Rafael de Cárdenas
RafaelDeCardenas Ltd is a New York-based multidisciplinary design practice founded in 2006, delivering interior architecture, bespoke furniture, art advisory, and brand development to ultra-high-net-worth residential clients and luxury fashion, retail, hospitality, and real estate brands globally.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2006
- HeadquartersNew York, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
What Rafael de Cárdenas does
RafaelDeCardenas Ltd is a New York City–based multidisciplinary design practice founded by Rafael de Cárdenas in 2006, operating globally with a stated headcount of 1–10 employees. The studio delivers interior architecture and design, bespoke furniture, art advisory, and brand development services to ultra-high-net-worth residential clients, luxury fashion and retail brands (Cartier, Baccarat, LVMH, SKIMS, Gentle Monster, Kenzo, Nike, Ulla Johnson, JNBY/Croquis, Glossier), hospitality operators (Nordstrom, Kutsher's, Charles Restaurant, Au Pont Rouge, Andrei Balazs Properties), art institutions (New Museum, Visionaire, Demisch Danant Gallery, Balice Hertling Gallery), and luxury real estate developers (The Belnord with Robert A.M. Stern, 111 West 57th Street, Related Group).
The firm's core offering is a project-based creative services engagement model, with no software product, platform, or proprietary technology disclosed. Revenue is generated through project fees for residential interiors, commercial flagship stores, hospitality venues, exhibition spaces, and custom furniture and lighting design. Pricing is not publicly disclosed and is quote-based per scope, consistent with a boutique professional services practice. Go-to-market is sales-led and portfolio-driven, relying on direct engagement with luxury brands and HNW individuals, word-of-mouth referrals within elite design/fashion/hospitality circles, and editorial coverage in Architectural Digest, Vogue, Wallpaper*, Elle Decor, and The New York Times.
The business is privately held, founder-led, with no identified outside investment, parent company, or institutional backing. The studio distributes work through a single NYC headquarters (611 Broadway, Suite 627), with global project delivery executed on-site at client locations worldwide. Customer acquisition is reputation-driven rather than marketing-driven, and the firm shows no formal distribution channels beyond direct client relationships.
Rafael de Cárdenas firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Rafael de Cárdenas
- Legal name
- RafaelDeCardenas Ltd
- Website
- https://rafaeldecardenas.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2006
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- RafaelDeCardenas Ltd is a New York-based multidisciplinary design practice founded in 2006, delivering interior architecture, bespoke furniture, art advisory, and brand development to ultra-high-net-worth residential clients and luxury fashion, retail, hospitality, and real estate brands globally.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Rafael de Cárdenas industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Interior Design Services
- NAICS
- Interior Design Services (541410), Architectural Services (541310), Industrial Design Services (541420)
- SIC
- Services-Engineering, Accounting, Research, Management (8700)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Architectural Design Services (BPAHAKAA)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Industrial/Product & Furniture Design (BPAHAKAM)
Keywords
Where Rafael de Cárdenas is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- New York
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Rafael de Cárdenas business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Interior Design Services: Project-based fees for residential and commercial interior design projects including full-scope design services, furniture specification, and project management
- Furniture Design: Custom furniture design and specification for projects, including proprietary furniture collections for clients
- Art Advisory: Art advisory services for private clients and collections
- Brand Development: Brand development consulting for commercial and hospitality clients
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels4 records
Rafael de Cárdenas product offering
Product offeringCore offering
RafaelDeCardenas Ltd is a multidisciplinary design practice that provides interior architecture, furniture design, art advisory, and brand development services for luxury residential and high-end commercial/hospitality projects. The firm delivers full-scope design services from concept through execution, including furniture specification and project management, for clients worldwide.
Product overview
RafaelDeCardenas Ltd is a multidisciplinary design practice offering services within design and interiors, art advisory, furniture design, and brand development on commercial and residential projects. Based in New York City and working globally, the practice does not offer a software product or platform — it provides bespoke interior architecture, design, and advisory services. Its portfolio spans residential interiors, commercial spaces, hospitality venues, retail boutiques and flagship stores, and custom furniture and product design.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Interior Design Services
- Furniture Design
- Art Advisory
- Brand Development
Companies that use Rafael de Cárdenas
Customer profileNamed customers27 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Rafael de Cárdenas technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Rafael de Cárdenas partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators2 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights4 records
Rafael de Cárdenas competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Roman and Williams: NYC-based multidisciplinary design studio founded by Robin Standefer and Stephen Alesch, working across architecture, interiors, and product/furniture design for residential, hospitality, and retail clients. Highly comparable boutique scale and luxury positioning.
- Jamie Drake: NYC-based interior design firm with strong luxury residential and hospitality portfolio. Comparable as a boutique founder-led luxury interior design practice serving similar HNW and luxury brand clients.
- Studio Sofield: NYC interior design firm led by William Sofield, known for luxury residential, retail (Tiffany & Co., David Webb), and hospitality projects. Direct comparable in NYC-based luxury interiors and high-end craft-led design.
- Champalimaud Design: New York-based luxury interior design studio specializing in five-star hospitality, ultra-luxury residential, and yacht interiors. Comparable in scale, NYC base, and ultra-luxury hospitality/residential client base.
- Kelly Wearstler: LA-based interior design and lifestyle brand spanning residential, hospitality (Proper Hotels), and commercial interiors with strong product/furniture collections. Comparable in multidisciplinary model (interiors + furniture/product) and luxury brand positioning.
- Yabu Pushelberg: Toronto/NY-based interior design firm with extensive luxury hospitality and residential work for brands like Four Seasons, St. Regis, and Edition. Direct comparable in luxury hospitality interiors, custom furniture, and global project delivery for premium clients.
- Peter Marino Architect: New York-based architecture and interior design firm widely regarded as the leading luxury retail architect, with flagship store commissions for Dior, Louis Vuitton, Chanel, and Bulgari. Closely comparable to Rafael de Cárdenas in serving ultra-luxury fashion and retail clients globally from a NYC headquarters.
- Vincente Wolf: NYC-based interior designer with a long-standing practice spanning luxury residential, commercial, and product/furniture design. Comparable in founder-led NYC studio model serving HNW residential and brand clients.
- Robert A.M. Stern Architects: NYC architecture firm with deep practice in luxury residential development (including 111 West 57th Street and The Belnord — both de Cárdenas collaboration projects). Comparable in serving HNW and luxury real estate developer clients in New York and globally.
Emerging players
- Axel Vervoordt Gallery: Antwerp-based design and art advisory firm operating in luxury residential, art curation, and exhibition design globally. Comparable at the intersection of interior design, art advisory, and HNW clientele, though with a more contemplative, minimal aesthetic.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Rafael de Cárdenas social profiles
Digital presenceRafael de Cárdenas financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Rafael de Cárdenas leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Rafael de Cárdenas funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Rafael de Cárdenas M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Rafael de Cárdenas
What does Rafael de Cárdenas do?
RafaelDeCardenas Ltd is a multidisciplinary design practice that provides interior architecture, furniture design, art advisory, and brand development services for luxury residential and high-end commercial/hospitality projects. The firm delivers full-scope design services from concept through execution, including furniture specification and project management, for clients worldwide.
Is Rafael de Cárdenas a public or private company?
Rafael de Cárdenas is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Rafael de Cárdenas founded?
Rafael de Cárdenas was founded in 2006. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Rafael de Cárdenas based?
Rafael de Cárdenas is headquartered in New York, United States, in the North America region.
How does Rafael de Cárdenas make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Interior Design Services are the primary driver. The others are furniture Design, art Advisory and brand Development.
Who are Rafael de Cárdenas's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Roman and Williams, Jamie Drake, Studio Sofield, Champalimaud Design, Kelly Wearstler, Yabu Pushelberg, Peter Marino Architect, Vincente Wolf and Robert A.M. Stern Architects. Axel Vervoordt Gallery is listed as an emerging player.
Does Rafael de Cárdenas have an API?
No public API is recorded for Rafael de Cárdenas.
What industry is Rafael de Cárdenas in?
Rafael de Cárdenas's product category is Interior Design Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAHAKAA, Architectural Design Services, with a secondary code of BPAHAKAM, Industrial/Product & Furniture Design. Its NAICS code is 541410 and its SIC code is 8700.