Abu Dhabi; Holiday Inn Down Town Hotel, Sharjah; JW Marriot Hotel, Kuwait; Hilton Hotel, Chennai; Peninsula Grand Hotel Mumbai to name a few.

Changing trends

Furniture design in Indian hotels has become more lively, durable and comfortable, in recent times. These are now being created with innovative ideas and premium raw materials such as seasoned timber, chrome and wrought iron. There are many factors that have brought about this change. The most important, according to Sawhney, are travel, exposure and the media. “Having said that, we as Indian designers are constantly trying to be at par with the advanced design concepts of the West. Our concepts are immensely influenced by the West and our very own rich and supreme Indian culture,” she avers.

The different categories of hotels have varied requirements. While budget hotels are into minimalistic light weight and straight line furniture, luxury hotels are open to experimenting with different upholstery like velvet, silk, chiffon, cotton, jute, etc. “Luxury properties are open to different tapestry and contemporary designs to make a statement in their hotel industry. We aim for symmetry and simplicity in our designs – simple is always best when it comes to luxury design,” says Sawhney, pointing out that it is important to choose the best quality where it counts – even budget hotels can afford to invest in luxurious rugs, carpets, or sleek wooden flooring in bedrooms as it’s the one room that has the least foot traffic. “We sometimes even suggest underfloor heating for a truly cosy design. Similarly, window dressings are not something you replace very often so it’s worth opting for high quality blinds or curtains that will last,” she adds.

When it comes to furniture design it is essential to marry aesthetics with functionality. Explaining how this is made possible, Sawhney states, “Furniture has to be practical, hence, functionally has to be married to aesthetics and sometime we have to explain to the client and architects, the functionality aspect.” It is important for hotel owners to understand that design is not just about the looks of the building’s interior – it also plays the key role in its functionality. “Even the largest room can lack space if having a poor interior design, while a tiny apartment can be transformed into a cosy residence with enough space for just about everything with the right design and the use of a contemporary staircase,” mentions Sawhney.

The new emerging styles in hotel furnishing include eco friendly, organic fabric like recycle cotton, jute, natural silk. In the near future these materials will become both practical as well as aesthetically attractive. According to Sawhney heavy furniture, crafted, bulky pieces are not fashionable anymore. Guest room designs are also focused on saving space. “Use of mirrors opens up the space even more. Splurging on details, underfoot room carpeting not only creates a clear delineation between the hardwood entrance foyer of the bedroom area, it also sends a relaxing signal to the guests,” she points out.

Many interesting trends are also emerging in restaurant furniture design. Sawhney avers that restaurant furniture design has become colourful with usage of varied colours and different fabrics, which are here to stay. It is a known fact that the choice of restaurant furniture can have a huge impact on the establishment’s success. “By aligning restaurant furniture choices with existing and burgeoning trends, you will be sure to create an interior that entices and delights customers,” she says. High-quality, visually appealing and comfortable furniture gives a good first impression and makes the dining experience enjoyable, all of which can ensure repeat business.