Cover Story - Annuraj Interiors

Style, Luxury, and Affordability Under One Roof

Annuraj Interiors is my childhood"A dream. I had always imagined naming an important part of me after my mother, Mrs. Annuradha (Annu) and my father Mr. Yuvraj (Raj). What would have been better than my very first and biggest asset,”, Mangesh narrates the story behind his company, Annuraj Interiors.

Founded in June 2004 in Pune, Annuraj Interiors was started as a one-man company by Mangesh himself. “Initially, I was handling everything, starting from receiving the order to documentation, from making the blueprint to smooth execution of the entire plan of each project.”, he elaborates the anecdotes. “ I invested my entire being in understanding the field, its shortcoming, the clients, the market, and eventually I started growing steadily.”

Slowly, Mangesh started hiring people one by one and witnessed the steady growth of the company. “Today, we are at this stance due to our team’s progress, co-operation, and hard work.”, he says. “On this podium, I offer my sincere gratitude to my entire team for bringing the best in them and making Annuraj Interiors a successful brand in the field.” Annuraj Interiors is a home design startup primarily focused on home design, office design, interior design, décor, furniture, construction services, etc. The firm undertakes complete end-to-end Interior projects including commercial as well as residential properties.

The main vision and aim of the company are to develop clear communication with anyone who approaches them; to spread the power of optimism and make a difference in the field; to make every aspect of design easier and approachable for the designing community, and to always strive for excellence by overcoming the problems and issues coming on the way.

The team of professionals associated with Annuraj Interiors is skilled in their respective fields and works together efficiently. The founder, Mangesh, believes that the team is the strength of the company which ultimately elevates them from other competitors. Another factor that distinguishes them in the industry is their services and their rapport with the client.

The company strives for excellence and believes in maintaining good relationships and rapport with its client. “We always have a oneto-one conversation with the client which helps us to understand their needs and expectations.”, says Mangesh. “Before starting any project, we try to understand the client’s background, lifestyle, and habits. We try connect with the client in every way possible and deliver our best services.”

Our mantra is to design spaces with good vibes, for good times.

Mangesh elaborates further about his belief. “We mean this statement sincerely. We design for our clients; it’s not for us or to inflate a designer's ego. We believe that a good design can greatly enhance the quality of life.”

As Vastu is the essence of the qualitative and peaceful life, the designing team at Annuraj interiors works in coherence with the Vastu rule and tries to incorporate them into their projects. “Vastu experts are part of our team. We help our clients and provide them with the set of knowledge and caliber our team has in Vastu Shastra. When designing a project we try to maximize the use of vast-friendly designs without compromising functionality.”

Site delivery, the last step of the entire project is the most exciting one for Mangesh where he gets to experience the reaction of the client. “The moment is full of nervousness and a sense of attainment. Clients satisfaction is what matters the most at this moment and we endeavor to achieve the same.”

The founder also aims to deliver the project before or at the scheduled time which, he believes, is an important aspect to achieve client satisfaction, building good relations with them, maintaining the reputation of the company, sustaining the market, and carving a path to attract future client’s. “On-schedule project delivery is one of the main aspects our team strives for and we don’t compromise over punctuality in any way.”, he says. “Our team tries to abide by the deadlines by proper documentation of site schedules. We set targets for work completion every week, and we have the utmost attention to proper project management.”

Over the years, Annuraj Interiors has always stood by its commitment. “As a result, we have built wonderful relations with our clients and we pride ourselves when it comes to commitment because, for me, word-of-mouth means everything in business.”

Annuraj Interiors has been creating happily ever afters in various categories for a long time and at present, there are at least 12 running projects either in the designing or execution phase that the team has been working on. “We have 8 budget-friendly residential projects, 2 luxury high-end residential projects, and two commercial projects including a dental clinic.

“We provide exquisite designs and quality as required by the client and we aspire to provide complete satisfaction to them. Our team is well-equipped and ensures to bring style, luxury, and affordability under one roof.”

As a ‘one-stop complete interior solutions’ provider, team Annuraj interiors understands the pulse of its clients and customizes according to their tastes and preferences. The team thrives to offer exclusive and extensive interior solutions and incorporates distinctive strategies and innovative ideas into the space. Connect with Annuraj Interiors to accentuate the ambiance of your house; breathe a breath of incredibly fresh style to convert a property into your home!!

Interview Section

Mangesh Naik, the founder of Annuraj Interiors is an experienced Interior designer with an exemplified career history in the industry. His family has over 6 decades of experience in the Wood Industry where his grandfather and father worked as carpenter contractors. His inclination towards design is derived from his observation while seeing his father working with other interior designers. An Interior Design and Decoration Graduate from MSBTE (Mumbai University), Mangesh has always been inclined toward design and drawing.

In 2004, Mangesh established Annuraj Interiors naming the company after his parents. He completed his Masters's in Interior Design at the Frankfurt University of Applied Science, Germany in 2009, to gain further knowledge about the field. Currently, the company is operating at its full capacity and offers all sorts of Interior related and other services. The Head Office is located in Chennai and undertakes Interior Projects around Pune, Mumbai, Bangalore, and Chennai. Here is more from the conversation with Mr. Mangesh Naik.

Instead of following after your family and choosing the wood Industry, you choose the Interior design field as your career. What was your inspiration behind choosing Interior design as your profession?

It was my father’s decision.. I was pursuing B. Com when my father was diagnosed with cancer. He was worried about my carrier and future so he forcefully asked me to quit B. Com and pursue design so that I would be fit to take over his business. I never wanted to join the wood industry because I didn’t feel any pull or calling toward the field However, my father knew my strengths and comprehended what I was capable of achieving in the future. He believed that Interior Design is a perfect career for me. After completing the degree course, I started Annuraj Interiors. I feel fortunate that my father understood my strength, believed in me, and chose the right career for me.

Well, that’s an interesting and fortunate turn of events. Now you have been working in the industry for almost 2 decades. What are the factors that motivated you to keep working in this field?

Mangesh: “Satisfaction” is the word that drives me to keep working harder in the field. The outcome of my and the client's expectations helps me keep on racing towards the goal of my company. Designing a home as per the client brings in recognition and appreciation throughout. I truly believe that a positive work environment would bring out the best in me and also help me to come up with the best ideas and provide the best solutions to my clients. Lastly, the financial benefits bring in a sense of security as a whole, and it's a source of motivation in itself.

Which aspect of design attracts you most?

Mangesh: Execution of the ideas and bringing the vision as imagined by my client to real life brings in a sense of satisfaction and attracts me the most. The design, the ideas, and whatever is there in our mind that we desire to execute accurately on-site is the toughest part of my job and requires to be done with utmost sincerity.

What do you do to keep your knowledge about the latest industry trends up to date?

Mangesh: I keep myself updated about the latest designs by following different social media platforms. I maintain a good rapport with all my suppliers who bring in excellent material and new ideas in light and make it possible to apply them to my designs. I also have subscribed to various magazines that provide knowledge about the latest trends in the market.

According to you, how had interior designing evolved over the years?

Understanding their requirements and expectations, coming up with a blueprint that suits their preference, and ultimately executing the plan while keeping everything within the given budget are certain challenging aspects for me.

Working in the interior design industry demands your 100% effort and the same can leave a big impact on your personal life. How do you balance your personal and professional life?

Mangesh: I have seen many changes in this field over the years. I remember when I was a kid my father used to make designs on paper using a pencil and a few measurement tools. When I started, initially I used to draw on paper and had limited measurement and designing tools. Now we have many applications, electronic instruments like iPad or Design pad, and innovative measurement tools which help us to work on the design and visualize more effectively. Frankly, I never thought about it until now. I met my wife, a doctor, during one of my interior projects. We were working on the interior of a hospital and she worked in the same hospital. We are well versed about the dedication that our job requires. We try to take out time for each other and manage the household together. I must say, matrimony is a team effort and for our team, everything is turning out just fine.

What advice would you give to the aspirants who want to join this industry?

Mangesh: There are a lot of promising opportunities in the field of Interior Designing. The enriching exposure that one gets in the field is really an attraction. The projects can get a bit challenging and engaging which is an advantage and helps us grow in various ways. The field of Interior Designing brings in the entrepreneurship potential inside a person. It’s a very satisfying profession when it comes to designing the thoughts of a client. All characteristics of an individual as a whole are tested in such a profession to bring out the best possible outcome that drives you towards your goals.

In your opinion, what are the most important characteristics of an interior designer?

Mangesh: An interior designer requires a calm and calculative mind and creativity that keeps the designer alive. Resilience is the most important characteristic that must be developed. Leadership quality is indeed required for getting the work done on time and as required. The quality to win over the client to choose us among all competitors in the market and satisfy them with the best work possible is something, I believe, every designer must possess.

Every designer has some design style that they incorporate in every work they do. What is your signature design style?

I like to give a traditional Indian touch to each design which has become my style. Depending upon the requirement of the client, we try to incorporate subtle cultural aspects into the modern contemporary interior. I also try to keep minimal furniture and infuse the design with natural ventilation and light in the home.

What is the most challenging aspect of being in this industry as an Interior designer?

We work with clients belonging to diverse cultural backgrounds and unique personalities.