New York-based Studio Robert McKinley specializes in interior design for boutique hotel, restaurant and residential clients. Under the creative direction of Robert McKinley, the studio draws on a diverse range of influences to create a unique visual vocabulary for each project. Taking inspiration from Robert’s love of music, fashion and travel, the firm’s work expresses a true sense of place and a vision without boundaries.
Robert is the creative force behind some of the most buzzworthy hospitality projects in recent years, including a number of outposts of the restaurant Sant Ambroeus and Montauk’s The Surf Lodge. Other projects from the firm include Ruschmeyers, The Hall, GoldBar, and the McKinley Bungalows, a series of curated shoppable rental homes in Montauk, NY. Robert McKinley is also responsible for hospitality projects such as Hotel Joaquin in Laguna Beach, CA, and Hotel Kinsley in Kingston, NY.
Known for infusing spaces with a balanced sense of whimsy and sophistication, McKinley has an intense eye for detail that gives a thoughtful and memorable identity to each property.
Robert found his passion for craft and building a narrative through a career in visual merchandising at various fashion brands including Giorgio Armani and Donna Karan. He has also collaborated on installations with artists including Mike Mills, Tom Sachs, Santigold, and Takeshi Murata and with projects at institutions including MoCA Los Angeles.
Robert lives in New York with wife Kate Nauta.