Central Park West living room via Decor Aid
Central Park, Upper East Side, Soho, Downtown Brooklyn...Decor Aid's designs can be found in New York's most desirable neighborhoods, which are often priced accordingly. However, top-quality interior design does not have to be; Sean Juneja and Markus Weber founded Decor Aid on this premise. CityRealty recently spoke with Mr. Juneja about his style, his work throughout New York, and his design predictions for 2018.
What inspired you to start Décor Aid?
Sean Juneja: The world of interior design has changed very little in the past century, it was only accessible to the uber-wealthy, and lacked transparency. Also, it was almost impossible to find a good designer who would take on projects with smaller budgets. Americans spend over 90% of their lives indoors and various studies have shown the positive impact, a good interior can have on their well-being. I am not only passionate about design, but I also wanted to make a difference, and that is why I started Decor Aid.In this article:
Upper East Side living room via Decor Aid
Are there any designers or artists that influenced your style and inspire you today?
Sean: My travels have had the greatest influence on my style and what inspires me. I have been fortunate enough to have lived in London, New York, and India. I’m a huge fan of Jean-Michel Frank’s work and the London street artist, Banksy.What is the range of clients (and budgets) you work with?
Sean: We work with all budgets and a diverse range of clients. Since opening our doors a few years ago, Décor Aid has completed over 2,000 projects, tackling everything from single room redesigns to multi-million dollar gut renovations. We have assembled over 500 of the best design and construction professionals on our platform, and an on-call support team to ensure amazing results regardless of budget or scope.
Madison Avenue penthouse living room via Decor Aid
What is Décor Aid’s process when furnishing a home?
Sean: We’ve streamlined the design process and provide a support team that ensure effortless high-end design. Your design assistant selects the best designer for your project and will arrange a complimentary in-home consultation, all within 24 hours. Decor Aid’s interior designers are some the best in the industry and guide each of our clients in a systematic process to guarantee great results. Including mood boards, space planning and several sourcing presentations are key ingredients to every project we take on. In addition to this, we allocate a project manager to oversee that each project runs smoothly and efficiently. All purchasing is handled by our procurement team, saving our clients endless time and granting them exclusive access to our trade-only discount, which are up to 50% off retail pricing.
"We've noticed a shift away from the classic all-white palette, meaning 2018 is going to be all about color."
What design trends are clients getting excited about now, and what do you foresee in the coming years? And are any trends becoming unpopular?
Sean: We've noticed a shift away from the classic all-white palette, meaning 2018 is going to be all about color. Our clients and senior designers are excited to try out these richer, vibrant colors, which are replacing the trending colors of last year, muted neutrals such as various shades of gray and blue. Additionally, VR is slowly entering the mainstream and will significantly alter how we design our homes.
One57 living room via Decor Aid
One57 via Decor Aid
Work space via Decor Aid
Can you name one of your favorite projects, and why?
Sean: One of my favorite projects this year was the complete renovation of a condo in New York's infamous One57, a towering architectural treasure nicknamed “The Billionaire Building.” The project resulted in a dynamic and contemporary space that’s stylish yet functional. With our trade discounts, we saved the clients hundreds of thousands, leaving them ecstatic.
Downtown Brooklyn staging featuring Mitchell Gold & Bob Williams pieces via Decor Aid
I’ve seen you choose pieces from vendors ranging from Brooklyn Flea to Mitchell Gold & Bob Williams. What is the typical process for choosing furnishings?
Sean: Our designers have the freedom to source decor from any vendor. We base our sourcing solely on the client's aesthetic and budget. Décor Aid has established relationships with over 600 vendors and work with trade-only companies like Holly Hunt to retailers and marketplaces like Etsy.
Battery Park City loft via Decor Aid
New York apartments are typically on the smaller side. Do you have any advice on choosing types of furnishings and décor?
Sean: I would start by advising that designing for small spaces doesn’t mean sacrificing your personal style. Try to source lighter colors, low profile furnishings and do not block any of your windows. You have to always be mindful of proportions and know that the key is to find decor that will make your home appear more expansive.
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Michelle Mazzarella
Michelle is a contributing writer and editor for real estate news in New York City
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