“Consistency matters more than speed. You can’t rush good work. It takes time to build something that actually means something.”
Shruti Mahimtura is an architect with both her undergraduate and master’s degrees from the Savannah College of Art and Design.
Raised in a family rooted in construction and design, with her father, Sailesh Mahimtura, a structural engineer, and her mother, Shahnaz Mahimtura, an interior designer with over 40 years of experience, Shruti grew up around the business of building and design and developed an early understanding of how spaces shape experience.
It is that very foundation that led her to co-found S + F Design with her partner, Foram Gandhi Avlani, whose background from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago brings a different but complementary perspective to the practice.
Together, Shruti and her partner have built a design-led studio that works across architecture and interiors. She says,
“We focus on creating spaces that are clear, calm, and intentional. Our work sits between architecture and interiors, where we aim to create environments that feel intuitive and lived in, not just designed.”
The Inspiration
Shruti and Foram met while working at a previous firm and quickly realised they approached design in a similar way, which led them to build something of their own with more intent and freedom.
For Shruti, the decision was also about owning where she came from rather than resisting it. In a field often shadowed by questions of privilege, she chose to build on her background with responsibility and individuality. Reflecting on the initial days, she shares,
“There is a perception of nepotism. But I was once told something that stayed with me. ‘You can’t change where you’re born, but you can shape how the world sees you.’ This was said to me by architect Hafeez Contractor, under whom I trained, and it changed how I looked at everything. So instead of stepping away from my background, I chose to build on it with responsibility and individuality. At the same time, Foram and I were clear that whatever we created had to stand on its own. She has always been the yin to my yang. We balance each other in a way that makes both the process and the outcome stronger.”
That mindset became even more concrete with their first vision, a Jewish heritage museum in Alibaug for the Government of India. The project gave the practice direction, confidence, and a clear belief that design done with honesty and depth can become far more than just a built space.
The Design Philosophy
What sets S + F Design apart is its concept-led approach to design, where function, proportion, experience, and practicality matter as much as aesthetics. Sharing her approach to the design process, Shruti adds,
“Every decision comes from how a space would actually be used and lived in, while still creating a strong design language. We’ve always been very concept-driven. That’s something that was ingrained in us during our education. Every project starts with an idea, and that idea carries through everything that follows. Whether it’s architecture or interiors, the thinking remains the same. You understand the site, respond to it, and then shape the space in a way that feels natural and intentional.”
Both founders also bring a strong personal lens to the process, with a preference for asymmetry, restraint, and balance that feels natural. Foram further adds,
“As architects, we think about space first. How volumes are formed, how movement happens, how light enters, and how someone experiences a space as they move through it. When that translates into interiors, it becomes about functionality, proportion, and getting the details right so everything works together.
Personally, I’m drawn to asymmetry. A lot of people naturally lean towards symmetry because it feels safe and familiar, but I enjoy creating balance through asymmetry. It brings a certain ease and character to a space. At the same time, I believe less is more. It’s about knowing what to keep and what to leave out so the space feels calm and resolved.“
Their work is highly personal, collaborative, and client-focused. They do not begin with a brief alone. They first try to understand how the client lives and what the space needs to support in daily life. That helps them design something that feels more connected and real. The studio works with a team of architects and designers, but both founders stay closely involved through each stage, making sure the design remains consistent and thought through. Shruti highlights,
“At the end of the day, for us, design isn’t about creating a certain look. It’s about creating spaces that feel right, where everything makes sense and where concept and practicality come together naturally.”
Navigating Challenges
One of the biggest challenges in the beginning was trust. Many people had seen them grow up, so they were not always immediately seen as professionals, especially when it came to something as personal and high-stakes as designing homes. Mulling over the challenges, she explains,
“What we do involves a lot of responsibility. Clients are trusting us not just with money, but with how they’re going to live every day. That’s something we’ve always taken very seriously, and honestly, that pressure is also what makes it challenging.”
Shruti and Foram learned early that trust cannot be asked for. It has to be earned through consistency, detail, and presence at every stage of the process.
Over time, each project became a way to prove themselves through the work rather than through words. As clients began to see the process and the outcome, it all eventually fell into place. Foram highlights,
“Every project also taught us something. It gave us more experience, more clarity, and helped us grow with each step. The biggest way we’ve overcome this is simply by seeing our clients happy. When they come back to us again or recommend us to others, that’s the biggest validation. There’s nothing like a repeat client. That kind of trust brings the most satisfaction.”
The Milestones
“Success isn’t about numbers or scale. It’s about the spaces we create and the relationships we build. A project feels successful when it works well and when the client actually enjoys living in it.”
Over the years, S + F Design has worked across hospitality, infrastructure, commercial, and residential projects, including work at Grand Hyatt Mumbai, Andaz Delhi, a private MRO jet terminal in Delhi, the MIHAN hangar in Nagpur, and Mazgaon Court in Mumbai.
The studio has also designed Gossip stores across India and hospitality spaces like Toa 66 in Mumbai, while its residential work in Alibaug and Mumbai remains the most personal part of the practice. Shruti further notes,
“Our biggest achievement has been repeat clients. When someone comes back to you again or recommends you to their friends and family, that’s the biggest validation. It means they trust you, and that’s more important than any single project.”
Plans Ahead
For now, the future plans are focused on growing S + F Design without losing the hands-on approach that defines the studio. As they move closer to ten years, they want to take on projects that challenge them while staying closely involved in every stage of the process. Shruti also asserts,
“One big focus for us going forward is being more conscious about sustainability in design. Being mindful of materials, how things are made, how long they last, and creating spaces that are not just beautiful but also responsible. It’s something we want to keep building into our process more and more.”
Alongside the studio, they are also building Shizukaa, a furniture brand shaped around the idea of helping people understand how to put a space together thoughtfully, not just buy pieces for it. The larger goal is to have steady growth, stronger systems, and work in place that stays clear, intentional, and true to their design philosophy.
Words of Wisdom
Throughout her journey, Shruti has learned that it is important to trust one’s own way of working, even when there is outside noise and opinion.
She acknowledges that patience has also been central to the process, because their work affects how people live every day, which makes listening, understanding, and staying present just as important as the design itself. Lastly, as she signs off, Shruti’s note to budding entrepreneurs says,
“As simple as it needs to be, as complex as it has to be.”
