In the high-end echelons of her trade (she’s on Architectural Digest’s list of top 100 architects and designers), 18-year design vet Katherine Newman is a formidable figure. Wilful and precise, she will not refer to specific clients or disclose her fee structure, nor will she give prices for her sought-after restrained Lona furniture line; for $100, designers can order the catalogue (the fee is redeemable when a purchase is made). Otherwise, her catalogue is only available through Primavera (an interior design company). She will, however, offer some insight into her design philosophy, which she describes as “a hybrid of pared-down silhouettes and historical references.” She explains: “we believe in old-world assembly, and in utility, in tandem with beautifully patinated woods and finishes.”