Sarah Choudhary
April 9, 2025

Women, In Their Own Words: Sarah Choudhary

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6 min read

Summary

In this installment of our “Women, In Their Own Words” series, we sit down with Sarah Choudhary, Creative Director and Senior Interior Designer at Habitat. With a background spanning Central Saint Martins and the New York School of Interior Design, Sarah brings global sophistication, cultural depth, and emotional intelligence to every space she touches. In this conversation, she shares how empathy guides her creative vision, why Bon Jovi powers her workdays, and how a chance conversation in an airport shaped an entire design. She also reflects on her creative evolution, the importance of trusting your instinct, and what she believes still needs to change for women in design leadership.

Reflection Questions

Which small moments or fleeting conversations have unexpectedly changed the way you approach your work?

How has emotional intelligence shaped your leadership or design style?

What’s one risk you took in your career that paid off in an unexpected way?

Journal Prompt

Think about a time when you allowed your intuition to guide a creative or professional decision. What was the outcome? Reflect on how your instincts have evolved with experience—and how you might create more space for them in your process.

Welcome to the latest installment of our “Women, In Their Own Words” interview series! At DesignDash, we love to spotlight visionary women who shape the design world with curiosity, character, and creativity. This series invites each featured creative to share her reflections, insights, and inspirations in her own words.

Today, we’re thrilled to feature Sarah Choudhary, who is Creative Director and Senior Interior Designer at Habitat. Known for her nuanced design philosophy and mastery of both sustainability and style, Sarah is an inspiring creative woman whose work feels as emotionally resonant as it is visually arresting. We’re honored to share her story with you.

Women, In Their Own Words: Sarah Choudhary

DesignDash: If you could listen to only one musical artist while working, who would it be and why?

Sarah Choudhary: Bon Jovi. Their music has this unstoppable energy—bold, passionate, and full of grit. It gives me that perfect creative boost, especially when I’m deep into a project and need to keep the momentum going. There’s something about their sound that feels fearless, which is perfect for those moments when I’m pushing creative boundaries and exploring new ideas in design.

Divani Showroom, designed by Sarah Choudhary and the team at Habitat.

DD: What’s the most unusual source of inspiration you’ve found for your work?

SC: One of the most unexpected sources of inspiration came from a brief conversation with a stranger during a layover at an airport. We ended up talking about childhood memories, and they described their grandmother’s home. It was such a vivid, emotional image that it stayed with me. I later used that feeling of warmth and nostalgia as the foundation for a project. It reminded me that design is ultimately about emotion, and sometimes, the most powerful concepts come from the most fleeting human moments.

DD: If you could collaborate with any historical figure, who would it be and what would you create together?

SC: Carlo Scarpa. His sensitivity to materials, obsession with detail, and ability to seamlessly blend the old with the new is something I deeply resonate with. I would love to create a boutique hotel—where every junction, texture, and transition tells a story. Working with Scarpa would be like composing poetry in stone, wood, and light. I imagine the process itself would be as inspiring as the final creation—layered, intentional, and timeless.

DD: Do you have a must-do creative ritual before starting a project?

SC: Yes, I do have a bit of a ritual before starting any project. I always begin by clearing my workspace completely —physically and mentally. It’s almost like hitting reset. Then I spend a few quiet moments sketching freely, not with any outcome in mind, just letting ideas flow. It’s my way of tuning in, grounding myself, and creating space for something new to emerge. It may seem simple, but that pause at the beginning helps me approach each project with fresh eyes and an open mind.

DD: If your creative work were a color palette, which colors would be essential?

SC: A balance of warm neutrals, deep charcoals, and muted earth tones—with an occasional unexpected pop, like a Navy blue or Wine. These tones feel grounded and timeless, but the bold accent brings in a bit of personality and edge. I love creating spaces that feel calm and cohesive, but with enough contrast to spark curiosity—just like a good story told through color.

DD: How do you manage the business side of being a creative?

SC: I’ve definitely grown into it. At first, I was all about the creative, but over time I realised the business side is what brings those ideas to life. Now, I see it as another form of design—structuring, planning, building a foundation. It’s not always glamorous, but it’s essential, and I’ve come to enjoy the rhythm of it.

Divani Showroom, designed by Sarah Choudhary and the team at Habitat.

DD: If you could only use three tools or materials for the rest of your career, what would they be?

SC: Stone, timber, and leather. Stone for its timeless strength, timber for its warmth and honesty, and leather for the richness and character it brings with age. Together, they create a palette that feels grounded, tactile, and full of soul—just the way I love my spaces to feel.

DD: How has your creative process evolved over the years?

SC: I used to lead with form, but now I lead with feeling. Over the years, my creative process has become more intuitive and layered. In the beginning, it was very structured—mood boards, references, step-by-step. Now, I give myself more space to feel a project before defining it. I listen more—to the site, the client, the story. There’s still a process, of course, but it’s less about following a formula and more about trusting instinct, embracing the unexpected, and letting the design unfold naturally.

Divani Showroom, designed by Sarah Choudhary and the team at Habitat.

DD: What’s one piece of advice you wish you’d known when you started your career?

SC: One piece of advice I wish I’d known early on is that it’s okay not to have everything figured out. Growth comes through doing, stumbling, learning, and evolving. You don’t need to wait for the perfect idea, the perfect plan, or the perfect moment—just start. The clarity and confidence come along the way.

DD: Have you seen the landscape change for women in the creative industry? What still needs to change?

SC: Yes, the landscape has improved, but there’s still a noticeable gap in how often women are trusted with large-scale leadership and technical roles. Respecting the emotional intelligence women bring to design is key—it’s not just valuable, it’s essential to creating meaningful, human- centered spaces. We need more trust, more visibility, and more opportunities for women to lead boldly.

Divani Showroom, designed by Sarah Choudhary and the team at Habitat.

DD: How has being a woman shaped your creative vision or business approach?

SC: Being a woman has shaped my creative vision through a strong sense of empathy and emotional awareness. I design with a deep sensitivity to how spaces feel—not just how they look. There’s a softness and strength that coexist in the way I approach projects. It’s about creating spaces that are not only beautiful but also deeply human, nurturing, and grounded.

DD: What’s next for you creatively? Any exciting projects or collaborations?

SC: Yes, I recently wrapped a luxury jewelry showroom project [pictured throughout this article] that was incredibly exciting. The goal was to create a space that felt as precious and refined as the pieces it showcased—elegant, intimate, and full of quiet drama. Every detail, from the lighting to the material palette, was designed to elevate the experience and let the jewelry take center stage. I’m also exploring a few new collaborations that are still under wraps, but they’re pushing me into fresh territory—and I can’t wait to share more soon.

Many Thanks to Sarah Choudhary for Participating in “Women, In Their Own Words”

Thank you to Sarah for sharing her story with us. Her balance of empathy and boldness, attention to sensory detail, and ability to design from feeling rather than formula are all reminders that great design begins with the human experience. We’re excited to follow her next chapter.

To explore more of Sarah’s work, visit Habitat’s website or connect with her on Instagram, LinkedIn, or Facebook.

Stay tuned for more inspiring voices in our Women, In Their Own Words series. Interested in contributing? Email us at editor@designdash.com with “WITOW” in the subject line and your responses in the body.

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