![\"\"](\"http:\/\/www.kalynjohnson.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/ishka-designs-1024x687.jpg\" "\\"ishka")
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I first learned about the interior design team behind ishka designs<\/a> when I sat down to peruse the third issue of Rue Magazine<\/a>, one of the hottest shelter ezines on the internet today. I was pleasantly surprised and pleased to see the beautiful brown faces of Anishka Clarke and Niya Bascom looking so cool and chic staring up at me. \u00a0A few weeks later at the Rue launch party during the New York International Gift Fair, I spotted them gliding through the crowd. \u00a0I admit it, I was a little awe-struck. \u00a0There they were, such a glamorous pair in the flesh (it may be a blogger thing, we rarely get to meet those we read about on the web in person). \u00a0We exchanged information and became fast friends soon thereafer – who knew!?!?! Aside from their decidedly good looks and enduring bohemian chic style, Anishka and Nyia are some of New York’s hottest interior designers sought after for both commercial and residential projects.<\/p>\n Why ishka designs?<\/span> The question I asked myself in my last semester at FIT, was why not?\u00a0 I had worked for many years as an employee at this corporation or that and always gravitated towards the more entrepreneurial roles.\u00a0 As a career switcher in her 30\u2019s, I found it increasingly difficult to start from the bottom all over again in a new profession.\u00a0 Since I was starting from scratch, then why not with my own firm? \u00a0So, with Niya providing guidance as a serial freelancer, Ishka Designs was born.<\/p>\n One word to describe ishka designs.<\/span> Two please? Efficiently Beautiful<\/p>\n What was the original vision and goal for ishka designs? <\/span> Our initial vision was to do the best job we could and systematically build a portfolio through word of mouth.\u00a0 The vision has evolved in that we now have targeted goals for revenues, a major focus on attracting commercial clients and an actual marketing plan.<\/p>\n How is ishka designs different from other interior design houses?<\/span> Apart from the obvious, i.e.<\/em>, we’re a minority owned Interior Design firm, Niya and I have a combined island sensibility and resourcefulness that we feel is quite unique to us in NYC.\u00a0 Also, our combined personalitites definitely sets us apart\u2026ask anyone that has seen us work together.\u00a0Separately, having two finance degrees, a 10-year career in finance and having a professional photographer in-house helps set us apart. We are long-term thinkers\u2026we want to be around in 20+ years. We are very professional and methodical in how we operate and communicate with our clients but yet we somehow still get a lot of personality in there.<\/p>\n Describe your typical ishka designs client.<\/span> There is none.\u00a0 From the go-getter entrepreneur to the meticulous medical professional, we have had a range of personalities to deal with.\u00a0 The common trait amongst all our clients though is that they are all busy individuals.<\/p>\n Where do you hope to see ishka designs in 10 years?<\/span> With a store-front selling our ubiquitous furniture designs with random acts of madness thrown in.\u00a0 In the back or upstairs you will find a team of 5 \u2013 10 staff members working efficiently in a large, well-organized light-filled room.\u00a0 Our portfolio at this point will be primarily commercial, consisting of office and hospitality projects.\u00a0 Our residential projects will remain selective.<\/p>\n Any sage advice for people with similar aspirations?<\/span> Work hard but smart.\u00a0 Expect to fail at times and to make many mistakes along the way, but be sure to learn from these lessons. Finally, be passionate because that\u2019s the only thing that will get you through the downtimes.<\/p>\n Was there a Plan B? <\/span> Nope.\u00a0 And there still isn\u2019t one.<\/p>\n One wish for ishka designs?<\/span> Longevity.<\/p>\n First major splurge?<\/span><\/p>\n Anishka: <\/span> My first apartment.<\/p>\n Niya:<\/span> My house<\/p>\n What would those close to you say is your favorite personal item to wear?<\/span><\/p>\n Anishka:<\/span> It used to be this one brown leather belt\u2026wore it for about 8 years with almost everything!\u00a0 Nowadays there isn\u2019t anything that I am that attached to.<\/p>\n Niya: <\/span>My father\u2019s ring.<\/p>\n Which one item do you transport from handbag to handbag?<\/span><\/p>\n Anishka<\/span>: \u00a0Lipbalm\/gloss.<\/p>\n Niya: <\/span> Since I don\u2019t own a handbag, the one thing for sure that I carry in my wallet is my lawyer\u2019s number. LOL.<\/p>\n Silver or Gold?<\/span><\/p>\n Anishka: <\/span> I lived in silver for about a decade and a half.\u00a0 No more\u2026I\u2019m more a gold girl these days.<\/p>\n Niya:<\/span> Both.<\/p>\n Flats or Heels?<\/span><\/p>\n Anishka:<\/span> Toss up really, just depends on the outfit.\u00a0 However, for hardcore running around the streets of NYC, flats or kitten heels only.<\/p>\n Niya: <\/span> I love to see a woman wearing heels and that can walk in them.\u00a0 LOL.<\/p>\n Gloss or Lipstick?<\/span><\/p>\n Anishka:<\/span> See no. 3.<\/p>\n Niya: <\/span> Chapstick for me thank you.<\/p>\n PC or Mac?<\/span><\/p>\n Anishka: <\/span> Mac.<\/p>\n Niya:<\/span> Mac.<\/p>\n Books or Magazines?<\/span><\/p>\n Anishka:<\/span> Magazines for day-to-day.\u00a0 Books when I travel.<\/p>\n Niya:<\/span> Books.<\/p>\n Favorite TV show?<\/span><\/p>\n Anishka:<\/span> I actually have a few\u2026Dexter, So You Think You Can Dance, The Good Wife and MisFits.<\/p>\n Niya: <\/span> MisFits.<\/p>\n Favorite city to visit?<\/span><\/p>\n Anishka: <\/span> Kingston, Jamaica.\u00a0 It\u2019s where my oldest mates live, my mom and where the best food comes from.\u00a0 Then there is Tokyo, Japan.<\/p>\n Niya: <\/span> Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.<\/p>\n To learn more about ishka designs and some of the cool projects Anishka and Niya are working on, you can click here<\/a><\/span> to check out their website. \u00a0And if you’re thinking about re-doing a room in your house or a full-scale renovation, click here<\/a> to shoot them an email for an estimate.<\/p>\n \n \n \n \n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" I first learned about the interior design team behind ishka designs when I sat down to peruse the third issue of Rue Magazine, one of the hottest shelter ezines on the internet today. I was pleasantly surprised and pleased to see the beautiful brown faces of Anishka Clarke and Niya Bascom looking so cool and […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[26],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/kalynjohnson.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4709"}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/kalynjohnson.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/kalynjohnson.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/kalynjohnson.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/kalynjohnson.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4709"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"http:\/\/kalynjohnson.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4709\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/kalynjohnson.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4709"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/kalynjohnson.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4709"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/kalynjohnson.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4709"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}![\"\"](\"http:\/\/www.kalynjohnson.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/MG_0909-680x1024.jpg\" "\\"ishka")
<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"http:\/\/www.kalynjohnson.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/5-1024x682.jpg\" "\\"Ishka")
<\/p>\nNow Let’s Get Personal . . .<\/span><\/h2>\n
![\"\"](\"http:\/\/www.kalynjohnson.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/Ishka-Designs.jpg\" "\\"Ishka")
<\/p>\n[photos courtesy of ishka designs<\/a>]<\/span><\/h5>\n