Welcome to the 11th A-List, our annual look at the most exciting names in residential interiors, architecture, and landscape. This year’s roster includes a new crop of 20 standouts; we also debut our Titans honor roll, which celebrates two dozen exceptionally influential talents. The list is by no means exhaustive—but who wants that after the year we’ve just had? We like to think of it, instead, as a breath of fresh air.
This year we welcome the following talents to the list: Top row, from left: Alfredo Paredes, Cliff Fong (Matt Blacke), Delia Kenza, Anooshey Rahim (Dune Hai), Elliott Barnes. Second row: Fabrizio Casiraghi, Florence Lopez, Ghislaine Viñas, Heide Hendricks and Rafe Churchill, Thomas Kligerman and John Ike. Third row: Jean Liu, Juliana Lima Vasconcellos, Leslie Bennett (Pine House Edible Gardens), Michael K. Chen, Todd Nickey and Amy Kehoe. Bottom row: Poonam Khanna (Unionworks), Rafael de Cárdenas, Adam Hills and Maria Speake (Retrouvius), Nina Cooke John, Terremoto.
This year, we’re introducing 20 exciting talents to our A-List. These global firms in decor, architecture, and landscape caught our attention for their dynamic approach to design and, in many cases, for their proactive commitment to community engagement.
Alfredo Paredes Studio
New York City
alfredoparedesstudio.com
Paredes launched his studio in 2019 after more than three decades at Ralph Lauren Home. He’s since applied his bohemian-industrial aesthetic to endeavors like a beachfront restaurant in South Florida and furniture for EJ Victor.
Dune Hai
Oakland, Calif.
dunehai.com
Anooshey Rahim founded Dune Hai to reframe the conversation around landscape architecture: whom it benefits, how, when, and why. Her California projects include the expansive Pope Valley estate featured in our April 2021 issue and an Oakland preschool’s garden.
Delia Kenza Interiors
New York City
deliakenzainteriors.com
Trained as a lawyer, this New York native is sought after for her swank brownstone redos, like the Harlem townhouse recently featured on elledecor.com. Lately, she is branching out: New projects range from a community-focused event space in the Bronx to a restaurant in Austin, Texas.
Elliott Barnes
Paris
ebinteriors.com
The Los Angeles native emerged from the tutelage of Arthur Erickson and Andrée Putman to found his own Parisian firm. The expat’s design projects include hotels and country homes, and, with his renovation of Ruinart’s Champagne cellars in Reims, France, he is poised to pop off.
Fabrizio Casiraghi
Trained under Dominique Perrault and Dimorestudio, Casiraghi has a sophisticated approach that draws on his Milanese upbringing. Coming soon: hotels in St.-Tropez and London. And be sure to check out a recent Parisian pad—doused in green lacquer!—in our Summer 2021 issue.
Florence Lopez
Paris
florencelopez.com
With a client list including Delphine Arnault, Gérard Depardieu, and Charlotte Gainsbourg, this antiquarian and interior designer never fails to impress the right people—including us: Her eye-catching Paris restaurant, Mon Square, was in our November 2020 issue.
Ghislaine Viñas
New York City
ghislainevinas.com
The Dutch-born, South Africa–raised designer has an unparalleled eye for contrast and a penchant for bold strokes. Her residential projects tell a client’s story in unexpected ways (in Los Angeles, she created a rug using blueprints of the owner’s house).
Hendricks Churchill
New York City/Sharon, Conn.
hendrickschurchill.com
Known for their holistic approach to authentic New England houses, architect Rafe Churchill and designer Heide Hendricks, the married cofounders, blend tradition and artful ease. Case in point: their renovation of a Connecticut family home featured in our March 2021 issue.
Ike Kligerman Barkley
New York City/Oakland, Calif.
ikekligermanbarkley.com
From a modern lake house in South Carolina to a tasting room in Napa Valley, partners John Ike and Thomas Kligerman bring a contemporary sensibility to historical styles like the Arts and Crafts movement and Colonial Revival.
Jean Liu Design
Dallas
jeanliudesign.com
A self-described art-obsessive, designer Liu deftly melds an analytical sensibility with a studied finesse. She also has a social conscience: Early on in the pandemic, she was able to enlist Kravet and Schumacher to donate fabric for thousands of masks for first responders.
Juliana Lima Vasconcellos
Rio de Janeiro
julianavasconcellos.com
The best Brazilian designers specialize in dramatic interiors; Vasconcellos is no exception. See: her own family apartment in Rio de Janeiro, featured in our April 2021 issue, which frames a singularly stunning view with contemporary art and furniture of her own creation. This year, following residential projects in Miami and northern Italy, she’ll be introducing a new furniture line for the Invisible Collection.
Matt Blacke
Los Angeles
mattblackeinc.com
Matt Blacke is a pseudonym of sorts (get it?) for designer and gallery director Cliff Fong. While his residential work generates press (his Hancock Park project was on our March 2021 cover), an upcoming endeavor—an L.A. restaurant with a marijuana lounge—has a different kind of buzz.
Michael K. Chen Architecture
New York City
mkca.com
The architect has spent the past 10 years cultivating a studious sensibility that still radiates warmth and character. In addition to a Manhattan residence featured on our January/February 2021 cover, Chen is slated to break ground on his first health-care and civic projects in Brooklyn.
Nickey Kehoe
Los Angeles
nickeykehoe.com
Founders Todd Nickey and Amy Kehoe’s thoughtfully curated L.A. design shop put them on the map, but it’s their work as the go-to firm for West Coast foodies (among them chefs Nancy Silverton and Suzanne Goin) along with product lines, that prove they’re really cooking with gas.
Pine House Edible Gardens
Oakland, Calif.
pinehouseediblegardens.com
As owner of Pine House Edible Gardens, Leslie Bennett has cultivated a community-driven practice that, first and foremost, respects our relationship to the environment. A signature project: her restorative Black Sanctuary Gardens.
Rafael de Cárdenas
New York City
rafaeldecardenas.com
De Cárdenas is no stranger to scale and scope: The architect and designer’s projects include interiors for St. Petersburg’s Au Pont Rouge department store and a 134-foot-long yacht. And while the big hits keep coming, in his multifaceted world, change is really the only constant.
Retrouvius
London
retrouvius.com
Founders Adam Hills and Maria Speake take a regenerative approach to reclamation. Hills runs their cult salvage shop in London’s Kensal Green enclave, while Speake oversees a design studio that’s gearing up to convert a medieval coaching inn into a 38-bedroom boutique hotel.
Studio Cooke John
New York City
cookejohn.com
Jamaican-born architect Nina Cooke John’s two-decade-old practice focuses on clean lines and muted tones, but lately has welcomed pops of color and well-placed antiques. A notable project was the 2021 Obsidian concept house, co-designed with Leyden Lewis and the BAD Guild.
Terremoto
Los Angeles/ San Francisco
terremoto.la
The 17-person landscape design and architecture studio Terremoto creates site-specific horticultural installations. Their commitment to ecological stewardship has garnered them praise and high-profile commissions in equal measures.
Unionworks
New York City
theunionworks.com
Poonam Khanna, the firm’s founder, has a soulful interior design sensibility that is all her own. Her projects range from the design of a Brooklyn townhouse to a SoHo store for Loeffler Randall. She is currently working on the renovations of a two-Michelin-star restaurant in Washington, D.C.
These interiors, architecture, and landscape firms—some of which have been on the A-List from the beginning—consistently wow us, keep us guessing, and show the kinds of intelligence and excellence that drive the design industry forward.
Aero Studios
New York City
aerostudios.com
Founded by interior and home-furnishings designer Thomas O’Brien, Aero Studios is a design office where crossover and collaboration are the rules rather than the exception. The office’s projects range from formal apartments to commercial work like the Sixty Thompson hotel.
Alberto Pinto
Paris
albertopinto.com
Eclecticism and refinement remain the keywords when it comes to creating entire universes for Alberto Pinto’s prestigious clients worldwide: private residences, offices, airports, hotels, yachts, and jets. Under Linda Pinto’s management, traditional and modern meet in harmony.
Alessandra Branca
New York City
branca.com
Born and raised in Italy, Alessandra Branca grew up believing classical beauty is meant to be intertwined with everyday life. Her eclectic, colorful work fuses the workmanship of a couturier with practicality in all she designs. Her book, New Classic Interiors, was published in 2009.
Alex Papachristidis Interiors
New York City
alexpapachristidis.com
Bold patterns, jewel tones, and exotic accents are characteristic of Alex Papachristidis’s work. Recent projects include a beach house in the Hamptons, a Philadelphia Main Line residence, and a Greenwich Village apartment. Tour Papachristidis’s maximalist New York apartment here.
Alyssa Kapito Interiors
New York City
alyssakapito.com
Based in the SoHo neighborhood of Manhattan, Alyssa Kapito brings a fresh take on the classics and has a great appreciation of antiques and art. Her projects include a restoration of a historic Hamptons estate; a family home in Beverly Hills; and a beach house in Bellport, Long Island.
Aman & Meeks
New York City
amanmeeks.com
James Aman and partner John Meeks draw on their backgrounds in store design, visual display, and fashion to create lovely, elegant rooms. The designers are especially adroit at fashioning a look of tailored luxury that evokes both past and present.
Amy Lau Design
New York City
amylaudesign.com
Founded in 2001, Amy Lau Design creates interiors known for their warmth, expressiveness, and impeccable attention to detail. Amy has a reverence for the inherent beauty of natural materials and landscapes and thoughtfully incorporates elements of each into every project.
Apartment 48
New York City
apartment48.com
Alabama native and noted color wizard Rayman Boozer rose to prominence when he founded Apartment 48, a chic New York home store set up like an apartment. Today, he is the go-to designer for everyone from Manhattan professionals to start-ups.
Ashe Leandro
New York City
asheleandro.com
Former set designer Ariel Ashe and architect Reinaldo Leandro’s New York City firm Ashe Leandro mixes contemporary luxury and natural materials to create spaces that feel open and timeless. Past projects include work for Liev Schreiber and Seth Meyers.
Designer Bill Brockschmidt of the firm Brockschmidt & Coleman expertly restored a palazzo atop a grotto in Sicily.
Beata Heuman
London
beataheuman.com
London-based, Swedish-born designer Beata Heuman is known for her playful and original work. Heuman worked for Nicky Haslam for nine years before setting up her own studio in 2013. Her style is characterized by a Scandinavian attention to detail, shown off in her recent book.
Brockschmidt & Coleman
New York City/New Orleans
brockschmidtandcoleman.com
New York City–based Bill Brockschmidt and Courtney Coleman describe their clients as “under-the-radar literati and collectors” who appreciate their ability to match historical references with modern sensibilities. Recent work includes Jon Meacham’s Nashville studio.
Champalimaud Design
New York City
champalimaud.design
Alexandra Champalimaud of the Champalimaud design firm is an Anglo-Portuguese expat and one of the world’s most talented luxury hospitality designers. The New York–based studio is dedicated to expressing the individual character of each space through extraordinary design.
Commune Design
Los Angeles
communedesign.com
Los Angeles–based partners Roman Alonso and Steven Johanknecht are masters of the new California cool. From homes to hotels to product design, their work embodies a respect for craft and an almost archaeological sense of place.
Corey Damen Jenkins & Associates
New York City
coreydamenjenkins.com
The through line connecting all of Jenkins’s work is a polished traditionalism infused with color and pattern. The Detroit native, who also has an office in New York City, made serious waves in 2019 with his much-touted lady’s library at the Kips Bay Decorator Show House.
Dan Fink Studio
New York City
danfinkstudio.com
A favorite among tech giants, Dan Fink got his start in Silicon Valley and is known for his moody, modern aesthetic. His projects include a seaside lounge at the Miramar Club in Montecito, California and numerous refined residences across the U.S.
Danielle Colding Design
New York City
dcdny.com
Danielle Colding, who came to prominence starring in Shop This Room on HGTV, refers to the homes she creates as artful and cozy. Never stuffy, she likes to build spaces around a client’s family heirlooms, art, and knickknacks so that the room is always a reflection of the individual.
David Netto
Los Angeles
davidnettodesign.com
Toggling between his home in Los Angeles and his hometown of New York, David Netto is a Harvard architecture school dropout who revels in the unexpected, making traditionalism feel hip, and modernism like a warm and textured cocoon.
de la Torre Design studio
New York City
delatorredesign.com
Having started his design career working with Peter Marino, it’s no wonder that Ernest de la Torre’s own design firm, which he founded in 2001, boasts an impressive portfolio, including Tuxedo Park mansions, Manhattan penthouses, jets, and yachts.
DimoreStudio
Milan
dimorestudio.eu
Emiliano Salci and Britt Moran make up the Milan-based super duo. Founded in 2003, the avant-garde firm is known for its furniture designs and fashion collaborations with the likes of Fendi and Hermès. Their forward-looking interiors are rich with pattern and color-blocked walls.
Drake/Anderson
New York City
drakeanderson.com
Jamie Drake and Caleb Anderson are primarily modernists, yet they’re known for their fearless approach to color and a fashion-conscious sensibility. Projects have included sophisticated interiors in many residential towers, as well as medical facilities and nonprofit headquarters.
Eric Hughes
Los Angeles
erichughesdesign.com
Clients of New York– and Los Angeles–based designer Eric Hughes have included Sarah Jessica Parker and Matthew Broderick, Katie Couric, Hank Azaria, and Lauren Graham. The Bridgehampton, New York weekend home he designed for Parker can be toured here.
Fox-Nahem Associates
New York City
foxnahem.com
Born and raised in New York City, Joe Nahem and his late business partner, Tom Fox, started Fox Nahem Design in their early 20s. Nahem’s designs have changed accordingly with the times; he curates rare vintage pieces and works with craftspeople around the world.
Gachot Studios
New York City
gachotstudios.com
The husband-and-wife team of John and Christine Gachot met at Studio Sofield in New York, then established their own design studio with a mix of residential and high-profile hospitality projects. They bring a cultivated stance to a downtown aesthetic with a respectful and witty eye.
Haynes-Roberts
New York City
haynesroberts.com
Timothy Haynes and Kevin Roberts are the founding partners of Haynes-Roberts, a New York–based interior design firm that focuses on high-end residential projects. The resulting work is a modern distillation of classic design that is spare, elegant, and inviting.
Huniford Design Studio
New York City
huniford.com
In his projects, James Huniford blends new and old, uniting found objects with refined materials in distinctive combinations and vignettes. One-of-a-kind objects inspire all of Huniford’s designs. His signature use of calming wall colors highlights the importance of objects, art, and furniture.
Isabel López- Quesada
Madrid
isabellopezquesada.com
Based in Madrid, Isabel López-Quesada combines romance, tradition, and modern cool in her wide breadth of international residential projects. Case in point: a duplex apartment in Madrid’s El Viso neighborhood, formerly owned by Ava Gardner—and featured in our October 2020 issue.
Ishka Designs
New York City
ishkadesigns.com
Ishka Designs, helmed by Anishka Clarke and Niya Bascom, is a Brooklyn-based interior design firm. Specializing in vacation properties, restaurants, and residences (think everything from beachfront estates to retail spaces), the firm is known for their clean, minimalist aesthetic.
In the main bedroom suite of Christine and John Gachot’s Manhattan penthouse.
J. Randall Powers
Houston
jrandallpowers.com
Based in Houston, J. Randall Powers turns out traditional-with-a-twist interiors for his affluent clients. Powers exudes a penchant for purity and quality—think sisal, white sheets and slipcovers, and skirted tables—and cites the influence of ’80s California decorators.
Jacques Grange
Paris
+33-1-55-80-75-40
For decades, Jacques Grange has taken mixing traditional and contemporary design elements to a new dimension. Just feast your eyes on Yves Saint Laurent’s famous Marrakech retreat, Villa Oasis, for a sampling of his sumptuous layering of color and patterns.
Jayne Design Studio
New York City
jaynedesignstudio.com
Whether it’s a SoHo loft or a late-19th-century industrial building, Thomas Jayne’s designs never fail to convey a deep connection to history and place. His firm, Jayne Design Studio, knows how to create personality-packed spaces for clients ranging from families to collectors.
Jean-Louis Deniot
Paris
deniot.com
The interiors Jean-Louis Deniot creates are spaces where spontaneity and magic are de rigueur. He is recognized for his eclectic and emblematic interiors and prefers neither minimalism nor excess: His projects show balance and a vision of refinement, comfort, and openness.
Jeffrey A. Marks
Montecito, Calif.
jam-design.com
Through his creations in furniture, fabric, and home, the bicoastal designer has mastered the art of making interiors playful yet cool, giving us a whole new vocabulary for comfort all along the way. His collaborations include fabrics with Kravet, and furniture with A. Rudin and Palecek.
Joy Moyler Interiors
New Rochelle, N.Y.
joymoylerinteriors.com
Heavily influenced by the world of fashion, Joy Moyler infuses her interiors with bespoke elements such as those found in haute couture men’s haberdashery. Her clients include such notable names as John Mayer, Leonardo DiCaprio, and Harry Winston.
Kathryn M. Ireland
Los Angeles
kathrynireland.com
Former Million Dollar Decorators star Kathryn M. Ireland describes her style as “California coastal meets European chic,” and the result is an elevated boho look that has attracted clients such as Julia Louis-Dreyfus and Drew Barrymore.
Katie Ridder
New York City
katieridder.com
Katie Ridder has a dexterity with color palettes, a playful approach to mixing antiques and modern pieces, and an eye for unusual decorative accents. She has worked with clients from Switzerland to Virginia. Recently, Ridder created her own wallpaper and fabric line.
Kelly Behun Studio
New York City
kellybehun.com
A Pennsylvania-born designer who moved to New York City and trained under designer Philippe Starck, Kelly Behun is known for her highly bespoke creative process and her line of artistic, thoughtful furniture pieces and home accessories.
Kemble Interiors
Palm Beach
kembleinteriors.com
Kemble Interiors was founded in 1982 by Palm Beach native Mimi McMakin. Her daughter, Celerie Kemble, later became a partner in the New York office. Kemble has a collection of furniture with Henredon and accessories with Maitland-Smith.
Ken Fulk Design
New York City
kenfulk.com
Trading his time between New York and San Francisco, Ken Fulk creates designs that are bold, evocative, and inventive—and attract the clients to match, such as Pharrell Williams. You might have encountered his work at one of the many trendy restaurants he’s decorated.
Kerry Joyce Associates
Los Angeles
kerryjoyce.com
The Los Angeles–based Kerry Joyce got his start in art direction on television in the mid-1970s (he even won an Emmy for his work). Since then, he has built a decades-old practice of restrained and refined interiors for his moneyed clientele alongside robust furnishings and home collections.
Kravitz Design
New York City
kravitzdesign.com
Lenny Kravitz is a modern-day Renaissance man. When he founded his eponymous design firm 17 years ago, the rock singer proved that he was just as creative decorating interiors as he is writing albums. Kravitz’s cool blend of modernism make him one of the more daring designers around.
Leyden Lewis Design Studio
New York City
leydenlewis.com
Leyden Lewis is not only an interior designer with a singular aesthetic, he’s also a fine artist. His work ranges from commercial to residential projects, including luxury Manhattan residences and a 19th-century Victorian brownstone.
Lorenzo Castillo
Madrid
lorenzocastillo.org
Before establishing his platinum reputation as an interior designer, Lorenzo Castillo was known as one of Spain’s preeminent antiques dealers. Castillo’s bold juxtapositions of old and new bring a masculine robustness to his interiors.
Mark Cunningham
New York City
markcunninghaminc.com
As one may expect from a Ralph Lauren alum, Mark Cunningham’s rooms tend to be masculine, tailored, and timeless. He likes his palette neutral, and he mixes crisply upholstered custom pieces, American antiques, and accessories masterfully, resulting in a quietly invigorating look.
Mark D. Sikes
Los Angeles
markdsikes.com
Known for his riffs on classic and all-American aesthetics—think gingham, stripes, and wicker—the California-based designer likes to infuse the breeziness of nature into his interiors. Looking for more of his work? Sikes released a book with Rizzoli last fall.
Mark Hampton
New York City
alexahampton.com
In 1998, Alexa Hampton took over the world-famous firm of her father, Mark Hampton. She is a specialist in maximalism and has completed a wide range of designs for domestic and international projects, from New York City to Hangzhou, China.
Inside a Hawaii home designed by Martyn Lawrence Bullard.
Martin Brudnizki
London/New York City
mbds.com
Martin Brudnizki is the man behind iconic interiors, including Annabel’s in London and Pink Mamma in Paris. The Martin Brudnizki Design Studio team comprises more than 70 interior designers, architects, and art consultants whose clients include luxury hospitality groups.
Martyn Lawrence Bullard Design
Los Angeles
martynlawrencebullard.com
Martyn Lawrence Bullard may have been born in London, but he was clearly destined for Hollywood. The actor turned interior designer previously starred on Bravo’s Million Dollar Decorators, and a love of bright color and bold pattern is evident in his work.
Mary McDonald
West Hollywood, Calif.
marymcdonald.com
Mary McDonald is an award-winning, internationally published Los Angeles–based interior designer and a star of the Bravo series Million Dollar Decorators. Her bold and inspiring interiors have earned her a myriad of licensed product lines.
MR Architecture + Décor
New York City
mrarch.com
MR Architecture + Decor is a New York–based design studio led by founding partner David Mann. With no singular mandated style, the studio is characterized by diversity and unified by an essential clarity, with clients including Pierre Hardy and Gilles Mendel.
Nate Berkus Interiors
Chicago
nateberkus.com
More than anyone, Nate Berkus is the public face of contemporary design. His predilections tend toward neutral palettes; natural materials like leather, linen, and wicker; and objects made by hand. Step inside Berkus’s Montauk, New York, home here.
Nathan Turner
West Hollywood, Calif.
nathanturner.com
A fourth-generation Californian by way of the Bay Area, Nathan Turner wrote the book on the state’s aesthetic, called I Love California. The Los Angeles–based designer counts stars, including Mindy Kaling and Armie and Elizabeth Hammer, among his clients.
Neal Beckstedt Studio
New York City
nbeckstedtstudio.com
Skilled at creating spaces that feel masculine and easy, Neal Beckstedt describes his style as warm modernism. His clients include Derek Lam and Robert Marc. In 2019, he designed the House of ELLE DECOR at 108 Leonard in New York City.
Nick Olsen
New York City
nickolsenstyle.com
New York–based Nick Olsen describes his tongue-in-cheek style as “historical inspiration through a kaleidoscopic and humorous lens.” Case in point: this his transformation of a Cincinnati home packs a punch with color and pattern.
Nicole Fuller Interiors
New York City/Los Angeles
nicolefullerinteriors.com
Nicole Fuller Interiors is an award-winning design firm specializing in luxury interiors, product design, and art consulting. As a decorator of full-on-glam spaces, Fuller works on highly customized residential and commercial projects in the U.S. and abroad.
Oliver M. Furth
Los Angeles
olivermfurth.com
Oliver M. Furth is a Los Angeles–based interior designer who has been championing talent and pushing the design dialogue forward in L.A. for years. His casual and confident interiors blur the lines between stark modernism and a cozy, layered appeal.
Pamplemousse Design
New York City
pamplemoussedesign.com
Paris-born Delphine Krakoff of Pamplemousse Design has an innate sense of style and natural French flair, which translates directly into her interiors. Projects have included apartments and townhouses in New York City and ski lodges out West.
Paolo Moschino for Nicholas Haslam
London
nicholashaslam.com
In 1995, designer Paolo Moschino took ownership of Nicholas Haslam, a company whose style has evolved continuously throughout the years. Though the firm is based in London, Moschino brought international influence and continental flair to Nicholas Haslam.
Pappas Miron
New York City
pappasmiron.com
Founded in 2003 by Alexandra Pappas and Tatyana Miron, this firm is ushering in stately design with a modern slant. Best friends since childhood, Pappas and Miron had combined backgrounds in art history, jewelry, real estate, and interiors before joining forces.
Peter Dunham & Associates
Los Angeles
peterdunham.com
Los Angeles–based Peter Dunham calls his style “sophisticated casual.” He started his design company in 1998 after a childhood in France and college in England. His fans include Jennifer Garner, Steve Tisch, and Drew Barrymore, with projects restoring landmark homes.
Redd Kaihoi
New York City
reddkaihoi.com
Miles Redd and David Kaihoi, the pair behind New York-based Redd Kaihoi, are known for their unique aesthetic vision characterized by high and low, a strong sense of color, and a traditional approach with modern gestures.
Richard Mishaan Design
New York City
richardmishaan.com
Designer in New York, Richard Mishaan is a renaissance man with a career that has spanned many creative arts, including interior design, furniture design, fashion, and retail. Mishaan is renowned for his ability to blend collectibles and antiques with art and furnishings.
Rita Konig
London
ritakonig.com
London-based interior designer Rita Konig knows how to create a space that’s both beautiful and comfortable. For the past 15 years, her relaxed decorating approach has resonated with clients both in the U.K. and abroad.
Robert Kime
London
robertkime.com
U.K.-based designer Robert Kime is a decorator to the stars—or rather, to royalty. His interiors, which are no stranger to antiques and vintage textiles, have charmed such clients as the Prince of Wales and the Duke of Beaufort.
The entrance to Tatyana Miron Ahlers’s (one half of the design duo Pappas Miron) New York loft.
Robert Stilin
New York City
robertstilin.com
Robert Stilin is known for effortlessly combining crisp, clean architecture with custom upholstery, antique and vintage furniture, and modern and contemporary art. Current projects include a duplex penthouse on Fifth Avenue and a family apartment on Park Avenue.
Roman and Williams
New York City
romanandwilliams.com
New York City–based Roman and Williams court prestigious clients both old and new, such as the Metropolitan Museum of Art and Facebook. Its louche luxe projects, helmed by founders Robin Standefer and Stephen Alesch, include numerous outposts of the Ace Hotel.
Romanek Design Studio
Los Angeles
romanekdesignstudio.com
The self-taught Chicago native specializes in outfitting spaces for her entertainment-world clients with a relaxed California elegance. Brigette Romanek got her start a few years back when friend and Baby2Baby cofounder Kelly Sawyer Patricof enlisted Romanek’s help for her Malibu home.
Shawn Henderson Interior Design
New York City
shawnhenderson.com
New York City–based Shawn Henderson is known for interiors that are as serene as they are sophisticated. His past projects have included homes for Will Ferrell and director Tate Taylor. Check out his upstate New York farmhouse here.
Sig Bergamin
São Paulo
sigbergamin.com.br
A national treasure in his native Brazil, Sig Bergamin is a decorator and art collector with clients in the United States, Europe, and South America. A typical Bergamin project is exuberant and full of life, and the designer’s mastery of the mix has a tropical flair and modernist touches.
S.R. Gambrel
New York City
srgambrel.com
Whether he is designing a polished uptown duplex, a rambling country house, or a weekend beach retreat, Steven Gambrel creates timeless, comfortable homes that improve with age. Tour a recent revamp of a 1930s Malibu home here.
Stephanie Goto
New York City
stephaniegoto.com
Stephanie Goto is a New York–based architect whose practice is known for its deep understanding of form, structure, and materials. Since 2004, the firm has built a holistic approach considering the intersection between architecture, art, culture, and food.
Studio Liaigre
New York City
liaigre.com
In the 1980s, Christian Liaigre set the tone for modern Parisian interior design, establishing an aesthetic of hushed discretion. Today, the acclaimed firm continues its legacy of rooms that whisper under the creative direction of Frauke Meyer.
Studio Shamshiri
Los Angeles
studioshamshiri.com
Sibling duo Pamela Shamshiri and Ramin Shamshiri struck out on their own from Commune to great success in 2016. Their star-studded client list includes Seth Rogan and Lauren Rogan, Anne Hathaway and Adam Shulman, and Sophia Amoroso of Girlboss.
A dining room in a welcoming California residence recently designed by Studio Shamshiri.
Studio Sofield
New York City
studiosofield.com
William Sofield, of Studio Sofield, is a modernist by temperament and a historicist by training. His work is marked by a holistic approach that embraces the necessities of living. Tour this New York City apartment he designed for a couple making a long-awaited return to the city.
Suzanne Kasler Interiors
Atlanta
suzannekasler.com
Incorporating the personal collections of her clients with fine art and antiques, contemporary pieces and custom-designed furniture, Suzanne Kasler creates meaningful, timeless interiors. She has also produced signature lines for Ballard Designs, Hickory Chair, and Lee Jofa.
Thom Filicia
New York City
thomfilicia.com
Interior designer Thom Filicia creates stunning modern interiors that retain an inviting aesthetic. His clients have included Tina Fey and Jennifer Lopez, among others. Tour his NYC apartment, as seen in the April 2020 issue of ELLE DECOR, here.
Timothy Corrigan
Los Angeles
timothy-corrigan.com
Los Angeles– and Paris-based Timothy Corrigan knows a thing or two about European elegance given that he’s owned three historic castles. The jet-setting decorator tends to a clientele that includes Madonna and an array of Middle Eastern royals.
Tom Scheerer
New York City
tomscheerer.com
The work of Tom Scheerer includes projects in New York, East Hampton, Nantucket, Aspen, and the Bahamas. He emphasizes furniture planning, spatial relationships, and color and texture, and he is fluent in various styles within the context of what he calls “relaxed modernism.”
Vincent van Duysen
Antwerp, Belgium
vincentvanduysen.com
Belgium-born architect Vincent Van Duysen established his firm in 1990 and specializes in high-end residences around the world, with a focus on showcasing the relationship between architecture, interior design, and product design.
Virginia Tupker
Darien, Conn.
virginiatupker.com
Connecticut-based interior designer Virginia Tupker specializes in high-end residential and commercial projects. Her European upbringing informs her unique interiors, and she draws inspiration from a wide range of sources, from the work of Renzo Mongiardino to Le Corbusier.
Yabu Pushelberg
New York City/Toronto
yabupushelberg.com
Founded in 1980 by George Yabu and Glenn Pushelberg, the design firm Yabu Pushelberg focuses on creating immersive experiences, unique destinations, and considered goods. The practice works with an impressive mix of clients, from hotels to restaurants and entrepreneurs.
Young Huh Interior Design
New York City
younghuh.com
Detroit native Young Huh knows all about crafting a room with personality. Huh specializes in both residential and commercial interiors, and her vast knowledge of art and design history makes for timeless interiors.
This issue marks the premiere of our Titans list: a toast to 24 icons in residential interiors and architecture whose consistency and vision continue to shape our world and the spaces that define it. Raise a glass, won’t you?
Adjaye Associates
New York City
adjaye.com
Ghanaian-British architect Sir David Adjaye is the founder and principal of Adjaye Associates. The award-winning design firm, with studios in Accra, London, and New York, recently completed its first high-rise residential tower in the U.S., soaring above downtown Manhattan.
Bunny Williams Interior Design
New York City
bunnywilliams.com
Bunny Williams is all about classic comfort, an informed eye, and a bit of fun. In her rooms, fine European antiques meet mirrored walls and gutsy artwork. She uses intense colors and delicate patterns with equal panache. Visit a Williams-designed Park Avenue apartment here.
Charlotte Moss
New York City
charlottemoss.com
Having launched her career on Wall Street, Charlotte Moss is equally attuned to the principles of classic decorating and the needs of a modern household, as well as inspired by women travelers and explorers who pushed boundaries.
Cullman & Kravis
New York City
cullmankravis.com
Brooklyn-raised Ellie Cullman (her family owns the famous Peter Luger steakhouse) founded the storied design firm known for its fashion-forward, modern look—catalogued in the design book From Classic to Contemporary.
Darryl Carter
New York City
darrylcarter.com
Based in Washington, D.C., Darryl Carter, a former lawyer, turns out cool, calm, and collected spaces that are distinctive in their masculine rigor. They are full of smart neutral fabrics, dark wooden furniture, and strong silhouettes.
Deborah Berke Partners
New York City
dberke.com
Deborah Berke is one of architecture’s true power players. In addition to running her eponymous firm whose works include New York’s Marianne Boesky Gallery and 40 East End Avenue, she became the first woman dean of the Yale School of Architecture in 2016.
In the main bedroom of Darryl Carter’s Washington, D.C. townhouse
India Mahdavi
Paris
india-mahdavi.com
India Mahdavi has a lot in common with Henri Matisse. Like a Fauvist, the Paris-based designer and architect uses rich complementary colors in both her commercial and residential projects to elicit a layered—mostly giddy—response from visitors.
Juan Montoya Design
New York City
juanmontoyadesign.com
Juan Montoya was born in Colombia and moved to New York to attend Parsons School of Design after studying architecture in Bogotá. He has enough design-world accolades to fill a very chic room and is known for paying special attention to his mix of textures, volumes, and scale.
Kelly Wearstler
Los Angeles
kellywearstler.com
Kelly Wearstler’s global luxury lifestyle brand is marked by its distinctive designs and sophisticated soulful character. Wearstler’s signature style juxtaposes raw with refined, and her portfolio includes luxury hotels and grand residences from Beverly Hills to the Caribbean.
Michael S. Smith
New York City
michaelsmithinc.com
Michael S. Smith has an international profile of residential, hospitality, and commercial clients, and a style that is a seamless blend of European classicism and American modernism. He also possesses a curator’s knowledge of history and antiques.
Peter Marino Architect
New York City
petermarinoarchitect.com
New York City–based Peter Marino is known for his commercial and retail designs as much as he is residential, and he has worked to redefine modern luxury worldwide with clients including Chanel, Dior, Louis Vuitton, and Bulgari.
Pierre Yovanovitch
Paris/New York City
pierreyovanovitch.com
Inspired by his early work fashioning menswear, the Paris-based designer has found a perfect fit tailoring modern spaces under his eponymous firm, which he opened in 2001. He recently unveiled a new venture, his own furniture company.
A view into the dining room of Sheila Bridges’s Hudson Valley country home.
Robert Couturier
New York City
robertcouturier.com
The French-born interior designer’s eccentric glamour delights high-profile clients ranging from writer Amy Fine Collins to hairstylist Frederic Fekkai. The look? A major mix of the grand and contemporary: Louis XVI commodes, flamboyant tapestries, and knockout works of art.
Rose Tarlow
New York City/Los Angeles
rosetarlow.com
Rose Tarlow is loved for her special regard for craftsmanship and history and has lines of furniture, textiles, lighting, and accessories. The designer’s clients, which include Oprah Winfrey and David Geffen, flock to the Tarlow for her sense of perfectly undone ease.
Sheila Bridges Design
New York City
sheilabridges.com
One of the country’s top decorators, Sheila Bridges creates everything from the handsome Harlem offices of former President Bill Clinton to elegant residential spaces for her New York clientele. She’s also a favorite designer of institutions like Columbia University and Princeton University.
Shelton Mindel
New York City
sheltonmindel.com
A recipient of the Cooper Hewitt National Design Award, Shelton Mindel has a lengthy client list that includes Darren Star and John Atwater and Diana Nelson. Check out a modern beach getaway the firm recently designed for a family here.
Stephen Sills Associates
New York City
stephensills.com
Stephen Sills has an extensive knowledge of design history and an intuitive grasp of today’s needs. He specializes in transforming interiors into timeless environments for modern living, and his commercial projects include the St. Regis New York and Vera Wang Bridal.
Studio Jacques Garcia
The Paris-based designer, known for his moody rococo style, has created hotels around the world, including the Peninsula Paris and Manhattan’s NoMad. His international client roster includes the Sultan of Brunei and his own apartment was recently featured in ELLE DECOR France.
The entry to a classic Milanese townhouse designed by Studio Peregalli.
Studio Peregalli
Milan
studioperegalli.com
The Milan-based duo of Roberto Peregalli and Laura Sartori Rimini, known as Studio Peregalli, specializes in baronial rooms that are steeped in history. The firm’s American projects include a Manhattan apartment for Hamish Bowles and a Gramercy Park townhouse for artist John Currin.
Suzanne Rheinstein
Los Angeles
suzannerheinstein.com
Interior designer Suzanne Rheinstein is known for her signature style, which mixes beautiful objects, furniture, art, and painted surfaces. The New Orleans–born, L.A.-based tastemaker has designed a San Francisco townhouse as well as her own New York City home.
Toshiko Mori Architect
New York City
tmarch.com
For the last four decades, architect Toshiko Mori and her New York studio have been designing sensitive, environmentally-conscious buildings the world-over. Recent projects include a cultural center in Senegal and the redesign of the Brooklyn Public Library’s Central Branch.
Veere Grenney Associates
New York City
veeregrenney.com
British interior designer Veere Grenney boasts more than 30 years of experience in the interior design industry. Before launching his own company, he was a director at Sybil Colefax and John Fowler. He also has a fabric and furniture collection.
Vicente Wolf Associates
New York City
vicentewolf.com
A world-renowned interior designer, Vicente Wolf has published four design books, including The Four Elements of Design: Interiors Inspired by Earth, Water, Air and Fire. His portfolio includes the MGM hotel in Las Vegas and the Wynn Hotel in Macau, China.
Victoria Hagan
New York City
victoriahagan.com
Victoria Hagan’s projects have ranged from sprawling country homes to elegant city residences. Recent commissions have included a modern home carved out of the side of a mountain in Aspen, Colorado, and a Central Park penthouse perched on atop the legendary Plaza hotel.
