Barbara Sternau (ASID, NCIDQ)
Principal

Growing up in a family that put a high value on the arts, Barbara Sternau says that her grandfather, who spent every summer of his life painting the Quebec countryside, was responsible for her fascination with the visual arts. Her mother filled the walls of her childhood home with his colorful paintings alongside works of many artist friends. An apprenticeship to sculptor and a long stint as a graphic designer ultimately led Sternau to FIT in New York City and a career in Interior Design.

After graduating from F.I.T. School of Interior Design she started her own business and has been designing high end residential interiors in the greater NY metropolitan area for twenty years. She has a special talent for re-organizing space and her personal mission as a Designer is to bring fresh ideas to a project that not only create beautiful interiors but also help people to re-envision their rooms to reflect how they want to live their lives.

A professional member of ASID and NCIDQ, Ms. Sternau received a degree in Interior Design from FIT in 1991. Currently she writes a monthly column for the "Hudson River Journal" and is an active vestry member of St. John's Episcopal Church in South Salem. She lives in Waccabuc with her husband, Frederic; her Yorkie, Petey, and several cats.

Kitty Burruss
Designer

Kitty Burruss joined the firm in 2007, making the transition from furnishing and staging corporate apartments in Manhattan to designing private residences in Westchester County. After mastering the art of designing "for the masses" in the hospitality world, she is thrilled to be working one-on-one with clients, designing homes tailored to their individual personalities & lifestyles. She enjoys getting to know her clients and their families - translating their tastes and needs into luxurious, yet functional spaces.

"The biggest difference now that I'm working in people's homes is incorporating all of their 'favorites' - the old chair they found on vacation, family photos, Aunt Edna's watercolor… Being able to bring all those pieces together in a way that feels congruent and natural is the most satisfying part of design" she says.

A graduate of Tulane University's A.B. Freeman School of Business, Kitty spent several years working in corporate business development prior to studying Interior Design at Parsons. She brings her professional background in project management (and a penchant for Excel spreadsheets) to the firm, as well as a passion for merging classic design with contemporary lifestyles.