Here, we ask designers to take a selfie and give us an inside look at their life.
Occupation: Creative Director of Studio Krauss, working across interior architecture and design
Instagram: @studio_krauss
Home Town: I grew up in a suburb near Berlin, Germany.
Studio Location: DUMBO, Brooklyn
Describe what you make: I design interior environments that are concept-driven and deeply layered, with a focus on private residential spaces. My work brings together materials, textures, and spatial composition to create atmospheres that feel both refined and personal. I’m particularly interested in the relationship between interiors and nature, and in how subtle references to natural systems shape the experience of a space.
The most important thing you’ve designed to date: The most important thing I’ve designed to date is my own practice. Building Studio Krauss has allowed me to define a clear point of view and approach each project with intention, rather than fitting into an existing framework. It’s an ongoing process, but it has been the most meaningful design exercise so far—shaping not just spaces, but the way I want to work and think as a designer.
Describe the problem your work solves: Many homeowners struggle to translate their ideas and preferences into a cohesive living environment and often feel overwhelmed. I help bring clarity to that process by understanding how my clients live, what they value, and how they use their space. From there, I translate those insights into interiors that feel intentional, personal, and fully resolved—each shaped by both the client’s needs and my own design perspective.
Share the project you are working on now: I’m currently working on a soft renovation and full furnishing of a five-bedroom prewar apartment in Forest Hills for a family of four. They initially felt overwhelmed by the size of the space, so my role has been to help bring structure and clarity to how it’s used and experienced. We’re creating a balance between calm, earthy spaces that feel grounding and more playful moments with color in the children’s rooms. We’re also working with a wide range of materials, which gives the apartment a sense of richness while still feeling warm and livable.
What you absolutely have to have in your studio: My studio always has fresh flowers, soft accent lighting, and lavender incense. I think a creative space should feel both calm and inspiring, so I’ve created an environment where I can fully focus and work intuitively. It’s important to me that it’s a place I look forward to being in every day, with an atmosphere that naturally supports the creative process.
What you do when you’re not working: When I’m not working on interiors, I’m usually painting in my studio, experimenting with different textures and mediums. I also spend a lot of time in galleries and museums—they’re a constant source of inspiration and, in many ways, my love language.
Sources of creative envy (dead or alive): There are many artists and designers I admire, especially those who create spaces that feel almost like artworks. I’m inspired by Alexandra Daisy Ginsberg and Cy Twombly, whose work continues to shape how I think about space, material, and atmosphere. Beyond that, I draw a lot of inspiration from gardens, flowers, and plant life—their complexity, layering, and quiet sense of balance.
The distraction you want to eliminate: I’ve become increasingly aware of how dependent I can be on my phone, and how easily it interrupts the creative process. I try to eliminate the urge to constantly check it, so I can stay focused and fully present when I’m working.
Concrete or marble? Marble
High-Rise Or Townhouse? Either—I’d happily take both.
Remember Or Forget? Remember
Aliens Or Ghosts? Ghosts
Dark Or Light? Light
