Houston has quietly become one of the most exciting cities in the country for high-end residential interior design. With a booming luxury real estate market and a deep well of cultural influences, the city is home to designers whose work regularly graces the pages of national shelter magazines. Whether you're building a new home in River Oaks, renovating a historic estate in West University, or furnishing a modern home in the Galleria area, Houston offers exceptional interior design talent.
Here's a look at the top luxury interior designers working in Houston today.
1. Paloma Contreras — Paloma Contreras Design
Specialty: High-End Residential Interior Design | Renovations | New Construction
Website: palomacontreras.com
Paloma Contreras has established herself as one of the most recognized interior designers in the country. Her work blends traditional elegance with modern sensibility — classic silhouettes, timeless materials, and a sophisticated use of color that feels both fresh and enduring.
Contreras has been repeatedly named to the ELLE Decor A-List, recognized as a "Next Wave" designer by House Beautiful, and named to the Luxe Interiors + Design Gold List. Her work has been featured in Architectural Digest, Vogue, The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, Veranda, and numerous other publications.
She has designed rooms for the prestigious Kips Bay Decorator Show House three times — New York (2019), Palm Beach (2022), and Dallas (2025). Contreras is also the author of two books published by Abrams: Dream Design Live and The New Classic Home. She designs product collections for Visual Comfort & Co. and Schumacher, and her curated retail store, Paloma & Co., is located in Houston's River Oaks neighborhood.
Her firm takes on projects nationwide, with current work in Houston, Palm Beach, Chicago, New York, and beyond.
2. Marie Flanigan — Marie Flanigan Interiors
Specialty: Luxury Residential Design | Custom Homes
Website: marieflaniganinteriors.com
Marie Flanigan has built a reputation for creating warm, inviting interiors grounded in timeless sophistication. Her firm specializes in high-end residential projects with comprehensive services from initial concept through final installation. Flanigan's work is known for its layered textures and organic elegance, and has been featured in Architectural Digest, House Beautiful, and Veranda.
3. Nina Magon — Nina Magon Studio
Specialty: Modern Luxury | Residential & Commercial
Website: ninamagon.com
Nina Magon brings a bold, fashion-forward aesthetic to Houston's design landscape. Known for her daring use of color, sculptural furnishings, and high-contrast material palettes, Magon creates spaces that feel like editorial statements. Her studio handles both residential and commercial projects and her work has earned international recognition for clients seeking dramatic visual impact.
4. Laura Umansky — Laura U Design Collective
Specialty: Residential Design | Vacation Homes
Website: laurau.com
Laura Umansky's firm is recognized for its "Classically Current" philosophy — interiors that balance timeless design principles with contemporary energy. With offices in Houston and Aspen, the firm works on residential projects ranging from urban homes to mountain retreats. Umansky has received more than 20 awards from the American Society of Interior Designers and was included on Luxe Magazine's National Gold List.
5. William W. Stubbs — Bill Stubbs Interiors
Specialty: Traditional & Transitional Residential Design
Website: wwstubbs.com
William Stubbs is a veteran of the Houston design world with decades of experience and international acclaim. Named to the Architectural Digest AD 100 list, Stubbs is known for blending traditional design with a modern sensibility. He previously hosted the Emmy-nominated PBS show Moment of Luxury and remains a fixture of Houston's luxury design community.
How to Choose the Right Interior Designer in Houston
Selecting a designer is a personal decision. A few key considerations: look for portfolio alignment with your aesthetic, confirm the scope of services matches your project needs, and pay attention to industry credentials like the ELLE Decor A-List, AD 100, or Luxe Gold List as indicators of peer-recognized excellence. The best designer-client relationships start with shared taste, clear communication, and mutual trust.
Houston's interior design community rivals any major city in the country. The designers listed here represent the best of what the city has to offer — professionals whose work consistently earns national recognition and whose clients return to them project after project.