Calder Design Group

Sofa is upholstered in white plush indoor/outdoor fabric. No need to worry - it can be bleach cleaned! Outfitted with a custom designed hydraulic system, the TV can be summoned front & center when needed or otherwise concealed in the cabinet so it doesn’t obstruct the view when not in use. Custom hydraulic TV unit designed by CDG, fabricated by Russo Custom Furniture (Vinny).

Bar counter is made from acrylic material patterned to emulate a chunk of ice. Custom bar designed by CDG and fabricated by Russo Custom Furniture.

CALDERDESIGNGROUP.COM 212.861.9055 @CALDERDESIGNGROUP

Manhattan based interior design firm, the Calder Design Group, has a cosmopolitan flair that extends far beyond New York state lines into some of the most innovative homes in the country. With strong roots in NYC, and ranked in New York magazine’s Top 50 New York designers six years in a row, we asked CEO Melanie Calder Russo what prompted her creative eye to shift to Long Island’s south shore?

“I was born on Long Island and moved back here with my family in 2014. I want to bring my firm’s style and flair to the south shore – my home town,” remarked Melanie. “I have seen a huge shift in the design perspective here - much more of a metropolitan vibe. I see a progression in style in the businesses and homes being built and renovated. I see it in the new construction retail shops on Main Street in Babylon, as well as the new apartment complex being built on Maple Avenue in Bay Shore. I would love to be able to bring a little NYC edge and vivacity to my home base. My husband, Vinny (Vinny Russo of Russo Custom Furniture & Russo Industries) and I also have a furniture manufacturing business together. We specialize in creating custom furniture and unique pieces. In 2016 we moved that business to Deer Park. We have 2 young children and it honestly made sense to expand our work closer to home.” Born into a world of design, Melanie was destined to carry on her father’s legacy. Nicholas A. Calder, Melanie’s father, first established Calder Design in 1971. Her parents worked together; her father as the designer and her mother managing the books and back office. “Raised in NYC, I was constantly going to work with my mom, and to job sites with my dad at an early age – as young as 6. As I grew up, I knew I loved the creative world and beautiful things. While I attended NYU for undergrad, I worked in fashion doing private trunk shows and sales. During college, I pursued a degree in journalism with a focus on fashion. After graduating in 2002, I did some major soul searching and realized that my passion for creating beautiful things translated perfectly to interior design. In 2003, I joined my father in his business. I’ll never forget my first day - he handed me a plan and a scale rule and told me to get to work. I loved it immediately. Fabricating a job, selecting the fabrics, wallcoverings and furniture - seeing it come to life – it was everything I was looking for in my career. I took the reins of the business and rebranded it Calder Design Group. My father and I still work together and I owe everything to him.” Recognized for her hip design style, “clean and classic with a twist,” Melanie shared her thoughts and perspective on current design trends… “I still think that farmhouse modern is a popular trend, but I feel people are ready to shake that up a bit with a bold color or vibrant pattern or print, which is what I really love to do. Something unexpected. Yin and yang. A little accent goes a long way. I am also seeing clients taking more risks – allowing us to add interesting accents and pieces, such as an organic wood sculpture or an artsy stool. That said, we always like to get direction from the client. It’s so important to know not only what they like, but what they don’t like. Most of our clients are asking for clean and timeless style, but with less fuss. We use a ton of performance and indoor/outdoor fabrics in our interiors. Being able to blot up red wine off a white sofa is such a game changer.” CDG offers a full range of services, from working with architects on ground-up construction, to selecting and designing all details, such as windows, doors, moldings, ceilings, cabinetry, baths, vanities and all interior/exterior items needed for a home. “We work closely with our clients to create their dream space. We provide detailed drawings and elevations, design custom cabinetry, furniture and built-ins. We give a complete design concept on all of our projects. Be it a new residence construction, full remodel, or single room redo, no job is too big or too small,” Melanie stated. “At times, my husband and I get to work together, which is really great. Vinny has worked as the general contractor on many of our projects. He and I have collaborated on making countless pieces of custom furniture, built-ins, bars, kitchens and vanities for many of CDG’s projects. I love styling a project – shopping and sourcing furniture, pulling fabrics, wallcoverings, materials – seeing it come to life. The absolute best day is when we complete a project and the client walks in and we see the excitement in their eyes. Helping them to create something not only beautiful, but something they could never have imagined is the best reward. We are currently working on a ground-up residential project in Babylon. It is truly stunning and I cannot wait to see it complete. But, designing aside, my family is what I am most passionate about. I love to cook - Vinny and I actually had a café in Brooklyn in our past life! I am also an exercise enthusiast. I love living on the south shore … the warm weather, sitting poolside, and especially the sandy beaches.”