NAIN BELLIAPPA, Houseof9design

She was told not to start out on her own, but Nain Belliappa, a 28 year old Marketing graduate, listened to her gut and established her very own interior design firm called Houseof9design.

Now, two years and many projects old, Nain, recounts one of her initial projects where she had to design a velvet tufted table and position an ornate logo so that it was visible to the customers as they walked into her client’s store. She designed it, visualized it and had many sleepless nights wondering if it could be executed successfully. With careful planning, a lot of attention to detail and many hours of hard work, she was able to turn her concept into a reality – much to the delight of her clients!

Although the internet helps with learning, Nain finds that her best inspiration comes when she moves away from the screen and looks to nature, people and her surroundings. One key aspect that Nain had to consciously work on was dealing / communicating with carpenters, electricians, painters, etc., it isn’t always easy but she has learned the art of multi-tasking, has diligently worked on improving her language skills, and been mindful of clearly articulating her ideas.

From doing three projects simultaneously as a fresher out of college to now expertly moving on to high-profile assignments, Nain confidently says to all the wonder women out there,“Don’t be scared, go for it! There’s no better knowledge than practical work!”