Anelle Gandelman: Founder of A-List Interiors Designs Things Her Way

July 5, 2022 By Betty Taylor

When it comes to designing, decorator and founder of New York design firm A-List Interiors Anelle Gandelman does things her own way – something which has garnered her status as a rising star in the design world and participation in designer show houses in the Hamptons as well as the 2018 Holiday House.

With a background in both art and design, Gandelman, who is originally from South Africa, earned her Bachelor of Fine Arts from Parsons School of Design in addition to being an alumna of DwellStudio, a New York-based home furnishings company, where she served as Head of Design before leaving to start her own design firm and contemporary Art Gallery in 2007.

Her projects might range in style and scope, but according to Anelle, she is a classicist at heart and possesses a great love of neoclassical design. “There is an elegance to the proportions and a timeless quality to these design styles. Everything from Directoire to Maison Jansen is perfection in my opinion. I am also inspired by travel and art. I may walk into a hotel across the world or a historical building and see something that sparks a design idea. I also think that research is important; for an upstate renovation of a 19th century farmhouse, I looked to period rooms in the American wing at the Met when designing some of the architectural details. Likewise, when designing a recent Hamptons home, I referred to books on both Belgian interiors and classic American style to create the perfect space for our clients. More and more, I try not to find inspiration on Instagram and the internet; ideas are constantly being diluted and mimicked there. I believe clients look to a designer to problem solve and create something truly special for them rather than parroting what they see on the internet.”

She has also noticed that the majority of her clients, most of whom are referred by word of mouth, have a new perspective on the meaning of home post-pandemic. “People realized how important the design of one’s home is once they were forced to spend so much time inside. Home offices were certainly not a priority, many people felt that they could use a dining table or kitchen counter to do some work. Now a dedicated office space is essential. Even though people are returning to the workplace, clients still want a dedicated workspace because there is a general unease that we could be forced into quarantine in the future again.”

Recently, a Connecticut couple who was looking for a designer to decorate their pied-á-terre reached out after seeing one of A-list Interiors’ projects reposted on Instagram. Following a phone call during Covid to ensure homeowner and decorator were a match made in haute décor heaven, Anelle took on the project at the Beckford House, a new development by Studio Sofield located on the Upper East Side.

This decorated decorator who works with many high-profile and celebrity clients, is also working on a handful of new construction projects in the Hamptons for clients in the city. Currently, her team is finishing up a loft renovation in Soho as well as another pied-á-terre on Central Park South. When dealing with well-known names, Anelle uses an alias for the client when communicating with vendors to protect their privacy and typically sign a non-disclosure agreement. Besides that, her full-service approach and personalized care applies to each and every project.

Her take on the trend right now? Well, to avoid trends and have your home custom designed to reflect your personal style and particular needs. “Designers are mixing various styles and “trends” to achieve this. That said, there are still a few big trends that we cannot escape. At the moment, these include curved furniture, boucle fabrics and a return to more traditional interiors. Some of my favorite brands include de Gournay, EJ Victor, The Bright Group, Baker Furniture, Holland & Sherry, The Rug Company, Holly Hunt, Stark Carpet, and several brands under the Kravet umbrella. We also design a lot of custom furniture. A major tip I suggest is to complete one or a few rooms rather than doing small updates across several rooms. It makes a much bigger impact to renovate or redecorate a single space entirely than spreading your efforts across several rooms.”

This boss lady who currently lives in Westchester with her husband and two young boys and maintains an office on the Upper East Side says that many women have a tendency to be people pleasers which can keep them from creating their best work. “It’s important to remember that clients hire a designer for their expertise. Making compromises on the design simply to be more accommodating can end up diluting the design of a space which doesn’t serve anybody.”