Eight Great Home Decor Designers

A master of repoussé, the art of hammering decorative relief into metal, Robert Kuo incorporates his Chinese heritage and artistic sensibility to his ever-growing collection of decorative arts, furniture, lighting and interior design. Born in Beijing and raised in Taiwan, Kuo moved to Los Angeles in the 1970s, where he opened a gallery on Melrose Avenue in West Hollywood. Today his work can be found in stylish hotels and private homes as well as some museums, and he recently opened his second shop, in Manhattan's Tribeca district. Kuo still spends four to six months of the year in China working with highly skilled craftsmen to create new pieces, which are then finished in Los Angeles. His work runs the gamut from vases and other tabletop pieces to furniture and garden and landscaping elements, as well as home accessories and lighting—many combining ancient Chinese motifs with Deco Nouveau influences. Available from the Kuo Gallery in LA and New York, Gump in San Francisco (which holds Kuo exhibitions twice a year), and leading design showrooms.

What began as a successful fashion brand has evolved into Clodagh Design, an award-winning company specializing in minimalist home furnishings and accessories. Based in New York City, the Irish-born Clodagh Aubry and her team of top-flight architects and interior designers create everything from furniture to lighting, bed and bath accessories, carpets and rugs, textiles and wall tiles. Drawing inspiration from nature and her extensive travels—she describes herself as a “global nomad” who has visited almost 100 countries—Clodagh bases her work on what she calls the 4Cs of interior design: contemplating a space, cleansing it of unwanted items, clarifying goals, and creating something unique and timeless. The look is clean and contemporary—it's no wonder she's often called upon to design resort spas, including the one she's working on now at Jamaica's legendary Goldeneye estate.

The historic art of decoupage—cutting and gluing paper images under glass—is alive and well thanks to New York City artist John Derian who creates a wonderful, and often whimsical, collection of home decor accessories, including plates, paperweights, lamps, bowls and vases. Prized by collectors around the world, Derian's exquisite artworks are available at his studio in the East Village, his recently opened store in Provincetown, Massachusetts, and via an online gallery. He also imports the finest quality French quilts and table linens, if you're looking for an additional touch of decadence.

The darling of the design world doesn't just have his finger on the pulse of contemporary home and hotel decor, he is the pulse. Ever since Jonathan Adler first laid hands on a pottery kiln at the age of 12, his innate sense of color and design, as well as his charming and cheeky personality, have taken him to the very top of his profession. A decade after opening his first home design store in New York's Soho in 1998, Adler has put his Midas touch to some of the most innovative and creative private homes and upscale hotels in America—most notably the Parker Palm Springs hotel—and launched six signature stores in New York, East Hampton, Chicago, Los Angeles, Miami and San Francisco. His vibrant, retro-style furniture and home wares collection, also available via an online service, includes pillows and throws, lighting, bedding and bath, rugs, tables, art, candles, curios and, of course, pottery. The online store features the members-only Club JA, with special offers and new products, a fun gift guide, and a full interior design service. Adler home wares are also available at the Parker's gift shop.

Perhaps better known for her eclectic clothing range—she famously turned the kaftan into a fashion statement, prompting Vogue to crown her the Queen of Kaftans—Allegra Hicks also has a stylish collection of home wares and furnishings. Italian-born, she lives in London with her British husband, interior designer and architect Ashley Hicks (son of the late David Hicks, a renowned interior designer). Her flagship store just off posh Sloane Street was designed by her husband to resemble a private home complete with a drawing room, library, dining room and bedroom brimming with top-quality furniture, wallpapers, rugs and fabrics, and home accessories from tablecloths and napkins to stationery and photo albums. She also has a shop on Madison Avenue in New York City, and both boutiques are great places to pick up a hostess or housewarming gift. Her overall look is lavish with a bohemian twist; think bold patterns and colors fusing Asian and western elements. Hicks also offers interior design consultation services.

Founders Anne-Marie Casamidy and Jorge Almada are the first to admit their passion for great design borders on obsession, and it shows in every element of their interior design portfolio. Launched in 1998, the company is based in San Miguel del Allende, where the married duo works closely with a team of talented Mexican artisans—among them carpenters, cabinet makers, glaziers, and iron, tin and leather smiths—all of whom help bring Casamidy's original designs to life. The result is gorgeous and intricate chairs, tables, mirrors, lamps and a variety of other home furnishings and accessories, many inspired by ancient Greek and colonial Mexican design but given a contemporary twist. While the Casamidy website features all the products, you can't order online, but you can e-mail with any interest (casamidy@casamidy.com) and make an appointment to visit the San Miguel studio. Select items are available online at www.vivre.com or at Kara Mann Design in Chicago and New York.

It certainly helps being the Queen of England's nephew (he's the son of the late Princess Margaret), but David Linley has never needed his royal connections to prove that he's an outstanding furniture maker. Credited with setting new standards in British craftsmanship, Linley's top-drawer furniture business—launched in 1985—has grown into an acclaimed interior design firm with corporate clients from luxury hotels, private jets, yachts and clubs to a legion of high-profile fans including Oprah Winfrey, Caroline Herrera, David Tang and Kelly Hoppen. While it comes with a hefty price tag, his bespoke furniture is still the heart of the business—unique and exquisite pieces hand-crafted from the finest walnut, ebony and sycamore. He also offers an interior design service, upholstery, lighting and home accessories, as well as gift items such as chess sets, photo frames and cuff link boxes, available from his two London stores in Belgravia and Mayfair and online.

A member of the British interior design establishment, William Yeoward—who counts Margaret Thatcher among his past clients—offers a sumptuous collection of quality home wares and accessories at his store on King's Road in London. From rich fabrics inspired by India and East Asia to his renowned crystal and stemware fashioned after vintage designs, as well as wallpaper, ceramics, furniture, lighting and linens, Yeoward's passion for craftsmanship (his bed linens are produced by one of the last remaining British mills) has gained him an outstanding reputation. He also has a showroom on Madison Avenue in New York.