Meet Ramya Ramachandran | Ramya R| Interior Designer on the Rise

We had the good fortune of connecting with Ramya Ramachandran and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Ramya, is there something that you feel is most responsible for your success?

Always being curious and challenged. No is not an option for me and I push myself until I can find a way to meet my goals. I am always looking for opportunities to grow and be a better designer and I am constantly learning from my mistakes. I believe in being humble and kind and always being grateful for all my relationships, personal or professional. I love the phase, “treat others, the way you would like to be treated”

Surrounding myself with positive individuals also plays a huge factor in my success. My husband is my pillar and support, and he is consistently asking the question, “This is great but what is next; think bigger”. My family supports me with encouragement and strength. Hearing the words “I am proud of you” from my parents is so profound, it validates me, my business, my work and motivates me to keep going.

I’m passionate about what I do and hardwork comes naturally to me. I truly believe in grit, determination and staying positive.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?

Sriya designs, a meaningful combination of names from my husband’s and mine is a woman-owned business that offers Interior design services for commercial contract furniture, hospitality and residential. What began as a specialized area of expertise in commercial contract design, has morphed and open doors to various specializations in design. With Sriya Designs, I’ve been able to explore and commit to opportunities that are outside my comfort zone. Celebrating a year in the industry, I am still amazed how far I am come with a 2-page pdf of services. With over 30 clients my first year and counting, the pandemic has been a blessing in disguise. It brought light to my entrepreneur mindset and ignited my spirit to be bold and take risks, in a time of need.

Ever since a young age, I’ve known I would pursue a creative path. Having a Master’s degree from the top Interior Design college in the nation, Savannah college of Art and Design gave me individual validation, but I had to find my own path to success. It wasn’t easy; I knew that every career jump was a risk, but it was a step in the right direction. I started off my career exploring residential design for a few years, but I knew I had set my mind to do something bigger. In time, I eventually landed multiple jobs at large scale dealerships (Steelcase, Herman Miller, Allsteel) to find my specialty in commercial contract furniture. With over 12 years of industry experience, I knew it was time to start a new chapter and the pandemic was my way in.

Sriya designs is my soul and I feel an immense sense of joy, when I speak about it. I treat all my clients with uttermost respect, honesty, and gratitude. A simple thank you, please and check-in email can do wonders to a small business. I have big plans for the future, but for now, I am enjoying the subtle everyday successes along the way.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I would show them all the exciting  attractions that make Austin a vibrant city. We would start the day down south at one of my favorite brunch spots-Magnolia cafe, enjoying fresh mimosas and a hearty plate of protein packed breakfast. We would continue our day with a few tourist attractions-lady bird lake, boardwalk, zilker park, the famous congress avenue bridge to see the bat’s, a short hike up the iconic Pennyback bridge, and a stroll around congress street for vintage finds. Mid-day, we would grab lunch at taco deli for an authentic tex-mex meal. We would end the day with a high-end dinner at Emmer & Rye or Aba, pre-drinks at the Edge rooftop bar at JW Marriott for spectacular night views and a fun night around Rainey street for live music, dancing and the food truck scene.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
My husband, my parents, my sister and her family and all my industry connections. Special shoutout to my newest team member and Senior Creative Designer, Shivani Desai, who rocks challenges and is always there to pick up the pieces to solve the puzzle.

Instagram: @sriyadesigns_2021

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ramyaramachandran1

Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/rrmchndr/

Image Credits
@MADERENOVATION