Christie Ward and Staver Gray founded their Manhattan-based interior design firm, Ward + Gray, in 2020, and have been buzzing ever since. The duo, who met at Parsons School of Design, take a research-driven approach to design, especially their hospitality projects. A distinct, singular aesthetic has garnered them national and international clientele, as well as a dazzling new product line. Here, the duo talk about their design process and latest projects.
Hyper-local: Identifying the four pillars, or themes, of a project is where we begin. From there we research the buildings and locations so that each one has a clear sense of place and history.
Case studies: A Florida hotel designed by a female architect is currently in progress and reading about her work has really influenced our vision. As for Wildflower Farms, an Auberge Resorts Collection property we recently completed in Upstate New York, we wanted to make something detailed and funky. You can also see a lot of Arts and Crafts references, which has a foothold up there.
Homey spaces: Hotels are a big focus for us, but we look to give them a residential feel: collected, contextual and authentic. Hospitality experiences are temporal, so you want it to feel super immersive, a little bold, or even shocking.
DIY: We put so much love and energy into creating custom rug designs that it was sad to see them installed and never used again. Hence, our new line was born! We hope to have smaller furnishings and lighting follow soon.
