Adil Ahmad, who was the guest on The Navhind Times talk show, Talk from the Heart, is an interior designer whose work speaks volumes. His creations are not just soulful and timeless but also deeply rooted in culture and heritage.
From royal residences to private retreats, his interiors tell stories and his design style is very distinct. “I describe it as rooted in the past but very much forward-looking and thinking. I call it contemporary colonial, inspired by the home I grew up in, which was Indo-Saracenic. We brought that style into a contemporary milieu and now my style as people call it is a little more maximalist and layered,” he stated.
Despite his distinct signature, he emphasized that his work is not about imposing his own taste but interpreting his clients’ wishes and sensibilities. “What inspires or encourages me to take a particular style in a home is the bone structure of that home and what my clients want. I like to bring out the intrinsic style of the home or the people I’m designing for,” he said.
Ahmad who left school when he was around 13 years old, spoke about the experiences and influences that shaped his organic journey in to the world of design. He recounted how besides the lasting impression of his home and surroundings, his calling in life had already taken root. “Even as a child I was drawn to interiors and would buy interior design magazines, at a time when no one had even heard of interior designing as a profession. But I always knew that I wanted to be doing something in the creative field or doing something with design,” he shared.
His first paid project which he did when he was 16, paved the way to other bigger projects and as he said, he never looked back. “I never considered it a profession as it just started as a natural culmination of my interest. So for me it’s always just been my hobby which has become my profession now,” he said.
When asked how he weaves stories into his work, Ahmad offered a frank view and said, “People think there’s a lot of storytelling or deep thought behind it but for me, it’s very organic. It just happens naturally. When I meet a client or see a space for the first time, it’s like a vision or epiphany that comes to me. It’s not some grand plan or premeditated story, it is instinct.”
Ahmad’s work with its intricate details and different textures is visually rich and intense. Commenting on this perception he added, “You can love my work or hate it but you can’t ignore it. I have a strong viewpoint. That’s either my greatest strength or possibly my drawback. I don’t follow trends or the herd. I follow instinct. If a client comes to me, it’s for my vision and if they don’t want that, they’re free to go elsewhere.”
He also spoke passionately about his unwavering support for indigenous Indian craftsmanship and materials, especially at a time when “Made in India” has become a cliché. He pointed to India’s extraordinary legacy in textiles, brocades, carpet weaving, inlay work and more.
