You’ve likely encountered Kelly Wearstler’s work at one point or another. Perhaps over tea sandwiches at Bergdorf Goodman’s seventh-floor restaurant in New York, where picturesque views of Central Park meet a dreamy palette of ebony, ivory, and robin’s egg blue—an interior Wearstler designed in 2005. Or maybe over a martini at the Santa Monica Proper—a hotel she reimagined which opened in 2019, blending coastal charm with a 1920s Spanish Revival aesthetic. A leading force in the interior world, Wearstler boasts one of the industry’s most impressive portfolios. Still, after more than 30 years in the biz, the Myrtle Beach native remains open to new projects: see her recently opened dining space design at L’Apogée Courchevel in the French Alps, or browse her Æquo collection—lights, objects, and furniture completed alongside craftspeople in Mumbai and Alibag—that launched earlier this year.

“Anyone can call at any time,” Wearstler tells me over the phone, describing her work ethos. “I have a 65-person team, but we’re a boutique studio, so we’re super hands-on with everything we do. Yes, I could grow into a 150-team studio, but I don’t want to, because the quality of work is really important to me.” Even with all she’s accomplished, Wearstler continues to evolve.  

Few interior designers have left a permanent mark on the design world like Wearstler. Since founding her Los Angeles-based interiors and architecture firm in 1995, she’s been behind some of the most acclaimed hotel, commercial, and residential spaces around the globe. Her work is defined by an eclectic sensibility—one rooted in bold color, rich tactile contrast, and a deft juxtaposition of eras, seamlessly fusing 20th-century vintage with contemporary design.

During our call, Wearstler reflects on her first hotel project: the Avalon, completed in 1999, which still holds special meaning. “It was a 1950s-[era] historic building in Beverly Hills,” she recalls. A pivotal moment in her career, she preserved the property’s architectural DNA while updating it through a lens of mid-century glamour and California ease.

Decades later, in the late 2010s and early 2020s, Wearstler began designing the Proper Hotels, where she serves as its creative director. The Proper brand, as it turns out, was founded by her developer husband Brad Korzen alongside hotelier Brian De Lowe. “They’re all very site-specific, and we bring in artists and artisans who help tell each property’s story,” she says of the locations, which include San Francisco, Santa Monica, Austin, and Downtown Los Angeles. Each property, then, becomes a reflection of its surroundings. As she puts it: “When you go to a city, you want it to feel like the place you’re in—you want food and beverage that’s rooted in that location, as well as wellness and fitness experiences that reflect what the city has to offer.”

Wearstler’s residential and retail work is equally sought-after. Across Southern California, she has designed homes for the likes of Cameron Diaz and Gwen Stefani, in addition to the Marlboro Residence, Malibu Beach Residence, and Beverly Hills Residence—each infused with her unapologetically bold aesthetic. Meanwhile, in 2023, she generated considerable buzz for her work on Ulla Johnson’s West Hollywood flagship, which captured the essence of the West Coast by way of towering trees, sculptural vintage furniture by Carlo Scarpa, and a palette of sandy hues.

For Wearstler, the industry’s top firms and artisans are just a phone call away. “I have dealer relationships from all over the world, from Brazil to Europe to Tokyo and Stockholm,” she shares. Still, Wearstler continues to seek out emerging talent, recently collaborating with up-and-coming artists like Dozie Kanu, Sam Klemick, and Mariko Makino, among others. 

Always ahead of the curve, Wearstler has been an early adopter of AI, incorporating the technology into her studio for the past five years. “We use it in our finances, operations, and day-to-day tasks. I love technology and innovation; I want to continue to push hard, and with the team size that we are, it’s perfect for us.” 

Wearstler has had a keen eye for design for as long as she can remember. Raised in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, she grew up with a mother who had a passion for design and fashion—one that rubbed off on her at an early age. “She loved going to vintage stores, flea markets, and auctions, and my sister and I were always in tow,” Wearstler recalls. After earning a bachelor’s degree in interior and graphic design from the Massachusetts College of Art and Design, she moved to New York, where she cut her teeth through a series of design internships, including one with Milton Glaser. In her mid-20s, Wearstler relocated to Los Angeles, pursuing a career as a set decorator in the film industry before ultimately pivoting to interior design and launching her eponymous brand.

Now boasting a staggering 2.3 million Instagram followers and counting, Wearstler is a celebrity in her own right. “[Social media] lets my community in for the ride and all the projects I’m working on,” she says. “Hopefully, it can inspire someone in the design world—or even a design aficionado.” The platform has also allowed her to connect with people she might not otherwise meet in person. However, she admits there are limits to what the app can offer. With education at the heart of everything she does, Wearstler launched her Substack, Wearstlerworld, in late 2024. “I wanted to do more storytelling and share insight into how I develop designs—the problem-solving that design requires every day, and what our studio does,” she explains. Her influence extends well beyond interiors, spanning beauty, travel, and art. “Nothing is off the table; I love sharing my knowledge with anyone who’s curious,” Wearstler continues. 

Thanks to her forthcoming H&M collaboration, set to launch in September, Wearstler is reaching a younger audience. “It’s been amazing to create designs that are both accessible and high-quality,” she says of the partnership, which marks the retailer’s first designer-led furniture collection. The collaboration pushed Wearstler and her team to be more creative, resulting in a thoughtfully designed lineup of 29 pieces ranging from furniture and lighting to accessories and tableware—all offered at a more affordable price point without compromising craftsmanship.

Despite everything on her plate, Wearstler recently introduced Side Hustle, a six-month-old exhibition platform that allows artists across sculpture, textiles, performance, scent, music, and film to showcase their work. “It’s something I’ve been dreaming about for so long,” she says. “It’s a new take on the gallery model—a roving concept where everything is on the table.” Though still in its early stages, Wearstler has big plans for the venture. “We have a lot of things cooking, and I’m excited to see it continue to evolve.”

More than three decades in, Wearstler shows no signs of slowing down. If anything, the renowned interior designer is still expanding her ever-evolving empire. 

Photographed by Sela Shiloni

Styled by Marisa Ellison

Written by Kelsey Stewart

Hair: Nicolas Flores

Makeup: Bethany McCarty

DP: Sophie Saunders

Flaunt Film Editor: Daniel Quintero

Production Assistant: Ameen Kher