By Donna Heiderstadt

As a teenager in India, Mansi Makadia recalls teaming up with her sister to redesign the bedroom they shared. “Our design choices were quite unconventional for that era in India, featuring wooden flooring, a sliding door for a modern touch, textured wallpapers, and cozy low-height beds,” she says. “Looking back, some aspects now seem amusing, but several choices turned out so well.”

The same can be said for the professional career Mansi has designed for herself in Toronto, Canada, where she relocated in 2021 and co-founded ´Estheteak, a dealer representing two German cabinet and sliding door brands, Nolte and Raumplus, in the greater Toronto and Ontario markets. As Marketing and Design Director, the 30-year-old leveraged her experience in the kitchen and closet industry in India, where she had previously represented Raumplus, to secure the dealerships for both brands. “One of the most memorable moments of my career was the day we opened our doors for the first time,” she says. “It was an exhilarating experience, filled with anticipation and excitement. When our very first client walked in and placed the first order, it was a milestone that validated our hard work and vision.”

Mansi says she was inspired to excel in the design industry by an internship at age 21. “My journey into the kitchen industry was profoundly inspired by the dream of being mentored by Snehal Vasani, known as the father of modular kitchens in India,” she explains. “His innovative approach and vision for design captivated me. Being mentored by him not only equipped me with invaluable skills, but also instilled in me a deep appreciation for the artistry and functionality of kitchen design.”

At ´Estheteak, Mansi’s most ambitious project to date has been a 6,000-square-foot luxury home outside Toronto that required her to design the kitchen, pantry, foyer closet, mudroom closet, bedroom closets, and linen closets as well as help the client choose appliances, vanities, flooring, and lighting.

When she’s not logging 10-hour days at ´Estheteak — where she works side-by-side with her co-founder husband, Bhargav, and their team — Mansi enjoys going for hikes and sketching, a hobby she has loved since childhood. You can also find her paling around with her Pomeranian, Pepsi (unconventionally named by her sister) and dreaming about revisiting Vancouver. “The connection to nature and the peace of mind it offers are qualities I truly admire,” she says. Her life goal channels a similarly peaceful vibe. “I want to help others in any way I can and always try to be kind and spread love.”