We could probably thank popular cable channels like HGTV for filling our televisions with this type of content! In fact, there may have been an influx of DIY interior designers created from this stream of content. The world of interior design, however, is more than what you’ve seen on television in home decorating. This field of industry has produced many world-famous designers and designs that have now become a part of history. After the architect and the builder have created the structure and the functional living space for a residential home, a hotel, an office, or even a museum, the next vital role is that of the interior designer.
Interior design is a crucial aspect of creating beautiful and functional living and workspaces, and the world is filled with talented interior designers who have made their mark on the industry. From contemporary to classic designs, vintage to modern, and a little bit of everything, interior designers have played a significant role in shaping how we view and interact with the spaces around us. Below, we’ve featured some of the most popular interior designers in the world for you to learn about their backgrounds, education, most notable projects, and more.
1. Kelly Wearstler
Kelly Wearstler is a popular American interior designer who has been in the industry for over 20 years. Known for her eclectic and luxurious designs, Wearstler often works with high-end hotels and museums since her designs appeal to those venues. Her high-profile clients include the Viceroy Hotel Group and Bergdorf Goodman. Wearstler attended the Massachusetts College of Art and the School of the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston, where she studied interior and graphic design. Her prominent projects include the Avalon Hotel in Beverly Hills, the Tides South Beach Hotel in Miami, and the Four Seasons Hotel in Anguilla.
2. Philippe Starck
Philippe Starck is a French designer who attended the École Nissim de Camondo in Paris, where he studied interior design. Phillippe is known for his modern and minimalist designs. French designs are not minimalist but more along the lines of being ornate and even a bit flashy. Stark rewrites the Popular and centuries-old French designs and modernizes it with a classy minimalist style. He has worked on a variety of projects, including hotels, restaurants, and private homes. Starck His prominent projects include the Hudson Hotel in New York City, the Mondrian Hotel in Los Angeles, and the Royalton Hotel in New York City.
3. Tom Dixon
British designer Tom Dixon is a name that many in the UK would know very well. His style of design is more along the lines of industrial and modern. Like many others in the industry, Dixon is well-known for his design projects in restaurants and hotels, places where a modern and industrial design would appeal to anyone regardless of their personal style. His prominent projects include the Mondrian London Hotel, the Shoreditch House private members' club in London, and the Alto restaurant in Hong Kong. Yet, he is not limited to only restaurants and hotels, as he has also designed projects for private residences. Dixon attended the Chelsea College of Art and the Royal College of Art in London, where he studied product design.
4. Joanna Gaines
Currently, there is no one in quite possibly the entire United States who has never heard of the Texas-born designer named Joanna Gaines. Her design style is farmhouse simplicity with a flair for the unique. Many have watched her on television create designs for homeowners that transform a house with four walls into a home they can see their grandchildren in. Joanna has made a significant impact on the interior design industry. She is known for her rustic and farmhouse-style designs and has worked on a variety of projects, including homes and commercial spaces. Gaines attended Baylor University in Waco, Texas, where she studied communication. Her prominent projects include the Magnolia Market in Waco, Texas, the Magnolia House Bed and Breakfast in McGregor, Texas, and the Silos Baking Co. bakery in Waco, Texas.
5. Kelly Hoppen
Another well-known British designer named Kelly Hoppen has etched out a place for herself in the interior design world and has grown very popular. She is known for her elegant and sophisticated designs. She has worked on projects in hotels like the Bel Air Hotel in Los Angeles and the Yoo Tower in Pune, India, yachts like the Celebrity Millennium cruise ship, and private homes. Hoppen attended the Heatherley School of Fine Art in London, where she studied art and design.
6. Nate Berkus
Nate Berkus is a familiar name for fans of daytime television, as the interior designer has also dabbled in the television world, appearing as a regular guest on The Oprah Show and numerous other shows - all of which are based around the world of interior design. More recently, his work has been featured in the TLC show Nate & Jeremiah by Design, which he co-hosts with his husband, Jeremiah Brent.
As the interior design was always part of his dream, he began working in design immediately after graduation, working with reputable interior design companies such as Leslie Hindman and Dominique Aurientis. Over the years, he has developed his own distinctive style, which is described on his company website as an “approachable, elevated aesthetic.” Through his unique stylistic choices, he helps homeowners to turn their homes into timeless masterpieces by making only the smallest of changes to their living spaces.
7. Martyn Lawrence Bullard
Martyn Lawrence Bullard’s name appears time and time again on lists of the most popular and prominent interior designers around - and has done so for quite some time. This can likely be attributed to the fact that he works across a range of different styles and aesthetics and is notorious for paying attention to even the smallest details when working on a project. This means that the spaces he designed are always a wonder to behold, and throughout his career, he has won numerous awards for his work.
His introduction to the world of interior design was far from conventional. In fact, he was pursuing work as an actor when a producer visited his home and loved his interior design choices so much asked him to work on redecorating their own home. While he’s worked on numerous prolific projects throughout his career, he is perhaps most known for designing celebrity homes, having worked for big names such as Kylie Jenner, Kourtney Kardashian, and Tommy Hilfiger, to name a few!
8. Justina Blakeney
As with every designer featured on this list, Justina Blakeney is known for her unique approach to interior design and her ability to turn even the most simple spaces into something bold and daring. For example, she often claims that tapping into the homeowners and their interests is critical to designing the perfect home, and she has also stated that “she believes that color has the power to bring joy, that pattern is the spice of design, and that plants are magic.”
She has also turned her creativity into a home decor brand named Jungalow, which sells a variety of bold, bright products that match her unique aesthetic. Her work is often featured online and in print media, appearing in well-respected publications such as Architectural Digest. Justina has also published several books, hoping to share her enthusiasm for all things interior design with a wider audience.
9. Bobby Berk.
While Bobby Berk has been working consistently within the interior design world for several years now, he is perhaps most known for his appearances on the Netflix show Queer Eye, where he appears as the resident interior design expert. Before opening his first company in 2007, Bobby worked within numerous different interior design roles and businesses, working his way up the ladder, even though he had little in the way of formal education and training.
Bobby’s advancement in the industry speaks to his natural talent for all things interior design and his determination - both of which serve to make him one of the most popular and in-demand interior designers working in 2023. In addition to the many projects featured within Queer Eye, Bobby Berk has worked on a range of exciting projects across the world. For example, in 2022, Bobby worked on revamping a huge 1970s property, Casa Tierra, a project which focused not only on the property itself but also its 2 private casitas (cabins) and grounds. Whether it's a cable channel, a streaming service, or online, there is always an opportunity to see an interior designer at work. The world is filled with talented designers who have significantly impacted the industry.
Interior design is a constantly evolving field. This means that it's only a matter of time before a new interior design project or scheme brings forth the next big designer - who in turn, will inspire another designer to follow them. One of the biggest benefits of this is the fact that homeowners will always have a place to turn to if they are seeking inspiration when decorating their homes - whether they’re opting for a complete remodel or simply fancy a change like a custom range hood.
From Kelly Wearstler's luxurious and eclectic designs to Joanna Gaines’ farmhouse elegance and simplicity, each of these designers contributes a unique style and perspective to the field of interior design. Homeowners can gain inspiration and guidance to complete interior design projects that add a unique style to their homes. With creativity and the right motivation, anyone can transform their living spaces into beautiful and functional works of art. If you're looking for more information on custom range hoods in white, black or blue - look no further than worldcoppersmith.com.
Sources:
- "Kelly Wearstler,” Kelly Wearstler
- "Philippe Starck", Philippe Starck
- "Tom Dixon,” Tom Dixon
- "Joanna Gaines,” Magnolia
- "Kelly Hoppen,” Kelly Hoppen Interiors
- “Nate Berkus” https://nateberkus.com/
- “Martyn Lawrence Bullard “ https://martynlawrencebullard.com/martyn/martyn-top-interior-designer/
- Martyn Lawrence Bullard Projects https://hommes.studio/journal/top-residential-projects-by-martyn-lawrence-bullard/
- “Bobby Berk” https://bobbyberk.com/
- Bobby Berk Design Projects https://bobbyberk.com/all-the-bobby-berk-design-projects-of-2022/
- "50 Top Interior Designers and Architects in the US", Interior Design
- "Top 100 Interior Designers", CovetED Magazine
- "The Best Interior Designers in the World,” Best Design Guides
- "10 Interior Designers to Follow on Instagram", Elle Decor
- "Top 20 Interior Designers in the World", LuxDeco