Based in Kolkata, Scarlet Splendour brings luxe design to the world by offering an eclectic collection of furniture, lighting and accessories that crosses the boundaries of countries and time. Co-founded by siblings Ashish Bajoria and Suman Kanodia, Scarlet Splendour works closely with a number of internationally acclaimed designers who each bring their own creative flair to the brand. In this interview, the duo shares with us more about their collections.
Can you tell us about yourself? How did you come about establishing Scarlet Splendour?
I have been running an engineering business in Kolkata for twenty years and my sister, Suman Kanodia, has been an interior designer for just as long! We both have a passion for all things eccentric and believe that the extraordinary should be every day. Since our childhood, we were encouraged to look at life with an eye on art and design which inculcated a deep sense of appreciation and aesthetics which has manifested itself in every aspect of our lives. We founded Scarlet Splendour in 2014 with a view to integrate their maximalist sensibilities with a world view and become possibly the first design editors in India. The company heralds a blend of the cultures and transcends geographical boundaries to achieve the extraordinary in the design world. This is seen in the partnerships and collaborations with designers, artists, press agencies, and stores worldwide.
Your collections are really unique. Can you tell us more about them? Which are some of the bestsellers or highlights of your brand?
Scarlet Splendour as a brand brings luxe design to the world by offering an eclectic collection of furniture, lighting and accessories that cross the boundaries of countries and time. We perceive ourselves as a global design company from the inception. Our designs follow international interior designs and decor trends which we why our collections are very unique and very distinguished from others.
The brand debuted at Milan Design Week 2015 with two collections designed by Matteo Cibic – the Vanilla Noir furniture collection, and the Luce Naga light collection. Since then we have added a number of other lines including the Karesansui collection of carpets in New Zealand wool and viscose, as well as Fools’ Gold, Flora, Terra, Mandala, Cirrus, Nesso, Carrara and Raindrops to name a few. We have some new collections coming out soon as well, so keep an eye out for those!
The General study table and Woman in Paris dressing table are some of the best sellers of the Vanilla Noir collection. The side table Glee and Bliss console are highly sought after from the Fools’ Gold collection. Recently, the Lotus Sanctum temple from our Mandala collection has also been a big hit globally!
How do you select the designers you collaborate with? What are the criteria?
There are no set criteria for deciding to collaborate with a particular designer. We admire and work with remarkable men and women whose designs transcend conventionality with their designs, yet are functional. We look for designers who have the same kind of design sensibilities as ours and have made their mark in the design world with their trail blazing work.
What sets Scarlet Splendour apart from others?
We bring luxe design to the world by collaborating with international designers like Matteo Cibic, Dario Contessotto & Mirco Colussi and Nika Zupanc. We use only the finest of materials combined exemplary craftsmanship to create products which have a global appeal. We offer an eclectic collection of furniture, lighting and accessories which are timeless, artistic and functional.
In your opinion, what’s important to have in a home? What are the key elements that ensure a harmonious decor theme?
In our opinion, a harmonious home décor theme should have a combination of things, the right colour scheme, products that go well together and above all reflect the owner’s tastes to make it unique and personal at the same time. The furniture of the house should be considered as artworks or as storytelling objects about its members.
