This list focuses on designers and studios with recognizable signature styles and meaningful portfolio breadth across US residential, hospitality, commercial, and furniture projects. Some are known for maximalist color, others for quiet minimalism or classic American comfort.
A quick note before we dive in: "best" here is an editorial call, not a universal ranking. What follows are style-focused profiles paired with practical guidance for choosing a designer whose approach fits your project.
TL;DR
- Nativa Interiors opens the list with full-service design and custom furniture manufacturing under one roof.
- Every profile flags signature style, project strengths, and the client type that designer fits best.
- Before hiring, weigh portfolio fit, scope, communication, procurement, location, and fees.
Overview of Interior Design in the US Market
An interior designer or studio typically handles space planning, material and finish selection, furnishings, procurement, project coordination, and installation oversight. The scope goes beyond decoration.
According to the American Society of Interior Designers, the profession supports functionality, materiality, accessibility, safety, and building codes across places where people live, work, heal, and learn.
The US luxury design market breaks into distinct specialties:
- High-end residential and custom home design
- Hospitality and restaurants, where durability meets brand identity
- Commercial spaces, including retail, medical offices, and corporate environments
- Furniture design and manufacturing
- Home staging for real estate sales
A designer's signature style usually shows up through recurring choices: proportion, color palette, texture, craftsmanship, and sourcing habits. A strong firm still tailors the outcome to each client rather than repeating the same room over and over.
The designers below were selected for recognizable creative perspectives, documented project experience, and relevance to different needs across the US. Verify current biographies, services, and project examples through official sources before making a hiring decision.
Top 10 Best Interior Designers and Their Signature Styles
This is a curated selection, not a definitive ranking. Portfolios change, teams grow, and awards get added. Always check a firm's official site for the latest project examples before reaching out.
1. Nativa Interiors
Nativa Interiors is a Southern California luxury furniture and interior design firm founded by Silvina Petrate in 2001. Petrate's Argentine heritage and appreciation for craftsmanship, culture, and natural materials shape the brand's design perspective from the ground up.
The signature approach is bespoke, warm, and story-led. Rooms balance beauty, comfort, and functionality with personalized furniture rather than off-the-shelf pieces. The firm's own aesthetic spans Mediterranean, Modern Mountain, Coastal Contemporary, and Transitional Californian influences, always adapted to a property's architecture, location, and audience.
What sets Nativa apart:
- In-house design and manufacturing, with custom furniture crafted in North America using sustainable materials
- Made-to-order production timelines of roughly 6 to 8 weeks plus shipping
- A curated mix of the Nativa Interiors Collection alongside brands like American Leather, GAMMA Arredamenti, Stressless, and Lee Industries
- Experience across residential, hospitality, commercial, and staging projects, including work with the Arizona Biltmore and La Jolla Shores Hotel
Profile card:
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Service focus | Full-service residential and commercial design, custom furniture, staging |
| Strongest project fit | Affluent homeowners, hospitality operators, restaurant groups, sellers staging listings |
| Showrooms | La Jolla, Solana Beach, and Newport Beach, California |
| Evidence to review | Official portfolio, custom furniture collection, current showroom listings |
Nativa tends to suit affluent homeowners who want a complete interior handled from concept sketches through final installation. It also fits hospitality and restaurant operators needing durable, branded environments, plus home sellers seeking staging that helps a property show its best.
One recent staged property reportedly received multiple offers within three days and sold 15% above asking. Confirm current availability directly with the firm, since project capacity varies.
2. Kelly Wearstler
Kelly Wearstler is one of the most influential American designers working today, known for bold, layered, art-forward interiors across residential, hospitality, and product design. She founded her Los Angeles-based studio in 1995.
Signature characteristics:
- Expressive color and sculptural forms
- Mixed materials and graphic patterns
- Vintage references paired with unexpected scale
Her portfolio includes hospitality projects such as Santa Monica Proper and Austin Proper, alongside product collaborations with Lee Jofa, Visual Comfort, and The Rug Company. This studio suits clients who want maximalist, highly curated spaces with a strong visual identity, not restrained minimalism. Verify current project categories and collaborations through her official site before referencing specific work.
3. Studio Shamshiri
Studio Shamshiri, based on Sunset Boulevard in Los Angeles, combines contemporary refinement with atmosphere and a strong sense of place. Co-founder Pamela Shamshiri has appeared on the Architectural Digest AD100 list, and the studio's book, Shamshiri: Interiors, was released by Rizzoli in 2023.
Recurring stylistic traits include tonal layering, tactile materials, collected objects, and organic forms with carefully controlled transitions between architecture and furnishings. A 2024 townhouse project in Greenwich Village was described by AD as theatrical and sumptuous.
This approach appeals to clients who want a sophisticated, residential-feeling environment rather than a trend-driven look. The studio works across residential, commercial, and hospitality projects, both domestic and international.
4. Commune Design
Founded in 2004 by Roman Alonso and Steven Johanknecht, Commune is a Los Angeles studio recognized for handcrafted, holistic interiors shaped by California modernism and natural materials.
The signature style leans toward:
- Relaxed sophistication and earthy palettes
- Artisanal details and vintage or architectural references
- Spaces that feel connected to their physical setting
Commune has received a Cooper Hewitt National Design Award and appears on the AD100 list. Projects range from residential homes to restaurant interiors at the American Trade Hotel and Durham Hotel. This firm fits clients designing homes, hotels, or restaurants that need a distinct sense of place rather than a generic luxury look.
5. Champalimaud Design
Champalimaud Design, founded by Alexandra Champalimaud and based in New York, has particular strength in luxury hospitality, hotels, and high-end residential work. The studio's disciplines explicitly include procurement, master planning, and art consulting.
The signature style is layered elegance: rich materials, refined detailing, and tailored comfort designed to express a property's character rather than impose a generic template. Verified projects include L'Ermitage Beverly Hills, the St. Regis New York, and Hotel Bel-Air.
This studio is especially relevant to hospitality operators or residential clients who want an immersive, narrative-driven experience woven into every detail.
6. Alyssa Kapito Interiors
Founded by Alyssa Kapito in 2012, this New York-based studio takes a refined, minimalist approach that still incorporates warmth, texture, antiques, and art. It's not stark minimalism.
Signature elements include:
- Quiet, restrained color palettes
- Clean lines paired with sculptural furnishings
- Natural materials and carefully edited decorative accents
Kapito's Upper East Side family home was published by Architectural Digest in early 2025. The studio suits clients who want an uncluttered, elevated home with visual depth, not a purely monochromatic box. Kapito also runs Galerie Alyssa Kapito, which curates design exhibitions alongside her residential work.
7. Nate Berkus Associates
With offices in Chicago, New York, and Los Angeles, Nate Berkus Associates is known for approachable, personalized interiors that blend collected objects, meaningful materials, and pattern with practical livability.
Signature characteristics:
- Layered, narrative-driven rooms that feel personal over time
- Collected objects, meaningful materials, and pattern mixed with fresh furnishings
- Practical livability instead of photo-ready staging
The firm is a strong fit for homeowners who already own art, vintage pieces, or family heirlooms and want help weaving them into a cohesive design.
8. Roman and Williams
Founded in 2002 by Robin Standefer and Stephen Alesch, Roman and Williams is a multidisciplinary New York studio spanning interior design, architecture, hospitality, and retail.
The signature style combines:
- Cinematic atmosphere and historic references
- Dramatic materials and crafted, tactile details
- A deliberate tension between old and new elements
The firm's official portfolio includes the British Galleries at The Met, the Boom Boom Room, and Le Coucou restaurant. It has earned a Cooper Hewitt National Design Award and a Palladio Award. This studio suits hospitality, restaurant, or retail projects that need a memorable, experiential identity rather than a purely functional layout.
9. Jeffrey Bilhuber
Jeffrey Bilhuber's firm describes itself explicitly as an interior decorating company, working on urban apartments and country houses across the US and Europe.
Signature characteristics:
- American interpretation of classic interiors with tailored furnishings
- Confident color and layered pattern built for everyday use
- Rooms meant to improve as they evolve with the people living in them
In a 2015 Architectural Digest interview, Bilhuber stressed livability over showroom perfection. The aesthetic fits homeowners who want a timeless, welcoming environment rather than an experimental or aggressively modern one.
10. Bunny Williams Interior Design
Bunny Williams founded her firm in 1988; it was renamed Williams Lawrence in 2023 alongside partner Elizabeth Lawrence. Commissions span Manhattan, Palm Beach, and Los Angeles.
Signature characteristics include:
- Patina and varied scale in furnishings
- Layered color built on traditional foundations
- Unexpected decorative accents drawn from personal collections
Williams has been inducted into the AD100 Hall of Fame and received the NYSID Albert Hadley Lifetime Achievement Award. Her furniture line, Bunny Williams Home, launched in 2008. This firm suits clients who appreciate heritage references, craftsmanship, and interiors that feel richer with age, not designers chasing the latest trend cycle.
How We Chose the Best Interior Designers
We chose designers for recognizable signature style, portfolio quality, project range, and relevance to US readers—not popularity alone. A strong candidate shows a repeatable point of view while still responding to different clients, buildings, and functional requirements.
Service models worth comparing:
- Boutique creative direction versus full-service design
- Architecture-plus-interiors versus interiors-only practices
- Hospitality specialty versus residential focus
- Custom furniture manufacturing, procurement, and installation capabilities
Beyond style, evaluate practical fit: project size, location, timeline, budget structure, and decision-making process. Does the firm have documented experience with your specific property type, whether that's a beachfront condo or a historic renovation?
Avoid choosing based on social media alone. Instead:
- Review complete portfolios, not just highlight reels
- Check recent work, since styles and team compositions shift over time
- Ask for references or verified testimonials
- Read the contract carefully for deliverables and revision policies
- Clarify the firm's approach to purchasing and markups
Pricing, availability, and service scope vary considerably by firm and region. Treat any fee ranges as starting points for a conversation, not fixed quotes.
Conclusion
The right interior designer is the one whose aesthetic, process, and service model match your space and goals. A bold maximalist studio like Kelly Wearstler's serves a completely different client than a quiet minimalist practice like Alyssa Kapito Interiors, and neither is objectively better.
What matters is fit:
- Bold color versus restrained palettes
- Immersive hospitality storytelling versus classic American comfort
- California naturalism versus bespoke full-service furnishing
For a complete design experience—from custom furniture made in North America to full-service staging and commercial design—Nativa Interiors offers that combination through its Southern California showrooms. Confirm project fit and availability through the firm before you commit.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much should I expect to pay for an interior designer?
Hourly rates typically run $100–$500, and flat fees often range from $2,000 to $12,000 depending on scope, per Angi's 2026 cost data. Some firms also charge percentage-based fees or procurement markups.
What are some good interior design companies in Los Angeles?
Kelly Wearstler, Studio Shamshiri, and Commune Design all have verified Los Angeles-based studios. Other firms on this list may serve LA remotely or through selected projects, so confirm current service availability before assuming local presence.
Do interior designers do free estimates?
Many firms offer a complimentary introductory consultation to assess project fit, separate from a paid design consultation or formal project estimate. Always ask what's included and whether any consultation fee gets credited toward future services.
What does an interior design studio do?
A studio may handle concept development, space planning, materials, furniture sourcing, procurement, contractor coordination, and installation oversight. Services vary significantly by firm, so ask for a written scope before signing.
How do I choose the right interior designer for my project?
Compare signature style, relevant project experience, service scope, communication process, location, and budget transparency. Interview more than one qualified designer before making a final decision.
What is the difference between an interior designer and an interior decorator?
Interior design typically involves spatial planning, materials, and coordination with construction, while decorating focuses on furnishings, color, and finishes. Regulation differs by state, and the CIDQ legislative map shows how Practice Acts and Title Acts vary in scope.
