NEW american VOICES

All across the country, today's emerging design stars are remixing traditions to reimagine the way we live. AD introdúces eight fresh names to know....

Jae Joo

NEW YORK CITY

When Joo opened her firm in 2017, she did so with an unusual line on her résumé: opera conservatory. And yet she sees harmonies between the disciplines of music and design. Both, she explains, involve "mixing old and new, lots of teamwork, and collaborating with experts in their fields." Her eclectic interiors, often historic renovations, eschew anything "too precious, pretty, or predictable" in favor of understatement and comfort. "I think about what mood I want," she muses. With forthcoming projects in the Hudson Valley, Connecticut, and Manhattan, including her own Tribeca home (pictured), Joo continues to creatively sing. jaejoodesigns.com -MADELEINE LUCKEL

Light and Dwell

PORTLAND, OREGON

Light and Dwell may be based in Oregon, but the studio's reach extends across the country. Cofounded in 2016 by Molly Kidd (standing) and Aymee Kuhlman, the firm has cultivated an all-female team stationed in Washington, California, Arizona, Ohio, and beyond.

Today, they are tackling projects coast to coast. (Shown is an Oregon house.) Although their approach is deeply rooted in the natural splendor of the Pacific Northwest, it remains elastic enough to embrace a broad array of architectural styles and building typologies. "Organic materials and finishes are the soul of what we do," Kidd insists. Adds Kuhlman, "The end result is always warm and inviting-something that feels genuinely fresh." lightanddwell.com -MAYER RUS

Studio 417

MEMPHIS