Design Perspectives

Najjiyya Perry is a top-tier real estate agent serving New Jersey. With a reputation for delivering exceptional client experiences, Najjiyya brings a deep understanding of the local market and a passion for helping families find their dream homes. Her expertise, commitment, and community-focused approach make her a standout in the real estate industry.

https://www.coldwellbankerhomes.com/nj/maplewood/agent/najjiyya-perry/aid_222044/

https://www.instagram.com/njpremierproperties/

Mandy Cheng is a FORCE of Nature. I was so honored to sit down & discuss how she created her eponymous firm.

Mandy launched her solo design career first as a production and graphic designer in the film/television industry. She has designed music videos for chart-topping names such as J.Cole, One Republic, and Dillon Francis & DJ Snake, and worked as a graphic designer on projects ranging from 20th Century Women and Ladybird to Beyonce's Lemonade.

Mandy Cheng, named AD 100 for 3 years in a row (2022, 2023, and 2024), has transitioned her set design experience into a career as one of the most sought-after interior designers in Los Angeles. She designed the home of Emmy Raver-Lampman and Daveed Diggs, which landed the April 2021 cover of AD, and most recently, Jesse Tyler Ferguson and Justin Mikita’s home, which was also featured in AD and their fan-favorite platform, Open Door.
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Cheng has designed homes, retail stores, and offices that span the country. She currently resides in Los Angeles, California with her husband, Rory, and their dog, Scout.

https://www.instagram.com/mandychengdesign

As a Chief Financial Officer for over 10 years, Danielle loved accounting but felt like something was missing while just helping investors and board of directors of large companies.

That’s when she realized her thrill for helping entrepreneurs, especially women, who were breaking the rules of business in order to create something amazing – something the rest of the world didn’t expect them to do. Danielle left corporate accounting and formed Kickstart Accounting, Inc; an accounting firm designed to help female entrepreneurs understand their financials in order to grow their businesses and become more profitable.

Since then she has realized entrepreneurs need more than just a bookkeeper; they need real financial analysis and education in order to get the confidence required to create the sustainable wealth they deserve.

https://kickstartaccountinginc.com/

https://www.instagram.com/kickstartaccounting/

Hello beautiful people! I am back and excited to dive into some key topics; customer service, communication, and accountability.

Recently, I found myself facing a situation that demanded direct action. As creatives, we're natually sensitive about our craft - it's part of what makes our work so unique. But there's a balance to strike: being open to critical feedback is just as essential. For me, ensuring my clients' satisfaction isn't just about completing a project; it's about building lasting relationships. Happy clients aren't just a one-time success-they're the cornerstone of repeat business and the source of invaluable referrals. Let's dive into how I navigated this challenge and what it means for creative professionals like us.

This is a story about falling in love, taking chances, and of course, Brooklyn. 

We met on an app in 2017 and chatted non-stop for two weeks before ever meeting in person. Immediately, we bonded over our shared love of architecture and design, and have been inseparable ever since.

Although Jordan is from Las Vegas and Barry is from New Orleans, we’ve called Brooklyn home for 15 years. Our first dates were biking around Bed Stuy, admiring the beautiful brownstones and dreaming about our future home.

Six months into dating, we purchased our first home together – a 130 year old historic brownstone. We know, we move fast! 

Our fixer-upper was in need of some major renovations but we needed to squeeze our dreams into our budget. People say that renovating a home is the most stressful thing a couple ever goes through but it became our foundation.

We started our own blog and Instagram to document the renovation process and quickly built an incredible online community. We finally worked up the courage to ask one of our followers, Simply Cyn, if she wanted help with her renovation. Her “yes!” completely transformed our lives.

Since then, we’ve completed over 25 projects, expanded to a team of seven, and even wrote a book, For the Love of Renovating, which is available at your local bookstore or online. 

When we’re not taking measurements, laying tile, or stripping a 200-year-old bannister, you’ll find us sipping iced coffees on our stoop, taking our 10-year-old puppy, Zuko, on a walk, and of course, still biking together through our beautiful neighborhood – now as fiancés. 

https://thebrownstoneboys.com/

https://www.instagram.com/brownstoneboys/?hl=en

Ariel Okin is the founder of her eponymous firm, Ariel Okin Interiors, a New York-based, full-service interior design firm specializing in luxury residential, commercial, and hospitality projects across the country. Ariel’s signature style can be interpreted as “traditional with a twist” – warm, livable and elegant spaces, with an edited, contemporary and practical approach. A deft use of color, emphasis on clean lines, and mix of bespoke and antique items are hallmarks of her aesthetic, yet no two projects are alike; Ariel believes every home should reflect its owner.

Ariel established her firm in 2016, and has since been featured and profiled in Architectural Digest, Elle Decor, House Beautiful, Domino, Vogue, The Wall Street Journal, and New York Magazine, among others. Ariel has been recognized as one of House Beautiful’s Next Wave Designers, an exclusive list of the top interior design talent in the country. Ariel has also received several prestigious industry awards, including House & Garden’s “The List”, Architectural Digest’s “Pro List” and Luxe Magazine's Gold List.

Ariel has launched multiple capsule collections, including wallpaper lines with Chasing Paper and The Mural Source, accessories with One Kings Lane, and most recently, a lighting line with Mitzi. Ariel's first interior design book will debut with Rizzoli in Fall 2025. 

Separate from her design work, Ariel helms her editorial and e-commerce site, Fenimore Lane, where she is Editor in Chief. She also hosts Fenimore Lane's popular design podcast, "Talk Shop", and leads Fenimore Lane's annual design summit at The Mayflower Inn & Spa. In addition to her work with Fenimore Lane, Ariel is a contributing writer to Vogue.com, Architectural Digest and Domino.

Current residential projects range across the country, from Greenwich, CT, and Cape Cod, MA, to Palm Beach, FL, and Oyster Bay, NY, among others. Ariel lives in Westchester, NY, with her husband, two daughters, and dog, Charlie.

https://www.arielokin.com/

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/talk-shop-with-ariel-okin-a-fenimore-lane-production/id1713624140

The roots of our products are in Johanna’s native Sweden. That is where, as a young girl, she sat in her mother’s atelier as she meticulously crafted dresses by hand.
Johanna learned to appreciate the quality and versatility that only hand work can achieve. And it is where she was surrounded by the clean elegance of Scandinavian design.
As a young woman, Johanna took these influences with her to America to attend fashion school and then to establish herself as a successful clothing designer.
Working for such companies as BCBG, Katayone Adeli, Express and Gap - her accessible designs have been worn by women all over the country.  Whether gracing  the pages of Vogue, an actress’ wardrobe or a special night out,  her designs made women feel special.
Now, Johanna has turned her eye to designing for the home. Through her travels, she has discovered incredibly talented artisans and collaborates with them to elevate their traditional craftsmanship with refined composition.
Whether engaging the dyers in the highlands of Peru or the weaving families of Portugal, she envisions the possibilities of their techniques and incorporates their unique skills into her products.
The result of this marriage of cultures and creativity is “a revelation” that is “simply breathtaking.”

https://www.instagram.com/johannahowardhome/

Alix Lerman is the Chief Marketing Officer of the New York Design Center at 200 Lexington Avenue, a premier destination for high-end interior design. With a keen eye for detail and a passion for innovation, Alix has transformed the marketing landscape of the center, making it a hub for designers & architects. Her strategic vision & creative prowerss have elevated the center's brand, driving engagement & growth. Under her leadership, the New York design Center has become synonymous with excellence & sophistication in the design industry.

Courtney McLeod is the founder and principal of Right Meets Left Interior Design, an award-winning, full-service design studio located in the heart of the Flatiron District in Manhattan.She has been included on the Elle Decor A-List since 2022 and the 1stDibs Top 50 Interior Designers List. She received the Rising Star Award by the DDB in 2022 and was named an Emerging Designer To Watch by Luxe Magazine in 2019. Her work is featured in the books “By Design: The World’s Best Contemporary Interior Designers” published by Phaidon, “Living to the Max“ published by Gestanlten, and “Live Colorfully” published by House Beautiful. She has been featured in print editorials both in the US and abroad - including House Beautiful, Luxe Interiors + Design, Modern Luxury, The Wall Street Journal, and the cover of Aspire Design + Home. Courtney is a Trustee of the New York School of Interior Design.

Takeaways

Being on a TV show can be a challenging experience, requiring designers to give up control and adapt to unexpected changes.

Balancing business and the demands of production can be difficult, especially when it comes to managing timelines and installations.

Budget constraints and unexpected surprises are common in design projects, and designers often have to make compromises.

Trusting your designer and allowing them to work their craft is important for a successful project.

Collaboration between architects and interior designers from the beginning of a project is crucial for a smooth and cohesive design.

https://www.rightmeetsleftdesign.com/

https://www.instagram.com/rightmeetsleftinteriordesign/

David Mann is the founder and Principal behind MR Architecture & Decor, a nationally published New York based architecture and interior design firm (also part of ELLE Decor A-List in 2023 and AD100 in 2014) known for his work on some of the most iconic fashion boutiques (Lanvin, Takashimaya, Dior, J Mendel and Tory Burch) to The Parker Palm Springs and homes for power players like Pierre Hardy. He is working on projects throughout New York City, upstate and the Hamptons and is completing a few new residential projects. He also has a book and a furniture collection with Maison Gerard.

https://mrarch.com/

https://www.instagram.com/mrarchitecturedecor/