Rafael de Cárdenas

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.

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

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

• Interior design services
• Luxury residential design
• Furniture design
• Art advisory
• Brand development

Headquarters

HQ city

New York

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Interior Design Services: Project-based fees for residential and commercial interior design projects including full-scope design services, furniture specification, and project management
2. Furniture Design: Custom furniture design and specification for projects, including proprietary furniture collections for clients
3. Art Advisory: Art advisory services for private clients and collections
4. Brand Development: Brand development consulting for commercial and hospitality clients

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core 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

Named customers27 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct 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

• Instagraminstagram.com/rafaeldecardenas.ltd
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/rafael-de-cardenas-architecture-at-large

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 Rafael de Cárdenas