Glamour Game Changers

11 Female Interior Designers to Know (and Follow on Instagram)

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Fabiana Faria and Helena BarquetAthena CalderoneKelly Wearstler
Jason Roman/Athena Calderone/Kelly Wearstler

Through our Game Changers series, we spotlight women who have found success in their respective industries—from sports and politics to beauty and fashion. And with all of us spending more time indoors now more than ever, there's no better time to highlight the inspiring women leading interior design today.

There are countless examples of passionate female designers leaving their mark on what a home (or any space, really) can be. From Athena Calderone and Lily Kwong to Nicole Gibbons and Leanne Ford, these multihyphenate women have extended their creativity into brands, businesses, and our own Instagram feeds. Ahead, 11 female interior designers changing the game (and reminding us that there is no place like home).

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  • Image may contain Clothing Apparel Human Person Banister Handrail Pants Kelly Wearstler Footwear and Shoe
    Kelly Wearstler
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    Kelly Wearstler

    You know a Kelly Wearstler design when you see it—it's big and bold and full of energy—and the L.A.-based interior designer and architect has a knack for finding statement pieces that make rooms sing. A coral-like coffee table here, a playful lamp there…Wearstler is a master at mixing color, print, and texture. She's had a hand in almost any kind of design project you can think of. From residential and hotel renovations (like the Santa Monica Proper or The Viceroy Miami) to designing her own furniture and hosting a Masterclass series, Wearstler does it all.

  • Nicole Gibbons
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    Nicole Gibbons

    If you're an Oprah Winfrey Network fan, chances are you’ve seen Nicole Gibbons on the show Home Made Simple. But here’s a fun fact: Gibbons actually worked in fashion P.R. before transitioning to interior design. Since making the jump, she also launched her own paint company in 2018. The direct-to-consumer brand Clare simplifies the process of shopping for paint by curating colors for you (like “Headspace,” which is a soft, calming blue-green, or “Current Mood,” a deep, moody green), then delivers everything you could possibly need (wall paint, supplies, and primer) straight to your doorstep. The picture on the right shows a collab she did with Minted, where she curated living room wall-paint ideas to show off favorite art prints.

  • Gesi Schilling/Lily Kwong
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    Lily Scout Kwong

    After working as a studio assistant and model, the Brooklyn-based Lily Kwong segued into art and landscape design. From covering New York's High Line (pictured on the right) in a wonderland of hanging flowers to installing botanical sculptures in Bal Harbour, Florida, Kwong creates urban Edens that are every bit beautiful as they are thought-provoking reflections on sustainability and the environment. Since opening her design studio, she's also launched SLK Cares to extend her caretaking services to indoor plants and gardens.

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    Fabiana Faria and Helena Barquet

    Where some of us feel most comfortable surrounded by earthy tones, Fabiana Faria and Helena Barquet are quite the opposite. The cofounders of the New York City home goods store Coming Soon are most at ease when they're surrounded by zingy, eclectic pieces. Their East Village store feels like a gallery-meets-children's-playground, and though they sell some museum-worthy pieces (like a Gaetano Pesce flower vase) alongside quirky, colorful knickknacks (hi, Bathing Lady)—there are plenty of everyday pieces to liven up anyone's home. Trust, from personal experience, it's hard to walk into their showroom (or online store) and leave empty-handed. 

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    Athena Calderone

    We've been following the interior designer and founder of Eye Swoon, Athena Calderone, for years, and we wouldn't be surprised if you have too. Her style is aspirational, but it never feels out of reach. She relies heavily on clean white walls and thoughtfully placed accents to create a space that's equal parts energizing and restorative. Her website is full of “swoonworthy” inspiration for small and big spaces alike, with lots of earth tones and natural materials, like rattan, bamboo, and warm burl wood. Her unique taste comes together in two books, Cook Beautiful and Live Beautiful, which are both available online. 

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    Beata Heuman

    Beata Heuman's style is full of character, and the London-based Swedish designer channels that expressive energy to create interiors that feel fun and inviting. She pairs her love for color with a strong attention to detail, which you see in the picture above or, more closely, in the Asteria Folly print. The fabric exists in a “day” and “night” version, and you can add it (along with other bespoke furniture pieces, homewares, and wallpaper) to cart on her platform, Shoppa.

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    Christiane Lemieux

    If you're looking for proof that you don't need to shy away from bold prints or bright colors in your home, here it is. Christiane Lemieux is the founder of The Inside, an interior design company that creates affordable “furniture in fabrics you'll love.” Each piece is customizable and made to order, but one of our favorite things is that it's fashion-oriented: A lot of the fabrics you'll see are actually collaborations with fashion designers like Clare V. and Peter Som. (The print pictured is from her latest collaboration with Old World Weavers.)

  • Bolé Road Textiles
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    Hana Getachew

    Playing around with texture and color adds so much depth to a space, and few tap into that quite like Hana Getachew. The founder of Bolé Road Textiles serves up modern textiles for the home that are all designed in Brooklyn but handwoven in Ethiopia. From supersoft towels to pillow covers and stitched throws, these one-of-a-kind pieces will leave any space brighter and cozier.

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    Amber Wilson

    Amber Lewis, the founder of Amber Interiors studio in Los Angeles,  is the brains behind the lifestyle blog All Sorts Of. Her self-described “white-walled, laid-back California aesthetic” has garnered a cult following (we're talking nearly 1 million Instagram followers), and her blog is a treasure trove of expert design advice, before-and-after stories, and designer interviews (including one with another Glamour Game Changer in this list, Athena Calderone). She even has her own home and lifestyle store, Shoppe Amber, where you can shop her curated picks. 

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    Leanne Ford

    You may have heard of Leanne Ford from HGTV's Restored by the Fords, but there's more to the Pittsburgh native than just her highly addictive reality show. She's refreshingly open about her work on her blog, which also happens to be a great resource for DIY projects and behind-the-scenes content of her show. Ford's aesthetic is all about “easy living”—think lots of natural light, soothing colors, and thoughtfully placed art—to create a space you could easily spend all day in. 

  • Ariel Kaye
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    Ariel Kaye

    Your bedroom is likely your safe space, and no one knows that better than Ariel Kaye. The founder and CEO of Parachute has built her brand on easygoing linens for your bed and bathroom, and in a previous story, Kaye told Glamour that her “style is largely influenced by natural hues and the Southern California landscape.” She's “endlessly inspired by the color palette of the beach and the desert," and you can shop her beautifully undone designs here. 

Talia Abbas is Glamour's senior commerce editor, where she oversees the title's shopping content. She holds a master's degree in journalism from Columbia University. In the last five years, she has written, edited, tested, and reviewed everything from fashion trends and new beauty launches to sneakers, Airbnbs, coffee subscription services,... Read more
Topicsfemale empowermentshoppinghomeglamour game changersempowermentWOTY30
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