From candlelit dinners by hotel-trained chefs to spa-like bathrooms, Indian hospitals are now offering new mothers the chance to actually enjoy the childbirth experience

The town of Coonoor is an AD favourite—for its rolling hills, its Neelakurinji flowers, its sunsets, and its colonial bungalows. And now for another reason: Pavitra Rajaram and Paul Abraham’s restored home that embodies a very particular kind of love for collecting and curating.

Designer Pavitra Rajaram’s collection for Jaipur Rugs is taking stories of history, syncretism and tradition to the Salone del Mobile.

The brand with its reigning hold on tiles for floors and walls since 1922 has yet again challenged the fundamentals of creativity in collaboration with Pavitra Rajaram, Founder and Creative Director of her multifaceted design practice, Pavitra Rajaram Design. Farsh, the capsule collection of floor and wall tiles resounds with a milestone-worthy spirit.

Amid lush paddy fields and an abundance of wild lotuses, nestled on the banks of the Thamirabarani river in Tamil Nadu, is Pattamadai village, which a community of skilled artisans calls home. Here, they handcraft fine reed, unique to the region, into soft, supple mats—an alchemy of sorts that transforms the grass to silk. This hamlet has a curious connection with three new luxury villas in cosmopolitan Goa: it instils in them an approach to design mindfully, sustainably and consciously.

One of the key tenets of Buddhist architecture is this idea of wholeness in nothingness and this is the philosophy that the team wanted to bring – calmness and unbound happiness. AD100 architect Pavitra Rajaram, creative director, Pavitra Rajaram Design who was roped in to design both these spaces says Upasana wanted a sense of serenity and calmness all around.

Pavitra Rajaram makes her spaces more about people, and less about things. Step into designer Pavitra Rajaram’s eclectically designed home decor to discover her skill at layering and finding unusual ways to mix and match. Click here to catch a glimpse of Mumbai as you’ve never seen it before! Check out our social media handles for inspirational interior decor and design ideas.

Pavitra Rajaram starts her day early, lounging on the majestic takhth (traditional low seating) in her living room, soft light streaming through the large windows of her balcony which holds her favourite Champa tree. And beyond the balcony is the expanse of Byculla and Rani Bagh made breath-taking, in a way only the Mumbai skyline can be, from her 29th-floor apartment. After work, in the evening, Rajaram swaps the takhth for a vintage leather couch she can sink into on the other side of the living room—with yet another stunning view, this time of the sun setting behind the docks.

The Art of Slow Design: In conversation with Yogesh Chaudhary and Pavitra Rajaram

This year for the Salone Milano, Jaipur Rugs in partnership with Pavitra Rajaram, a multidisciplinary designer launched “Majnun” – a collection of carpets that celebrates “ancient weaving traditions”, “generational craftsmanship”, and “the power of purposeful design”.

Designer Pavitra Rajaram's collaboration with Jaipur Rugs has resulted in a stunning collection of carpets called Majnun at the ongoing Salone del Mobile 2023 in Milan. Rajaram's artistic talent is evident in her tribute to the magnificent heritage of the Indian subcontinent. Her work beautifully reinterprets classic motifs like the Shikargah from English country homes, the mesmerizing tantric tiger rugs of Tibet, the weeping willow motif of Chinese scroll paintings and the folk tradition of Afghan war carpets into a modern language that blends ancient designs with contemporary sensibilities.

Sipahi is part of the new Majnun collection designed by Pavitra Rajaram—founder-creative director of the eponymous multidisciplinary firm that works in interior design, graphic design and brand strategy—in collaboration with Jaipur Rugs. “Majnun is rooted in the history, geography, and storytelling of carpets that originated in Persia, China, and India and made their way through time to a global audience around the world,” states the catalogue note.

Jaipur Rugs has collaborated with interior designer Pavitra Rajaram for an exclusive collection of carpets — Majnun — that celebrates ancient weaving traditions, generational craftsmanship, and purposeful design. The Majnun Collection, while entrenched in the ancient culture and weaving traditions from Persia, China, and India, is a decisive step towards contemporising history. It celebrates the resilience and passion for art and is a testament to the enduring legacy of timeless craftsmanship.

Pavitra Rajaram Studio is known for its innovative designs that blend traditional and contemporary styles.‎ The Majnun - that means crazy - rugs collection is a reflection of the culture and heritage of iconic carpet traditions from the Indian Subcontinent, showcasing intricate patterns and designs that have been passed down through generations.‎

Seven years ago, on a boat ride to Alibaug, designer Pavitra Rajaram and Bharat Floorings & Tiles Vice Chairman Firdaus Variava discussed a collaboration in passing. By the time they disembarked, the idea became a thought. But for the next seven years, it had little room to grow. That changed in 2020. To mark the centenary celebrations of Bharat Floorings & Tiles, Firdaus was keen to launch a special centennial collection. And that long-ago conversation with Pavitra seemed like a wonderful thing to manifest. "We were looking for someone to do a spectacular collaboration with. someone whom we loved and respected enormously and who would give us timeless designs and who better for this than Pavitra? He says of the collection launched in 2022.

Majnun, the latest collection of carpets by Pavitra Rajaram in collaboration with Jaipur Rugs, is a grand celebration of the ancient art of weaving and is a vivid reflection of the designer's 'mad love' for carpets. "Majnun reflects my mad love for carpets and the extent that I would personally go to lug back carpets from my travels.

For this year’s Salone del Mobile in Milan (Apr. 18 – 23) considered the global benchmark event for the furnishing and design sector, leading social enterprise Jaipur Rugs from India has collaborated with multidisciplinary Indian designer Pavitra Rajaram to create a new rug collection that celebrates ancient weaving history, generational craftsmanship and the power of purposeful design.

A graceful design adaptation of the “Nizaras” or Mughal Viewing Tents that were used by the Maharajas as a temporary place of stay or while they were out hunting in the forest, Nizara is created using wood panels featuring Inlay, Etching and Tarkashi work on them.

In the wake of the pandemic, I wanted bursts of colour and a maximalist’s vision of an intimate gathering at home. I redid the whole space, now the overall look is inspired by nature, bringing in a calmer feel and warmth as well. The idea was the break from traditional Christmas colours and themes; as well as create nooks to enjoy well after the party ends and moves till the new year.

At the helm of the interiors is the much-acclaimed Pavitra Rajaram, who spent days researching Goa’s history, trading routes and connections with the rest of the world before starting the project. On entering Cotton House, two pieces of art catch the eye: first, a striking neon light sculpture titled ‘The Rivers of Goa’ by Yaazd Contractor, and second, an installation of 50 birds taking flight called ‘Freedom’, conceptualised by Rajaram and made by origami artist Aditi Anuj.

Nestled between palm trees, forests and hills, these three luxury villas in Assagao are just the place to embrace the susegad way of life.

The homes are built in Assagao, an area which used to be a forest but over the years of urbanisation, much of it has been destroyed. “One of our focus points was bringing nature into the project. The first part of our brief was – can we bring this forest back?” explains Pavitra Rajaram, the talented interior designer of the project.

In this series, we take you on a journey through design. To be more precise, we share with you the entire process of design, from the concept to the realization of the virtual installation of each of our designers in collaboration. Pavitra Rajaram’s collaboration with Orvi resulted in a stunning rendition inspired by the Mughal Baradari.

Designer Pavitra Rajaram has a vibrant professional history—and now, an office to match. She recently moved her practice into a converted fourth-floor apartment in Mumbai's Dhanraj Mahal—one of the city's choicest pieces of real estate. The 1930s Art Deco building, which was once the palace of Raja Dhanrajgir of Hyderabad, is tucked away in a plush courtyard in the metropolis' vibrant Colaba neighbourhood. The location offers the rare luxury of sunlit-strewn, green-cloaked privacy right in the heart of Mumbai's tourist district.

“The instinctive feeling I got when I entered this space was of homecoming. The simplicity of the place makes one feel at ease, just like a home, and this became the starting point for our journey. ‘Simple, elegant, unpretentious' kept reverberating along the design process. Riyaaz stressed creating a mood that was dreamy rather than loud and jarring. A space that is intimate yet mature” elaborates Pavitra. “The original art we created was inspired by the stories of Marquez and the art of Frida Kahlo and Olaf Hajek.”