IDS MEMBER SPOTLIGHT - SUNITA RITESH

Meet Sunita Ritesh, a first-generation South Asian immigrant, once a stay-at-home mom, and now a business owner of a design and build company - Mechkithh Designs LLC and Mechkithhh Constructions LLC! Sunita's journey towards interior design began with the dream of one day becoming a CEO. She grew up in a hands-on, middle-class Indian household where everything was personalized, so naturally Sunita has brought this approach into her designs. Now, she creates spaces that truly reflect the unique identities and stories of her clients and their families.

Q: WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO BECOME AN INTERIOR DESIGNER, AND HOW HAS YOUR CULTURE INFLUENCED YOUR DESIGN PHILOSOPHY?

A: Unemployment! I mean I wish I had some sort of a childhood inspiration story to share, but no. Becoming an Interior Designer or having my own firm was not even the last item in my career list.  My goal or career aspiration was that of becoming a CEO of a corporation.  I have been working & studying towards it since I was 17.  I have never thought about anything else than studying management and business.  After I completed my MBA from one to the top B-schools, I decided to take a break to raise family.  Little did I know that after a decade when I wanted to come back to corporate, I would become non employable.  I was ready to start from zero, but then I was ‘overqualified’ for that.  In a moment of desperate prayer (read: fighting with God) I was reminded of my Interior Design Diploma which I did, decades back right after college.  The reason I did that course was because we had just redone our home, and everyone had complemented me on that.  I had time on hand, since I was home taking care of my daughter and this design school was close to my house.  So just a little something to keep my business mind going. And then I completely forgot about that… until now! So took a leap of faith and started my own firm and became the CEO I always wanted to be! 

The culture that I grew up in is that of an average middle-class upbringing.  Everything was DIY.  Interior Design was not a word that was very common in my culture during the 80s.  Dad literally ripped off our large balcony and converted it into a kitchen and our kitchen was converted into a bedroom to be shared by me and my sister.  My mom would buy these fabrics and sew drapes or make chair covers etc., It was so personalized, nobody had things like we had.  Our Indian culture is that of we don’t care what rest of the world does, we do it our own way.  I mean there would be this one dish and every family will have its own recipe, that is how much things are custom and personalized in my culture. And this culture for me has transferred to my designs.  I like to develop and create designs that are very personal to my clients and their family.  Everyone in the family is included in that process.

Q: WHAT DO YOU HOPE PEOPLE FEEL OR EXPERIENCE WHEN THEY ENTER A SPACE YOU'VE DESIGNED? 

A: I create multi-generational home designs, mainly because that is cultural to my clientele.  Multiple generations live together with their varied interests and beliefs.  So, when I start a new project, my hope is that I would be able to create a space that will offer these multi-generational families a freedom to function according to their own lifestyle.  Whether it is a 6 year old kid, 16 year old teenager or 60 year old grandparent, they should all be able to enjoy that space.

Q: WHAT INTERIOR DESIGN TRENDS ARE YOU LOVING AT THE MOMENT? 

Oh, I am loving all the play with patterns and color.  Even designers who only did black and white are experimenting with colors and patterns.  I am loving that designers are stepping out of their comfort zone and bringing more bold and dramatic designs to the forefront, even if it is in a subtle color palette.

Q: WHAT ARE YOUR GO-TO BASICS?

Paint! There is no space that cannot be transformed with a bucket of paint and wave of a brush.

Q: WHAT'S THE MOST TREASURED ITEM IN YOUR OWN HOME?

My vintage and rare dinner ware. I am a huge fan and collector of vintage items and my dinner ware which I have collected over the years from various countries is my most loved and treasured item.

Q: WHAT'S BEEN YOUR CAREER HIGHLIGHT TO DATE?

It was one year after starting my own design studio.  One of my projects went south, after the contractor vanished with thousands of dollars from my client.  30 days after that I started my own construction company, because I identified, the lack of good, professional & committed contractors. I plan to change the narrative around general contractors and their work ethics.

Q: ARE THERE ANY PERSONAL RITUALS OR HABITS THAT CONTRIBUTE TO YOUR CREATIVE PROCESS?

Yes I do and it may be a bit weird.  Poems! I read poetry when I am in the not so inspired zone.  There is something about poetry that ignites my creative sense and then the juices just flow.  I think it is the imagination and being transported by the poet’s words.