Summer 2025
A stately white house with green shutters, columns, and a hipped roof stands in sunlight. Gravel and shrubs line the front. The image is bordered in navy blue with ELLE DECOR at the top and A-LIST at the bottom.
A bearded man in glasses and a dark suit stands with arms crossed, smiling. He leans against an ornate wooden table draped partly with a white cloth. Background is plain and textured. The image is black and white.
Elle Decor A-List

WHAT A THRILL TO BE INCLUDED IN of Elle Decor’s A-List – their annual list of impressive designers across residential interiors, architecture, and landscape – for the first time, as their 2025 “ingénue.” We are incredibly grateful to the magazine’s talented editors, who see so much good design, for selecting us, and of course, to our talented team, collaborators and the clients who work with us to build their dream houses. To see the full 2025 Elle Decor A-List grab a copy of their summer issue or click here >

[Photo by Hunter Abrams for Elle Decor]

New Hires
A man with short light brown hair and a trimmed beard, wearing a white shirt with blue and brown checks, smiles while looking over his shoulder in a softly lit room with large windows and sheer curtains.

We welcomed two new team members to the firm in April. Brad Devendorf, who was at GPSA as a project manager, has rejoined us as an Associate and part of the Leadership Team, and architect Ana Quijano is a Project Manager. [Photos by Sarah MacWright and Sarah Gumenick]

A woman with long wavy brown hair sits on a light couch, smiling. She wears a cream blazer over a white blouse with a bow tie at the neck. The background is softly lit with stone walls, and part of a pillow with a dark pattern is visible.
In Spain with the Leaders of Design Council
Narrow street flanked by buildings leads to ornate church facade with baroque details, statues, and a clock above the entrance. A spire with a cross tops the church, and balconies line the surrounding apartments. Sky is overcast.
Three adults stand outdoors, smiling at the camera. Two men in jackets flank a woman in a black dress. One man holds a wine glass. All wear name badges and lanyards. The background features greenery, a stone wall, and a gravel ground.
A detailed stone sculpture of a winged woman with raised arms adorns an ornate interior wall above arched stained glass windows. The area features classical architectural elements, gold decorative motifs, and intricate molding.
A group of people sit at a long, flower-decorated table, chatting and smiling at an indoor event. Red glasses, candles, and plates are on the table, creating a lively, warm atmosphere. Some guests wear name tags. Stone walls are visible in the background.
Ornate historic building façade with detailed stone carvings and columns above red brick, three arched doorways at ground level, round windows, two modern lampposts in front, and people walking or standing outside. The scene is sunlit with shadows on the street.
A woman with glasses and long, light brown hair talks animatedly at a table set with water jugs, glasses, and cups. She wears a lanyard and light blazer. The background shows other people, blurred, in a bright, modern space.
Sculptural building with curving, reflective metal panels, creating an abstract, wave-like form. The facade shines in warm sunlight under a clear blue sky, and glass windows are visible on the left side above a shallow pool of water.
Three people sit at a round table in a bright conference room, engaged in conversation. A man and woman smile at a third person whose back is to the camera. Water glasses, notepads, and conference lanyards are visible. Other attendees are blurred in the background.
A grand hall with a vaulted ceiling, arched windows, and large mural-covered walls. Several round tables with people dining are arranged at the center, with dramatic lighting highlighting the architecture and artwork. The scene is elegant and formal.
A man in a white shirt speaks into a microphone at a conference table, surrounded by others. Several people listen attentively; two green glass bottles and empty glasses are on the table. Background features neutral curtains and soft lighting.

In April, SBA Partner Lou Taylor and Principals Carl Carfi and Laura Welsh traveled to San Sebastián, Spain, with The Leaders of Design Council. It was a few days filled with inspiring talks, seminars and events designed facilitate connection and collaboration, all within the picturesque Basque country setting and its incredible Gothic, Baroque, and contemporary buildings. [Photos by Tomas Hercog, courtesy of the Leaders of Design Council]

A bright, elegant patio with arched windows, ceiling fans, and large lantern lights. White dining table and chairs sit on a stone floor, surrounded by lush potted plants, cozy seating, and natural sunlight filling the airy space.
A charming white house with blue shutters, arched doorways, and a dark shingled roof. A lantern hangs in the entryway arch. Lush greenery, small trees, and a gravel path frame the inviting front entrance under warm sunlight.
Addison Mizner Award

What an honor to receive a Mizner Award for “Residential – Single Family Over 10,000 SF” from the Florida chapter of the Institute of Classical Architecture & Art for our New Family Home in Hobe Sound. Designed for an empty-nester couple as a year-round family retreat, this new house is set on three-acres along South Florida’s Intracoastal Waterway and was inspired by the vernacular cottages of the Caribbean West Indies, many of which also claim kinship with historic homes in the American South, where our clients are from. More of this house can be seen in Gil’s new book, Home At Last. [Photos by Eric Piasecki]

We were also delighted to see that Kayla Rembold, who was an intern at SBA in 2023, was a winner of the Mizner’s “Emerging Classicist” award. Congratulations to Kayla!

Outdoor book signing event with people mingling and buying books. Several tables hold books, flowers, and art. Two authors are signing books for attendees. Ivy and greenery surround the lively, colorful scene. A woman in pink exchanges a book with a seated man.
A man stands at a podium onstage, giving a presentation to an audience. A colorful, illustrated image of a living room is projected behind him. The audience, mostly women, sits facing the stage in a decorated room with patterned walls and detailed ceiling.
A pink building with large arched windows is surrounded by tropical plants and palm trees under a clear blue sky. A sign on a stand is near the entrance, bordered by a short rope barrier. The brick pathway curves beside lush green landscaping.
Three adults pose outdoors on a stone path. The woman on the left wears a navy dress, holding papers and a blue clutch. The man in the center wears a gray suit and tie. The woman on the right wears a pink dress, sunglasses, and holds an orange purse.
Two men in suits sit at a table outdoors, smiling and signing books for a person. Stacks of books with colorful covers are on the table, surrounded by potted plants. Sunlight casts shadows across the scene.
Dispatches from Book Tour

Gil’s Home At Last book tour has continued into 2026 as the book continues to be a big seller for Rizzoli. In January, Gil spoke at the Tangerine Theater in Hobe Sound, Florida, followed by a talk with David Netto in Palm Beach a few days later for Palm Beach Design Days. In March, Gil spoke to a full house at the Richmond Woman’s Club; in April, he presented at the Longue Vue House & Gardens 2025 Design Symposium in New Orleans; and in May, he gave the keynote address at the Luxury Home Design Summit in Cape Cod. Upcoming events include a talk with interior designer Rita Konig at the Downeast Antiques Show in August, and a conversation with Bunny Williams in November at the annual Albermarle Garden Club Design Forum in Charlottesville, Virginia. Follow the firm on Instagram @schaferbuccellato for updates on these and other Home At Last events or see Gil’s complete tour schedule here >

[Clockwise, L to R: Signing at Longue Vue in New Orleans; Speaking at the Richmond Woman’s Club; Signing at Palm Beach Design Days; In New Orleans with Courtney Coleman (left) and Jane Scott Hodges (right); The idyllic setting of Palm Beach Design Days.]

New Media Coverage Highlights
A vase of white flowers sits on a wooden table with books, bowls, and urns. A striped bench is in front. Warm lighting, an ornate rug, art, and a lamp create a cozy room. The New York Times logo appears at the bottom right.
August 2024 House & Garden magazine cover; headline Let the sunshine in above a bright, airy living room with large windows, white curtains, white sofas, a coffee table, and woven accents. Subhead mentions Provence, Portugal, South Carolina, and English gardens.
A modern dining room with a marble table, eight dark wood chairs, a gold chandelier, and a blue gradient rug. Art and a plant decorate the room with light streaming through tall, sheer curtains. Luxe Interiors + Design is written above.
Poster for The Winter Show. It features a black-and-white ornate chair with a carved eagle head and feather details. The text highlights it as a benefit for East Side House and mentions 71 and 5,000 Years of Art, Antiques, & Design..
Sunlit farmhouse kitchen with yellow cabinets, wide-plank wood floors, a wooden table set for breakfast, and two wooden chairs. Door and window let in natural light, highlighting the rustic, cozy, and inviting atmosphere. Warm tones dominate the space.
A cozy cottage, garden entryway, sunlit living room, wildflowers on a dresser, woman in plaid skirt and boots, and two sheep grazing in a fenced field. The scene evokes peaceful, rustic country living with warm, comforting interior touches and scenic landscapes.

The firm is grateful to have been covered in several different press features over the last few months. In January, Gil and his wife, interior designer Courtnay Daniels, welcomed The New York Times into their Upper East Side apartment to talk about some of their favorite design finds. The Seattle Times also ran the story. Also in January, The Winter Show – a longtime favorite antiques show of the firm – interviewed Gil about collecting, design, and the apartment he and Courtnay share, for their catalog. In other recent media coverage, Luxe included Gil’s newest book, Home At Last, in their roundup of best books from 2024; UK House & Garden ran an excerpt of the Vermont home from the book; and Country Living included rooms from two of our projects – the renovation of the historic William C. Gatewood Carriage House and the mudroom from a new house in Southampton – in their February issue.

To read these stories and see additional media highlights, please visit our Press and Online Media Pages >

A landscaped garden with a dining table under trees, string lights above, and a pool leading to a small cottage. Lush greenery and flowers surround the area. The ASLA New York logo is at the top left.
ASLA Hamptons Garden Award

Congratulations to landscape designer Ed Hollander and Hollander Design, who won a Merit Award from the American Society of Landscape Architects for the garden they designed for the new Southampton house we collaborated on, along with interior designer Rita Konig. To learn more of the award please click here > [Photo by Neil Landino for Hollander Design]

Palladio Award

We are honored to receive a Palladio Award for our restoration and renovation of The American Boathouse. This was a special project for our firm, done in collaboration with landscape architect Stephen Mohr and builder Jay Fischer, as well as with our incredible clients, who wanted to preserve the character and history of the building, which was originally constructed in 1905 and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, while reinventing the interior spaces to give it life for future generations. [Photo by Eric Piasecki]

Gray decorative architectural leaf detail, large maroon text reads 2025 Traditional Building Palladio Award Winner on a soft white background with spiral column detail, suggesting an honor for excellence in traditional building design.
Spacious, warmly lit living room with exposed wooden beams, cozy seating, and a large striped rug. Glass partition reveals a bedroom with a similar wooden ceiling, lamps, plants, and inviting decor. Tables hold books, teapots, and flowers.