We are excited to share the story and work of our fellow Collaber, Allegra Muzzillo, Principal and founder of ACM Interiors, based in Brooklyn New York. Allegra specializes in creating eclectic, multilayered spaces that ooze color and texture—and she’s known for her unique ability to source and blend fun antique and vintage home furnishings with those of known brands and independent artisans. We talked with Allegra about her approach to designing.

by Gianna Marzella
August 12, 2021

Allegra was excited to share her recently renovated Brooklyn brownstone that was featured on Rue Magazine. To learn more about this landmark project, click here. We chatted a little bit with her about it.

Tell us about your exciting landmark project in Bed-Sty Brooklyn?

I took this c.1870 wood frame home—in the landmarked neighborhood of Bed Stuy, Brooklyn—down to the studs to correct structural issues and a glut of shoddy workmanship. Despite the home’s rich provenance, previous owners covered up most of its original details, which is an all-too-common problem seen in Brooklyn’s brownstone and townhome market.

The first floor features a calming palette of celadon green and custom oak flooring laid in a herringbone pattern. Three of the home’s stairways were also completely reconstructed in white oak. Its clean, white kitchen features honed marble countertops, custom cabinetry and a waterfall island that seats 3. An antique mirrored backsplash complements the brass fixtures seen throughout the floor. I excavated the home’s huge, original brick hearth (previously hidden) from layers of sheetrock to create a handy workspace/beverage center. A team of architects and engineers enabled us to open the entire back wall and install a triple-stack sliding door system.

The formal living area features a bespoke wood mantel and marble surround, along with custom built-in shelving and cabinetry throughout. Upstairs, I restored 2 marble fireplaces and added crown molding, ceiling medallions, wall trim and baseboards that accurately reflect the home’s grand history. Additionally, all doors sit flush with walls, making them virtually invisible when closed.

Read on for more Q & A with Allegra.

When did you know you wanted to become an interior designer? What inspired you to become an interior designer?

I didn't start out as a designer, but I’ve always wanted to do this. Although I didn’t exactly follow a straight line to get here, I’ve always immersed myself in the home design world via a long career writing and editing home + design pieces for top print and online publications for 20+ years here in NYC. Eventually, I chose a freelance career so that I could branch out and follow the beat of my own drum, shall we say. And while journalism was exposing me to the latest, greatest pieces hitting the home market, I also already had deep knowledge of the secondary market (and going to Brimfield, lol), which I learned from my mother, an artist and former antiques dealer in CT.

While freelancing, I opened my own business running a vintage home furnishings online shop which turned into a brick-and-mortar store in Greenpoint, Brooklyn. (I guess my entrepreneurial blood runs deep. Ha.) While running the store, I then segued into offering design services to clients, which I saw as a really organic shift. I'm a creative person who enjoys seeing ideas come to life and learning about my clients, their cherished pieces, and the ways they live.

Who is your design icon?

Oh gawd. So many! Jeffrey Bilhuber for his impeccable really American-flavored taste and sense of scale. Marian McEvoy for her maximalism, attention to detail, and affinity for using nature in nearly all of her designs. I’m sure Miles Redd’s on everyone’s list, but he’s just one of those impossibly classy risk-takers—and his use of color (both subtle and unsubtle) is the holy grail for me. Everything he touches turns to design gold. His rooms really transport me, and every time I have another look at one of his projects, I find another new thing I love about it. And then there’s obviously, Nick Olsen, who is funny, irreverent, and rides that line between accessibility and luxury really, really well. (Not surprising, perhaps because he worked for Miles for a time.) I could really go on and on.

What do you become most focused on when designing?

I really work on making clients happy and satisfied so I really try to provide a high level of assistance to each of my clients. And then, I’d say I become fascinated with the details—the knobs, the pulls, the edges, and all the little things that make a room look finished and well-considered. I really dive into color and pattern, as well, and I’m guilty of falling down a few rabbit holes when it comes to selecting the perfect fabric and pattern in the perfect colorway. Smaller things like the tile that graces your huge kitchen backsplash, the wall paint that takes you someplace else when you’re processing it, tactile upholstery that you’ll be sitting with for a long time, and metallic and wood finishes—even though they’re quite small standalone elements—are the things that make a space inspiring and transportive. And then, there’s choosing flowers and prop styling in preparation for shoot day...that’s a biggie for me, too.

Tell us something people don’t know about you that surprises them.

I’m a scuba diver, I dream of taking up sport fishing, and I’m an avid NY Times Crossword puzzler. (The third thing is by no means bragging—I guess it’s surprising because I’m not yet older than I’d like to admit. And my husband makes fun of me for being obsessed.)

How do you stay inspired?

I’m always doing research and reading not just about other designers' projects (too much of that can be a killer), but I check out newspapers’ real estate sections and read articles I find on local sites, blogs, or via people I follow/discover on Insta. I follow some trade publications, too. I try not to dwell so much on other peoples’ work unless it’s really grand or different. Nature, though, is really what inspires me the most. It informs all of my decisions—color, form, function—all of it starts with nature. I’m always taking pictures of flowers, insects, and fauna wherever I go.

Can you tell us more about your Hudson Yards Project?

Located in the Hudson Yards area of Manhattan in New York City, this 500 sq ft one bedroom apartment was the client’s first NYC apartment after having just graduated from college and scoring a job in the financial sector; he wanted a young, modern, sophisticated space worthy of his ivy-league degree. Each room is appointed with sleek, mid-century modern-inspired pieces utilizing vertical and lower-level storage solutions, as well as fabrics of varying textures (think: weathered leather, tufted velvet, linen) and bold statement lighting. Likewise, we opted for a largely neutral palette with requisite depth coming from saturated deep-blues and browns. The result? Chic, bachelor-appropriate digs that feel right at home on NYC’s West Side.

Can you share an experience about a minor mishap that has come up in a project and how you handled that situation?

Welp. A custom loveseat wouldn't fit through the door. Called Dr. Sofa and he came in one hour to cut off and then reattach the legs. (Gotta love NYC! ) In design, my outlook has to be that everything that goes wrong is a "minor mishap,” unless it derails an entire project and you can’t recover from it. Look, things break. And those things can (usually) be replaced. Things get dirty; things can be cleaned. Things get delayed. Things never arrive. That’s just the nature of the beast. Coming from the publishing industry wherein every misstep was treated like a major catastrophe helps me maintain a positive perspective about problems that arise. Most, if not all, problems and mistakes can be rectified, fixed, and solved—some are just more expensive than others. My mantra is, “Chin up: No one's life hangs in the balance.”

What do you love the most about being an IC member?

The camaraderie! I love that it's a safe space for me to be inquisitive, to share my journey, and to help others by giving advice whenever I can.

What is the best piece of advice you’ve gotten from fellow Collaber?

By far the most valuable resource from being an Interior Collab member is receiving honest, direct, and "been there, done that" feedback—especially advice on tradespeople my fellow designers know and trust. I love the candid nature of our chats, too. While I can't point to a specific piece of advice, it's just the general positive atmosphere during the meetings and on the boards that helps me along when I'm looking for answers—or even just an “amen, sister.”

ACM Interiors offers a variety of interior design services, ranging from full renovations to smaller room revamps, Airbnb property revivals, paint color consultations, fabric selection, and more. To connect with Allegra, click below.

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