Rooted in style | Raahul Kukreja Studio, Alwar

Dressed in attire that gracefully screams casual cool, Raahul Kukreja truly embodies effortless chic. He’s a far cry from the Hindi-medium, Alwar-born draughtsman who bought design magazines at the local railway station. The popular interior stylist known for breathing life into any space traded the predictable for the personal, launching a studio that serves as both a creative laboratory and a tribute to his textile-heritage roots. His journey is a beautiful lesson in intuition and grit.

SANCTUARY FOR THE SOUL

Located two hours from the frantic pace of Delhi, Kukreja’s studio in Alwar is a deliberate escape. While he has an office in Gurgaon, this space is special. “The soul connects over there,” he explains. For Kukreja, the commute is a way to decouple from the noise and focus purely on the craft of styling, proving that geographic distance doesn’t mean a loss of relevance.

MAKING A NAME

How does a stylist with no connections make a mark in an industry he knows no one? Thirteen years ago, Kukreja arrived in Delhi as a “lost guy” who spoke no English and lacked formal design training. He built his reputation through a two-fold strategy: connecting with photographers (the gatekeepers of visual aesthetics) and using Instagram as a personal manifesto. By the end of the pandemic, a wave of new designers sought his professional lift to give their debut projects an edge.

STYLIST VS DESIGNER

Kukreja is clear about the distinction between his work and traditional architecture. “You need a designer for the civil work and structure,” he says, adding, “but the stylist is about the lift.” He views styling as an extension of a homeowner’s happiness, a versatile, dust-free way to refresh a space without the commitment of a full renovation.

GLOBAL ROADMAP

Five years into his independent practice, Kukreja manages a borderless portfolio. His projects range from luxury fusion homes in Gurgaon’s Camellias to collaborations with Afghani clients in London. His next chapter involves a curated product line sourcing unique decor from Nagaland to Tibet, blending a distinct Indian aesthetic with modern sensibilities.

In an industry obsessed with the next big thing, Kukreja remains refreshingly defiant. He ignores fleeting trends, choosing instead to let his intuition lead. From a Hindi-medium student in Alwar to a stylist with a global footprint, he has proven that when you build your own roadmap, the world eventually catches up to your vision.

Photographs by Manish Kumar Photography- Delhi