Nemaworkshop, Anurag Nema's 10-year-old firm, is on a hot streak. Its head-turning, ultra-local designs include concepts for The Smith restaurant brand and D'espresso coffee bar, both in New York, as well as the W New OrleansFrench Quarter and the W Mexico City (the lobby in the latter hotel is a finalist for a 2014 Gold Key Award). That collective body of work has placed Nema's New York-based firm within that select tier of up-and-coming design firms that get a shot at the sexiest hospitality projects. Here Nema recounts how he's gotten to this point in his career, and what unique attributes his firm brings to the table when making a pitch for its next commission. When did you first realize you Were interested in 2 Rough-hewn surfaces and multiple seating options create a comfortable, casual environment in the U.S. flagship for Australian coffee brand Toby's Estate in Brooklyn. 3 The lower level of Delicatessen in New York houses a unique urban retreat that combines a glass roof with an oversized mural by local artist Juan Jose Heredia. making design your life's Work? I was born in India and grew up in various cities in the central part of that country. When my parents were designing our home when I was growing up, they worked with an architect who was a close friend of theirs. I remember going to his office and being absolutely fascinated by the whole environment-the books, the drawings and the models. I knew then that this was something I wanted to part of. 78 boutiquedesign.com november 2014 3 V I N C e N T C h I h - C h I e h C h I N ( T o B Y ' s e s TaT e ) ; DaV I D J o s e p h ( D e L I C aT e s s e N ) 2http://www.boutiquedesign.com