NEIGHBORHOODS
Manhattan, Brooklyn and beyond
Most of our New York clients are renovating an apartment, furnishing a new condo, or reworking a townhouse for the next stage of family life.
RECENT WORK
Central Park Serenity
UPPER WEST SIDE · FULL RENOVATION · CONDO RESIDENCE
A whole-apartment renovation at 30 Lincoln Plaza for returning clients whose children had just left for college. Warm neutrals, walnut millwork, linen and leather, and sheer drapery that keeps Central Park in view from every room. Installation ran through the height of the pandemic and still finished on time and on budget.
Also in New York: the West End Avenue Penthouse, and model units at 7 Dey and Ruby Chelsea.
SERVICES
What we do in New York
Every New York project is full service, from the first plan to the day you move in.
Co-op and condo renovations
Kitchens, baths, millwork and full-gut renovations, including unit combinations, with drawings prepared for your building's approval and coordinated with your architect and contractor.
New-development and turnkey homes
For buyers of a new condo who want to move in to a finished home: furniture, lighting, art, bedding and kitchen essentials, all installed before you arrive. More in furnishing a new condo in Manhattan.
Townhouses
Whole-house design for brownstones and townhouses, from layouts and lighting plans to every finish and piece of furniture. Past work includes a six-story gut renovation of a Riverside Drive townhouse.
Pied-à-terres
Smaller homes designed to feel complete, with storage built in and everything in place for the nights you're in the city.
We also design model units for developers and sales teams, including 7 Dey and Ruby Chelsea.
DESIGNING FOR NEW YORK
What a New York apartment needs that a house doesn't
Building approvals
Most co-ops and many condos require an alteration agreement, drawings, a scope of work and insurance certificates before work starts. We prepare the package and plan the schedule around the board's review.
Deliveries and freight elevators
Buildings limit work hours and require freight elevator bookings for every delivery. We receive furnishings at a warehouse, check them there, and bring everything in on one scheduled move-in day instead of dozens of separate deliveries.
Making the most of the square footage
Storage planned into millwork, dining areas that work in an open plan, and furniture sized to the room, the elevator and the doorways before it is ordered.
Light that changes room to room
Street-facing rooms can be bright while courtyard rooms stay dim. Paint, finishes and lighting are chosen for the light each room gets.
City noise
Rugs, upholstery, window treatments and bedroom layouts are planned to soften street and building sound, especially where you sleep.
HOW IT WORKS
How a New York project runs
Consultation
01
A 2-hour working session at your home or virtual that defines the scope, direction and budget.
Design
02
Floor plans, lighting, millwork, finishes and furnishings, presented for approval, plus the drawings your building needs.
Procurement
03
Every piece ordered, tracked and received at a warehouse, where it is checked before delivery.
Installation
04
Furniture placed, art hung and the home styled and cleaned, so it is ready the day you move in. See what happens on installation day.
A turnkey home with quick-ship furnishings takes about 12 weeks. A full design with custom pieces takes 6 to 10 months, and renovations follow the construction schedule. Design fees start at $100,000 for design and furnishing, $140,000 for renovations and $350,000 for full-gut townhouses and new construction. The full breakdown is in what a full-service interior designer costs in NYC.
QUESTIONS
Working with Studio Kestrel in New York
Where in New York does Studio Kestrel work?
Studio Kestrel is based in New York and works across Manhattan and Brooklyn. Past projects include residences at 432 Park Avenue, the Woolworth Building, 1 West End Avenue, the Four Seasons Downtown and 50 West 66th Street.
Can you manage my co-op or condo board approval?
Yes. We prepare the drawings, scope of work and specifications your building requires, coordinate insurance certificates with your contractor, and plan the schedule around the review. More in how to hire an interior designer in NYC.
When should I hire an interior designer for a New York renovation?
Before architectural drawings begin and before plans go to your building. Bringing a designer in late often means redrawing plans or undoing decisions already made.
Do you work with my architect and contractor?
Yes. Studio Kestrel works alongside your architect and contractor, or can recommend collaborators. Interior drawings are coordinated with the architectural set so millwork, lighting and plumbing line up with the furniture plan.
What does a full-service interior designer cost in New York?
Studio Kestrel charges a fixed design fee based on the scope of work, starting at $100,000 for design and furnishing, $140,000 for renovations including full-gut apartments, and $350,000 for full-gut townhouses and new construction. Furniture and furnishings are sold at retail.