Art Is Not An Afterthought: Artist And Interior Designer Carly Berlin Makes Art A Focal Point Of Her New Interior Design Business

Brooklyn-based artist Carly Berlin is renowned for her precision—creating highly detailed and refined work using pen-and-ink techniques on white paper. Her post-modern drawings can be found in Pharrell Williams’ The Goodtime Hotel in Miami Beach and she has collaborated with Stacy London, Ashley Avignone, Henry Hargreaves, and Alexandra Kaehler Design, among others.

After years of collaborating with designers and clients as an artist, Berlin has moved into the world of interior design, something she “has always been passionate about.” Similar to her thoughtful approach to making art, Berlin discovered she was particularly interested in the way “so many different elements come together to create a beautiful space.” Berlin explains, “I was finding that, as an artist, many people would reach out looking for design advice or help sourcing art. I became incredibly passionate about filling what I saw as a gap in the market, which was providing an elevated aesthetic at an accessible price point.”

When asked about her evolution from artist to interior designer, Berlin notes that “the evolution of adding ‘designer’ to my resume was a natural marriage of my passions…I am grateful I get to continue creating my own art while simultaneously supporting the growing community of talented emerging artists.”

As an entrepreneur, Berlin was intrigued by the opportunity to bring a fresh perspective to the interior design scene, as Berlin Studio follows a “non-traditional business model” that allows her to create customized projects based on her client’s style and personal needs. “I provide them with the tools to execute the vision on their own—at their own pace.”

Another key differentiator from other interior design practices is Berlin’s emphasis on the power of art to transform a space, as she notes that “art selection is one of the foundational philosophies of the Berlin Studio process.”

For Berlin, “art is a foundational part of the design process, rather than an afterthought.” Berlin uses an art-forward perspective to guide her client’s design choices, even if that means “having a few bare walls in the interim…I always suggest taking your time and not spreading your budget too thin. Two amazing pieces are better than ten pieces you don’t really love.”

Berlin’s own style is a balance of classic and contemporary, and she tends to gravitate towards warm neutrals and earthy tones, textural fabrics with subtle patterns and lots of wood. “I want a space to always evoke a sense of warmth and timeless character.”

While Berlin’s background in art drives her design business, working in interior design has also led her to explore “more spontaneous” creative processes in her own work, like embracing the use of color and leaning into warm and rich tones. Four pieces from her latest collection recently launched in collaboration with her sister, Chicago-based interior designer Alexandra Kaehler, as part of the 2023 Lake Forest Showhouse.

For Berlin, art and interior design are similarly rooted in opportunities to create something beautiful but also deeply personal.

Learn more about Berlin Studio here.