Hi, I'm Anaïs. And home is everything to me, for reasons that took me years to fully understand.
- The story of how Design by Anaïs came to life
- Designing homes that feel welcoming, simple, and personal
- Thoughtful interiors made for everyday living
Growing up, home was not a safe place for me.
It's where I experienced trauma. Where I didn't feel at peace. Where I couldn't exhale.
I also moved around 30 times in 30 years, and had to rebuild, almost every single year, that feeling of being home. Of feeling safe somewhere.
I never made the connection between that story and my career. Until one day, it just hit me.
The first time I had my own space (truly mine) I remember thinking: I can do whatever I want here. This is mine. Nobody is going to say anything.
That feeling? Of controlling your own space, deciding who comes in and who doesn't, creating a sanctuary that belongs entirely to you? It was everything. It still is.
For those of us who didn't always have that option, it's not just interior design. It's something much deeper.
That's my why. And it's why I will never, ever treat your project lightly. 🪄
Let me be real with you for a second
My design origin story is... not so glamorous
I didn't start with a perfectly curated apartment and a natural eye for design.
I started by dragging furniture from my parents' place, raiding friends' apartments, and genuinely having no idea what I was doing. Zero direction. Zero vision. Just a bunch of mismatched pieces and a lot of hope 🫣
But I kept trying, because making my space feel like home was too essential not to.
I grew up in France, took a detour by becoming a lawyer (plot twist: not for me), then flipped my life upside down in 2016 and moved to Morocco. Three years between Agadir, Marrakech and Essaouira, working in real estate, sourcing rugs and textiles and handmade objects, learning to really see spaces and objects.
In 2019, I moved to New York. Landed in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, fell completely in love with the energy of this city: the colors, the people, the "you do you" vibe, the beautiful chaos of old and new. I knew immediately: this is where Design by Anaïs needed to exist.
200+ homes later, here we are. ✨
Why I built Design by Anaïs, and who it's actually for
- Full-service design: beautiful and personalized, but priced at $20,000+ per room, requiring a designer in your city, and taking months to deliver.
- Or e-design: cheaper and remote, but so impersonal it barely counts. Generic selections. No real follow-up. A designer who has 15 projects running and treats yours like a checkbox.
There was nothing built for us.
So I built it myself: a fully personalized, remote design experience, delivered in days, at a fraction of traditional design prices.
The best of both worlds, none of the nonsense.
LEARN MORE ABOUT THE CONCEPT BEHIND DESIGN BY ANAIS
What I actually believe about design
Timeless over trendy, always. Trends are fun, but I will NEVER design your space with them in mind. I want you to be obsessed with your home for the years to come, not for the next 3 weeks.
There are no rules. Mix your woods. Combine your metals. Break the "rules" you read on Pinterest. The only rule that matters: does your home bring you joy?
Layout and storage are everything. I will say this until I lose my voice. You can have the most beautiful furniture in the world, if the layout is wrong and there's nowhere to put your stuff, the room will never feel right. We fix the bones first. Always.
I will never project my own aesthetic onto your space. This is your home, my only goal is for you to feel OBSESSED with your home. If a designer tries to apply their own style to your apartment, run!
What my clients say, in their own words
"Working with Anais was amazing - she was able to understand my style and vision and helped me to create a home that I love being in every single day. There are so many moments where I've just sat in my apartment and looked around, feeling so happy to be living in a beautifully designed space."
"I have only one regret, waiting 5 years to do what you have done for me."
"It's honestly such a relief to have your expertise through this process."
"The whole move and baby and figuring out the paint was extremely stressful. Having you made things so much better. You really captured what I had in mind, I couldn't believe it."
apply to work together!
When I'm not designing your home...
I'm a certified homebody (ironic? maybe. accurate? absolutely!), an animal lover, and someone who genuinely needs very convincing to leave the house on a Sunday.
I believe in calm spaces, personal touches, and a lot of plants. I'm obsessed with Japandi and Scandinavian-inspired interiors, clean lines, natural textures, warmth without clutter.
And yes, I still get emotional when a client sends me a message saying they want to cry happy tears when they see their new space. Every single time 🫶
Explore my services and let's make some magic together. 🪄
Ready to create a home you actually love?