Name: Rani Ahluwalia
Company: Key Interiors and Design
Position within company: Founder and Creative Director               
Website: www.keyinteriorsanddesign.com

Tell us a little about your background in design (education, experience, etc)
I’ve always had a love of colour and creating homes and spaces for people. I decided to enrol for three years in Delhi Interior Designs and have also undertaken courses at Chelsea Harbour.

How would you describe your personal design style?
Maximising Space 
Modern Contemporary style 
Innovative Lighting Schemes
Not Shy to use imagination 
Think out of the box

Where does your design inspiration come from?
I love to travel and a lot of my inspiration comes through nature and my surroundings

In what direction do you feel that design is moving towards in a general sense?
Colour and comfort

Name five key themes to consider when approaching design in 2022 and beyond.

• Sustainability
• Natural materials
• Minimalism
• Multifunctional Spaces
• Repurposing

If you could offer one piece of advice when it comes to design schemes, what would it be?
Live life with colour

How important are The International Design & Architecture Awards?
I’m thrilled a number of our projects have been shortlisted that the team have worked so hard on. It’s absolutely brilliant to be recognised among other designers and stunning projects.

What projects are you currently working on?
The team and I are currently working on Lost Property, a Curio by Hilton hotel opening just by St. Paul’s Cathedral in Spring 2022 with 145 bedrooms, a restaurant, bar and coffee house it’s not a small project! We’re also working on a number of residential family home projects across North and West London.

What was your favourite project to work on and why?
The Dixon Hotel in Tower Bridge! It was one of my most rewarding projects to date due to the nature of the Magistrate Court’s building and learning how to offer guests a modern, sophisticated and comfortable piece of London Bridge’s history without losing the original charm of the building.

What was your most challenging project to work on and why?
The Dixon hotel in Tower Bridge! The team and I spent a lot of time discussing and attempting to reuse original materials and repurpose into art for the hotel. During a site visit, we found the original markings on the walls from where prisoners had engraved messages – we then created a mould and repurposed these messages into tables and artwork. We also found over 500+ keys used for opening prison cells, keeping documents safe etc, we collected them all and they now appear on the walls of the lift doors just by reception.

Which products/services could you not live without when designing?
I couldn’t live without my Iphone! From facetiming my suppliers abroad to taking images of items I find on holiday, material or patterns I see in nature, I’m still very traditional in the way I capture and collate the things that inspire me, I’ll print elements, stick, create collages, draw with pencil and scan in – it’s getting it down on paper I find so exciting and I love the process.

What are your aims and goals for the next twelve months?
I cannot wait to open Lost Property hotel in Spring 2022. There are some absolutely beautiful pieces of art completely bespoke to the hotel and I’m so excited! 

Final thoughts; tell us a little more about yourself and your daily inspirations:

Your most treasured possession?
I love to add colour into my outfits and the quickest and easiest way to do this is with accessories – I cannot leave home without a shawl; I have almost every colour of the rainbow!

Your favourite holiday destination?
Venice

Your favourite hotel, restaurant & bar?
The Dixon, Roka and Annabel’s

Your favourite book, film & song?
Monk who sold Ferrari / Movie – Pretty Woman /Song – Hello by Lionel Richie

Your favourite food and drink?
Japanese Food / Black Tea

Your favourite way to spend an afternoon?
If I’m not spending an afternoon looking for inspiration, I’m with my family and grandchildren!

If you weren’t a designer, what would you be?
I love the arts and creativity – so perhaps an actress?

Key Interiors and Design have been shortlisted for 6 categories in the International Design and Architecture Awards 2022.

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