Young Maithili Ahluwalia draws delightfully from her style lineage and displays a personal taste for the impeccable, in her home design store

Style really has no meaning without substance and that is something that 26-year-old Maithili Ahluwalia, has already realised. The daughter of jewellery designer, Jamini Ahluwalia and well-known marketing researcher, Titoo Ahluwalia, she says, "I am creative but still practical."

Maithili combines economic savvy with a passion for style at Bungalow 8, the home design store that she opened, well over a year ago. While working at a consulting firm in New York doing 'hard core business things', she realised her true calling was back in India. "In my free time, I never gravitated towards reading a Wall Street Journal, like a true finance person and a voice in me just got louder and louder." Also, she kept hearing how the scenario in India was changing. "There was Indigo and Olive. And look at Sula - Rajeev Samant gave up a great job in San Francisco to come home and start a winery."

Since she knew it was design she wanted to be in, her choices were easier. "Fashion is too fickle and saturated." Her venture had to have a focus, a lesson she learned from her mother. "Mom is a true epitome of a designer. Anyone who is this creative cannot stick to one thing. She has dabbled in antiques, textiles and, of course, jewellery. Sometimes this is not a sensible business decision." Which is why she tries to make sure that Bungalow 8 sticks to being a home design store. Her mother, Jamini, often accompanies her on her sourcing trips (and most of her products are sourced indigenously). "Maithili is a perfectionist who works hard and it pays off," observes the obviously proud mama.

"I am tempted though to hold exhibitions from time to time. Next up, is a jewellery exhibition of Anita Vaswani's works. I would love to do a little of everything but you have to remember this is a business and you need to control yourself," she says. The store itself is attached to the bungalow where Maithili lives and belongs to her maternal grandmother's family. "I pay rent though. There is no point being in the business if I do not make real money." The Zen-like interiors not only ensure maximum product display but also reflect Maithili's attitude to style. "I love the understated," she says.

Her own wardrobe is mostly stolen from her grandmother's. A complete mix and match person, she knows how to put together a Gucci bag from the '60s with a worn out pair of jeans and a top that she may have just picked up from Europe. It's all about blending. "I tell people who come to the store not to take everything from here. Mix pieces from here with other things." Her style maturity really is evolved beyond her tender years and perhaps this is the main reason for Bungalow 8's appeal.