Top 20 interior designers who know how to create sublime spaces

Dimore Studio: Milanese duo much in demand with fashion’s finest. Pictured: the newly renovated Crera showroom of Dimore Studio's Britt Morgan and Emiliano Salci, originally featured in May 2014 issue of Wallpaper*.

(Image credit: Beppe Brancato)

By Rosa Bertoli

last updated 9 October 2022

in How-to

From delicate and muted minimalism to eye-popping, era-hopping fancies, here are the designers who know how to mix, match, edit, illuminate, decorate and otherwise create sublime spaces…

To celebrate our 200th issue, we decided to take our Power 100 and transform it into a meaty, two-ton Power 200; an upscaled calibration of design achievement. Or rather 100+100 (normal disservice will be resumed next year) – including the top 20 interior designers we who time and time and again create and compose the most seductive of spaces.

Kicking off our envy-inducing line up is the work of industry legends like Christian Liaigre, Dimore Studio, David Rockwell, Stéphane Parmentier and Roman & Williams. And it wouldn’t be a Wallpaper* celebration without a nod to minimalism, precise edits and arresting ideas. For that, we turn to Dorothee Meilichzon, Peter Marino, Chahan Minassian, Joseph Dirand and Gwenael Nicolas, the latter of whom is a Fendi favourite.

We’re not all about muted colours and clean lines though. India Mahdavi injects life through vivid hues and Mathias Kiss brings an artistic perspective to the table. And then, of course, there are those dedicate themselves to the world of hospitality, making those hotels and restaurants we can’t wait to visit and can’t bear to leave… Hong Kong-based Andre Fu, Toronto’s Yabu Pushelberg and London’s go-to man Martin Brudnizki, we’re blaming (and thanking) you.

Rounding off our selection of sumptuous space makers is queen rich materials Fiona Barratt-Campbell and big budget boho guru Francis Sultana. When the day is done and we need respite from the world or a cosy hideaway we turn to Ilse Crawford, Kelly Wearstler and Rose Uniacke, naturally. Who else?

See the Power 200 in full here

Andre Fu: Hong Kong-based luxury hospitality specialist. Pictured: Upper House, Hong Kong — **Andre Fu:** Hong Kong-based luxury hospitality specialist. *Pictured: Upper House, Hong Kong*

Dorothee Meilichzon: French designer known for mixing styles and patterns. Pictured: Hôtel Bachaumont, Paris, France — **Dorothee Meilichzon:** French designer known for mixing styles and patterns. *Pictured:* *Hôtel Bachaumont, Paris, France*

Christian Liaigre: Liaigre excels at coolly handled, clean-lined opulence. Pictured: Christian Liaigre Vertigo yacht — **Christian Liaigre:** Liaigre excels at coolly handled, clean-lined opulence. Pictured: Christian Liaigre Vertigo
yacht

Chahan Minassian: His best spaces come with a retro-futuristic thrust — **Chahan Minassian:** His best spaces come with a retro-futuristic thrust

India Mahdavi: Iran-born designer injecting colour into chic interiors. Pictured: The gallery at Sketch, London — **India Mahdavi:** Iran-born designer injecting colour into chic interiors. *Pictured: The gallery at Sketch, London*

David Rockwell: From film sets to airport terminals, Rockwell thinks big. Pictured: New York Edition, New York — **David Rockwell:** From film sets to airport terminals, Rockwell thinks big. *Pictured:* *New York Edition, New York*

Ilse Crawford: She has built a reputation on warm, human-scaled spaces. Pictured: The Apartment, Copenhagen — **Ilse Crawford:** She has built a reputation on warm, human-scaled spaces. Pictured: The Apartment, Copenhagen

Fiona Barratt-Campbell: Her spaces feature a muted palette and rich materials — **Fiona Barratt-Campbell:** Her spaces feature a muted palette and rich materials

Francis Sultana: Sultana does big budget Boho better than anyone. Pictured: Mayfair Town House, London — **Francis Sultana:** Sultana does big budget Boho better than anyone. *Pictured: Mayfair Town House, London*

Gwenael Nicolas: French minimalist with clients ranging from Fendi to Uniqlo. Pictured: Berluti’s flagship store, Paris — **Gwenael Nicolas:** French minimalist with clients ranging from Fendi to Uniqlo. *Pictured: Berluti’s flagship store, Paris*

Martin Brudnizki: the interiors go-to man of the London restaurant scene. Pictured: The Ivy Market Grill, London — **Martin Brudnizki:** the interiors go-to man of the London restaurant scene. *Pictured:* *The Ivy Market Grill, London*

Mathias Kiss: Interior as art with glassy shards, gilt and more. Pictured: ’Ornamentation Brutalist’ at Nextlevel Galerie, Paris — **Mathias Kiss:** Interior as art with glassy shards, gilt and more. *Pictured: ’Ornamentation Brutalist’ at Nextlevel Galerie, Paris*

Roman & Williams: Ex-film-set designers outfitting hotels with Americana. Pictured: Robin Standefer’s office — **Roman & Williams:** Ex-film-set designers outfitting hotels with Americana. *Pictured: Robin Standefer’s office, as pictured in March 2007 issue of Wallpaper*.*

Rose Uniacke: Does creamy comforts for the well-appointed puritan. Pictured: the interior designer’s Pimlico Showroom, London — **Rose Uniacke:** Does creamy comforts for the well-appointed puritan. *Pictured: the interior designer’s Pimlico Showroom, London*

Stéphane Parmentier: The master of luxury materials applied with restraint. Pictured: Christofle Melrose Place — **Stéphane Parmentier:** The master of luxury materials applied with restraint. Pictured: Christofle Melrose Place

Yabu Pushelberg: Power duo with Barneys and Four Seasons as happy clients. Pictured: One Madison Park, New York — **Yabu Pushelberg:** Power duo with Barneys and Four Seasons as happy clients. *Pictured: One Madison Park, New York*

Kelly Wearstler: Bold, bordering on the rococo yet impossibly well done. Pictured: wallpaper for Lee Jofa — **Kelly Wearstler:** Bold, bordering on the rococo yet impossibly well done. *Pictured: wallpaper for Lee Jofa*

Joseph Dirand: Creates spaces of cinematic sweep and precise edits. Pictured: Monsieur Bleu, New York. — **Joseph Dirand:** Creates spaces of cinematic sweep and precise edits. *Pictured: Monsieur Bleu, New York.*

Peter Marino: The leather-clad king of the modern retail maison — **Peter Marino:** The leather-clad king of the modern retail maison

INFORMATION

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Rosa Bertoli was born in Udine, Italy, and now lives in London. Since 2014, she has been the Design Editor of Wallpaper*, where she oversees design content for the print and online editions, as well as special editorial projects. Through her role at Wallpaper*, she has written extensively about all areas of design. Rosa has been speaker and moderator for various design talks and conferences including London Craft Week, Maison & Objet, The Italian Cultural Institute (London), Clippings, Zaha Hadid Design, Kartell and Frieze Art Fair. Rosa has been on judging panels for the Chart Architecture Award, the Dutch Design Awards and the DesignGuild Marks. She has written for numerous English and Italian language publications, and worked as a content and communication consultant for fashion and design brands.

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