What AREA Interior Design does

AREA Interior Design is a privately held, full-service interior design studio founded in 2006 by Janine Carendi MacMurray and headquartered at 123 East 91st Street in New York City. The firm specializes in high-end residential design for high-net-worth individuals, executing townhouse gut renovations, co-op and apartment renovations, and pied-à-terres, with named projects including a former Jackie O residence on the Upper East Side, an acclaimed hotelier's apartment, and homes in Locust Valley, Carnegie Hill, Pittsburgh, and Central Park. Its service suite spans Full Scale Interior Design, Architectural Planning, Drawings & Millwork, Interior Finishes & Furnishings, Project Management, Custom Furniture Design, and Art Advisory, delivered as integrated engagements rather than standalone products.

The firm is not technology-centric; it has no proprietary software platform, no API, and no AI/ML capabilities. Its core asset is the founder's design aesthetic, which blends a multi-country upbringing (Sweden, Mexico, Colombia, Connecticut), Parsons education, decorative arts training in Paris, and an extensive personal antique collection. This collection is partially monetized through the Carendi MacMurray sub-brand, which sells furniture and antiques via the 1stDibs marketplace.

AREA's business model is professional services: revenue comes from bespoke, quote-based design fees on multi-year projects with high-net-worth residential clients and, more recently, branded-residence developers (Raffles Residences Bali, December 2025 partnership with James Hyatt Studio). Customer acquisition relies on editorial press coverage (Architectural Digest, ELLE Decor, Veranda, NYC&G, HC&G, 1stDibs Introspective), the Carendi MacMurray 1stDibs storefront, Instagram presence (@areainteriordesign), and referrals. The firm has earned consecutive 1stDibs 50 designations (2024 and 2025) and operates with 1-10 employees. Geographic focus is New York and the broader US (Northeast and Midwest), with international expansion signaled by the Bali project.

Name

AREA Interior Design

Legal name

AREA Interior Design

Website

https://areainteriordesign.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2006

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

AREA Interior Design is a New York-based, full-service interior design studio founded in 2006 by Janine Carendi MacMurray, serving high-net-worth residential clients and select hospitality developers with bespoke design, architectural planning, and project management services.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Luxury Interior Design Services

NAICS

Interior Design Services (54141), Architectural Services (54131)

akta.pro primary industry

Interior Design Services (BPAHAKAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Architectural Design Services (BPAHAKAA), Whole-Home Interior Renovation (Non-Structural) (HSAPAEAC), Residential Interior Fit-Out (Multi-Family & High-End) (IMAFANAE)

Keywords

• Interior design services
• Residential interior design
• Architectural planning services
• Project management services
• Custom furniture design

Headquarters

HQ city

New York

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Others

Revenue model

1. Interior Design Services: Full-service interior design engagements including architectural planning, project management, custom furniture design, and art advisory. Revenue is generated through professional service fees for bespoke residential design projects.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

AREA Interior Design is a New York-based full-service interior design studio delivering high-end residential design, including architectural planning, custom millwork and furniture design, interior finishes and furnishings specification, art advisory, and end-to-end project management for townhouses, apartments, and pieds-à-terre. The firm operates a related shop, Carendi MacMurray, that sells curated antiques and Scandinavian-influenced furnishings.

Product overview

AREA Interior Design is a full-service New York City-based interior design studio offering a unified suite of services centered on high-end residential design. The firm provides Full Scale Interior Design, Architectural Planning, Drawings & Millwork, Interior Finishes & Furnishings, Project Management, Custom Furniture Design, and Art Advisory as integrated service offerings. The portfolio spans townhouse gut renovations and pied-à-terres, with completed projects including Locust Valley, East 79th, 5th Avenue Co-Op, Carnegie Hill, Pittsburgh, and Central Park Pre-War. The related sub-brand Carendi MacMurray offers a curated collection of antiques and design pieces available through the shop.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Carendi MacMurray: A furniture and antique collection curated by Janine Carendi MacMurray, available for purchase through the company's shop.

Products and services

• Full Scale Interior Design Comprehensive interior design service encompassing the entire design process from concept to completion for high-end residential properties. Targeted at high-net-worth homeowners undertaking full-scale renovations.
• Architectural Planning Strategic architectural planning addressing spatial layout, structural considerations, and functional design for residential renovations and new builds. Sold to clients undertaking major residential projects.
• Drawings & Millwork Custom detailed drawings and millwork design for bespoke cabinetry, built-in furniture, and architectural woodwork. Targeted at residential clients seeking tailored woodwork and joinery.
• Interior Finishes & Furnishings Selection and specification of interior finishes, materials, furnishings, and décor to complete residential spaces. Targeted at clients outfitting or renovating homes with curated materials and furnishings.
• Project Management End-to-end project management overseeing construction, vendor coordination, and timeline management for interior design projects. Targeted at clients who need a single point of accountability through renovation.
• Custom Furniture Design Design and procurement of bespoke furniture pieces tailored to client specifications and space requirements. Targeted at residential clients seeking one-of-a-kind furnishings.
• Art Advisory Expert guidance on art selection, acquisition, and placement to complement and enhance interior design schemes. Targeted at collectors and homeowners curating artwork for residential spaces.
• Carendi MacMurray Shop Curated retail collection of antiques and Scandinavian-influenced design pieces sourced by founder Janine Carendi MacMurray, sold through the firm's shop and 1stDibs. Targeted at collectors and design buyers.

Named customers3 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered flagship and core.

• James Hyatt StudioflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 3 December 2025James Hyatt Studio partnered with Area Designs as co-designer for Raffles Residences Bali, an ultra-luxury development of 28 homes on a 5.3-hectare oceanfront estate in Jimbaran, Bali. This represents a flagship collaboration for the firm in the branded residences segment.
• Create ArchitecturecoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerArchitecture firm collaborated with AREA on the 5th Avenue Co-Op project, a full-scale renovation of a former Jackie O residence on the Upper East Side.
• Zacco ConstructioncoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerConstruction partner worked with AREA and Create Architecture on the 5th Avenue Co-Op renovation project.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves4 records

Expansion highlights3 records

Direct peers

• Bunny Williams Interior Design: New York-based luxury residential interior design firm offering full-service design, antiques, and product lines; comparable in client type, multi-disciplinary service offering, and lifestyle-brand extension strategy.
• Cullman & Kravis: Long-established NYC-based luxury interior design firm serving HNW residential clients with full-scale townhouse and apartment renovations; directly comparable in scale, geography, service scope, and bespoke pricing model.
• Studio Sofield: NYC luxury residential and hospitality interior design studio led by a single principal; comparable in bespoke, full-service model targeting ultra-HNW clients and branded-residence projects.
• Steven Gambrel: New York-based luxury interior designer with full-scale residential and select hospitality work; directly comparable in HNW clientele, bespoke engagement model, and editorial-driven brand building.
• Drake/Anderson: New York-based luxury interior design firm serving HNW residential clients with full-scale renovation and decoration services; closely comparable in scale, NYC focus, and project-based engagement model.
• Peter Pennoyer Architects: New York-based architectural firm specializing in classical and traditional architecture for landmark and luxury residential properties; comparable in HNW clientele, historic-property focus, and integrated interior detailing.
• Suzanne Kasler Interiors: Atlanta-based luxury interior design firm known for high-end residential work, product lines, and strong editorial presence in shelter publications; comparable in brand-led, founder-driven model and curated product extension.
• Kligerman Architecture & Design: NYC- and Connecticut-based architecture and interior design firm combining architectural services with bespoke interior design for HNW residential clients; comparable in integrated architecture-plus-interiors offering.

Emerging players

• Mark D. Sikes Interiors: Los Angeles-based luxury interior design firm with strong editorial profile, product lines, and HNW residential focus; comparable in founder-led brand and lifestyle-product extension, though based in a different luxury market geography.

Broad incumbents

• Roman and Williams: Larger NYC-based interior architecture and design firm spanning luxury residential, hospitality, and cultural/commercial projects; comparable in design philosophy and luxury hospitality exposure but operates at greater scale and broader scope.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/areainteriordesign
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/area-interior-design-nyc

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about AREA Interior Design