Elaine Santos Design is a New York City–based interior design studio with a national and international reach, led by Principal and Founder Elaine Santos. Elaine has a distinctive ability to connect people to place, shaping spaces with clarity, purpose, and emotional resonance.
Known for interiors that feel warm, expressive, and highly considered, the studio’s work is rooted in a deep appreciation for natural materials, unique textiles, and craftsmanship. ESD’s aesthetic blends art and design through thoughtful pairings of vintage and contemporary pieces alongside site-specific artisanal work, resulting in spaces that are both visually striking and deeply personal.
Elaine’s career is firmly grounded in New York City. She previously served as a lead designer at two prominent Manhattan firms and spent nearly a decade leading the Interior Design Department at BarlisWedlick Architects—an Architectural Digest Top 100 firm. Her work has been recognized by Interior Design magazine’s Best of Year Awards and featured in House Beautiful, Dwell, and Elle Decor, and her work has graced the covers of the Home section of The New York Times.
A Parsons School of Design graduate, Elaine is a frequent panelist on sustainability and design and has led residential projects across the U.S. and abroad, often guiding clients in assembling trusted teams of architects, landscape designers, and consultants. The studio thrives on collaborative projects, working closely with clients and project partners alike, with the goal that every client enjoys the design journey as much as we do.
At the core of every project is a simple goal: to create comfortable, meaningful homes defined by beauty, integrity, and intention.