Home » Global Icons – The Best Interior Designers You Should Know

Global Icons – The Best Interior Designers You Should Know

Julia Brooks

October 14, 2025

The top interior designers do more than just pick colors and furniture. They save you time, money, and stress while creating spaces that actually work for your life.

Think about it this way. You probably spend weeks researching the best phone before buying one.

Your home deserves the same careful attention, but with professional expertise guiding the way. They also have relationships with contractors and vendors, which means you can enjoy better prices and reliable service.

Most importantly, designers help you avoid costly mistakes. That expensive couch you love online? A designer knows if it’ll actually look right in your room before you buy it.

A List of Top Interior Designers

Here are the world’s most celebrated interior designers who have shaped our perception of beautiful spaces. These famous interior designers have brought dreams to reality.

Let me introduce you to the professionals whose work you’ve probably seen and loved, even if you didn’t know their names.

1. Peter Marino

Peter creates spaces that feel like private museums, specializing in luxury retail and high-end residential projects.

His work combines fine art with functional design in spectacular ways.

Signature Style: Luxury maximalism with fine art and custom everything
Notable Projects: Chanel boutiques, Louis Vuitton stores, billionaire residences
Why He’s Famous: Most expensive retail designs globally, art collector clientele, leather jacket trademark look

2. Kelly Wearstler

Kelly brings bold patterns and luxurious textures to every project she touches.

Her work spans from boutique hotels to celebrity homes, and she’s known for mixing vintage pieces with contemporary art in unexpected ways.

Signature Style: Bold patterns, rich textures, and fearless color mixing
Notable Projects: Viceroy Hotels, Gwyneth Paltrow’s home, The Proper Hotels
Why She’s Famous: Named “Prestige” by Time Magazine, authored multiple design books

3. Nate Berkus

Nate makes good design accessible to everyone through his warm, livable approach. He focuses on creating homes that tell personal stories through meaningful objects and comfortable layouts.

Signature Style: Accessible luxury with personal touches and vintage finds
Notable Projects: Oprah Winfrey’s properties, his own product lines at Target
Why He’s Famous: TV shows, bestselling books, and making design approachable for regular people

4. Philippe Starck

Philippe creates spaces that feel like art installations but remain completely functional. His work pushes boundaries and makes people think differently about what interior spaces can be.

Signature Style: Futuristic designs with playful elements and unexpected materials
Notable Projects: Mondrian Hotels, private jets, restaurant interiors worldwide
Why He’s Famous: Over 10,000 creations spanning furniture, hotels, and residential spaces

5. Joanna Gaines

Joanna popularized the modern farmhouse look that millions of people now love. She takes old, worn spaces and converts them into cozy, family-friendly homes with character and charm.

Signature Style: Modern farmhouse with shiplap, neutral colors, and vintage touches
Notable Projects: Magnolia properties, countless home renovations on “Fixer Upper”
Why She’s Famous: HGTV success, Magnolia brand empire, and relatable design philosophy

6. Jonathan Adler

Jonathan brings joy and personality to interior design through the use of bright colors and quirky accessories.

His spaces feel like celebrations, mixing high-end pieces with fun, unexpected elements.

Signature Style: Happy luxury with bold colors, patterns, and fanciful accessories
Notable Projects: Parker Palm Springs, celebrity homes, his own retail empire
Why He’s Famous: “Happy Chic” philosophy and making design fun rather than serious

7. Martyn Lawrence Bullard

Martyn creates glamorous spaces inspired by global travels and the charm of Old Hollywood. His work feels like stepping into a luxury movie set, with rich fabrics and lighting effects.

Signature Style: Hollywood Regency with global influences and luxurious materials
Notable Projects: Cher’s homes, Elton John’s properties, Tommy Hilfiger’s estate
Why He’s Famous: Celebrity clientele and ability to blend different cultural design elements

8. Kelly Hoppen

Kelly is among the best interior designers who pioneered the neutral palette trend that ruled design for decades.

Her spaces feel calm and refined, utilizing texture and lighting to create interest without relying on bright colors.

Signature Style: Neutral tones with rich textures and perfect lighting
Notable Projects: Luxury yachts, celebrity homes, commercial spaces worldwide
Why She’s Famous: MBE recipient, influential books, and a classic design approach

9. Ryan Korban

Ryan brings youth and fresh energy to the luxury design world. His work feels current and social media-ready while maintaining the experience that wealthy clients expect.

Signature Style: Modern luxury with contemporary art and sleek lines
Notable Projects: High-end residential projects, art collector homes
Why He’s Famous: Youngest designer to make a major luxury design impact, celebrity following

10. India Mahdavi

India creates spaces that feel like beautiful dreams, mixing French style with global influences.

Her use of color and pattern creates environments that are both complex and playful.

Signature Style: Refined eclecticism with beautiful color combinations and global influences
Notable Projects: Luxury hotels, high-end restaurants, private residences worldwide
Why She’s Famous: Unique cultural perspective and ability to blend different design traditions

11. Bunny Williams

Bunny represents classic American design done with impeccable taste. Her rooms feel collected over time, combining antiques with contemporary pieces in a way that looks effortless but requires real skill.

Signature Style: Classic American with antiques, comfortable fabrics, and an eternal appeal
Notable Projects: Historic home restorations, garden design, luxury residences
Why She’s Famous: Decades of influence, design books, and mentoring other designers

Here’s What to Know Before Choosing Any Interior Designer for Your Project

Looking at successful design professionals, you’ll notice certain qualities that set them apart from the rest. The best interior designers possess specific traits that make them exceptional at their craft.

What to Look For	Good Sign	Red Flag
Initial Meeting	Asks about your lifestyle and budget	Only talks about their previous work
Portfolio Review	Shows variety and explains their choices	All projects look exactly the same
Communication	Responds within 24-48 hours	Takes days to return calls or emails
Budget Discussion	Gives a clear breakdown of costs	Vague about pricing or hidden fees
Timeline	Realistic schedule with buffer time	Promises unrealistic completion dates
References	Provides recent client contacts willingly	Hesitates or makes excuses about references
Contract	Clear terms and change order process	Unclear contract or no written agreement

Wrapping It Up

The top interior designers combine vision, skill, and detail to bring your dream home to life, turning inspiration into reality.

It doesn’t matter if you are drawn to classic refinement, bold innovation, or a blend of both; the right designer can make all the difference.

Have a favorite name in mind we didn’t feature? Share it with us, we’d love to hear.

Julia Brooks

About the Author

Julia Brooks is a design writer with a passion for exploring and learning how spaces reflect both style and story. She covers everything from the vision of top designers to emerging trends, creative philosophies, and honest brand reviews. With a degree in Fine Arts and a diploma in Interior Architecture, Julia brings both knowledge and curiosity to her work. She enjoys making design ideas easy to understand and helping readers connect with styles that match their lives.