We recently connected with Radhika Vydianathan and have shared our conversation below.
Alright, Radhika thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. What were some of the most unexpected problems you’ve faced in your career and how did you resolve those issues?
Well, there are many problems and issues I could talk about. But today I am going to touch upon migration to online furniture shopping. People don’t pay attention to how a product is made, it’s quality, etc. They get attracted to the price and return/ exchange policy offered by the vendor. This approach leads to frustration as most of the times the products come damaged or defective, not comfortable, color is not truly represented and eventually leading to delay in project completion; with a space which isn’t fully curated to express their personality and lifestyle.
A recent survey of my clients carrying out home furnishing projects revealed that over 40% of online purchases had to be returned due to the above mentioned reasons. The pandemic has also further added delays in processing returns.
Homeowners hire me because, we educate them about these pitfalls during our on-boarding process. We like to gain our clients trust from the beginning of the project and set realistic expectations. This results in a thoughtfully laid out space with quality products that provide the highest ROI on their investments.
As an example, in one of our design processes we take our clients to local furniture showrooms so that they can touch and feel the products, understand how it’s made, test it’s quality and comfort before making a purchase. Thereby avoiding buyer’s remorse. And with our white glove service, my team does the heavy lifting of managing orders, inspecting furnishings and finally overseeing installation. This type of service not only benefits my clients, but also local furnishings businesses and craftsmen.
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers
About myself:
Coffee lover, proud fur mom of an adopted tripod dog, organized, patient, perfectionist who always keeps the best interest in mind for her clients.
Fondly called ” Rad”, I was always drawn towards architecture since school days and it was during my final year of graduating in Finance that I knew Interior Design was my true calling. Had to assure my dad that this wasn’t any short lived teenage fascination, gained his support and since then there was no looking back.
With a double Bachelors degree in Interior design (SCAD, Atlanta) and Finance (Mumbai, India) and 10 years of work experience in this industry has enabled me to bridge the gaps between creativity, budgeting and project management. My industry colleagues call me ” The detail Queen” or “One with an engineering head and a designer’s eye”
Kalaa Chakra Interiors ( KCI Design), is a full service residential interior design firm, specializing in home furnishings, new home builds and interior remodels. We are known for setting realistic expectations by providing a structured road map before commencement of any project. With our strong communication and project management skills, we are able to collaborate with Builders and General Contractors and successfully bring your vision to life in a timely fashion.
What makes me proud is when I am able to see the joy, contentment in my clients eyes once the project is completed. When they tell me how much they love their home, gives me the strength and passion to excel in my craft.
Any stories or insights that might help us understand how you’ve built such a strong reputation?
By setting realistic expectations with my clients during the on boarding process and meeting the timeline for project completion within the agreed investments.
We’d love to hear the story of how you built up your social media audience?
It organically grew and continues to do so. Advise to those starting out; just keep posting what’s relevant and you wish to express, be consistent and don’t overthink. Don’t compare or compete, you will create your own tribe and individuals who value your expertise. When it gets too much to manage outsource this aspect to a freelancer or a marketing firm.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.kcidesign.net
- Instagram: @kcidesign
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KCI.ATL/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/radhika-vydianathan-kci-design/
- Other: https://www.houzz.com/pro/kalaachakrainteriors/kalaa-chakra-interiors
Image Credits
Photo Credits: Marc Mauldin Photography