At The Design Lab, we are two women driven by one shared vision: to craft spaces that speak to the soul. After countless cups of coffee and endless brainstorming, we have learned that great design is not just seen, it is felt. For us, every project is a conversation that is honest, thoughtful, and uniquely yours.
hey there
Hi, I’m Payal Kumari Lalla
Founder & Design Director, The Design Lab
I never thought I’d become a designer.
In fact, I chose interior design in college thinking it wouldn’t involve too much studying (spoiler: I was wrong). I didn’t grow up surrounded by art or architecture; design wasn’t even on my radar.
But something clicked. Somewhere between sketching floor plans and working on real-time projects, I realised I had an eye for space, balance, and beauty. I still remember the first time my work was shortlisted for a national design competition; that moment changed everything for me.
Since then, design has become my language. After a brief pause in my career, I came back with full clarity — and that’s how The Design Lab was born in 2015. Two years later, I partnered with Richa Pahuja, and together we’ve grown the studio into a space that blends function with emotion and process with intuition.
Two women. One design studio. We believe great design begins with honest conversations and ends with thoughtful spaces. Fueled by creativity — and chai
— we bring stories to life, one detail at a time.
hey there
I’m Richa Pahuja
Co-Owner & Creative Director, The Design Lab
I didn’t begin my journey in design.
In fact, I switched careers entirely, and in doing so, I found my calling.
When I joined The Design Lab, it wasn’t just a job change. It was a life shift. I walked into a partnership with Payal Kumari Lalla at a time when she was balancing motherhood and leadership with so much grace and grit, I couldn’t help but be moved. Watching her navigate it all showed me what quiet strength really looks like.
Together, we built something that reflects both of us, our values, our vision, and our shared love for spaces that feel like home. What makes us work isn’t just creative alignment but the deep trust and respect we have for each other. There’s no ego, no hierarchy, just two women building something they believe in, side by side.
At The Design Lab, we’re two women driven by one shared vision — to craft spaces that speak to the soul. Countless cups of chai and endless brainstorming later, we’ve learned that great design isn’t just seen, it’s felt. For us, every project is a conversation — honest, thoughtful, and uniquely yours.
hey there
Hi, I’m Payal Kumari Lalla
Founder & Design Director, The Design Lab
I never thought I’d become a designer.
In fact, I chose interior design in college thinking it wouldn’t involve too much studying (spoiler: I was wrong). I didn’t grow up surrounded by art or architecture; design wasn’t even on my radar.
But something clicked. Somewhere between sketching floor plans and working on real-time projects, I realised I had an eye for space, balance, and beauty. I still remember the first time my work was shortlisted for a national design competition; that moment changed everything for me.
Since then, design has become my language. After a brief pause in my career, I came back with full clarity — and that’s how The Design Lab was born in 2015. Two years later, I partnered with Richa Pahuja, and together we’ve grown the studio into a space that blends function with emotion and process with intuition.
Two women. One design studio. We believe great design begins with honest conversations and ends with thoughtful spaces. Fueled by creativity — and chai — we bring stories to life, one detail at a time.
hey there
I’m Richa Pahuja
Co-Owner & Creative Director, The Design Lab
I didn’t begin my journey in design.
In fact, I switched careers entirely, and in doing so, I found my calling.
When I joined The Design Lab, it wasn’t just a job change. It was a life shift. I walked into a partnership with Payal Kumari Lalla at a time when she was balancing motherhood and leadership with so much grace and grit, I couldn’t help but be moved. Watching her navigate it all showed me what quiet strength really looks like.
Together, we built something that reflects both of us, our values, our vision, and our shared love for spaces that feel like home. What makes us work isn’t just creative alignment but the deep trust and respect we have for each other. There’s no ego, no hierarchy, just two women building something they believe in, side by side.
Follow Along
We bring our clients’ ideas to life by achieving the right balance between thoughtful design and functional principles, while taking the time to understand their lifestyle and reflecting it through every detail.
We bring our clients’ ideas to life by achieving the right balance between thoughtful design and functional principles,
while taking the time to understand their lifestyle and reflecting it through every detail.