Cullman & Kravis Associates
Cullman & Kravis Associates is a privately held, New York-based luxury residential interior design firm serving ultra-high-net-worth private homeowners with bespoke estates, townhouses, and vacation properties. Founded in 1984, it generates revenue through design fees plus co-branded rug and fabric product lines.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1984
- HeadquartersNew York, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Cullman & Kravis Associates does
Cullman & Kravis Associates is a privately held luxury residential interior design firm founded in 1984 by Ellie Cullman and Hedi Kravis in New York City. The firm is headquartered at 790 Madison Avenue and is currently led by four Design Partners — Ellie Cullman, Lee Cavanaugh, Alyssa Urban, and Sarah Ramsey — supported by senior designers, associates, and a CFO. Services center on bespoke high-end residential interiors for affluent private homeowners, covering estates, townhouses, vacation homes, and pied-a-terres, with a signature aesthetic that blends antiques, contemporary art, and modern-traditional layering.
The firm generates revenue primarily through professional design fees from project-based engagements, with pricing customized per project and not publicly disclosed. Cullman & Kravis has diversified into adjacent product revenue through co-branded collections: the Essence & Evolution rug line with Crosby Street Studios and a fabric collection woven exclusively by Holland & Sherry and distributed through its global showroom network. The firm also monetizes thought leadership through four published interior design books, with the most recent released in 2024.
Cullman & Kravis' go-to-market relies almost entirely on direct client engagement fueled by referrals, brand reputation, editorial coverage, and high-visibility participation in design charity events such as the Kips Bay Boys & Girls Club Decorator Show House. The firm is wholly privately held with no disclosed institutional investors and operates without a software product, app, or digital distribution channel.
Cullman & Kravis Associates firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Cullman & Kravis Associates
- Legal name
- Cullman & Kravis Associates, Inc.
- Website
- https://cullmankravis.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1984
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Cullman & Kravis Associates is a privately held, New York-based luxury residential interior design firm serving ultra-high-net-worth private homeowners with bespoke estates, townhouses, and vacation properties. Founded in 1984, it generates revenue through design fees plus co-branded rug and fabric product lines.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Cullman & Kravis Associates industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Luxury Residential Interior Design
- NAICS
- Interior Design Services (54141), Interior Design Services (541410), Industrial Design Services (541420)
- SIC
- Household Furniture (2510), Wood Household Furniture, (No Upholstered) (2511)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Interior Design Services (BPAHAKAB)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Luxury Whole-Home Renovation (High-End Finishes & Custom Build) (HSAPAEAI), Residential Design-Build & Renovation-Integrated Builders (IMAFABAE)
Keywords
Where Cullman & Kravis Associates is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- New York
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Cullman & Kravis Associates business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Interior Design Services: Bespoke luxury residential interior design services delivered through direct client engagement. Projects include estates, townhouses, vacation homes, and pied-a-terres. Revenue generated through professional design fees for project conceptualization, execution, and management.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels3 records
Cullman & Kravis Associates product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Cullman & Kravis Associates delivers bespoke luxury residential interior design services to affluent private homeowners across the United States. The firm conceptualizes, executes, and manages design projects for estates, townhouses, vacation homes, and pied-a-terres, blending antiques with contemporary art and modern elements to create personalized, layered interiors. The firm has extended its offering through proprietary product lines, including the Essence & Evolution rug collection with Crosby Street Studios, a fabric collection woven by Holland & Sherry, and four published design books.
Product overview
Cullman & Kravis Associates is an interior design firm offering residential interior design services. The firm provides a curated portfolio of proprietary product collections including the Essence & Evolution rug collection (produced in partnership with Crosby Street Studios) and a fabric collection (woven exclusively by Holland & Sherry). Additionally, the firm has authored four interior design books documenting their design philosophy and methodology.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Essence & Evolution Collection: A rug collection featuring luxurious silks, metals, blended hand-spun Tibetan wool, and nettle, presented by Crosby Street Studios in collaboration with Cullman & Kravis.
- Cullman & Kravis Fabric Collection
Products and services
- Bespoke Luxury Residential Interior Design Services Custom interior design conceptualization, execution, and project management for high-end residential clients. Projects include estates, townhouses, vacation homes, and pied-a-terres, blending antiques with contemporary art to create personalized interiors. Sourced through referrals, industry reputation, and editorial recognition.
- Commercial Design Services Commercial interior design services delivered alongside the firm's residential practice.
- Artwork and Custom-Made Furniture Sourcing Sourcing of antiques, contemporary art, and custom-made furniture as part of the firm's design service offering.
- Essence & Evolution Rug Collection A proprietary rug collection produced in collaboration with Crosby Street Studios, featuring luxurious silks, metals, blended hand-spun Tibetan wool, and nettle in a sophisticated color palette of beiges, greiges, and neutrals from pinks to teals to slates and charcoals.
- Cullman & Kravis Fabric Collection A fabric collection woven exclusively by Holland & Sherry, featuring small scale geometrics, stripes, plaids and curvilinear motifs in luxurious linen and wool fibers, with solid shades including Persimmon and Chocolate and multi-colored combinations such as Cinnabar, Celadon, and Beige.
- Cullman & Kravis Interiors (Book) A book by Elissa Cullman, Lee Cavanaugh, Sarah Ramsey, and Alyssa Urban showcasing the firm's approach to creating modern, cohesive, richly layered homes rooted in tradition.
- The Detailed Interior: Decorating Up Close with Cullman (Book) A book co-authored by Elissa Cullman and Tracy Pruzan revealing how the firm achieves effortless grace and balance in interior design.
- From Classic to Contemporary: Decorating with Cullman & Kravis (Book) A book by Ellie Cullman and Tracey Pruzan exploring lessons from modernism that add dynamism to the firm's traditional and modern projects.
- Decorating Master Class: The Cullman & Kravis Way (Book) An illustrated guide demystifying the decorating process and sharing basic principles followed by Cullman & Kravis when working with clients.
Quantifiable outcome
- Creating dynamic interiors conceived to stand the test of time
Companies that use Cullman & Kravis Associates
Customer profileSegments1 record
Ideal customer profiles1 record
Cullman & Kravis Associates technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Cullman & Kravis Associates partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core.
- Allan GreenbergcoreDistinguished architect collaborating with Cullman & Kravis on residential design projects, bringing classical architectural expertise to interior design collaborations.
- Tom KirchhoffcoreDistinguished architect working with Cullman & Kravis on residential design projects, contributing architectural vision to interior collaborations.
- Tom KligermancoreDistinguished architect collaborating with Cullman & Kravis on residential design projects, providing architectural expertise for interior collaborations.
- John B. MurraycoreDistinguished architect working with Cullman & Kravis on residential design projects, contributing architectural design to interior collaborations.
- Gordon PiercecoreDistinguished architect collaborating with Cullman & Kravis on residential design projects.
- Oscar ShamamiancoreDistinguished architect working with Cullman & Kravis on residential design projects, providing architectural vision.
- Jeff SmithcoreDistinguished architect collaborating with Cullman & Kravis on residential design projects.
- Peter ZimmermancoreDistinguished architect working with Cullman & Kravis on residential design projects.
- Crosby Street StudioscoreNew York-based resource for custom luxurious carpets presenting the Essence & Evolution Collection from Cullman & Kravis. The collection features luxurious silks to metals, blended hand-spun Tibetan wool, and nettle in a sophisticated color palette.
- Holland & SherrycoreVenerable fabric firm weaving exclusively for Cullman & Kravis' first fabric collection. Inspired by the firm's design philosophy and color palette, featuring small scale geometrics to stripes, plaids and curvilinear motifs in luxurious linen and wool fibers. Available at Holland & Sherry showrooms worldwide.
Scale indicators2 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Cullman & Kravis Associates competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Markham Roberts Inc. NYC-based AD100 interior designer focused on traditional-modern residential interiors for UHNW clients. Direct comparable in project type, scale, and design philosophy to Cullman & Kravis.
- Foley & Cox Interiors: New York luxury interior design firm on the AD100 list serving high-net-worth residential clients with a refined traditional-modern aesthetic. Closely comparable in service model, clientele, and editorial profile.
- Victoria Hagan Interiors: New York AD100 interior designer with a similarly classical-modern aesthetic serving affluent residential clients. Comparable in service model, clientele, and editorial footprint to Cullman & Kravis.
- Marshall Watson Interiors: AD100-listed luxury residential interior designer serving UHNW clients from New York and Palm Beach. Comparable bespoke service model, project scale, and affluent clientele to Cullman & Kravis.
- Thomas O'Brien Studio: NYC-based AD100 designer with a residential practice and extensive licensed product line (vintage-inspired furniture, lighting, and home goods). Comparable on clientele, AD100 status, and brand-as-product philosophy.
- Suzanne Kasler Interiors: Atlanta-based AD100 interior designer serving UHNW residential clients with a classical-modern sensibility and an extensive licensed product line. Comparable to Cullman & Kravis in design philosophy and brand extension strategy.
- Bunny Williams Home: New York-based luxury residential interior design firm founded by AD100 legend Bunny Williams. Same bespoke service model, same UHNW clientele, same traditional-modern aesthetic — the most direct comparable to Cullman & Kravis in scale, geography, and positioning.
- Alessandra Branca: Internationally recognized AD100 interior designer with a residential focus, known for elegant traditional interiors and a robust product collection. Direct comparable on luxury clientele, aesthetic positioning, and brand extensions.
Broad incumbents
- Holly Hunt: Luxury furniture, lighting, and textiles brand serving the interior design trade globally. Thematically aligned as a designer-and-product platform; relevant as a strategic acquirer or channel partner for Cullman & Kravis's product extension ambitions.
- Schumacher (Schumacher & Co.): 130+ year-old heritage fabric, wallpaper, and home furnishings brand with deep connections to the interior design trade. Less of a direct design-services peer but a strategic adjacency: a textile manufacturer/distributor that licenses designer brands and could be a natural collaborator or acquirer for firm-led product extensions.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Cullman & Kravis Associates social profiles
Digital presenceCullman & Kravis Associates financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Cullman & Kravis Associates leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles9 records
Cullman & Kravis Associates funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Cullman & Kravis Associates 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 Cullman & Kravis Associates
What does Cullman & Kravis Associates do?
Cullman & Kravis Associates delivers bespoke luxury residential interior design services to affluent private homeowners across the United States. The firm conceptualizes, executes, and manages design projects for estates, townhouses, vacation homes, and pied-a-terres, blending antiques with contemporary art and modern elements to create personalized, layered interiors. The firm has extended its offering through proprietary product lines, including the Essence & Evolution rug collection with Crosby Street Studios, a fabric collection woven by Holland & Sherry, and four published design books.
Is Cullman & Kravis Associates a public or private company?
Cullman & Kravis Associates is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Cullman & Kravis Associates founded?
Cullman & Kravis Associates was founded in 1984. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Cullman & Kravis Associates based?
Cullman & Kravis Associates is headquartered in New York, United States, in the North America region.
How does Cullman & Kravis Associates make money?
One revenue line is on record: interior Design Services.
Who are Cullman & Kravis Associates's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Markham Roberts Inc., Foley & Cox Interiors, Victoria Hagan Interiors, Marshall Watson Interiors, Thomas O'Brien Studio, Suzanne Kasler Interiors, Bunny Williams Home and Alessandra Branca. Broad incumbents are Holly Hunt and Schumacher (Schumacher & Co.).
Does Cullman & Kravis Associates have an API?
No public API is recorded for Cullman & Kravis Associates.
What industry is Cullman & Kravis Associates in?
Cullman & Kravis Associates's product category is Luxury Residential Interior Design. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAHAKAB, Interior Design Services, with a secondary code of HSAPAEAI, Luxury Whole-Home Renovation (High-End Finishes & Custom Build). Its NAICS code is 54141 and its SIC code is 2510.