Stephanie Betesh, founder of Ember Studio, gives us insight on her premier project, a gut renovation of a 2,800 square foot loft apartment in the heart of Soho.

A modern wabi sabi living room with designer details. — Custom sized sofa from Shoppe Amber Interiors, vintage lounge chairs from Amelia Tarbet. Designed by Stephanie Betesh, Photos by David Mitchell.

Stephanie, tell us the name & location of the project.

The Crosby Street Apartment in New York, NY, featuring the Entwine Collection (furniture and lighting) by Ember Studio sold at Colony Gallery in Tribeca.

Is it a full-time home or pied-à-terre/holiday home?

Full-time home.

Please describe the architectural style of the home and when it was built.

It was completed in 2024 and the architectural style is minimal and modern, while the furniture art and objects have a wabi sabi, curated and eclectic feel.

An interior with limewash paint and natural materials. — The chair on the right was sourced from Brimfield Antiques Fair. Designed by Stephanie Betesh, Photos by David Mitchell.

What convinced you to work on this project?

Family friends of the homeowners, I had given them a card with my own watercolor painted on prior to the couple’s wedding. The watercolor would end up inspiring the invitations to a ceremony that took place at the Amangiri in Utah. After being asked to take on the project, both the Amangiri and the watercolor became inspiration points for the apartment’s renovation.

From the initial design meeting, I worked to achieve a tranquil respite through an encompassing interior that feels at once calm and cozy. A relatively minimal architectural expression achieves this serenity when paired with the lived-in and eclectic curation of furniture, lighting, and art. The warmth of white oak millwork, hand-finished limewash, and plaster wall treatments ensure the space feels approachable and unified.

What was the biggest challenge you faced to design this home? How long did it take?

I used to be based in Austin, and working remotely on the extensive renovation from there proved to be challenging, but I was happy to visit NY and thrilled by the contractor’s attention to detail at her frequent site visits. This attention can be seen throughout the project across elements ranging from recessed U-Channels for shower glass panels and mitered tile corners to a trimless reveal detail along the floating drywall base.

A similar reveal at the ceiling allowed me to consider lighting each space individually, at times dropping the ceiling for intimacy and at others revealing existing beams and utilizing impressive statement fixtures like the Atelier 001 pendant that hangs over a Yucca Stuff dining table.

What type of colors did you decide to use in this home and why?

The architectural palette is mostly neutral to complement the minimal architecture, while the collection of objects and furnishings within the space introduce more colors, materials, and textures. Most of the spaces are finished in a warm creamy limewash paint, while the primary bedroom and powder room offer a moment of discovery with an unexpected dark and moody palette.

What type of materials did you decide to use in this home and why?

Hand finished limewash, white oak millwork, and plaster to make sure the space felt approachable and unified. The light switches and plumbing fixtures are unlacquered brass that will patina over time, and the door hardware is blackened bronze. I like to mix metals within a space to create interest.

There are also several reclaimed wood moments as seen in the custom arched doors and some of the floating shelving in the living room. Natural stone is used throughout the kitchen, bathrooms, and built ins-- all honest materials throughout the entire space. The lighting fixtures incorporate different metal, glass, and ceramic finishes throughout, and the furniture brings in different stone, upholstery, and wood textures.

This eclectic mix of materials makes the design so much more interesting and lived in. All of the furniture and lighting was collected throughout the duration of the project, many of the pieces being antiques selected with the homeowners. Layering textures and nuanced tones—like limewash, linen, reclaimed wood, and bronze—keeps the palette from feeling flat. It adds depth and visual interest while staying cohesive and minimal. This achieves interest and warmth without disrupting the overall sense of restraint.

Handmade ceramics (one by Stephanie) and custom stools from LP creative. Designed by Stephanie Betesh, Photos by David Mitchell.

What were your sources of inspiration to design and decorate this home?

As mentioned earlier, the Amangiri was definitely an inspiration point. I was also inspired by the clients who shared a common passion for the process with me, understanding that the small details would make the end result that much more personal.

What type of atmosphere did you want to create and how did you achieve it?

A cozy, calm, comforting and serene atmosphere was achieved through a mix of tactile materials and layered tones.

If you would have to describe this home in one sentence, what would it be?

The home has a relatively minimal architectural expression to achieve serenity, and is paired with a lived-in and eclectic curation of furniture, lighting, and art.

About Ember Studio

Stephanie Betesh is the founder of Ember Studio and has over 8 years of interior design experience, working on boutique hotels, restaurants, and residential projects across the country. She received a Bachelor of Science in Interior Design from the University of Texas at Austin School of Architecture and has implemented an architecturally integrated approach into all aspects of her works, transcending across multiple scales. Steph implements a holistic approach for all of her projects—whether it’s the interior architecture of a space, the arrangement of accessories on a shelf, or the smallest design detail adorning a custom made object—every element embodies a distinct personality and identity. Drawing from her architectural education and from her formal practice as a spatial designer, Steph’s work emphasizes the harmonious relationship between the individual object and its environment. Ergonomically thoughtful and inspired by the human scaled experience within a space, each work invites you in while encouraging moments of human connection.

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