Why Your Dining Table Could Be the Best Décor in Your Home
Luxury in a home is often imagined through the big things: a dramatic chandelier, a statement sofa, an important artwork or a perfectly designed room. But for Sravanya Pittie, Founder & CEO of Sokka Tableware, it is the smaller details that ultimately make a space feel special. A beautifully laid table, the glow of candlelight, an unexpected sculptural object or a piece of Indian craftsmanship can often say more about a home than an entire room of expensive furniture.
It is an approach that comes naturally to Pittie, whose design journey spans interiors, products and tableware. With Sokka Tableware, launched in 2022, she has taken this idea of considered living to the dining table, creating collections that bring together craftsmanship, culture and contemporary design. The brand has since moved beyond residential tableware into bespoke hospitality and custom projects, with work spanning spaces such as Pataudi Palace, Taj London and Mumbai’s Circle 69, as well as a collaboration with Vantara that translated its wildlife-led vision into crockery, cutlery, candle jars and lifestyle pieces.
Yet it is perhaps in her own home that Pittie’s design philosophy is most clearly understood.
“I’m drawn to organic forms, nature-inspired details and the quiet contrast of different materials: linen with wood, glass with ceramics, or metal alongside handcrafted accents,” she says.
“For me, a beautifully styled home feels collected and personal, rather than too carefully curated.” - Sravanya Pittie, Founder & CEO of Sokka Tableware
There is a certain ease to this way of decorating. Nothing needs to match perfectly; instead, different textures, periods and materials are allowed to sit together. A room might bring together something contemporary with an object that feels collected on a journey, or pair a refined table setting with something distinctly handmade. The idea is not to create a home that looks untouched, but one that reveals something about the people living in it.
“For me, a beautifully styled home feels collected and personal, rather than too carefully curated,” Pittie says. That philosophy is especially apparent at the dining table. Rather than treating tableware as something that simply serves a functional purpose, Pittie sees it as another layer of the interior. Plates, bowls, glasses, cutlery, linens and candle holders can change the character of a setting just as dramatically as furniture or artwork.
"For me, the beauty lies in creating a table that feels generous and celebratory but still effortless."
And she is not a believer in the perfectly coordinated tablescape. A dining table, in her view, should have movement. Different shapes and materials should create rhythm, while small contrasts keep the setting from feeling predictable. A sculptural serving piece might sit beside a simple ceramic plate; textured linen can soften metal; glass can introduce a sense of lightness. It is this mix that gives a table its personality. “For me, the beauty lies in creating a table that feels generous and celebratory but still effortless,” she says.
If there is one element Pittie consistently returns to, however, it is candlelight. There is something about a table illuminated by small pools of warm light that immediately changes the mood of a room. It makes dinner feel more intimate, slows down the evening and brings attention to the objects on the table.
“There is something inherently intimate about a softly lit table, whether it is for a romantic date night or simply a quiet dinner at home,” she says. “A beautiful candle holder can add that gentle, warm glow that makes the entire setting feel more relaxed and inviting.” For Pittie, the candle holder is therefore much more than a functional object. It becomes part of the composition.
The same thinking extends beyond the dining room. Pittie believes that it is often the smaller, unexpected details that give a home its identity. A sculptural vase can turn a quiet console into a focal point. A beautifully made bowl can add warmth to a coffee table. A carafe, a handmade cup or an unusual decorative object can create a moment of discovery. “A piece like the Vantara Tiger Platter or Tenkaya Root Vase might naturally become a focal point, while smaller elements such as Arabian cups, textured placemats or sculptural carafes add layers around it,” she says. Hence, Pittie’s interiors are not about filling a room with objects, instead, they are about layering, where each piece has the opportunity to contribute to the larger story of the space.
While her aesthetic is contemporary, she likes introducing traditional techniques, hand-finished details and artisanal textiles into modern spaces. The result is a home that feels rooted without becoming conventionally traditional. Her Thanjavur-inspired creations, for instance, offer a connection to Indian heritage while sitting comfortably within a contemporary setting. It is a subtle way of bringing culture into the everyday — through a table setting, a textile, a serving piece or an accent rather than through an entire room designed around a particular theme.
Ultimately, her approach comes down to resisting the urge to make a home feel finished. “Ultimately, I’m drawn to interiors that evolve naturally, where different influences, objects and memories come together to reflect the people and stories behind the home.”
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