10 Bay Area & San Francisco Interior Designer Recommendations for New Construction Projects
Building a new home is one of the few times you get to shape every room from the ground up, and the interior designer you choose has a lot to do with how that home feels when it's done. A good designer joins early, reads the architectural plans, and makes decisions on layouts, lighting, cabinetry and finishes long before the first piece of furniture arrives.
There is no definitive number one interior designer for new construction in the Bay Area. The right choice depends on your style, your home's architecture, where you're building and how involved you want to be. A designer who's a perfect fit for a warm modern build in Hillsborough may not be the right one for a European-inspired contemporary home in Redwood City or an artistic, layered house in Pacific Heights.
What follows are 10 studios we recommend for new construction across San Francisco, the Peninsula, Silicon Valley and the East Bay. Each card notes the style the firm is known for, so you can find the ones that match what you have in mind. Look through the portfolios, then talk to two or three studios before you decide.
About this list
This is Interior Designers Bay Area's curated list of interior designer recommendations for new construction in the San Francisco Bay Area. It is not an official ranking. The numbered order reflects our editorial selection, not a score. Every studio here offers full-service design for new builds and works alongside architects and builders. Ratings come from each firm's public Google Business Profile, or from Houzz where a firm had no Google reviews, captured in October 2026. They will change over time. Firm details come from each studio's own website.
Style guide at a glance
Since there's no single best designer, the most useful way to narrow the list is by style. Here's what each studio is known for.
| Studio | Based in | Style | A good fit if you want |
|---|---|---|---|
| Saga Interiors | San Francisco Bay Area | Warm modern with Persian and Scandinavian influences | A warm, timeless home and a designer involved from the drawing stage |
| Memmo Interiors | Campbell | Modern with a timeless feel | A Silicon Valley custom home with early input on plans and finishes |
| Holt Design House | Los Gatos | Livable luxury: restraint, materiality, proportion | Understated luxury with refined materials and custom details |
| Nash Design Group | San Carlos | Architecture balanced with warmth | A Peninsula build managed from construction through styling |
| Studio VAE | San Francisco | Natural materials, custom millwork, warm minimalist | A calm home built around natural, responsibly sourced materials |
| ABD STUDIO | San Francisco (Russian Hill) | Understated, layered, personal | Cohesive interiors with custom cabinetry and interior architecture |
| Hills & Grant | Lafayette | Clean, confident interiors | A polished, timeless East Bay, Wine Country or Tahoe build |
| Isolina Mallon Interiors | Redwood City | Contemporary European sensibility | Clean lines, natural materials and a calm, cohesive feel |
| Niche Interiors | San Francisco | Warm California modern, sustainability-minded | A high-end Peninsula estate with custom furniture |
| Tineke Triggs Interiors | San Francisco | Artistic, layered, unexpected | A distinctive home with bold, collected rooms |
The 10 studios
In the order listed. Every card follows the same format.
1. Saga Interiors
Source: Saga Interiors, Villa Granada
Saga Interiors is a boutique residential and commercial design firm in the San Francisco Bay Area, founded in 2016 by principal designer Mahsa Afsharpour. Her warm modern style draws on her Persian heritage, a Scandinavian upbringing in Sweden and California living. On new construction, the studio prefers to join early, working alongside architects, builders and structural engineers on drawings, elevations and 3D renderings. Services carry through custom cabinetry, finish specifications, budgeting, procurement, site visits, installation and styling.
2. Memmo Interiors
Source: Memmo Interiors, California Contemporary New Build in Campbell
Memmo Interiors is a Campbell studio founded in 2016 by Rosanna Bassford, originally under the name Eggshell Home. The daughter of general contractors, she holds an MBA from Northwestern's Kellogg School and studied interior design and architecture through UC Berkeley Extension. The firm focuses on custom homes and full-home renovations in Silicon Valley, working with architects on floor plans, windows, millwork and lighting, then selecting flooring, counters and cabinets before furnishing each room. Its style is modern with a timeless feel.
3. Holt Design House
Source: Holt Design House, Collected Color
Holt Design House is a full-service residential interior design firm in Los Gatos, led by founder and principal designer Melissa Holt. The studio focuses on new construction, large-scale renovations and furnishings across Silicon Valley and the wider Bay Area, joining new builds from the earliest stages alongside architects and builders. Its approach, which the firm calls livable luxury, centers on restraint, materiality and proportion rather than one signature look. Its work has appeared in The New York Times, Architectural Digest and House Beautiful.
4. Nash Design Group
Source: Nash Design Group, Curated in Atherton
Nash Design Group is a full-service interior design studio in San Carlos, founded in 2011 by Kendra Nicholas Nash, who grew up in Atherton and began her career in Silicon Valley real estate. Her team designs new builds and whole-home remodels from construction through final styling, working with architects and builders from the first sketches. Its interiors balance architecture with warmth. In 2026 the studio was named an AD PRO Featured Designer and a LUXE RED Awards national winner, with projects across the Bay Area and Tahoe.
5. Studio VAE
Source: Studio VAE, Parnassus Heights
Studio VAE is a San Francisco interior design studio on Sutter Street led by co-owners and principal designers Veronica Jurist and Aggie Revane, who share more than 40 years of combined experience. Veronica trained at the Academy of Art University, and Aggie holds a Bachelor of Architecture from California College of the Arts and NCIDQ certification. The studio handles whole-home renovations, new construction and furnishings, favoring natural, responsibly sourced materials and custom millwork. It works in San Francisco, the East Bay and across the Bay Area.
6. ABD STUDIO
Source: ABD STUDIO, Cow Hollow Residence
ABD STUDIO is a full-service residential interior design studio founded in 2014 by principal designer Brittany Giannone and based on Polk Street in Russian Hill. The name stands for authenticity by design, and the studio favors understated, layered interiors that feel personal. For new construction, it handles interior architecture, custom cabinetry and full furnishing, coordinating with architects and contractors. Projects span San Francisco, Marin, Silicon Valley and Napa. ABD STUDIO was named to the 1stDibs 50 in 2022 and has been featured in Modern Luxury.
7. Hills & Grant Interior Design
Source: Hills & Grant Interior Design, Huntington House
Hills & Grant Interior Design is a Lafayette studio led by founder and principal designer Kris Foss, who brings more than twenty years of experience in art, architecture and design. The firm describes its work as clean, confident interiors for luxury new builds and whole-home renovations, taking cues from each home's architecture and setting. Projects range from cottage style to modern across the Bay Area, Wine Country and Lake Tahoe. The studio is a member of the Good Future Design Alliance, which works to reduce industry waste.
8. Isolina Mallon Interiors
Source: Isolina Mallon Interiors, Custom Home, Portola Valley
Isolina Mallon Interiors is a Redwood City studio founded in 2012 by Isolina Mallon, who was born in Spain and studied interior architecture at the Llotja school in Barcelona. She spent more than a decade in interior design, construction and design-build in Barcelona and Madrid before founding her Bay Area practice. The studio handles new construction, full-home renovations and complete furnishing, with a contemporary European sensibility. Its work has appeared in Architectural Digest, Elle Decor and The Wall Street Journal.
9. Niche Interiors
Source: Niche Interiors, Hillsborough
Niche Interiors is a San Francisco luxury interior design firm founded in 2007 and led by principal designer Jennifer Jones, Associate ASID and a LEED Accredited Professional. The studio is known for warm California modern interiors and sustainability-minded material choices. On new builds it joins early and attends regular site visits alongside architects and builders, and it designs custom furniture with Bay Area fabricators. Projects include high-end estates in Atherton, Woodside and Hillsborough, and the firm won a LUXE RED Award in 2025.
10. Tineke Triggs Interiors
Source: Tineke Triggs Interiors, Peninsula I
Tineke Triggs Interiors is a San Francisco studio on Union Street led by Tineke Triggs, formerly operating as Artistic Designs for Living. Known for artistic, layered interiors, she describes her approach as design mixology. Her team offers interior architecture, space planning and full-service design for projects ranging from ground-up new construction to a single room. A longtime San Francisco Decorator Showcase designer, she published her first book, Design Mixology, in 2023, and her work has appeared in Architectural Digest and Veranda.
How an interior designer fits into a new build
On a new construction project, the interior designer works alongside your architect and builder, not after them. Most of the studios on this list prefer to be involved as early as possible, and here is roughly how that plays out.
- Plan review. The designer reviews the architectural drawings with you and the architect, looking at room flow, furniture placement, window locations and how each space will be used day to day.
- Interior architecture and lighting. Next come decisions on built-ins, millwork, ceiling details, fireplaces and the lighting plan, while walls and wiring can still change easily.
- Selections and specifications. The designer selects and documents flooring, tile, counters, cabinetry, plumbing fixtures, hardware and paint, so the builder can price and order them on schedule.
- Site visits. During construction, the designer checks that finishes and details are installed as drawn and helps solve problems as they come up.
- Furnishing and installation. Furniture, lighting, window treatments, rugs and art are ordered to arrive as the house is finished, then installed and styled.
Bringing a designer in after the drywall is up still works, but early involvement usually means fewer change orders and a home that fits how you live.
Cost and timeline
Fees for new construction interior design in the Bay Area vary with the size of the home, the scope of work and how each studio bills. These ranges are approximate, drawn from public cost guides reviewed in October 2026, and are no substitute for a written proposal.
| Fee structure | How it works | Typical Bay Area range (approximate) |
|---|---|---|
| Hourly | Billed for design time, often with a retainer | About $50 to $300 per hour; one cost survey put San Francisco residential rates at roughly $146 to $166 per hour |
| Percentage of project | A share of total project cost | Often 10% to 20% of the project budget |
| Flat or phased fee | A fixed fee per phase or for the whole project | Quoted per project; common on new builds |
| Purchasing markup | A markup on furniture and materials bought through the firm | Varies by firm; ask how it is calculated |
Furniture, fixtures and finishes are usually budgeted separately from the design fee. Many full-service studios also set minimum project sizes.
Timeline: A new build typically runs a year or more from plan review to move-in, and interior design runs alongside construction the whole way. Custom furniture and imported pieces often have long lead times, so most designers place orders well before the house is finished.
Sources: ProMatcher San Francisco interior designer cost report; The Builder Market guide to interior designers in San Francisco.
Where the studios are
The studios on this list are based across San Francisco, the Peninsula, Silicon Valley and the East Bay, and most take projects throughout the region.
Frequently asked questions
Who is the best interior designer for new construction in the Bay Area?
There is no definitive number one. The best designer for your build depends on your style, your home's architecture, where you're building and how hands-on you want to be. Saga Interiors, Memmo Interiors, Holt Design House, Nash Design Group and Studio VAE are the first five studios on this list, and each offers full-service design for new construction. Compare their portfolios to see which style matches yours.
Which Bay Area designers work in a warm modern style for new builds?
Saga Interiors designs warm modern, timeless homes with Persian and Scandinavian influences and joins new builds at the drawing stage. Studio VAE creates warm minimalist interiors around natural materials and custom millwork. Niche Interiors is known for warm California modern design and sustainability-minded choices on high-end Peninsula homes.
Which designers get involved during the architectural planning stage?
Most studios on this list prefer to join early. Saga Interiors works alongside architects, builders and structural engineers on drawings and 3D renderings. Memmo Interiors collaborates on floor plans, windows, millwork and lighting plans. Holt Design House and Nash Design Group both join new builds from the earliest stages and stay involved through construction.
When should I hire an interior designer for a new construction project?
Ideally during architectural design, before plans are final. At that stage a designer can still shape room layouts, window placement, built-ins and the lighting plan. Once construction starts, many of those decisions become expensive to change.
What is the difference between an architect and an interior designer on a new build?
The architect designs the structure, the exterior and the overall floor plan, and handles permits. The interior designer focuses on how the inside works and feels: layouts, interior architecture, lighting, finishes, cabinetry, fixtures and furnishings. On most custom homes, the two work together throughout the project.
How much does an interior designer cost for new construction in the Bay Area?
Costs vary widely. Public cost guides put hourly rates at roughly $50 to $300, and many firms charge 10% to 20% of the project budget. Others charge a flat fee per phase. Furniture and finishes are usually budgeted separately. Ask each studio for a written proposal that lists fees, markups and minimums.
How long does interior design take on a new build?
Interior design runs alongside construction, so it usually lasts as long as the build itself, often a year or more. Plan review and selections happen early, site visits happen during construction, and furniture ordering starts months before move-in because of lead times.
What should I look for when choosing a designer for new construction?
Look for new-build projects in their portfolio, not just renovations or decorating. Ask how they work with architects and builders, how often they visit the site, how they document selections, and how they bill. Make sure their style fits yours, and talk to past clients who built new homes with them.
Do I need an interior designer if my builder offers finish packages?
Not always, but builder packages are usually limited to a set range of options. An interior designer can specify custom details, coordinate every finish into one cohesive look and catch layout issues before construction. For a fully custom home, most owners find the extra input worth it.
Which designers on this list work outside San Francisco?
Several are based outside the city. Memmo Interiors is in Campbell and focuses on Silicon Valley. Holt Design House is in Los Gatos, Nash Design Group is in San Carlos, Hills & Grant is in Lafayette, and Isolina Mallon Interiors is in Redwood City. Most studios on the list take projects across the wider Bay Area.