Shaunali Nanda – a leader nurtured in arts, obtained her degree in the history of decorative art from Sotheby, US. Shaunali has been a student of English literature, history and worked under the aesthetics of eternally classic brands that have formulated taste & style as it stands today. Through her journey of excellence, she became a lead researcher on the Magnificent Mughal Jewels at Christie’s. After returning to India, she ideated the furnishing and lifestyle retail arm for the family business, which is India’s first lifestyle store. Then pursued a degree at the GIA, combined her experience and study in Decorative Art, History & Jewellery, and worked at Van Cleef & Arpels as a store planner. Shaunali served as a Manager in North America for Hermes, which carried her through to Tiffany for store design and visual merchandising, with individual projects at Chanel and Bulgari. With immense experience and varied exposure, her style remains timeless, sophisticated, and elegant.
Today, as the founder of Sloane Luxury, Shaunali works on Interiors that are in harmony, balance, and stylistically imbued with quality & style. At Sloane, everything imbibes classic references that remain eternal in Interior Design. Under her stewardship, Sloane Luxury Interiors is recognized as a firm that offers designs that are everlasting, elegant, traditional, and contemporary styles - adhering to the classic rules of design.
Kindly peruse the following excerpts to know more about Shaunali Nanda’s journey and her inspirational thoughts.
Brief Us On Your Insightful Experience And Learnings
I had a good fortune of working for very traditional firms and for people who were older, multifaceted in design, and extremely experienced. Experts like David Warren, Jonathan Condrup, The late Alex Rhodes, The late Joe Spellman, Tom Moloney, Juliet Simpson, Mark Coats, Randall Yaw, and Robert Chavez, taught me a lot and nurtured me. It gave me a chance to work with various creators, artists, manufacturers, Store design architects, and multiple construction vendors. An amalgamation of all this together on daily basis made my sense of taste and style grow with awareness.
10 years of experience in luxury and working with artists, creators, and classic brands enhanced my taste and sense of style. Working with my mom, I realized that clients need direction and a complete concept that is price sensitive, a home that is tasteful and can represent their family. Sloane started with the intention of educating the client towards elegance, style, and delivering that completely in one package.
Tell Us About Your Expertise As A Designer. What Design Styles Inspire You?
I’m very intuitive and can put rooms together - rooms with furnishings, color, lighting, and accessories quickly & harmoniously - adhering to subtlety, comfort, warmth, and sophistication. The restrained elegance of English homes and colonial-style always grabs my eyes. My love is for modern interiors that are simple but luxurious at the same time, with a strong focus on art and lighting.
Besides social media, my interest lies in referring to history and the great designers whom I have admired for their sobriety and sense of complete balance like Billy Baldwin, Lorenzo Mongiardino, Bunny Williams, Charlotte Moss, and Alexa Hampton. The style of the homes on Park Avenue and Palm Beach that have so much character and warmth are impressive.
What Were The Initial Days Like And What Were Some Major Challenges That You Had To Overcome In The Early Days Of Running Sloane Luxury Interiors?
Internationally, I was just gaining momentum and with the developer program, which specialized in doing luxurious show houses in great taste and style in a one-price complete package fully accessorized for a great customer living experience. It gave me a lot of responses from real estate agents and brokers who realized how much time and money they were saving. Trust was the biggest challenge, because this was a new market and was international. They did not believe that I could do what I was saying, but one project proved to me and opened more doors with references.
How Do You Keep Yourself Aligned With The Various Trends Developing In The Industry?
I observe a lot everywhere while driving, whether in India or Abroad. Usually, look at the building and research who Architect was, and in which period. Observing these buildings, restaurants, hotels, and shop environments teach me proportion, which is so important in this business. Listening to people and going back to the work of tastemakers that have lived through time - always have the answers. I meet every vendor who comes to show me something a great customer living experience. It gave me a lot of responses from real estate agents and brokers who realized how much time and money they were saving. Trust was the biggest challenge, because this was a new market and was international. They did not believe that I could do what I was saying, but one project proved to me and opened more doors with references.
“Shaunali believes in design that is everlasting and elegant, a design that moves with time yet remains loyal to classic aesthetics and principles of interior design and décor”
How Do You Keep Yourself Aligned With The Various Trends Developing In The Industry?
I observe a lot everywhere while driving, whether in India or Abroad. Usually, look at the building and research who Architect was, and in which period. Observing these buildings, restaurants, hotels, and shop environments teach me proportion, which is so important in this business. Listening to people and going back to the work of tastemakers that have lived through time - always have the answers. I meet every vendor who comes to show me something that they are doing, it’s very important to know what people are innovating. Making everyone feel good and improving myself as a person every day gives me the most clarity.
In Your Opinion What Are Some Facets Of Your Personality That Have Helped You Propel The Company Further In Its Journey?
I’m a person who works best when alone and strongly believes in making the clients believe & trust me. Serving honestly, owning up to a mistake, and rectifying it is my personality. Giving clients what they love and not working just for money are some of the attributes imbibed in me.
Experiencing several challenges, I had to sacrifice many things and learned to adjust to many situations. Lots of these moments were alone. The best way to carry on and move forward at that point was by loving what I do and doing it well - being engrossed in my work and talking to great and nice people like Juliet Simpson and Mark Coats, whom I truly miss working for, who taught me so much. God gave me this to heal and today, I have taken all this experience and put that into Sloane Luxury Interiors.
Suggestions to aspiring designers and entrepreneurs
Be patient
• Look at the big picture
• Look ahead not what’s near you
• Less is more
• Don’t be afraid, design what you like, it’s not permanent, you will learn more and grow more, it will get better
• Be yourself, design should be your identity, take elements from your roots, elements where you are living, and appreciate Indian weaving as much as Japanese pottery. Find beauty in everything.
Sloane Luxury Interiors
An interior design firm that offers Interiors design that is everlasting and elegant, working in traditional, classic, modern, and even contemporary styles, adhering to the classic rules of design and giving an interior that is harmonious, balanced, and symmetrical.
The company offers complete Interior Design, with a state-of-the-art four-storeyed manufacturing unit. Sloane conceptualizes your decorating needs according to budget, style, and personal taste, giving you homes that are elegant, chic, and everlasting.
