Designing With Intention: Notes From a Recent Visit to New York City

On a recent visit to New York City, we took time to step away from screens and schedules and return to what inspires our work most, spaces designed with intention.

Rather than rushing from place to place, we approached the city as a study. Observing materials, proportions, and the quiet decisions that make a space feel grounded rather than overworked. New York has an unmatched ability to layer history, craftsmanship, and modern restraint, and it consistently sharpens our perspective as designers.

Collected, Not Curated

Across the showrooms and design spaces we visited, there was a clear shift away from perfection and toward collection. Rooms felt assembled over time, not styled for the moment.

This approach allows materials to speak for themselves, celebrating patina, texture, and subtle variation. It’s a reminder that thoughtful design doesn’t rely on excess, but on intention.

Material as the Foundation

One of the strongest takeaways from this trip was the emphasis on material integrity. Wood, stone, metal, and natural textiles were used with purpose, anchoring spaces rather than decorating them.

These materials create a sense of permanence and calm. They age well, evolve beautifully, and form the backbone of spaces that feel both elevated and enduring.

The Space Between

Some of the most impactful moments came not from interiors alone, but from the walk between them, observing how architecture interacts with light, how greenery softens density, and how restraint can exist even in a city defined by movement.

Those in-between moments often influence our work as much as the spaces themselves. They remind us that design is not only about what is added, but what is intentionally left open.

Carrying It Forward

This recent visit to New York City didn’t introduce a new direction, it reaffirmed our existing one.

At Cedar & Stone, we design spaces that feel collected, thoughtful, and rooted in material honesty. Homes should feel lived in from the beginning, not staged for a moment in time.

The inspiration gathered on this trip will quietly inform our work moving forward, shaping spaces designed with longevity, balance, and intention.