03 Jan Q&A with Emily Caplow & Tory Knoph of Stonehill Taylor
Emily Caplow
About the Designers
Through the eyes of her Architect father and Interior Designer mother, Emily learned from a very early age to appreciate the organic beauty of texture and surroundings. She is passionate about the origin of aesthetics and the process of compiling elements of a vision that come together to transform a space. At Stonehill Taylor, Emily’s focus is to manage international vendor relations as well as work with each of the design teams to create unique palettes, source FF&E, and locate one-of-a-kind pieces that pull a project together.
Tory Knoph
During her ten years working at Stonehill Taylor, Tory has lead the design of numerous award winning hospitality projects ranging from boutique to major branded hotels. As one of the public faces of the firm, she has developed close working relationships with an impressive list of international vendors and manufacturers as well as developers and operators. Her love for travel and in particular, exploring international cities, is seen throughout each of her projects with the integration of exceptional details and design narratives.
About the Company
Stonehill Taylor is a hospitality-focused architecture and interior design firm based in New York City. The firm’s approach to designing destinations is to create an inspired and distinct reflection on the location, space, history and culture for each project. Stonehill Taylor’s distinguished portfolio in interior design and architecture includes: TWA Hotel, The Whitby, Moxy Chelsea, Ace Hotel New York, The Refinery Hotel, InterContinental Barclay, JW Marriott Nashville, and the Eliza Jane Hotel in New Orleans. Stonehill Taylor is at the forefront of sustainable design, developing projects that are conscious of their impact on local communities and the world such as: The Crosby Street Hotel, The NoMad Hotel and Nomad Las Vegas, and Portland’s Press Hotel.
Where did you get your start as designers?
Tory: “During college, I began working on residential projects in New York. Shortly after, I came to Stonehill Taylor where my focus turned to hospitality interiors design.”
Emily: “Most of my family are interior designers or architects, so I pretty much grew up in the industry. Right out of college, I interned for Kemble Interiors here in New York then went on to manage Sone Britain’s textile line before ending up at Stonehill Taylor.”
How would you describe your design styles?
Tory: “My style is a bit more eclectic. I love mixing antique and contemporary pieces to create a one-of-a-kind experience.”
Emily: “I have a lot of traditional/British influence and have been inspired by designers like Rita Keonig, Miles Redd, Veere Grenney, and Ben Pentreath among many others.
Can you tell us about one project you are extremely proud of?
Tory: “I’m really proud of the work that we did at the newly opened Saint Kate Hotel in Milwaukee, WI. We designed an arts hotel that not only showcases visual arts but also the performing arts.”
Emily: “What I love about my position is that I get to work on most of our Interiors projects, so it’d be very hard for me to choose just one that I’m proud of!”
If you weren’t working as designers, what would you be doing?
Tory: “If I weren’t a designer, I would definitely be a vet. Actually, my senior thesis in college was about an animal shelter!”
Emily: “I would love to work for Timothy Long, who is a historical fashion curator for museums, or do set design for film and TV!”
Where do you find your inspiration?
Tory: “I find my greatest inspiration from my colleagues and other designers in the industry. Whenever I go to a conference or visit a new hotel, I always walk away with a bunch of new ideas.”
Emily: “I’m inspired by how a space makes people feel.”
Are there any design trends you are starting to see that could alter the industry?
Emily: “I’ve seen a big push to make hotels feel more residential and bespoke, which I love. It brings a whole new type of warmth to hospitality, which can sometimes be more of a corporate industry.”
Tory: “From a programming standpoint, hotels are starting to break down their corporate structure by incorporating residential elements. I think it’s particularly interesting that lobby spaces are becoming more multi-faceted as well as central spaces for the community.”
For more information, visit www.stonehilltaylor.com or check them out on instagram.
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