Designer Friday: An Aspire Exclusive Interview With Rozit Arditi

Having started her career in furniture design, there’s nothing Rozit Arditi appreciates more about a space than perfecting its spatial awareness. As she naturally transitioned into interior design and founded Arditi Design, Arditi has crafted unique, quirky, and comfortable spaces for countless clients in the Metropolitan area. She focuses on the clients’ lifestyle, memories and personality to construct a tailored home that fits their desires and requirements. Arditi’s works have been featured in many major publications such as Domino, Elle Decor and now aspire design and home. Introducing this week’s Designer Friday, Rozit Arditi.

This pre-war townhouse got a chance to shine after Arditi Design took over. It’s both serene and cozy while honoring the client’s passion for fashion and travel.

This pre-war townhouse got a chance to shine after Arditi Design took over. It’s both serene and cozy while honoring the client’s passion for fashion and travel.

Andrew Joseph: Describe your design style as if you were explaining it to someone who cannot see.
Rozit Arditi: I would describe a room designed by me as a lighthearted yet curated space with a blend of styles, infused with pops of colors and textures to create a place where life happens. A room that is stylish without being pretentious. My motivation is to create homes where people feel they belong; rooms that reflect them, their needs, priorities and lifestyles.

Andrew: If you had a superpower, what would it be?
Rozit: I would love to have the superpower to be in multiple places at once. In terms of work, when we juggle multiple projects at the same time, it would be great to be at the office catching up on email but also be on site overseeing the installs. For my personal life, I would love to be up in the mountains skiing for a week but also enjoying a beach vacation at the same time.

Andrew: If you could live in any home in a movie or television series, what would it be?
Rozit: Without a question it would be Mad Men. Although I can’t decide between Roger Sterling’s office, Don and Meghan’s apartment, or Joan’s living room. I love the styling of the show, the sets, the costumes and how every decade was so perfectly depicted in that show.

Andrew: What’s a guilty pleasure you have?
Rozit: Hmm, I love dipping salt and vinegar chips in yogurt.

Andrew: If you weren’t a designer, you’d be a ….?
Rozit: I would probably be a mathematician. I love geometry and love solving puzzles.

Even today in my work I am drawn to geometric patterns and finding ways to create spaces that are balanced or based on a grid. I also do a lot of the back-end math work in the business, budgeting, bookkeeping, accounts, invoices, etc. While I love designing, I also truly find peace and calm in crunching numbers.

This master bedroom was renovated in a building formerly known as the Hotel Endicott. This apartment was modernized while maintaining the integrity of the building’s classic design.

This master bedroom was renovated in a building formerly known as the Hotel Endicott. This apartment was modernized while maintaining the integrity of the building’s classic design.

Andrew: What’s your favorite cocktail?
Rozit: Oh that’s a tough one, I love cocktails and it depends on my mood and the season, but I really love a good old-fashioned in a moody New York bar, or a spicy margarita with salt or a pisco sour in the summer.

Andrew: What are your ideal weekend plans?
Rozit: Equal parts socializing, sleeping, and biking. Is that even possible?

Andrew: What’s one thing people don’t know about you?
Rozit: An interesting fact about me that people don’t know is that I am originally from Turkey. I grew up in Istanbul and having lived there half my life, my design aesthetic, and my ability to combine colors and textures, are unconsciously affected by the mix of different cultures in Turkey.

Andrew: What’s your design pet peeve?
Rozit: I don’t have many, but there are a few that really bother me, particularly related to proportions … art that is hung too high, area rugs that are too small for the space or curtains that don’t touch the floor.

Andrew: How would you describe your personal style?
Rozit: My personal style when it comes to clothes is very casual. You can usually find me with classic pieces in a limited color palette of neutrals. I gravitate toward pieces that I can pair with anything in my closet. I shy away from statement / trendy pieces and usually add a pop of color to my outfits either with shoes and/or accessories. You will often find me in jeans either with a white t-shirt or a black turtleneck depending on the season.

Andrew: What would your dream project or dream client be right now?
Rozit: I would love to take on a complete gut reno of a Brooklyn townhouse with historic details that need to be preserved but with enough room to make it modern. Or design a ground-up construction project, possibly a ski lodge in Colorado or a beach house in Montauk.

In the same home as the bedroom above, this tastefully minimalist dining area features midcentury modern furniture that leaves the space feeling timeless, yet contemporary.

In the same home as the bedroom above, this tastefully minimalist dining area features midcentury modern furniture that leaves the space feeling timeless, yet contemporary.

Andrew: Style (or design) icon?
Rozit: Is Diane Keaton in Annie Hall the classic answer? Even still, I think she’s a true icon!

Andrew: Favorite piece of clothing you own?
Rozit: Probably my Levi’s mom jeans and Stan Smiths.

Andrew: What’s inspiring you in life (in the industry) right now?
Rozit: Our industry has changed significantly during the pandemic. With everyone spending more time at home, personal comfort has played a huge role in our lives and our industry. As everyone is opening up their spaces or sharing more of their lives (virtually), we are becoming closer to the people in our lives – we have a better understanding of each other.

For designers, the challenges of our time have led us to draw inspiration from different sources. I believe that creativity comes from challenges and limitations.

Andrew: What’s your best excuse for skipping a zoom call to watch TV?
Rozit: I haven’t skipped a zoom call but I did cancel an actual meeting years ago because I was binging on Money Heist and couldn’t wait to get home to finish the season!

Andrew: What’s a new hobby/skill that you have learned recently?
Rozit: I picked up road biking over the pandemic and now it has become more than just a hobby for me. I joined a w/f/t cycling team and have been riding with them weekly. I have never been an athlete in my life so being part of a team is all new to me. I met an amazing community of cyclists, learned so much about cycling but also built great friendships with these wonderful people. Within my first year of biking, I have finished two races and did my century ride as well.


About The Designer | Arditi Design is a New York based interior design and decoration firm founded by Rozit Arditi and born from a passion for designing inspired, coveted homes that reflect the ones who live there.

Rozit got her start at the prestigious Rhode Island School of Design with a degree in Furniture Design before continuing to New York University with a focus on Interior Design. Prior to launching Arditi Design in 2012, she worked for some of New York City’s top design studios including Kate Lydon Interiors, Mendelson Group and Dune where she designed award-winning, custom-made furniture for New York’s leading designers. Rozit’s background in furniture design gave her an appreciation for craftsmanship along with a unique perspective on detail, texture and consideration for client’s needs.

Rozit believes your home should reflect you, not the latest trends, someone’s else’s Pinterest page or her own style. She blends her talent and expertise with your lifestyle, memories, personality and quirks. With this unique point of view, she transforms each and every space, marrying a range of styles with a brave use of color, texture and time periods to design a home where you feel that you belong. Her passion for perfection and ambition for quality creates a positive experience throughout the process. With an open ear and keen eye, Arditi Design works one-on-one with you to bring the world’s most personal space to life – your home.


Andrew Joseph is a regular contributing editor for aspire design and home magazine. See more of his work here.

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