Stark & Howard
Photo Credit: Julia D’Agostino
NAME:
Amy Howard & Lauren Stark
CATEGORY:
Interior Design + Architecture
WEBSITE:
INSTAGRAM:
EMAIL:
amy@ajhowarddesign.com |
lauren@laurenstarkdesign.com
BASED IN:
Weston, CT + Montclair, NJ
About
Stark and Howard is a full-service architecture and interior design firm taking on work throughout the NY Metropolitan area, based in the unique and complementary design centers of Weston, CT and Montclair, NJ. Our ideal projects span architecture, interiors, and furniture - an immense value add in terms of logistics and efficiency.
While at Parsons School of Design for their Masters of Architecture, Lauren Stark and Amy Howard formed an immediate friendship. They took on every partner project that their studies allowed, and, ever since, the two have enjoyed many late night laughs in between frenzied sketches and flying fabric samples. Amy’s formal architecture training and passion for details is balanced by Lauren’s whimsical use of layers and thorough knowledge of materials.
Amy is a registered Architect in the states of New York & New Jersey and a member of the American Institute of Architects.
Lauren is an LEED accredited professional.
“While our specialty might be interior renovations, we can design your home from the ground up and help you decorate it as well.”
-
Architecture
Interior Design: Design/Decor
Interior Design: Design/Build
Kitchen and Bath design
Renovation
-
Fairfield County
Litchfield County
Westchester County
New York City
Northern New Jersey
-
Modern Farmhouse
Scandinavian
California Chic
Coastal
Boho / Eclectic
Mid-Century
Playful
Country Home
Traditional
To discover your unique style, visit our DP Style Guide.
Pfeffer House // Photo Credit: Julia D’Agostino
Montclair Home // Photo Credit: Julia D’Agostino
Tuxedo Provincial // Photo Credit: Julia D’Agostino
Upper West Side Dining // Photo Credit: Julia D’Agostino
Q&A
Your love of bold color and pattern shines through in all of your projects. How would you describe your design style?
We strive for vibrant, layered design that artfully combines contemporary & traditional architecture & interiors through classic details, bespoke designs, and found pieces. Our interior style feels collected over time with unexpected elements, while balanced with clean lines and a keen attention to detail. We both believe in carefully referencing the past while mixing in modern elements to create a home that is both familiar and fresh. Nothing excites us more than knowing these tailored spaces go on to become the background of a family’s memories!
Which projects excite you most and are you hoping to do more of?
Those seeking immediate transformations are generally not our best match: our ideal clients appreciate the time that goes into intimately learning about their lifestyle and preferences in order to create a layered, highly detailed look. We love the specificity of designing a home, and our approach carries through each phase, from conceptual design to construction administration through furnishing. Our most successful projects include a minimum of one fully renovated room, where we can get our hands on the architectural finishes as well as the decorating.
Anything else you want potential clients to know about you?
We consider our partnership to be our strongest attribute - our clients benefit from a true joint effort that pulls the best from our backgrounds, equal parts intuitive and academic. Clients that want to push the boundaries a bit can appreciate the constant check & balance, unique to strong collaborations, that affords us the ability to take chances without going overboard!
See how creative couple Kate and Russ Pfeffer, with the help of Interior Designers Lauren Stark and Amy Howard, turned bad luck into a beautiful, bright home for their family.