The Indispensable Role of a Designer in Home Renovation
Top 9 Interior Designers Who Perfect Home Remodeling Projects – The value of an interior designer in a home remodeling context extends far beyond choosing color palettes and furniture. They serve as the central nervous system of the project, a crucial bridge between the homeowner’s dream and the contractor’s execution. Their role is multifaceted, encompassing spatial planning, technical knowledge, project management, and artistic direction.
A professional designer begins by understanding the client’s lifestyle, habits, and future needs, ensuring the remodeled space is not only beautiful but also profoundly functional. They possess the technical expertise to reconfigure floor plans, optimize lighting, and select materials that are both durable and appropriate for the intended use. This foresight helps prevent costly mistakes and ensures the final design is both practical and enduring.
Our Criteria for Selecting the Industry’s Best
Identifying the top talent in the world of interior design requires a discerning eye. Our selection of the nine preeminent designers for home remodeling is based on a rigorous set of criteria designed to highlight true mastery in the field. These individuals and firms do not just decorate; they fundamentally reshape and enhance living environments.
We prioritized designers with a robust and verifiable portfolio of complex remodeling projects. Their ability to manage structural changes, historical preservation, and complete gut renovations was a key factor. Furthermore, we assessed their client-centric philosophy, looking for a proven track record of collaboration, clear communication, and a deep understanding of their clients’ visions. Finally, a mastery of the core principles of design—space, light, form, and materiality—was essential.
Proven Excellence in Renovation Projects
A designer’s portfolio is their most compelling testament. For our list, we specifically sought out professionals whose work showcases a deep understanding of the challenges and opportunities inherent in renovation. This includes demonstrating the ability to work within the constraints of an existing structure while re-imagining its potential.
A Client-Centric and Collaborative Approach
The most successful remodeling projects are born from a true partnership between the client and the designer. The professionals on our list are celebrated for their exceptional listening skills and their ability to translate a client’s abstract ideas into a clear, actionable design plan. They prioritize communication at every stage, ensuring the homeowner feels heard, valued, and confident throughout the process.
Mastery of Space, Light, and Materiality
Exceptional interior design is an art form grounded in technical science. Each designer selected exhibits a profound command of spatial dynamics, understanding how to manipulate layouts to improve flow and functionality. They possess a nuanced understanding of how natural and artificial light can define a space, and they demonstrate an expert-level knowledge of materials, knowing which textures, finishes, and products will achieve the desired aesthetic while meeting the demands of daily life.
The Vanguard: Top 9 Interior Designers Who Perfect Home Remodeling Projects
The following nine designers and firms represent the pinnacle of the industry. They have consistently demonstrated an unparalleled ability to execute breathtaking home transformations, solidifying their reputation as the go-to professional interior designers for home remodeling.
1. Studio McGee
Led by Shea and Syd McGee, Studio McGee has become an industry phenomenon, known for a signature style that is simultaneously fresh, inviting, and timeless. Their approach masterfully blends rustic and modern elements to create spaces that feel both aspirational and deeply personal.
Design Philosophy and Remodeling Specialization
Studio McGee’s philosophy is centered on creating a “classic, yet current” aesthetic. They excel in full-home renovations where their holistic vision can be implemented from the ground up. Their expertise lies in reconfiguring awkward layouts into intuitive, open-plan spaces that encourage family gathering and effortless living. They are particularly skilled at kitchen and bathroom remodels, transforming utilitarian rooms into focal points of beauty and function.
Notable Project Insights
In a recent suburban home remodel, the team was tasked with updating a dated 1990s property. They removed several non-structural walls to create a seamless flow between the kitchen, dining, and living areas. By introducing large-scale windows and a lighter color palette, they dramatically increased the natural light. This project is a prime example of why homeowners seek out professional interior designers for home remodeling; Studio McGee didn’t just redecorate, they fundamentally improved the home’s architecture and livability.
2. Nate Berkus Associates
Nate Berkus is a name synonymous with sophisticated and soulful design. His firm, Nate Berkus Associates, is renowned for creating spaces that reflect the personal stories and journeys of their inhabitants. Their work is characterized by a thoughtful mix of periods, styles, and textures.
Design Philosophy and Remodeling Specialization
The core of the Berkus philosophy is that a home should tell a story. In remodeling projects, this translates to a careful integration of the client’s cherished belongings and a respect for the home’s original character. The firm specializes in high-end residential remodels, masterfully blending vintage finds with custom-designed pieces to create layered, highly personalized interiors. They are experts in architectural detailing, often adding custom millwork, moldings, and built-ins to lend a sense of history and permanence to a space.
Notable Project Insights
For a pre-war apartment renovation in New York City, the team meticulously restored original plaster moldings while opening up the floor plan for modern living. They sourced antique French limestone flooring for the entryway and designed a custom brass-and-marble fireplace surround. This project highlights the firm’s skill in balancing historical preservation with contemporary needs, a complex task that demands the expertise of top-tier professional interior designers for home remodeling.
3. Amber Interiors
Amber Lewis, the principal behind Amber Interiors, has cultivated a distinct California-cool aesthetic that is relaxed, eclectic, and effortlessly chic. Her designs are characterized by their light-filled spaces, natural materials, and a masterful layering of textiles.
Design Philosophy and Remodeling Specialization
Amber Interiors focuses on creating homes that are as functional as they are beautiful. Their design process is deeply collaborative, ensuring the final space is a true reflection of the client’s lifestyle. They specialize in large-scale residential renovations, particularly in reimagining Spanish-style and mid-century homes. Their strength lies in combining organic textures like wood, stone, and linen with vintage pieces and custom furniture to create warm, lived-in environments.
Notable Project Insights
In a notable Los Angeles remodel, Amber Lewis transformed a dark, compartmentalized ranch house into a bright, airy oasis. She vaulted the ceilings in the main living area and added a wall of glass doors to connect the interior with the outdoor landscape. The use of reclaimed wood beams and hand-troweled plaster walls added texture and character, showcasing her firm’s ability to imbue a renovated space with a sense of soul and authenticity.
4. Kelly Wearstler Interior Design
Kelly Wearstler is an international icon whose work defies easy categorization. Her designs are bold, experiential, and multi-layered, drawing from a vast array of historical periods and cultural influences. She is a master of form, color, and raw, expressive materiality.
Design Philosophy and Remodeling Specialization
Wearstler’s design philosophy is rooted in “taking risks, staying curious, and honoring history.” When approaching a a remodel, her studio seeks to create a dialogue between the existing architecture and a new, adventurous vision. They specialize in high-concept luxury renovations, where every surface and object is considered a piece of art. The firm excels at projects that require bespoke solutions, from custom furniture and lighting to unique material applications and finishes.
Notable Project Insights
A landmark project involved the renovation of a historic Beverly Hills estate. Wearstler honored the home’s Hollywood Regency roots while injecting her signature modern sensibility. She used a daring mix of materials, including striated marbles, metallic finishes, and hand-painted wallpapers. This project demonstrates the unparalleled creativity that professional interior designers for home remodeling can bring to a project, elevating it from a simple update to a work of art.
5. Jean Stoffer Design
With a focus on classic English-inspired design, Jean Stoffer has earned a reputation for creating timeless, elegant, and highly functional kitchens and homes. Her work is celebrated for its meticulous attention to detail, custom cabinetry, and sophisticated color palettes.
Design Philosophy and Remodeling Specialization
Jean Stoffer Design believes that good design should be both beautiful and long-lasting, avoiding fleeting trends in favor of enduring style. The firm specializes in kitchen-centric home renovations, recognizing the kitchen as the true heart of the home. They are renowned for their custom cabinetry designs, thoughtful space planning, and ability to seamlessly integrate modern appliances into classic aesthetics.
Notable Project Insights
In a historic home remodel in Michigan, Stoffer’s team was tasked with creating a functional family kitchen while respecting the home’s 19th-century architecture. They designed custom inset cabinetry in a deep, moody green and incorporated a large, furniture-style island. They carefully preserved the original wood flooring and trim, proving that a modern, high-performance kitchen can coexist beautifully within a historic context.
6. Ashe Leandro
Founded by Ariel Ashe and Reinaldo Leandro, this New York-based firm is known for its sophisticated, contemporary interiors that are imbued with a sense of warmth and comfort. Their work is a study in refined simplicity, characterized by clean lines, curated art, and a rich, yet restrained, material palette.
Design Philosophy and Remodeling Specialization
Ashe Leandro’s approach is about creating “relaxed, livable luxury.” They believe a home should be a sanctuary, and their designs reflect this with an emphasis on comfort and personal expression. The firm excels in gut renovations of urban apartments and townhouses, where their skill in space planning and light maximization is paramount. They adeptly blend modern architectural interventions with vintage furniture and significant contemporary art pieces.
Notable Project Insights
For the renovation of a Manhattan loft, Ashe Leandro transformed a raw industrial space into a sophisticated family home. They used partitions of fluted glass and steel to define distinct living zones while maintaining an open, airy feel. The selection of iconic mid-century furniture alongside custom-designed pieces created a space that is both stylish and deeply personal, showcasing the nuanced approach that distinguishes the best professional interior designers for home remodeling.
7. Commune Design
Commune is a Los Angeles-based design collective that works across residential, commercial, and hospitality projects. Their approach is holistic and highly collaborative, often involving a community of artists, artisans, and craftspeople to create one-of-a-kind spaces.
Design Philosophy and Remodeling Specialization
The philosophy of Commune is rooted in the belief that design is a collaborative process. They draw inspiration from the history of a place, its architecture, and the client’s own story. In remodeling, they are known for their reverence for craftsmanship and material honesty. They specialize in projects with a strong architectural identity, such as historic modernist homes, where they can restore and enhance the original vision while adapting it for contemporary life.
Notable Project Insights
In the restoration and remodel of a classic mid-century home by architect Rudolph Schindler, Commune meticulously researched the original materials and design intent. They worked with specialized artisans to restore custom woodwork and sourced period-appropriate fixtures. At the same time, they updated the kitchen and bathrooms with modern functionality that felt stylistically consistent, demonstrating a deep respect for architectural history.
8. BHDM Design
Led by Dan Mazzarini, BHDM Design creates interiors that are playful, polished, and full of personality. Their work is known for its clever use of color, pattern, and unexpected details, resulting in spaces that feel both sophisticated and full of joy.
Design Philosophy and Remodeling Specialization
BHDM’s ethos is “story-driven and human-focused.” They begin each project by developing a unique narrative that informs every design decision. The firm specializes in residential renovations that require a bold, imaginative touch. They are masters of transforming bland, generic spaces into vibrant homes through strategic architectural changes, custom millwork, and a fearless approach to color and pattern.
Notable Project Insights
Tasked with remodeling a family’s brownstone, BHDM injected life and color into the historic structure. They designed a library with floor-to-ceiling lacquered blue shelves and a kitchen featuring a graphic, black-and-white tiled floor. These bold choices were balanced with neutral walls and classic furniture forms, creating a dynamic yet cohesive home that perfectly reflected the family’s energetic personality.
9. APPARATUS Studio
While primarily known for their iconic lighting and furniture, APPARATUS Studio also undertakes a select number of full-scale interior design projects. Their work is characterized by a “modernist lens with a sense of the historical,” resulting in spaces that are sculptural, sensual, and impeccably detailed.
Design Philosophy and Remodeling Specialization
The studio’s philosophy is centered on the interplay between form, material, and light. Their interiors are exercises in refined restraint, where every object and surface is chosen for its sculptural quality and emotional resonance. They specialize in high-concept renovations where they can control every aspect of the design, from the architectural shell to the custom-designed fixtures. Their strength lies in creating immersive, atmospheric environments that feel both modern and timeless.
Notable Project Insights
In one of their most acclaimed undertakings—the transformation of their own New York City showroom and private residence—the founders of APPARATUS demonstrated the full breadth of their design philosophy. What began as a raw, industrial shell was reimagined into a sequence of richly atmospheric environments that blur the line between home, gallery, and atelier.
The design narrative unfolds through a masterful use of materiality and contrast. Aged brass, hand-troweled plaster, and dark, figured marble form the foundational palette—each surface imbued with a tactile sense of history and permanence. These materials are not merely decorative; they define the emotional temperature of the space. Light glances off the burnished metal, sinks into the matte plaster, and ripples gently across the veined marble, producing a symphony of texture and shadow.
Spatially, the project is a study in restraint and rhythm. Rooms reveal themselves gradually, through framed views and subtle shifts in tone, creating an experience that feels both cinematic and deeply personal. The designers use controlled lighting and curated sightlines to draw the eye toward sculptural moments—an illuminated brass fixture here, a monolithic marble island there—turning everyday functionality into ritual.
This project stands as a masterclass in layered material expression and sensory choreography. It captures the essence of APPARATUS’s approach: interiors that are not merely seen, but felt—where craftsmanship, emotion, and spatial psychology converge. It also serves as a compelling example of what defines elite professional interior designers in the realm of home remodeling: the ability to transform space into atmosphere, and design into experience.
Partnering Effectively with Your Chosen Designer
Once you have selected a designer, the success of your remodeling project hinges on a successful collaboration. A productive partnership is built on clear communication, mutual respect, and a shared understanding of the goals.
To begin, prepare a comprehensive brief. This should include your functional needs, aesthetic preferences (with visual examples), budget constraints, and desired timeline. The more information you can provide upfront, the better your designer can understand your vision. Trust their expertise throughout the process; they bring a wealth of experience and can foresee challenges you might not anticipate. Maintain open and regular communication to ensure the project stays on track and aligned with your expectations.
Conclusion
The decision to remodel a home is a commitment to improving one’s quality of life. The process is complex, but the outcome can be profoundly rewarding. The nine designers highlighted here represent the industry’s best, each with a unique voice but a shared commitment to excellence, creativity, and client satisfaction.
Ultimately, hiring professional interior designers for home remodeling is the most crucial step in turning a vision into a reality. They are not just decorators; they are project orchestrators, problem-solvers, and artistic visionaries who ensure that the final product is not only aesthetically stunning but also a perfect, functional reflection of those who live within its walls. This investment in professional expertise is an investment in the lasting value and enjoyment of your home.