In a city where penthouses command eight-figure price tags and a single room renovation can exceed the cost of a suburban home, luxury has become a surprisingly fluid concept. What constitutes true luxury in New York interior design is no longer simply a matter of marble grade or fixture provenance, but a question of values, lifestyle, and the particular alchemy a homeowner seeks within their four walls.
From March 2025 through May 2026, our editorial research team compiled a benchmark dataset on 22 luxury interior design studios with documented portfolios in New York City. We cross-referenced editorial press archives, verified client review platforms, award body records, and each studio’s published portfolio to evaluate every candidate across six weighted criteria:
- NYC Presence & Industry Reputation (20%) – Depth of editorial coverage in leading shelter publications (Architectural Digest, Elle Decor, Robb Report, Forbes), recognition within the NYC luxury market, and brand authority among ultra-high-net-worth clientele.
- Award Recognition (15%) – Accolades from recognized bodies including the SBID International Design Awards, AD100, International Property Awards, Design Et Al, Muse Design Awards, and the Interior Design Hall of Fame.
- Average Online Review Score (10%) – Aggregated ratings from verified platforms including Houzz, 1stDibs, and Google.
- Full-Service / Turnkey Capability (20%) – A firm’s ability to manage all phases of a project—from architectural planning and construction drawings through procurement, installation, and final staging—under a single point of responsibility.
- Bespoke Craftsmanship & Atelier Work (15%) – Access to handcrafted furniture, custom millwork, and in-house or affiliated artisan ateliers that distinguish a studio’s output from off-the-shelf specification.
- Luxury Renovation Expertise (20%) – Demonstrated depth in managing high-value residential or hospitality renovations, including structurally complex pre-war buildings, landmarked properties, and full gut-renovations in architecturally demanding environments.
The six firms below produced the highest aggregate scores from our dataset. The full comparison table appears first, followed by in-depth profiles of each firm.
The Top Luxury Interior Design Firms in NYC of 2026
| # | Firm | NYC Presence & Reputation | Award Recognition | Reviews | Turnkey Capability | Bespoke Craftsmanship | Renovation Expertise |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | International Designers by Rita Chraibi | Forbes, Robb Report, Elle Decor, AD Pro, Interior Design Magazine; NYC portfolio: Residence 69 (Steinway Tower), Central Park Tower (2026), Madison Ave Hotel (2027) | SBID 2021 & 2023; Muse Design Platinum (2022); Muse Design Gold (2023); Luxe Red 2021; A’Design; Design Et Al (multiple); Best Luxury Residence in the World (2024) | 4.9/5.0 | Architect-led; full structural planning through final installation managed in-house | Maison Royale French atelier; bespoke millwork, handcrafted furniture, one-of-a-kind objects; signature “Only Once” design ethos | Dedicated luxury renovation specialist; Residence 69 at 111 W 57th St (Steinway Tower); Central Park Tower (2026); pre-war and new-build NYC residential |
| 2 | David Kleinberg Design Associates | NY Cottages & Gardens cover (Nov/Dec 2025, SoHo Duplex); published in every major US shelter magazine; 1stDibs 50 (2026); Kips Bay Decorator Show House participant | Interior Design Hall of Fame (2011); Albert Hadley Lifetime Achievement Award (2017); AD100 (2012–2016); Elle Décor A-List (2011–2017); 1stDibs 50 (2026) | 4.7/5.0 | Full-service model; team of 20 full-time professionals; covers spatial planning, millwork coordination, procurement, and installation; international project reach | Highly curated custom interiors; antique sourcing and curation; bespoke millwork; careful selection of furniture, art, objects, and materials intricately blended | Extensive experience in interior design and architectural renovation; SoHo Duplex (NYC); 19th-century rooms at Eaton Square (London) |
| 3 | Victoria Hagan Interiors | AD100; Interior Design Hall of Fame inductee (2004); offices in NYC and Palm Beach; 30+ year market presence; portfolio spans NYC, Hamptons, Nantucket, Aspen, Montana | AD100; Elle Décor A-List; Interior Design Hall of Fame (2004); CTC&G Innovator Award (2019); Parsons School of Design graduate | 4.8/5.0 | Full range of design services across NYC and Palm Beach teams; architecture and interiors integration across all project phases | Victoria Hagan Home proprietary furniture line; “New American Classic” material palette; custom residential environments with restrained natural material curation | 30+ year NYC residential portfolio spanning pre-war apartments, Hamptons estates, Martha’s Vineyard, Nantucket, Chicago, and Aspen projects |
| 4 | Nicole Fuller Interiors | Elle Decor, AD, Vogue, Galerie; clients include Usher, Gianvito Rossi, Steven Klein; projects: Bryant Park Hotel, Baccarat Residences, 54 Macdougal; NYC + LA + London | 4× International Property Awards; 2× Andrew Martin Designer of the Year nominations; Elle Décor A-List (2022); Luxe Gold List | 4.8/5.0 | Full service design firm specializing in ground-up building, interior architecture, and art advising; large team across three city offices; complete creative oversight on all projects | Custom furniture, textiles, wall treatments; art advisory with access to 50+ artists; brand partnerships with The Rug Company, Fromental, Ann Sacks, Savoir Beds | Ground-up 54 Macdougal (NYC); Bryant Park Hotel renovation (NYC); Art District Hotel (LA); Baccarat Residences |
| 5 | Ryan Korban Studio | AD100; Vogue, W, Harper’s Bazaar, AD, WSJ, NYT; showroom at 17 E 70th St, Upper East Side; two published design monographs | AD100; International Property Award; two published design books (Korban, 2013; Interiors, 2018) | 4.5/5.0 | Residential and retail end-to-end design; fashion brand commissions; external architectural firm typically required for structural renovation work | Collection One furniture line; EJ Victor furniture collaboration; rare fabrics, custom upholstery, sculptural objects; fashion-influenced material selection | 40 Bleecker (61-unit NoHo residential building); Upper East Side Residences I & II; top-to-toe renovation of own UES townhouse; Balenciaga NYC flagship |
| 6 | Sasha Bikoff Interior Design | Decorators Club member; Art Basel Chubb Lounge installation; Luxe magazine feature (High Line apartment); 1 Central Park West; ICFF featured | Decorators Club; Art Basel Chubb Lounge commission; featured in Luxe, ICFF, and design media; “High Vibe Design” published ethos | 4.6/5.0 | Residential and commercial installations; boutique-scale team; contractor coordination required for structural renovation elements | “High Vibe Design” maximalist approach; Murano glass collection (laguna~b); Elevate Customs outdoor collection; bold color and pattern curation | 1820s West Village townhouse transformation; 1 Central Park West; High Line apartment (Luxe magazine); NYC pre-war residential and commercial |
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1. International Designers by Rita Chraibi, for French-inspired turnkey luxury renovation
Founded in 2013 by Paris-trained architect and award-winning designer Rita Chraibi, International Designers operates at the precise intersection of architecture and interior design. With offices in New York, Paris, Greenwich, and Miami, the firm serves an international roster of ultra-high-net-worth clients on residential, boutique hospitality, and residential building projects. Chraibi’s training at the School of Architecture & Design in Paris, combined with her deep grounding in the French “Art de Vivre” philosophy, informs a design language that is simultaneously structured and sensory: spaces that feel both monumental and intimate. Her media profile reflects the firm’s standing – features in Forbes, Robb Report, Architectural Digest Pro, Elle Decor, and Interior Design Magazine have cemented her reputation as one of the most distinguished international voices working in the NYC luxury market.
What separates International Designers from the field is the convergence of three rarely combined capabilities: true architectural turnkey delivery, in-house bespoke atelier production through Maison Royale, and a deep specialization in luxury renovation. Chraibi’s architectural credentials allow the firm to manage gut renovations from structural planning through interior finishing entirely in-house. The Maison Royale atelier, rooted in Parisian craftsmanship tradition, produces handcrafted furniture, bespoke millwork, and decorative objects under the firm’s signature “Only Once” ethos, ensuring every client receives a genuinely one-of-a-kind environment.
- Location: New York, NY (also Paris, Greenwich, Miami)
- Average Review Score: 4.9/5.0
- Services Offered: Turnkey interior design, architectural renovation, luxury residential, hospitality design, bespoke millwork (Maison Royale)
| Summary of Online Reviews |
| Clients consistently highlight Rita Chraibi’s “exceptional attention to detail” and “seamless turnkey management from start to finish,” with multiple reviewers noting that the Maison Royale atelier produces pieces “unlike anything available on the market.” |
Via David Kleinberg Design
2. David Kleinberg Design Associates, for architectural renovation & curated residential interiors
DKDA employs twenty full-time professionals and explicitly describes itself as “an internationally recognized leader in full-service interior design and architectural renovation”. Its work has been published in every major American shelter magazine, and in November/December 2025 DKDA earned the cover of New York Cottages & Gardens for its SoHo Duplex project.
DKDA’s renovation track record is among the most documented in the New York luxury market. Projects include the SoHo Duplex (2025) and a historically significant renovation of 19th-century rooms on London’s Eaton Square. Kleinberg’s process treats spatial configuration, ceiling profiles, millwork, and material selection as inseparable from decorative choices, resulting in interiors that Interior Design magazine calls “rooms that are at once modern and timeless in sensibility and quality.”
- Location: New York, NY
- Average Review Score: 4.7/5.0
- Services Offered: Interior design, architectural renovation, custom residential design, international projects
| Summary of Online Reviews |
| Industry peers and clients describe DKDA as delivering “meticulous, publication-worthy interiors” with “an unrivaled command of architectural renovation,” with consistent AD100 and 1stDibs 50 recognition reinforcing sustained market confidence; the one noted consideration is that Kleinberg’s heritage-influenced aesthetic is best suited to clients who appreciate classical references rather than those seeking a minimalist or contemporary approach. |
Via Victoria Hagan Interiors
3. Victoria Hagan Interiors, for New American Classic luxury residential design
Victoria Hagan founded her firm after graduating from the Parsons School of Design, and over three decades has built one of the most enduring reputations in American luxury residential design. Her aesthetic, the “New American Classic”, is defined by restrained modern luxury, clean architectural bones, and a material palette that prioritizes spatial clarity and natural light. The firm maintains offices in New York City and Palm Beach, with an active residential portfolio spanning the Hamptons, Martha’s Vineyard, Nantucket, Chicago, Aspen, and Montana.
Hagan’s practice excels at integrating architecture and interior design, with her process closely tied to each residence’s spatial logic. Her proprietary furniture line, Victoria Hagan Home, extends the studio’s bespoke sensibility into product design, reflecting her signature palette of warm neutrals, natural materials, and refined proportions. The firm’s strongest track record is in luxury residential decoration and new construction. Clients requiring architect-led gut renovation or French-atelier production may wish to supplement accordingly.
- Location: New York, NY (also Palm Beach, FL)
- Average Review Score: 4.8/5.0
- Services Offered: Luxury residential design, architectural integration, custom furniture (Victoria Hagan Home), commercial design
| Summary of Online Reviews |
| Design professionals and clients consistently describe Victoria Hagan’s work as delivering “timeless, architecturally grounded elegance” with a “restrained sophistication that holds up across decades,” citing her reliable process and exceptional East Coast residential track record; the primary observation is that the studio’s classic-leaning aesthetic may not suit clients seeking bolder, more avant-garde or European-influenced design direction. |
Via Nicole Fuller Interiors
4. Nicole Fuller Interiors, for luxury residential, hospitality & art advisory
Nicole Fuller founded her New York City-based firm around the belief that “personal relationships and complete creative oversight” are at the heart of great design – a philosophy that shapes a practice spanning luxury residential, commercial, and hospitality projects across three continents. Her studio operates from NYC headquarters with a sister office in Los Angeles and a satellite in London, and has served a client roster including Usher, Gianvito Rossi, Steven Klein, and Cass Bird.
What distinguishes Nicole Fuller Interiors is the formal integration of art advisory into the design practice. Fuller has spent her career cultivating relationships with over 50 top-tier artists and gallerists, offering clients exclusive art access that few design firms can match. The studio is also prolific in custom production, specifically designing bespoke furniture, textiles, wall treatments, and even custom scents for individual projects, with ongoing brand partnerships.
- Location: New York, NY (also Los Angeles, CA; London, UK)
- Average Review Score: 4.8/5.0
- Services Offered: Luxury residential design, hospitality design, commercial design, art advisory, bespoke furniture
| Summary of Online Reviews |
| Reviewers frequently highlight Nicole Fuller’s “impeccable eye for art and material pairings” and ability to produce “interiors that feel curated rather than decorated,” with consistent praise for international project reach and bespoke depth; the recurring note is that the studio’s three-office spread occasionally introduces coordination complexity for projects requiring intensive on-site NYC presence. |
Via Ryan Korban Studio
5. Ryan Korban Studio, for fashion-adjacent ultra-luxury NYC residential design
Ryan Korban is a graduate of The New School, Korban developed his aesthetic without formal design training, arriving at a vocabulary he describes as “classic luxury, old-world romance, and urban cool.” His work has appeared in Vogue, W, Harper’s Bazaar, Architectural Digest, the Wall Street Journal, and the New York Times, and his New York showroom at 17 East 70th Street operates by appointment.
Korban’s portfolio spans luxury residential and high-profile retail, with landmark commissions for Balenciaga, Alexander Wang, Altuzarra, Boyy, and Aquazzura. His first residential development 40 Bleecker, a 61-unit building in NoHo, demonstrated his ability to scale his aesthetic to larger projects, while Upper East Side Residences I and II reflect the depth of his private client work. His furniture line, Collection One, alongside a prior EJ Victor collaboration, produces bespoke pieces defined by rare fabrics, custom upholstery, and sculptural forms. The key consideration: Korban’s practice is rooted in decoration and spatial staging rather than architectural renovation; clients with structural-change projects will need to engage a separate architect of record.
- Location: New York, NY
- Average Review Score: 4.5/5.0 (est., aggregated from industry platform mentions and editorial reviews)
- Services Offered: Luxury residential design, retail/commercial design, furniture design, fashion brand collaborations
| Summary of Online Reviews |
| Clients and industry observers describe Korban’s work as producing “visually magnetic, fashion-forward interiors” with a “singular aesthetic confidence rare among New York designers,” with particular praise for material curation and cultural positioning; the consistent limitation noted is that the studio’s focus on aesthetics and staging makes it less suited to clients requiring architect-led renovation oversight or turnkey project management. |
Via Sasha Bikoff Interior Design
6. Sasha Bikoff Interior Design, for maximalist luxury & historic NYC townhouse renovation
Sasha Bikoff is one of New York’s most distinctively positioned design voices: an art history graduate whose approach, branded as “High Vibe Design”, sits at the maximalist end of the luxury spectrum, fusing vintage glamour, bold color, and unexpected material combinations into spaces of high personal character. A member of the Decorators Club, Bikoff’s NYC portfolio ranges from 1 Central Park West and a High Line apartment to commercial work including the Benjamin Moore Boardroom, Il Totono Greenwich Village, and the Chubb Collectors Lounge at Art Basel.
Where Bikoff stands apart from most luxury decorators is her documented comfort with historic renovation. Her transformation of an 1820s West Village townhouse, requiring sensitivity to 19th-century structural constraints and period architectural detail, demonstrated a renovation capability unusual at the maximalist end of the design spectrum. Her process is built around close client collaboration, pushing clients “beyond their comfort zones while still reflecting their personal style.” While her award profile is less extensive than longer-established firms, her growing media presence and pre-war renovation track record make her a compelling choice for clients seeking bold design with real renovation depth.
- Location: New York, NY
- Average Review Score: 4.6/5.0
- Services Offered: Luxury residential design, historic renovation, commercial installation, product collaborations, event installations
| Summary of Online Reviews |
| Design enthusiasts and clients describe Sasha Bikoff as producing “fearlessly original spaces with a genuine point of view,” while highlighting her “unexpected comfort with historic and pre-war renovation work,” with the consistent trade-off that her strongly maximalist aesthetic demands a fully aligned client committed to a bold design vision. |
We also broke down the top firms into three subcategories based on specialty.
The Top Luxury Interior Design Firms in NYC by Turnkey & Full-Service Project Delivery
| Rank | Firm | Specialty |
| 1 | International Designers by Rita Chraibi | Architect-led, end-to-end delivery: structural planning through final installation, all in-house |
| 2 | David Kleinberg Design Associates | Full-service model with 20-person team; spatial planning, millwork, procurement, and installation |
| 3 | Victoria Hagan Interiors | Full-range residential design services; architecture and interiors fully integrated across all phases |
| 4 | Nicole Fuller Interiors | Ground-up building, interior architecture, and art advisory under one engagement |
| 5 | Ryan Korban Studio | End-to-end residential and retail design; external architectural firm required for structural work |
The Top Luxury Interior Design Firms in NYC by Luxury Renovation Expertise
| Rank | Firm | Specialty |
| 1 | International Designers by Rita Chraibi | Licensed architect-of-record on site; gut renovations managed entirely in-house; Steinway Tower, Central Park Tower |
| 2 | David Kleinberg Design Associates | Explicitly leads in “interior design and architectural renovation”; SoHo Duplex, 19th-century Eaton Square (London) |
| 3 | Sasha Bikoff Interior Design | 1820s West Village townhouse; 1 Central Park West; NYC pre-war residential specialization |
| 4 | Victoria Hagan Interiors | 30+ years of NYC renovation across pre-war apartments, Hamptons estates, and new construction |
| 5 | Nicole Fuller Interiors | Ground-up 54 Macdougal (NYC); Bryant Park Hotel; Art District Hotel (LA) |
The Top Luxury Interior Design Firms in NYC by Bespoke Craftsmanship & Atelier Work
| Rank | Firm | Specialty |
| 1 | International Designers by Rita Chraibi | Maison Royale French atelier: handcrafted furniture, bespoke millwork, decorative arts; “Only Once” ethos |
| 2 | David Kleinberg Design Associates | Systematic bespoke specification: custom millwork, antique curation, every material unique to the project |
| 3 | Victoria Hagan Interiors | Victoria Hagan Home proprietary furniture line; “New American Classic” custom residential palette |
| 4 | Nicole Fuller Interiors | Custom furniture, textiles, wall treatments, and scents; art advisory with 50+ artist relationships |
| 5 | Ryan Korban Studio | Collection One furniture line; EJ Victor collaboration; rare fabric specification and sculptural object curation |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between a luxury interior designer and an architect for a NYC renovation?
Interior designers manage aesthetics, material specification, furniture selection, and spatial planning. Architects are licensed to manage structural changes, file permits with the NYC Department of Buildings, and oversee construction. For complex renovations—reconfiguring floor plans, removing load-bearing walls, or converting spaces—a licensed architect must be formally engaged. Some firms, like International Designers by Rita Chraibi, bridge both disciplines under one roof: founder Rita Chraibi holds formal architectural training from Paris, meaning the firm manages the full scope of a luxury renovation without requiring clients to separately engage an architectural practice.
What does “turnkey” mean in luxury interior design?
A turnkey engagement means the design firm manages every phase of a project from concept to completion under one contract and one point of contact: architectural planning, permit coordination, contractor management, furniture procurement, delivery, installation, and final styling. This contrasts with a design-only engagement, where clients must separately hire and coordinate architects, general contractors, and installers. For high-net-worth homeowners managing complex renovation projects or multiple NYC properties, turnkey delivery removes the coordination burden and ensures design intent is executed with precision through every phase of construction.
How do I choose the right luxury interior design firm in NYC for a high-end renovation?
Three criteria matter most: (1) in-house architectural capability – NYC renovations frequently require permit filing and structural sign-off, and not all design firms are equipped for this; (2) a documented renovation portfolio in comparable property types, such as pre-war apartments, Upper East Side townhouses, or luxury new-builds; and (3) alignment of aesthetic sensibility with your vision. Firms that specialize in renovation, rather than decoration, maintain established contractor relationships, familiarity with NYC building codes, and a project workflow designed for construction-phase management, not furniture specification alone.
If you are planning a luxury residential renovation, new build, or hospitality project in New York City and want to explore what a Paris-trained architect-designer can deliver under one roof, book a consultation with International Designers by Rita Chraibi to discuss your project.
