At the corner of Madison Avenue and 42nd Street in Manhattan sits the headquarters of Stollar Fearins Welch, an interior design and architecture firm with decidedly Southern roots. Founded by Rachael Stollar, Erin Fearins and Ward Welch—three Southerners turned New Yorkers—the hallmark of the studio is a sense of lived-in luxury. For more than two decades, their team has renovated homes across the East Coast, each project with warmth, personality, and style. Their office reflects this ethos in spades, with a curated (and ever-evolving) art collection, hand-painted wallcoverings, and glimpses of the layered, personal interiors clients can expect within their own homes. Below, the team shares more about the space:

What do you love most about the area? 
Most of the team walks through Grand Central on their daily commute; it’s an inspiring place to inhabit and really sets the tone. Besides the connection to Grand Central, we are close to Bryant Park and the Library and conveniently located near most subways for access to all of our NYC clients and project sites.

In a few words, how do you describe your style? 
Stollar Fearins Welch’s goal is to create considered spaces that are balanced, sophisticated, and unpretentious. The strategy for each room begins with the question, “What does this space need to support?” SFW prides itself on attending to every detail to find visually pleasing solutions, resulting in harmonious and comfortable environments for clients. Our 360-degree approach to design can provide a fully curated lifestyle. From art acquisition and collectible design to library and vinyl curation, Stollar Fearins Welch offers boutique services that integrate into a singular, cohesive program.  

What was your scope of work to make the space we see today? 
We gutted the existing office fit out and designed a new layout that allowed for creative collaborative space as well as private meeting spaces that make the new floor plan feel roomy and almost residential.  It was important to develop the space to support all of our specific needs: ample storage for samples in our materials library, multiple conference rooms for in-person meetings and outfitted with all the tech needed for calls with clients in other parts of the world, as well as comfortable amenities like a full bathroom and a spacious kitchen for gathering and impromptu happy hours. Equally important was to make the space feel elegant and timeless. By leaning into detailing that we often incorporate on residential projects, we were able to create a workspace that feels much more personal and sophisticated than a conventional mid-town office.

What condition was the office in when you first moved in, and how long was the process to make it move-in ready?
The space was pretty sad with wall-to-wall blue carpet and laminate cabinets arranged in a typical cubical office fit out from the early ‘90s. The bright spots: windows on all four sides of the office were a selling point as was the original terrazzo flooring we discovered under the carpet. These existing features gave us a glimmer of what the space could be and allowed us to lean into a more elegant design.  We began renovations in January of 2025 and moved in later that summer. 

Can you take us on a tour? We’d love to know your favorite details.
Stepping off the elevator into our private elevator lobby, guests are welcomed into the office foyer with hand-painted wallcovering from Fromental which sets the tone for the studio’s warm, residential spirit. Just beyond, the salon showcases SFW’s rotating collections, offering a glimpse into our approach to creating intimate, inviting spaces – and a preview of the layered environments we design for our clients.

Adjacent to the salon is a conference room that serves as a creative hub for collaboration and idea sharing. To the left of the entrance foyer, a pass-through leads to the kitchen, where a striking bar area features a soft pink marble from ABC Stone and custom millwork with an applied hand-gouged texture.

Further reinforcing the residential feel, the studio includes a fully appointed bathroom featuring a vibrant wallpaper by Mind the Gap ⁠and available to clients during their visits, complete with a shower for team members preparing for an evening event or freshening up after a workout.

Beyond the bathroom, the kitchen – the heart of every home – anchors the office as well. Guided by Feng Shui principles in the overall layout, this area represents knowledge and self-cultivation, which is why the partners’ diplomas are thoughtfully displayed here. The IKEA kitchen is designed as a true residential space, elevated with Belvedere quartzite from ABC Stone and a thoughtfully placed painting from Alec Egan.

Through a hidden side door from the kitchen is a second conference room. In Feng Shui, this zone represents family — a fitting setting for our weekly team meetings. A beautiful antique oak display cabinet enhances the room’s residential character, showcasing collected objects that reflect the kinds of personal pieces one might curate at home.

Throughout the office, every detail was chosen to feel personal and layered. We wanted visiting clients not only to feel at home, but also to encounter materials, furnishings, and moments they might not typically gravitate toward — and to see how thoughtfully they can come together in a space that feels both deeply inspiring and lived-in.

What do you love most about the work you do? 
We love the opportunity to impact our clients’ lives by creating spaces that support, inspire, and energize them.  We’ve been told by clients that they feel they are better parents, or partners, or people because of the changes made in their surroundings that affect how they interact with the world. This is the best compliment we could receive from a client and is really meaningful to us.

What is a “typical day” like in the office? 
The office is pretty busy on any given day with pin-up meetings, client presentations, and frequent vendor visits. We’re so glad to have a space to really welcome guests and are happy to host friends, colleagues, and artisans we often work with, so it’s a bustling place.  Visitors are also sure to be greeted by one of the 5 sweet dogs that often make their day job “office best friend” here at SFW.