Fashion content creator Sakshi Sindwani tied the knot with her high-school sweetheart, Raghav Arora, in 2024. Yet, years before saying ‘I Do’, the 31-year-old had envisioned building her dream home with him from the earliest days of their romance. For Manifest’s First Home series, we shot with the couple at the House of Lalittya flagship store, a premier luxury design and furniture experience centre located in New Delhi. Founded in 2018, House of Lalittya is the brainchild of Shivani Gupta Mittal, alongside co-founders Ayush Mittal and Shalu Gupta, who envisioned this multidisciplinary design studio, with the core belief that every home should tell a deeply personal story.
As Sakshi and Raghav prepare to move into a new dream home, they take design inspiration from the House of Lalittya and explore decor from the flagship store that aligns with their sensibility. “Every place we have lived in has been a dream home together, and now we’re in the process of building another one,” says Sakshi. Their aesthetic is a careful blend of both personalities—one that balances her eye for design with Raghav’s practical instincts.
The olive-green sofa that now anchors their living room serves as a testament to that partnership. Initially sceptical of the bold choice, Raghav eventually convinced her, and today it is one of the most striking elements in their home, standing out against a backdrop of soft whites, beiges, and earthy neutrals. However, if there is one piece of furniture that best encapsulates the couple’s shared vision, it is not the sofa but the dining table. “We’re both extremely family-oriented. We wanted a dining table where both our families could sit together and share a meal,” says Sakshi.
For a couple who have spent most of their lives together, home has never been defined by walls alone. Instead, it is a sanctuary, away from public scrutiny—a space where they can reconnect with the versions of themselves that first met as teenagers. “Home is the only place where we can truly be ourselves; it’s not for judgment, opinions, or scrutiny,” says Raghav. Their bedroom, intentionally designed in calming shades of white and beige, is free from clutter, excessive patterns, and visual noise. Filled with plants, photographs, and meaningful keepsakes from their wedding, it serves as a quiet retreat from the demands of their public lives. The bed setup that the couple spotted at House of Lalittya is exactly how Sakshi envisions her bedroom. The couple’s approach to cohabitation is equally thoughtful. Recognising their vastly different morning routines, they agreed on one unconventional arrangement: separate washrooms and individual personal spaces.
While Sakshi thrives in organised chaos and launches into productivity moments after waking, Raghav prefers a slower start to the day. Beyond functionality, their home is layered with unconventional souvenirs and personalised keepsakes, collected over years of travel. Fridge magnets featuring custom photographs, travel mementoes from different countries, and carefully curated decorative objects are scattered throughout the house. One particularly treasured magnet from Paris even features their beloved dog. Then there are the pieces that carry emotional value.
Among Sakshi’s favourites is a painting created by her nephew—a drawing of a horse and a tree that now hangs near the kitchen. The artwork’s significance lies not in artistic perfection but in the memory attached to it: he completed the painting while standing on their dining table. For someone whose career revolves around aesthetics, Sakshi approaches interiors much like fashion. Spring brings florals, Christmas introduces festive layers, and autumn arrives with a distinctly different visual identity.
“I change my decor every season, even my carpets change,” she says. Yet despite the carefully curated interiors, the heart of the home remains surprisingly simple. It is found in a cosy corner of the living room, where a generously sized sofa sits beneath a warm lamp, layered with throws and cushions. “We’ve discussed life on that sofa,” Sakshi says. “Hospitality is another defining element of their household. Friends drift in and out so frequently that many regard it as a second home. “I want people to feel at ease when they walk in and stay for as long as they want. There is only one condition— they must love the dogs as much as the humans,” says Sakshi. As they prepare for the next chapter, their priorities are clear. For Sakshi, it is the walk-in wardrobe she has always dreamed of.
For Raghav, it’s a comfy bed that recreates the experience of sleeping at a luxury hotel. Together, these aspirations reveal the essence of their design philosophy. One dreams in aesthetics, the other in comfort. But at its core, every decision comes from the same place— building a life that feels theirs authentically.
Credits
On Raghav: SN by Shantnu & Nikhil, Dash & Dot
On Sakshi: Forever New
Photographs: Karan Sudhir
Art Direction: Mahima Shukla
Styling: Akshay Kaushal
Hair & Makeup: Amita Juneja