Aarushi Bafna Founder, Studio Aarushi Bafna & Co-Founder, Studio Aadri Jaipur, a city known for its rich cultural heritage, was the starting point for interior designer and business coach Aarushi Bafna’s foray into the world of design. After completing her studies at Maharani Gayatri Devi Girls’ School, she went on to earn a professional degree in Architecture from Balwant Sheth School of Architecture in Mumbai – and has been living her dream as a designer since 2016. Four years later, during the Covid-19 pandemic, she discovered a passion for teaching. She aims to inspire and guide young designers to build their own studio – and a flourishing business – through her course, ‘Business of Design’. The experiences she underwent at the age of 23, such as surmounting the challenges of losing clients and struggling with studio finances, laid the foundation of her course. Bafna has come a long way since then, and is running her studio as well as mentoring design students. “These experiences taught me invaluable lessons and led to significant growth,” says the designer. Studio Aarushi Bafna specialises in creating designs that merge aesthetic appeal with practicality. The founder’s design philosophy is based on the idea that architecture is an applied art, driven by the theory of materials. “This belief is the cornerstone of my work, where I blend the past with innovative designs to shape the future,” she explains. “LuxeBook conveys the essence of what it means to live elegantly” Ali Baldiwala Partner, Baldiwala Edge Ali Baldiwala insists that luxury is comfort. The self-proclaimed fashion fiend likens it to being comfortable in a piece of clothing that you feel good about, and adds that quality is key. Not surprisingly, that tops his list of things that make a space luxurious – good quality furniture, right choice of materials, and adaptive ability of the space to suit different moods or occasions. The lead design thinker at Baldiwala Edge today, Ali is an alumnus of the Rachna Sansad School of Interior Design. Striking out on his own after his graduation in 2008 helped him develop a design ethic that’s independent of the towering influence of his father Bakir Baldiwala, who has been in the business for over four decades now. Ali approaches design “...with respect for the unique dreams and personality of each client, and a deep dive into the goals and relevance of every project.” He strives to achieve signature elements that are rooted in bold concepts, original ideas, uncommon experiments with material and textures, timeless imagery, and striking drama. As a matter of principle, he shuns formulaic trends. His unconventional approach is evident in Ali’s persona. Facing the movie camera (Neerja), travelling the world, moderating or joining discussion panels at industry forums, knocking down marathon goals – in essence, he simply enjoys being different. “LuxeBook is a great platform for everything to do with luxury” | 9 | 8
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