STAR QUALITY

Interior designer Kelly Wearstler is increasingly in the limelight with a multifaceted offering that includes everything from scene-stealing hospitality projects to cutting-edge digital sets

- Tilly Macalister-Smith

For every successful business named after its founder, there comes a period of tension when the company blossoms beyond the persona and becomes, well, a brand. Kelly Wearstler has navigated the potentially awkward evolution effortlessly; in the 27 years since she entered the interior design world, her company has grown exponentially. She has remained integral to the nuts-and-bolts decision-making across the business, keeping her hands on every project, while turning her independently-owned company into a household name – a rarity for the industry. She manages to make the whole enterprise feel personal, as though she might ring you up after you purchase a chair from her website to discuss your choice of finish, yet exudes the confidence of someone helming a global design empire.