Sharing a few interesting interior designing tips and trends, Montage co-founders Namrata Mundra and Zahabia Taherbhoy tell Tania Roy how they create designer spaces

Zahabia Taherbhoy gives me a warm welcome when I step into this young interior designer’s home. As I walk through the mirrored vestibule into the impressive black and white living room inundated with natural light, I feel the emanating vibrancy and warmth of this well-appointed apartment.
While I appreciate the unconventional decor, Taherbhoy introduces me to her working partner and friend Namrata Mundra, who has helped her do up her home. Mundra, like Taherbhoy, is a skilled interior designer. The creative duo has been making some splendid homes and transforming the look of restaurants, clinics, boutiques and wine shops in Pune, Mumbai and Delhi.

Montage, a one-stop destination for interior design, product sourcing and home styling services, is also their brainchild. The dedicated designers are putting their heart and soul into their venture, which is about six month old. “We are planning to have our own line of furniture and custom-made accessories like lighting, carpets, pottery and other interior artefacts soon. We would also like to open our own store,” says Taherbhoy, who did her diploma in Interior Design and also pursued her Bachelors in Commerce. Later, she worked with expert product designers in Mumbai, where she got to know more about European design and craftsmanship.

Talking about trends, Mundra who has studied at Banuben Nanavati College of Architecture (BNCA) Computer-Aided Interior Design (CAID) Cummins and has worked with builders and interior designers, says, “Blending the classic with the contemporary is in vogue. For example, a French chandelier can very well complement a contemporary bed. Young Indians (in their late 20s and early 30s) also prefer vibrant colours and quirky accessories. But honestly, there are no design rules. It all depends on how you harmonise or package the whole look. Most importantly, your home should reflect your personality, lifestyle and tastes and preferences. The interiors can be extravagant or quirky or can exude casual elegance. Whatever it is the flavour has to be ‘you’.”

Sharing a useful tip for styling homes, Mundra says, “It’s wise to keep permanent structures like walls, wardrobes or beds in neutral shades like white so that it blends with the rest of the interior. To add vigour, you can always have colourful accessories like lime green or red cushion covers, vivid wallpapers or conversational pieces that add a feel of drama.”

Mundra and Taherbhoy also specialise in refurbishing interiors. “Giving a makeover or reinventing looks is always more challenging than working on a blank canvas where you have the liberty to create the whole thing from scratch. When you are doing makeovers, you have to often work within the existing framework and then add elements which give a new look to the old, which is tough and interesting all the same,” shares Taherbhoy.

So far, Montage has had three exhibitions showcasing its products and displaying those made by other talented young designers and artists as well. “There is a lot of talent in Pune but unfortunately the youngsters do not always find the right platform to showcase their creativity. We offer them a space to display their art,” say the Montage co-founders who also specialise in eco-friendly furniture and accessories.

So the next time you are looking for eco-friendly coconut shell candles, innovative lamps, wall clocks, tables, storage boxes (made from recycled material), handpainted contemporary chairs, quirky bookshelves, Baroque-inspired mirrors, throws, Persian carpets, creative pottery, wallpapers and other designer furniture or innovative design concepts, you know where to head.

To know more about Montage, log into: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Montage/178503625628622.