Bridging Indoor and Outdoor Living: The Garden Room’s Innovative Journey

The Garden Room is a trailblazing brand that seamlessly blends indoor and outdoor living through innovative luxury furnishings and architectural lighting. Style Essentials spoke with the founders of The Garden Room: Arihant Jain, Smriti Agarwal, Siddhant Agarwal, and Srivats Kejriwal, to delve into their journey and vision. Their unique approach aims to create harmonious spaces that bring the best of both worlds, emphasizing design, comfort, and sustainability.

Can you tell us about the inception of The Garden Room? What inspired you to start this venture?

The inception of The Garden Room was significantly influenced by the COVID-19 pandemic, which acted as a pivotal turning point for us. During this time, we deeply contemplated how to merge the indoor and outdoor experiences seamlessly. Our vision was to eliminate the boundaries between indoor and outdoor spaces, creating a unique environment where people could enjoy the best of both worlds. Our team consists of individuals who are profoundly inspired by nature. We wanted to share the invigorating energy that comes from being outdoors with everyone. This idea of breaking free from the confinement of four walls has always driven us, symbolizing a broader concept of breaking barriers in life. Furthermore, The Garden Room is a collective effort of like-minded people who are passionate about achieving this shared vision. Together, we strive to create a space where people can connect with nature and each other, fostering a sense of community and well-being.

How has your journey been so far in the luxury furnishing and architectural lighting industry?

The industry is big with a lot of competition. There’s no space for mediocrity. Everyone wants the best and a bang for their buck. We started out being retailers and soon realized that we had to get the quality and timelines in our control and set up a factory taking full manufacturing under our control within 1.5 years of starting. In architectural lighting, our sister concern has been in the industry for 35 years and we not only harp on good quality during the production process but also believe in post-sales service. We are our clients’ partners for life.

The Garden Room offers a diverse range of products, from outdoor furniture to lighting and concrete panels. What is the design philosophy behind your product offerings?

The Garden Room’s design philosophy is grounded in a blend of form, function, and innovation. While the form of our products is crucial, their functionality takes precedence, ensuring that every piece not only looks beautiful but also serves its purpose effectively. Comfort is a fundamental aspect of our design ethos, as we believe that true elegance is achieved when beauty and comfort coexist harmoniously. We are never afraid to experiment and create new things. This adventurous spirit allows us to continuously push boundaries and explore uncharted territories in design. Our approach is a synergy of storytelling and design, where each product tells its own unique story through its aesthetic and utility.  We take pride in the brilliance of our execution, finding beauty in every detail and aspect of our work. To be a visionary in this field, one must be willing to break the rules and challenge the status quo. At The Garden Room, we embrace this philosophy, constantly striving to innovate and redefine the boundaries of design.

How do you ensure the balance between innovative design practices and traditional manufacturing techniques in your products?

At The Garden Room, we ensure the balance between innovative design practices and traditional manufacturing techniques by trusting the process and embracing an amalgamation of what has been tried and tested with what lies ahead. We deeply respect the craftsmanship and reliability of traditional methods, which provide a solid foundation for our work.

At the same time, we are constantly looking forward, integrating cutting-edge design practices and modern technology to push the boundaries of what’s possible. This combination allows us to create products that are both timeless and contemporary, ensuring they meet the highest standards of quality and innovation. By blending the best of both worlds, we achieve a harmonious balance that defines our unique approach to design and manufacturing.

Could you highlight some of the notable projects that The Garden Room has been involved in?

ITC group, Taj Hotels, Marriott Group, One8 Commune, Reliance Brands like Brook Brothers, Ritu Kumar, AK-OK, Pret a Manger; Romeo Lane, Vietnom & Bawrii, Delhi Art Gallery, Embassy of Lithuania, Hoegaarden airport lounge, Biergarten Bangalore to name a few

How do you tailor your products to meet the unique needs and aesthetic preferences of your clients?

At The Garden Room, we tailor our products to meet the unique needs and aesthetic preferences of our clients by adhering to the principle that good design is simple design without losing its essence. We believe simplicity involves subtracting the obvious and adding the meaningful, ensuring that each product we create is both functional and beautiful.

Every project we undertake is driven by a unique idea—a core concept that reimagines, rethinks, and redefines traditional design approaches. Rather than focusing solely on form or aesthetics, we delve into the heart of the project, bringing fresh perspectives and innovative solutions to the table.

We see ourselves as design partners, not just vendors. This mindset allows us to truly understand our clients’ requirements and make intelligent, insightful suggestions. Whether working with architects, interior designers, commercial clients, or residential clients, we collaborate closely throughout the entire process. This partnership approach ensures a tailored experience that perfectly suits their needs, and our clients appreciate the premium service and products we provide.

Having our own manufacturing unit is an added advantage, allowing us to maintain high standards of quality and customization. Our team, consisting of four young, go-getter individuals, is dedicated to building strong, long-lasting relationships with our clients by going the extra mile. This commitment to excellent service and collaboration helps us deliver exceptional results and foster enduring client partnerships.

Sustainability is a growing concern in the design industry. How does The Garden Room incorporate sustainable practices in its manufacturing and design processes?

At The Garden Room, we are deeply committed to incorporating sustainable practices in our manufacturing and design processes to address the growing concern for sustainability in the design industry.

One of our key practices is recycling aluminium pieces that are cut out during the manufacturing process. This not only minimizes waste but also ensures that we make the most efficient use of materials. Additionally, our outdoor rugs are crafted from recycled plastic, providing a stylish and eco-friendly option for our clients.

To further reduce our environmental impact, we employ TIG welding, which produces fewer fumes and significantly reduces carbon emissions compared to traditional welding methods. This technique aligns with our goal to create a healthier and more sustainable manufacturing environment.

We also use reclaimed wood in our products, giving new life to materials that would otherwise go to waste. This approach not only preserves natural resources but also adds a unique character and story to each piece we create.

Through these practices, The Garden Room strives to contribute to a more sustainable future while delivering high-quality, thoughtfully designed products to our clients.

Can you discuss any specific initiatives The Garden Room has taken to promote ethical and environmentally friendly practices?

The Garden Room prioritises ethical and environmentally friendly practices throughout its manufacturing and design processes. Here are some key initiatives:

– Minimising Waste: We recycle leftover aluminium pieces from production, maximising material usage and reducing waste.

– Sustainable Materials: Our outdoor rugs are crafted from recycled plastic, offering buyers a stylish and eco-friendly option.

– Reduced Emissions: We utilise TIG welding, a technique that minimises fumes and significantly reduces carbon emissions compared to traditional methods. This promotes a healthier manufacturing environment and lower environmental impact.

– Reclaimed Wood: We incorporate reclaimed wood in our products, giving new life to valuable materials and adding a unique story to each piece. This approach conserves natural resources while creating distinctive furniture.

– Managerial Initiative: Upskilling grassroots people to take managerial positions.

By implementing these practices, The Garden Room demonstrates its commitment to a sustainable future, offering its clients high-quality, environmentally conscious products.

What are some of the current trends in the luxury furnishing and architectural lighting industry that you find exciting?

In the luxury furnishing and architectural lighting industry, several current trends excite us at The Garden Room:

1. Straight Clean Lines:There’s a growing preference for designs featuring straight, clean lines that exude elegance and simplicity. This trend reflects a move towards minimalism, where the focus is on clarity and precision in design.

2. Minimal Yet Meaningful:Minimalism continues to dominate, but with an emphasis on meaning. Each design element serves a purpose, ensuring that spaces are not only beautiful but also functional. This approach aligns with our belief that good design involves subtracting the obvious and adding the meaningful.

3. Highlighting the Obvious:Another exciting trend is the emphasis on highlighting the obvious. This involves showcasing natural materials, structural elements, and functional features in their purest forms, celebrating their inherent beauty and functionality.

4. Duality:The concept of duality in design is gaining traction, where pieces serve multiple purposes or present contrasting characteristics. This could be through combining different materials, such as metal and wood, or blending traditional and modern design elements to create a harmonious yet dynamic aesthetic.

These trends resonate with our design philosophy at The Garden Room, inspiring us to create innovative and sophisticated products that meet the evolving tastes and preferences of our clients.

What are the biggest challenges you face in this industry, and how do you address them?

One of the biggest challenges we face in the luxury furnishing and architectural lighting industry is creating awareness and introducing people to the concept of outdoor luxury living. Many individuals still hold the mindset that luxury is confined to indoor spaces, and our goal is to shift this perception.

To address this, we focus on conveying our vision that outdoor living can be just as luxurious, comfortable, and stylish as indoor living. This involves showcasing the beauty, functionality, and elegance of our outdoor furniture and lighting solutions, demonstrating that outdoor spaces can be transformed into high-end living areas.

Another challenge is changing the habitual mindset of people to be more open to radical and innovative ideas. We strive to inspire clients to embrace new possibilities in outdoor design and see the potential for creating exceptional outdoor environments.

Education plays a crucial role in our approach. We educate individuals about the different materials we use and how they require minimal maintenance, making them ideal for fast-paced living. By highlighting the durability and ease of care of our products, we help clients see how luxury outdoor living can seamlessly integrate into their lifestyles.

Through these efforts, we aim to overcome these challenges and pave the way for a broader acceptance and appreciation of luxury outdoor living.

What are your plans for The Garden Room? Are there any new products or expansions we should look forward to?

Working on creating a new collection inspired by the elements of nature. Also, we want to continue to build a brand name so that we become synonymous with the outdoor luxury furniture market. We also want to take part in design exhibitions and become a household name.

How do you see the industry evolving in the next five years, and what role do you envision for The Garden Room in that future?

Earlier outdoor furniture was basic with just one type of material and that was plastic. Now there’s lots of innovation in design and material and this will continue to happen. There will be high inter-movement between what’s indoor and outdoor- people want their outdoor areas to look as pretty as their indoor counterparts. We will continue to innovate from a design perspective. With technological advancements, we feel more and more tech innovation will come into play in the industry and it’ll be important to change to remain relevant. We have to be nimble and dynamic.

What motivates you personally to keep innovating and pushing the boundaries in this field?

We call ourselves modern-day humanists – It’s not about selling a product anymore. It’s about selling an experience, an emotion, a memory. We aim to create a radical alchemy across disciplines.

Do you have any advice for young entrepreneurs who aspire to enter the luxury design and furnishing industry?

Ideas are baseless without execution and good service to back them up. If your execution is strong, nothing can stop you from becoming successful.