In her discussion with Prittle Prattle News, the K T Designs founder details the steps, insights and practical choices that define her design process for private homes.
Karishma Trehan outlines how she approaches residential work at K T Designs with a focus on clear planning, natural light and day-to-day usability. Her process is shaped by careful observation, structured decision making and steady client input. The interview offers a straightforward look at how she studies a space and builds a design direction grounded in practical use.
- When you enter a new space, do you look for silence, proportion, or potential? What speaks to you first before the design begins?
I always look for potential first, the quiet possibilities a space holds long before the first sketch is made. Every room carries its own story, and I try to sense how light, scale and movement could shape it. That first impression becomes the foundation of my design process. - You believe a home should feel lived, loved and truly yours. What decisions help you move beyond just decorating a space and into shaping how it feels?
For me, the feeling of a home comes through intentional choices, personal objects, layered textures and layouts that align with a family’s daily rhythm. I design with real life in mind, creating spaces that feel warm, lived in and closely connected to the people who inhabit them. - In your studio’s approach, functionality and elegance are always side by side. Is there a project where this balance felt especially difficult or rewarding?
Absolutely. A compact urban apartment we designed recently tested that balance. The space was limited, yet the client wanted a calm and refined environment. Merging efficient planning with an elegant look required precision, but seeing that harmony come together was extremely rewarding. It reinforced my belief that practicality and refinement can work together. - You have said that space is the breath of art. What does that idea look like when translated into a real room, especially one in a city like Gurgaon?
In a fast-moving city like Gurgaon, this idea turns into creating rooms that feel open, steady and light filled. Natural materials, balanced proportions and clear layouts provide relief from the intensity of the city. It is about letting the home support you and giving your surroundings room to settle and breathe. - When a client is unsure of their own style, where do you begin? How do you help them discover a design language that feels like theirs?
I begin with conversations, gentle and intuitive discussions about their memories, preferences, lifestyle patterns and visual cues. Mood boards become a guide, showing possibilities until their own aesthetic becomes clear. My role is to help them recognise what they naturally gravitate toward and shape those choices into a coherent direction. - Every project you take on seems rooted in natural light, airy planning and materials that carry meaning. Which of these elements do you never compromise on?
Natural light, always. It is the core of every space and changes a room throughout the day. It affects energy, mood and the way materials appear. I believe a space without natural light feels incomplete. - In a market filled with lookalike luxury, how do you preserve originality in every project? Do you rely more on instinct, research, or listening?
Originality begins with listening. Understanding who my clients are and what matters to them sets the direction. Instinct and research help refine it, guiding me toward choices that suit each client. No two people are the same, which is why no two homes I design ever look the same. - Your brand’s presence on Instagram is strong without being loud. Do you see social media as a design tool, a portfolio, or something else altogether?
I see Instagram as a place for sharing the thought behind the work. It lets me show the process, the craftsmanship, the details and the considerations that shape a space. It is less about display and more about sharing the work in a simple and honest way. - What role does memory play in your design process? Have you ever brought a childhood influence or personal ritual into a client space?
Memory shapes the emotional part of design. Spaces feel more meaningful when they include traces of personal history. I often bring clients’ rituals or familiar elements into the home, such as reading corners inspired by their childhood routines or areas styled around heirlooms. These touches make a space feel recognisable and comforting. - The phrase high-end yet human appears often in your testimonials. What does it mean to you, and how do you make sure the design never feels cold?
To me, this means combining refinement with warmth. Luxury should feel welcoming rather than distant. I achieve this with textures, soft lighting, tactile materials and personal details that add familiarity. The goal is a space that feels polished but still lived in. - If you had to create a space just for yourself, one that no one else would see, what would it include? What would it leave behind?
It would be filled with natural light, books, art and quiet corners, a space meant for reflection. I would leave behind anything excessive. Simplicity, calm and authenticity would define it.
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