Creating soulful, high-end spaces that blend creativity and functionality!
Most of us remember the first time a space truly felt like home, a room that breathed comfort, reflected personality, and inspired calm. For Payal Kapoor, that feeling became a calling. From childhood, she was drawn to how spaces form emotions, noticing how light, color, and form could transform everyday life. That fascination led her to the prestigious Interiors School, where she refined her natural talent into a skill that would define her career.
Crafting Vision into Reality: The Foundation
Payal began her interior design journey in 1987, blending creativity with precision. She launched her career with one of India’s top design firms of the time, Manasara. Here, she quickly gained essential experience in concepts and refined her philosophy of design as both functional and soulful. Recognizing the need for practical, on-site knowledge to complement her vision, she later went on to work with another major firm, Craftsmen (the design division of Dream City), to gain robust execution and project management experience before embarking on her own venture.
Clients quickly recognized her gift: the ability to create spaces that feel personal yet timeless, luxurious yet approachable. Every project became more than décor; it became an environment that tells a story.
In 1991, she founded her own firm, Visions. The venture was a declaration of autonomy, a professional space where her signature approach—fearless creativity grounded in empathy—could flourish without compromise. Visions became the stage for original thinking, allowing her to formalize a design philosophy that explores every dimension, from functional efficiency to emotional impact.
Designing Spaces That Resonate
Payal has established herself as a defining force in high-end design circles. Her work captures the essence of every space, creating environments that feel alive and purposeful. She approaches each project as a story waiting to be told, where form and function meet elegance and identity.
Her portfolio encompasses landmarks and notable institutions that reflect her versatility and vision:
- Umaid Bhawan Palace in Jodhpur, now a Taj 5-star heritage hotel, showcases her refined touch.
- The Imperial Hotel in New Delhi gains a renewed sense of elegance through her design sensibilities.
- D. Goenka World School, Vasant Kunj, blends learning with thoughtful, visually inspiring spaces.
- TATA’s Corporate Office demonstrates a seamless integration of professional efficiency and refined taste.
- Luxury trains such as the Palace on Wheels and Sambhar Express come alive with immersive, thematic interiors.
- PVR Mega Mall in Gurgaon transforms into an experiential destination under her guidance.
Each project exemplifies her ability to elevate spaces into memorable experiences, leaving a lasting impression that merges beauty, functionality, and identity.
Formulating with Meaning
Payal approaches design as an exploration of purpose and individuality. Every space presents a unique narrative, and she carefully interprets these stories to create environments that feel authentic and enduring. Her focus lies in crafting experiences that align with the lives and aspirations of those who inhabit them.
Clients bring varied expectations; some seek originality, others desire creativity, while many consider functionality, durability, and emotional resonance. Payal listens attentively to these perspectives and translates them into thoughtful, harmonious designs.
Her work spans historic residences to modern offices, each reflecting a balance between adaptability and identity. Through this attentive process, she ensures that every space is both meaningful and lasting.
Claiming a Space in Design
There comes a point when recognition and achievements highlight the need for independence. Payal recalls a moment when her creative vision and identity as an Interior Designer required protection. It became essential to establish a personal and professional space where her ideas could take full shape.
In 1991, she founded her own firm, Visions. The venture served as a declaration of autonomy, a place where creativity could flourish without compromise. Visions became a stage for original thinking, allowing concepts to develop freely and with clarity.
Through this firm, Payal formalized her design philosophy. She explored every dimension, from functional efficiency to visual harmony, from emotional impact to material responsibility. Each project reflected a commitment to creating enduring work that combined artistry with purpose. The focus evolved from simply creating visually appealing spaces to building a meaningful and lasting design legacy.
Crafting Spaces That Resonate
In a field crowded with fleeting trends and constant self-promotion, Payal has earned distinction through reliability and meaningful design. Her clients trust her guidance because every interaction reflects patience, understanding, and sincere dedication.
Her approach goes beyond immediate requirements, uncovering possibilities that clients themselves had not envisioned. Each project embodies careful thought, refined aesthetics, and functional harmony. This combination of insight and craftsmanship has established her as a preferred choice for transforming spaces into experiences that endure.
Cultivating the Future of Design
For more than 30 years, Payal has guided Visions with unrelenting dedication and grace. Her journey reflects a commitment to excellence while nurturing the next generation of designers. She actively mentors emerging talent, champions women in architecture, and promotes design approaches that honor the environment.
Payal envisions a world where elegance and sustainability coexist. Her recent works demonstrate this philosophy, incorporating recycled elements, living walls, and the thoughtful transformation of existing spaces.
Across diverse projects, from educational institutions and corporate spaces to private residences, Payal has transformed Indian interiors. Her impact reaches beyond aesthetics, leaving a lasting legacy rooted in vision, care, and innovation.
Designing with Purpose: Blending Heritage and Contemporary Trends
Payal works with different styles and does not limit herself to any particular trend or approach. To name a few projects, Savoy ITC Mussoorie reflects an English Gothic style, while Aryananda in the hills embraces a colonial contemporary style, keeping the hill architecture in mind. The Best Westin Hotel in Uttar Pradesh showcases a neo-classic style blended with contemporary elements. She has also designed cafes and microbreweries in modern, trendy styles, and worked on palace properties across Rajasthan, incorporating Art Deco as well as Mewar and Marwar influences.
In her own words, her approach is to work as per the project’s needs; recreating history, keeping heritage alive while addressing current-day requirements in palace and heritage properties. For modern hotels and cafes, she integrates trendy, contemporary elements. She believes in rising higher and thinking differently to showcase the best possible outcome and results for every project.
The Ultimate Vision: An Architect of Her Own Dream
Though Payal has skillfully designed celebrated hotels for others, a personal aspiration always burned within her: to create a dream project entirely her own, high up in the hills.
Fortunately, that dream has become a reality. Payal has single-handedly designed and executed the architecture, landscape, and interiors of a luxury resort high up in the hills of Uttarakhand. This venture is her ultimate passion project—a powerful statement of her full creative and technical capacity.
Scheduled to launch in December 2025 – January 2026, the resort blends colonial hill architecture with contemporary styling to balance the look and feel. It is a seamless expression of her core belief, marrying understated elegance with modern amenities in a stunning natural setting. This project perfectly embodies the spirit of a leader whose design legacy is rooted in vision, care, and the courage to build her dreams into enduring reality.
