SARAH SHAM: DECODING THE NEW-AGE BUSINESS OF DESIGN

A RAY OF SUNSHINE, SHE STRONGLY BELIEVES THAT ‘THOUGHTS BECOME THINGS’. SHE PICKS HER CLIENTS NOT BY PROJECT SIZE OR BUDGET, BUT BY THE VIBE SHE GETS FROM THEM. IF YOUR ENERGIES SYNERGISE WITH HERS, THIS LADY IS SURE TO GIVE YOUR PROJECT HER BEST! SHE IS SARAH SHAM, FOURTH GENERATION OF THE 110-YEAR-OLD ESSAJEES FAMILY. NOW, SHE IS MAKING HER OWN IDENTITY AS AN INTERIOR DESIGNER, WHILST KEEPING UP WITH THE LEGACY OF HER FAMILY BUSINESS.

- SUMISHA GILOTRA

You might have seen her on Instagram, handing out tips on how to impress a client, or making fun reels on trending songs. But behind that gorgeous face and fun personality is a detail loving, open minded interior designer. She spent 5 years at Essajees, one of India’s leading luxury furniture brands, and worked on some fabulous projects, including the Ambani Home, Gautam Singhania’s home and Taj Downtown, Dubai. Having garnered experience in high-end craftsmanship at Essajees, she went on to complete a 2-year interior design degree.

She started her firm Essajees Atelier in 2014 and has completed over 45 projects across the country. Her projects include multiple luxury homes in Kolkata, 20,000 sq ft penthouses in Hyderabad, holiday homes in Goa and multiple luxury spaces in Mumbai, including a show flat for a prominent builder. Since starting Essajees Atelier, Sarah and her team have won numerous awards - Interior Designer of the Year by WADE Asia, India Design’s top 10 Interior Designers in India and Trends Magazine’s award for the Best Hospitality Project of the year, amongst many others.

Sumisha Gilotra talks to Sarah about how she ‘Made her own Identity’ as a luxury designer in such a short span of time and more…

Was it destiny or was it all planned? How did you become an interior designer and start your own atelier?