Nida Mahmood: Summer Breeze

She studied to become a doctor, but realised that a white lab coat wasn’t her cup of tea. Just like her vivacious self, Nida Mahmood has built her fashion brand and home in Sarvapriya Vihar, in the capital, by smearing her hand in paint, and playing with a cacophony of shapes and colours.

How did the idea of designing interiors of Junglee Billee come up?

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I’m a creative soul. There are no boundaries in my mind. A creatively inclined person has to have the ability to create all kinds of things. Form is not a restriction for us. I find no boundaries in dividing the various creative genres; be it fashion, art or interiors. The core remains constant. My design philosophy, art translated, gives me the opportunity to view everything from the perspective of creating art, no matter which genre I choose.

Which is your favourite corner in the house?

I have an East facing home. The balcony is just divine. I have dressed it up with lots of greenery and patio furniture. I love sitting there to soak up the morning sun with my cat. Every morning, we have breakfast there together.

How did you mix and match certain elements in your home that reflect your brand’s design repertoire?

I’m a visual person, who has a strong graphic expertise. I wanted to use my graphics, interplayed with a myriad colours in my home. While making the house, I ensured it was not cluttered in any manner; hence the play with colours and graphics had to be optimum. I have used prints off-setted with solids, played with light and bright tones in correct measure to keep it easy on the eyes. While one wall in the drawing room is wallpapered, it is counterposed with a solid lime green couch. The opposite wall is plain with vintage wall plates and the chairs against this wall are printed (co-ordinated with the wallpaper on the opposite wall in co-ordinated colours).

You do interiors, design small little spaces, and also have a special place in your heart for gardening. Why not just stick to fashion?

It is one life. I have always yearned to do as many things as I’m able to do. My epitaph must read many creative choices I took in my life. I hate sitting around, so I constantly keep engaging myself in all sorts of creatively inspired projects. It keeps the spirit alive and the zest for doing more.

What are some of the elements of art and culture which you continue to extract from, while designing?

Simple, missable things of everyday life inspire me. I find it interesting to spin them around on their heads and make them dramatic. For example, my first collection “High on Chai” was inspired by a simple cup of tea, which can be such an important part of people’s lives. It was a path-breaking show, and the clothes were a complete sell-out.

If you were to change one thing about your house, what would it be?

I’m a sucker for open-air spaces. I would like to have more open space in my home; unfortunately it has small balconies.

Every season, you keep coming up with new ideas. What motivates you?

The urge to wake up every morning and do something exciting, drives me on a daily basis. No two days are similar for me, because I do so many different things. I hate a set pattern and get bored of a routine. I like to mix up different pursuits in order to keep my creative juices flowing. Therefore, it helps me build a better body of work across diverse spaces I work within.

Photographs by Parth Sharma.

From the April 2016 issue of L’Officiel India.