She embraces a simplified life, drawing inspiration from profound wisdom in books, dedicating herself to a sustainable lifestyle and adhering to an unwavering design mantra. HELLO! meets the interior designer at her beautiful south Delhi farmhouse to chat about her many passions in life.
Saba Kapoor Khosla recalls being moved to tears the first time she set eyes on the work of American painter Mark Rothko.
“I was around 22 or 23 years old when, in the Netherlands, my friend took me to visit a modern art gallery for the first time. I had just seen [Dutch painter Johannes] Vermeer’s ‘The Lady with the Pearl Earring’, but it was Rothko’s work that blew me away! I couldn’t understand how a work of art could evoke such emotions in me,” she says.
It was a pivotal moment, one that set her on the course of her life’s journey: the creation of design that served a purpose and invoked emotion.
Some would say this path was preordained. She is, after all, the daughter of popular interior designer Rohit Kapoor, with whom she runs the New Delhi-based interiors, furniture, millwork and lighting firm, Nivasa. Her educational trajectory too indicated her creative leanings, with summer school at Central Saint Martins and Chelsea College, a master’s degree from Parsons School of Design and a stint at modern furniture brand BoConcept in New York before her return to India. However, she discovered her true passion along the way.
“What I really love doing is solving problems creatively,” she explains. “I eventually got into design because I wanted to simplify lives. My goal was to eliminate hassle while delivering precisely what people desired.” One can see this conviction play out in the interiors of her own home.
“I got into design because I wanted to simplify lives. My goal was to eliminate hassle while delivering precisely what people desired”
A Successful Union of Aesthetics
Located just off the main thoroughfare that connects New Delhi to Gurugram, her family’s spacious farmhouse is a haven in the midst of constant hustle and bustle. In this space, Saba effectively applies her design skills to achieve an unlikely yet successful marriage of different aesthetics.
The beauty of Indian craftsmanship shines through in the common portions of the home. A classic style preferred by her in-laws is exemplified by a large green boat from Kerala repurposed as a planter, with three playful baby Buddhas presiding over their green kingdom.
A mere step away from this enchanted space are the private quarters of Saba and her venture capitalist husband Ishaan Khosla, newly constructed after their marriage last year. They are as distinct in colour scheme and vibe from the common areas, as chalk from cheese. Serene hues of white and beige decorate the sitting area, bar, pool, bedroom and bathroom. Discreet panelling hides cabinets and wardrobes and muted accessories make an impact. Everything is in order, with not a hair out of place. It’s Saba in her element.
Interview: Noor Anand Chawla; Photos: Deepak Aggarwal; Hair & Make-up: Gayatri Sharma; Creative Direction: Amber Tikari
This is an excerpt from an interview from HELLO! India’s October 2023 issue. To read the full interview, check out the latest issue right here.
