Keren Richter designed her Union Square studio as a home away from home. She and her husband, Thomas, run the interiors firm White Arrow, and their eight-year-old daughter attends school nearby. Their daughter often spends time at the studio, even creating her own business card.
The location’s rich history and design elements were major draws. Housed in a former department store from the early 1900s, the studio features antique tiles, thick window casings, and cast-iron radiators. “I love a sense of history,” Richter shares, appreciating the high ceilings and large windows.
White Arrow transformed an 11th-floor space that had been a stained-glass workshop for 30 years. “It was raw—really raw,” Richter recalls. Now, it serves as a design lab where the couple crafted their own office desks using vintage legs and custom tops.
Richter incorporated elements from their residential projects, blending vintage furniture with contemporary lighting and colors to give the space a home-like feel. Among their treasures are a pair of reupholstered 1950s Italian armchairs on a Nordic Knots rug and a mid-century modern credenza that inspired the custom bookshelves.
A bronze sconce with an oakleaf design and a contemporary fixture above their dining table exemplify Richter’s thoughtful design choices. She sees the studio as a space for innovation, stating, “Personal projects allow your firm to evolve.”
