ReNNovate Interiors: Smita Vijaykumar, Founder & Principal Architect

The biggest challenge is to achieve the look while keeping the cost and time in check, as well as ensuring sustainability. To do this, plywood could be chosen instead of wood to maintain strength while keeping wood-based products to a minimum. There is a great warmth and look created without excessive wall paneling. In fact, wall grooves have been used to score Plaster of Paris walls in order to achieve the wood paneled effect. Engineered wood employs wall molding. Older artefacts and furniture are seamlessly integrated into the design without being mindlessly discarded.

Our aim is to create easy to maintain and environmentally sensitive homes that are time and cost sensitive as well.
Smita Vijaykumar

A very overlooked fact is the reduced waste and debris caused by over ordering, excessive wastage due to design sizing, and lack of resale of materials. Non-biodegradable, plastic based finishes are the root of large land fill dumping. We are always looking for locally sourced materials that enhance the strength, aesthetics and ecological impact of the spaces.


Lifecycle maintenance is also a very undervalued tenet. The lesser the time and effort to maintain a design, the longer it is used and the lesser is the impact on landfills and dumping yards. The finishes we use are low-VOC based, the glues are non-VOC, and paints are also water based. Such homes do not cause throat or eye allergies that result from VOC paints.