www.privateairny.com Private Air | Winter 2025/2026
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DESIGN
Today, as principal of the firm, Russo leads with
clarity, curiosity, and emotional intelligence—
traits that have earned her the loyalty of
multigenerational clients and an ever-expanding
portfolio that includes residences at 220 Central
Park South, e Baccarat Residences, and
Glen Harbor. She's also designing a moody,
subterranean Mediterranean-French restaurant
in Manhattan, where architectural millwork and
lighting do as much storytelling as the food.
Beyond interiors, Russo co-owns Russo Custom
Furniture with her husband Vinny, where
the workshop serves as both incubator and
executional partner for her ideas. "Custom work
isn't a luxury in our process—it's essential," she
says. Her dual fluency in design and real estate
development has made her a sought-after expert,
both on screen and behind the scenes, known
for meeting budgets and deadlines without
compromising design integrity.
Clients often describe her work as "unexpected
but grounded," "cool without being cold," and
"classic with a pulse." What unites it all is a sixth
sense for how people move, gather, and live—
wrapped in visual storytelling that feels effortless.
"Every project starts with listening," she says.
"Once I understand how someone wants to feel in
their home, the design becomes almost inevitable."
Under her leadership, Calder Design Group
continues to evolve while honoring its legacy.
Russo's vision isn't just about beauty—it's about
bravery: trusting intuition, embracing the tactile,
and creating interiors that move beyond style
to become spaces of emotion, memory, and
possibility.
www.calderdesigngroup.com