Frequently Asked Questions

What does SMS Interiors do?

SMS Interiors is a boutique, full-service residential interior design studio based in New York City, led by founder and lead designer Sabina M. Szatko. The studio designs whole homes and individual rooms, assisting clients across a broad range of needs — from design consultations and furnishing procurement to the selection of architectural details, hardware, plumbing and lighting. We work alongside architects, builders and contractors on both renovations and new builds.

Where is SMS Interiors located, and what areas does the studio serve?

The studio is based in New York City and works by appointment. SMS Interiors takes on residential projects across the New York City metropolitan area and the wider Northeast, and accepts select projects farther afield — a current residence in Sedona, Arizona among them.

• Manhattan, Brooklyn and Queens, New York
• Pelham Manor and Westchester County, New York
• Fire Island and Long Island, New York
• East Hampton and the Hamptons, New York
• The Western Catskills, New York
• Greenwich and Fairfield County, Connecticut
• Princeton and northern New Jersey
• Sedona, Arizona, and select projects beyond the region

What does full-service interior design include?

Full-service means the studio carries a project from first plan to final styling. In practice, that falls into two bodies of work:

• Interior design — spatial planning and furniture layout; curation and specification of furnishings; material and finishes selection; design and sourcing of bespoke pieces; procurement, purchasing and coordination; styling and final installation; project management.
• Renovation and architectural — renovation and new-build collaboration; kitchen and bathroom design; architectural detailing; bespoke cabinetry and closet design; fixture and equipment selection; hardware, plumbing and lighting selection; purchasing and coordination of construction materials such as tile and stone; coordination with architects and builders; project and construction management.

What is the SMS Interiors design process?

Every project follows five stages, though no two unfold in quite the same way.

• I. The Plan — spatial planning, furniture layout, and the architectural details that shape a room.
• II. Furnishings & bespoke pieces — curating and sourcing furnishings, blending collected and vintage finds with custom pieces.
• III. Fabrics & textures — the layers that give a room its feeling.
• IV. Fixtures & finishes — lighting, hardware, plumbing and finishes drawn together with care.
• V. Realization — coordinating the trades, managing the build, and styling the finished home down to the last object.

Can SMS Interiors design a single room, or does the studio only take whole homes?

Both. The studio takes on full homes, single rooms and new builds. Our inquiry form asks which best describes your project, and whether it involves renovation or construction, so the scope can be shaped around what you actually need.

Does the studio work on renovations and new construction?

Yes. The studio works alongside architects, builders and contractors on renovations and new builds, managing architectural detailing, kitchen and bathroom design, bespoke cabinetry, and the purchasing and coordination of construction materials. Recent work includes a full renovation of a 1920s Fire Island beach house, where the floor plan was reconfigured and the kitchen and a bedroom relocated.

What size projects and budgets does SMS Interiors work with?

Projects vary widely in scope, from a single room to a whole-home renovation. Our inquiry form invites estimated budgets ranging from under $100,000 to more than $1,000,000. Because this is a boutique studio, we take on a limited number of residential projects each year — the preliminary call is where we work out whether the fit is right.

How long does an interior design project take?

Timelines depend entirely on scope. A single room moves far faster than a whole-home renovation involving construction, trades, and long lead times on custom furnishings and materials. We ask for your anticipated timeline at the inquiry stage — "start this fall, settled by spring," for instance — so the schedule can be planned around the way you intend to use the home.

How do I start a project with SMS Interiors?

Share a few details through the inquiry form and we will be in touch to arrange a preliminary call. Helpful to include: project location, project type, whether renovation or construction is involved, and an estimated budget and timeline. You can also write to hello@sms-interiors.com or call +1 908 720 2389.

Who is Sabina M. Szatko?

Sabina M. Szatko is the founder and lead designer of SMS Interiors. Born in Europe, raised on the East Coast and formally trained in New York City, she studied Interior Design at The Art Institute of New York City and worked with AD100 and ELLE Decor A-List decorator Tom Scheerer before founding her own studio. More about the studio →

How would you describe the studio’s design style?

Timeless and understated — what Sabina calls casual grandeur. In her words: "By taking into account a home’s own architecture and location, and combining past and present forms, I create a well-balanced juxtaposition that evokes casual grandeur and comfort." Rooms are layered slowly, blending collected antiques and vintage finds with bespoke pieces, and a single palette carries from space to space so a home reads as one continuous story rather than a series of decorated rooms.

Does SMS Interiors handle purchasing and procurement of furniture?

Yes — procurement, purchasing and coordination are part of the full-service offering, covering both furnishings and construction materials such as tile, stone, plumbing and equipment. The studio also designs and sources bespoke pieces when a room asks for something all its own, and handles styling and final installation.

Can I visit the studio?

The studio is in New York City and meets by appointment. Arrange a time by writing to hello@sms-interiors.com or calling +1 908 720 2389.

How can press and media contact SMS Interiors?

Email hello@sms-interiors.com for press and media inquiries. Published features are collected on the press page, and we are glad to send our most recent features on request.

Which projects can I see?

Gone Floral, a Dutch Colonial Revival in Pelham Manor, New York, is published in full; Beach Bungalow, a 1920s American Foursquare beach house on Fire Island, is shared privately. Seven further projects are complete or under construction — a Queen Anne in Greenwich, Connecticut; a Tudor in East Hampton, New York; a ranch and barn in the Western Catskills; a desert wabi-sabi residence in Sedona, Arizona; a mid-century home in Princeton, New Jersey; a Victorian in Pelham Manor; and a 1930s row house in Queens. See all work →