Living well is the greatest luxury
WESTCHESTER-BASED LUXURY INTERIOR DESIGN STUDIO
Combining a broad creative vision with a methodical approach, at Alden Design Studio, we create beautifully curated spaces in a range of sizes and styles to meet the specific needs of each client. Every space we design is rooted in our clients’ individual needs and sensibilities — thoughtfully interpreted through our refined, detail-driven lens to deliver interiors that feel elevated, intentional, and entirely personal.
OUR STORY
Shawna’s path to interior design began with a love of art history and photography, first cultivated in high school, then deepened at Washington University in St. Louis, where she earned a degree in Comparative Arts. Early internships with a renowned interiors photographer and a residential interior design firm lead to her first full-time role at luxury residential interior design and architecture firm B-Five Studio, where she learned the art of managing high-end client needs, specifying and sourcing fully custom projects, and orchestrating installations for sophisticated art collections.
By 2017, Shawna rekindled her passion for interiors through select local projects, designing bespoke rooms on nights and weekends, and even lent her fashion styling expertise to high-profile events and personal wardrobes.
After mastering the nuances of luxury residential design, she shifted to editorial and creative direction, spending 15 years crafting visuals and brand identities for top magazines like Organic Style, InStyle, and Every Day with Rachael Ray. Though her favorite shoots often centered on fashion and beauty, she honed a versatile skill set across food, tabletop, and corporate branding, bringing an editorial eye for composition and storytelling to every project.
In late 2019, Shawna made the leap to launch Alden Design Studio full-time, combining her multidisciplinary background, magazine-perfect attention to detail, and passion for custom, client-driven interiors into a boutique firm dedicated to creating homes that feel both opulent and effortlessly livable. Since then, the studio has completed a litany of high-end residential projects across the tri-state area.
“Shawna redesign[ed] our kitchen and not only is it gorgeous, but it wouldn't be remotely the same space without Shawna. We were impressed by her design and vision but also how she ran and organized the business.””
NATHAN | SCARSDALE, NY
OUR APPROACH
Great design starts with listening. We begin every project with a deep-dive discovery session — understanding how our clients live, what they love, and delineating the challenges we need to tackle. Then, with a clear plan in hand, we marry big-picture vision with meticulous execution, from floor-plan layouts and material selection to final installation.
OUR VALUE STATEMENT
We believe that choosing to live with beauty is not a frivolity but a valuable endeavor that benefits the human spirit.
MEET SHAWNA
Founder & Principal Shawna Kalish brings a sophisticated, stylish eye to projects both large and small. With 15 years of art-directing and producing photo shoots in New York City, and a background spanning fashion styling, event planning, and editorial creative direction, she sees beyond conventional design solutions.
Shawna’s refined sense of storytelling and deep understanding of composition and materials means every space she designs is as distinctive as the people who live in it.
GET TO KNOW SHAWNA
inside scoop
Morning Ritual: HIIT classes 2-3 mornings a week are a must to maintain mental clarity.
Design Inspiration: My collection of vintage World of Interiors magazines (I might be a magazine hoarder); art history; The Met; The Frick; Bergdorf Goodman; vacation / hotels & restaurants.
Beloved Keepsake: The vintage Cartier watch my mother gave me for my 35th birthday. She wore it every day of my life, and for that reason alone it’s absolutely priceless to me.
Dream Upgrade: Blowing out my kitchen!
Current Binge: I can’t help it: I am forever bingeing Parks & Rec.
Off-Hours Pursuit: Watching funny animal videos with my girls.
Secret Skill: I’m a packing ninja.
Coffee Order: Pike roast with whole milk or a Skim chai latte
Dream Project: A house on Lake Como or an apartment on the water in Tel Aviv!
Color Crush: Oxblood and aubergine.
Every transformation begins with a conversation. Let’s talk about your project, your wishlist, and how we can translate those into a space that feels crafted with intention and tailored entirely to you.