Some designers are bred, others are born. Raji Radhakrishnan of Raji Rm & Associates is a member of the latter group. Raji is known for working closely with her clients, and creating the perfect environment based on her client’s personality, interests, passions and tastes. We sat down with Raji and talked about her work and what moves and inspires her.

How did you get started in Interior Design?
It’s been a long-time passion. Traveling around the world since childhood, I was fascinated by all the places and homes I visited. Having grown up in a family of architects and civil engineers also made design inevitable and was a natural comfort zone for me. My own home was published in Metropolitan Home and basically launched my career.

What is the biggest challenge as a designer?
Not repeating myself. I've always believed that each home−just like each client−is very unique and different and, hence, the design, which is done for a specific client, has to reflect that. That can mean a very traditional design for one client and a very modern one for the next. It's a good challenge!

What is the most rewarding?
When clients are truly happy with your work and knowing you've created something uniquely theirs that they will love and enjoy for a long time.

What are some of the most common design mistakes that homeowners make?
Rushing to buy furnishings or impulsively buying before taking the time to understand their home and their own needs and preferences. Every home has to evolve over time, and you need to have an overall vision and work towards it.

What are some trends in interior design that are prominent right now?
Color in home design is a huge thing these days and is hopefully here to stay. I think it's a reaction to several years of just beige and white. Also, sustainable living—everything from sourcing green products to caring about how you recycle your daily wares—is a holistic re-thinking of how we live today.

Is it corny to have fake flowers?
Nothing beats a great bunch of freshly cut flowers from your own garden or even from your local grocery store.

What bit of advice do you have for those interested in becoming interior designers?
Read, travel and observe a whole lot. It takes years of studying, fine tuning, reflection and analysis. Enrolling in a design school is also very good. Take up internships and volunteering opportunities with exceptional design firms.

What inspires you?
Everything I see and experience. Travel, art, architecture, fashion, books and interesting people.

How would you describe your personal style?
I'm all about the mix. My own home which has gone through several incarnations and is currently a mix of various design styles, periods, price points, etc. It works well for us since the architecture of our home is an amalgamation of English Georgian and American Federal built with some modern elements.

Tell us about your dream project.
I have a few! Designing a Monticello kind of house in the D.C. area, a large country home in Europe, an old village family home in India, a classic pre-war in New York and a classic Parisian pied-a-terre (with all the icing moldings, et. al.). These are all the homes that have been there for generations with their old architectural style and beauty intact. Bringing these homes alive again in the 21st century, while respecting their history, would be pure joy.