Meet The Designer

Melanie Calder Russo | Principle / Owner

Melanie Calder Russo is the principal/owner of Calder Design Group. She is the second-generation leader of what remains a family business.

Calder Design Group was founded in 1971 by renowned interior designer Nicholas Calder. By the age of 6, Melanie was already accompanying her father, absorbing his design expertise as he worked on multimillion-dollar homes.

Her appreciation of exquisite interiors, global influences and fearless design choices—combined with her aspirations to follow in her father’s footsteps as a creative professional—led her to study at NYU. At first, she pursued fashion journalism, while working in high-end clothing retail. Her passion for style, though, increasingly drew her back toward interiors, and after earning her degree, Melanie officially joined the firm in 2001 initially as an assistant and quickly moved up in the firm.

The father/daughter duo quickly became a design powerhouse, together securing coverage in numerous publications, speaking on panels, and participating in charity design events such as Holiday House, Kips Bay Boys & Girls Club, and Hope Lodge.
As the business grew, so did Melanie’s design expertise and unique aesthetic. It was not long before her talent was recognized and she was handed the reins, making her principal of Calder Design Group.

Today, Calder Design Group’s work includes high-end residential and commercial spaces in New York City, New Jersey, Vail, Palm Beach, The Hamptons, and other coastal communities.The firm has consistently ranked among the Top 50 Designers in New York by New York Spaces and has been featured in Forbes for its design expertise. Melanie has been showcased on high-profile television programs like Open House, where her exceptional interior design skills and her talent for transforming spaces are showcased.

Calder Design Group is known for pushing the envelope, yet also deeply listening to clients, collaborating to create liveable, chic spaces that can be enjoyed for years to come. In fact, for some families, Calder Design Group has designed homes for multiple generations.

But no matter what the location, clients are wowed by the firm’s elegant but unexpected designs—and the results speak for themselves.