Studio McGrath
Explore Studio McGrath and their exceptional work, which showcases exceptional antiques amid clean lined interiors.
“The cardinal virtue of all beauty is restraint.” – Elsie de Wolfe
About the Designer
Suzanne and Lauren McGrath make up two halves of the Manhattan-based interior design firm, Studio McGrath. They established their studio in 2010, influenced by the English countryside and the history of decorative arts. Their elegant interiors reference classical design, each project personal and unique.
Suzanne graduated from Barnard College and studied interior design and decorative art history at Parsons School of Design. She is the recipient of 5 different Daytime Emmy Awards after her decade-long career as Style Editor and Television Producer for Martha Stewart Living Television. Her decorative style is largely inspired by the English country houses she visited as a graduate student in London, as well the imprint of her globetrotting father.
Lauren studied art history at Bowdoin College, a background that informed her current design work. She went on to work as a fashion news writer for Teen Vogue for several years prior to Studio McGrath. Lauren’s mother and grandmother had significant influences on her current aesthetic tastes, as did their love for antiques and artisans.
Dive deeper into Suzanne and Lauren McGrath’s design approach, signature aesthetic, and recent collaborations through their official online portfolio.
Design Philosophy
Studio McGrath looks to craft, fashion and design history. Beautifully dressed New Yorkers, Londoners, or Parisians have unknowingly influenced their elegant interiors. Antique and vintage pieces anchor a room and serve as a foil to more contemporary designs.
Materials & Color Preferences
Inspired by the season, Suzanne and Lauren currently favor, ochres, and other warm tones. When incorporating rugs, they look to color and pattern first, preferring classic styles and subtle textures. They like to steer clear of splashy wallpaper and trendy styles, as those change quickly. Instead, they aim for an elegant, timeless appeal.
Sustainability & Craftsmanship
Suzanne and Lauren believe there are countless benefits to using antiques. Apart from the obvious aesthetic appeal, they offer superior craftsmanship at a lower price point. Moreover, they’re better for the environment in an industry that lags in sustainability efforts.
Signature Approach
Suzanne and Lauren both believe in investing in well-made upholstery, which can be recovered and gives interiors a unique character. Pattern, layering, and color all work together in perfect harmony. Their efforts ground a room, giving it an understated, relaxed, lived-in look, while also remaining tailored and edited.
Designer Q&A: Inspiration, Process & Perspective
How would you describe your design style in a few words?
Tailored, understated, relaxed, edited.
How do you balance timelessness with trends?
We depend on antiques and vintage pieces, which correspond to the more contemporary pieces with which we pair them. We avoid trends.
What inspired you to become an interior designer?
Suzanne: Visiting English country houses as a young student, and my father, who traveled often and shared stories of fabled hotels. This early exposure left quite an imprint. Lauren: My mother, for exposing me to antiques and artisans at a young age, and my grandmother, for her impeccable taste.
Do you have a favorite piece or style from the Nazmiyal Collection?
We are always drawn to your Aubussons and Oushaks, which are quite different yet often accomplish the same goals for a room: to add a soft foundation of subtle color and texture.
If you could design a space for any person (living or historical), who would it be and why?
For each other! It would be a fun challenge, as we know one another's tastes so well, and it would be a kick to uncover inevitable surprises with the big reveal.
What advice would you give someone designing their first home?
Hire us! Barring that, invest in well-made upholstery that can be recovered again and again. It’s paramount to your everyday comfort! Save on wallpaper and curtains — spend on beautiful, unique vintage and antique pieces, quality rugs, and perfectly proportioned upholstery than gimmicky wallpaper you’ll tire of in a few years.
Rugs & Nazmiyal Collaboration
Studio McGrath recognizes the difference a quality rug and textile can make within a space. They’re the first choice the design team makes when looking to fill an interior, particularly drawn to Aubussons and Oushaks. The character and warmth an antique brings to a room cannot be understated.
The Nazmiyal Collection is home to a wide range of antique, vintage, and modern textiles, suited for various aesthetics. The Nazmiyal team is dedicated to pairing the right piece with the right interior, offering options to answer each customer’s needs.
