Tara McCauley

Editors’ Take This Nick Olsen alumna has a knack for maxing out the chicness of maximalism—her interiors pull in references from design history, energizing color, and furnishings that help share the homeowners’ personal stories. About Manhattan-based interior designer Tara McCauley is always on the lookout for the perfect vintage find. A lifelong lover of color and pattern, she met her ideal (but by no means vintage!) match in accomplished designer Nick Olsen, under whom she apprenticed for eight years. Drawing from an eclectic array of influences from art history, fashion, and travel, McCauley has always had a specific point of view. Her work is romantic, layered, and often inflected with a dash of humor. With history as an anchor, she finds beauty in the juxtaposition of periods and unexpected materials. In 2022, McCauley designed the primary bedroom at the Brooklyn Heights Designer Showhouse and in 2023, was included on House Beautiful Magazine’s “Next Wave” list. Her work has been featured in New York Magazine’s “Great Rooms” as well as NBC’s “Open House TV.” McCauley’s studio provides a full spectrum of services, from comprehensive turnkey interior design and ongoing project management to single-session design consultations and sourcing of unique furnishings or artwork. In addition to residential interiors, the studio offers commercial design expertise. Past projects include gallery exhibitions, law offices, set design for film, and table design for formal events. McCauley has experience working with clients in New York, Westchester, the Hamptons, and Los Angeles. She earned a BA at New York University’s Gallatin School of Individualized Study, where she pursued an interdisciplinary concentration in art history and architecture, and completed a studio-based architecture intensive at Parsons’ School of Constructed Environments.