From left to right: Mateo Aguirre, Project Manager; Mauricio Aguirre, Principal; and David Aguirre, Creative Director, of Aguirre Design. Photo : S2H Communications

Family-run studio founded by Mauricio Aguirre more than two decades ago produces exclusive handmade pieces in Long Island City and is preparing a new collection for September

NEW YORK – Based in New York, Aguirre Design is a furniture studio the company itself describes as luxury, combining traditional artisanal techniques with a contemporary aesthetic to produce exclusive decor items and sculptural furniture. Founded in 2005 by designer Mauricio Aguirre, the company operates from an office in central Manhattan and runs manufacturing out of a workshop in Long Island City, where every item is made by hand to order.

From the Poles Apart Collection, a sculptural bench with a distinctive texture and contemporary character.. Photo : S2H Communications

Considered by the company a reference point in high-end artisanal furniture, the brand designs objects inspired by minimalist forms found in nature. Solid wood, metal and leather are the core materials of the work, chosen to bridge the rustic and the refined. No item is duplicated exactly, Mauricio Aguirre said, describing each creation as the result of a collaborative effort with partner artisans.

More than 25 years into creating custom furniture, Aguirre leads the studio’s creative direction alongside his sons, Mateo and David. David holds the title of creative director, while Mateo oversees project management, supervising execution and operations. Joint family involvement, Aguirre said, stands as one of the pillars sustaining the company’s identity since its founding.

Among the studio’s latest developments is a collection cast in bronze that explores transitions between rough and polished surfaces, drawing on natural phenomena such as the meeting point of cliffs and the sea. In Aguirre’s words, the body of work marks an advance over previous collections, offering a sensory experience that goes beyond visual observation.

Studio’s Origin and Trajectory

Two decades after its founding, the studio’s trajectory traces back to Mauricio Aguirre’s decision to merge furniture and art into a single project. He has developed pieces with timeless styles ever since, according to his own account, prioritizing the use of fine materials and attention to finishing details. His artistic training still shapes the guiding principles behind the brand’s output today.

Gradually, sons Mateo and David began joining the company’s design process, collaborating on reinterpretations of their father’s established designs. Building on that generational partnership, the family redefined what it calls modern luxury, supported by distinctive lines and rigorous quality control across every production stage.

Items bearing the brand’s signature carry what Aguirre calls a “masculine energy,” both welcoming and inviting. Designed to age gracefully over time, they receive hand finishes intended to highlight the unique characteristics of each material used.

Handmade From Start to Finish

Every piece produced by Aguirre Design goes through a process Mauricio Aguirre describes as collaborative between himself and sons Mateo and David. Each stage receives the team’s full attention, from cutting solid wood to hand-applying exclusive patinas on cast bronze structures.

Craftsmen at the studio pay special attention to the grain direction of the wood used, in an effort to highlight each material’s uniqueness. No leather piece produced by the company is identical to another, a trait Aguirre attributes to the nature of the material and to the manual working method applied throughout.

Partner workshops make up the network that sustains the company’s day-to-day production, Aguirre said. Special projects also draw on collaboration with outside ateliers, which contribute specific technical expertise to carry out more complex commissions.

In Aguirre’s assessment, raw materials guide much of the design decisions made along the way. This approach, he said, reveals potential that only emerges as each piece takes shape, resulting in objects he describes as sculptural, with hand finishing and contemporary elegance.

Both the materials used and the design of the pieces are meant to withstand the passage of time, he added. Durability is presented as a central value guiding the studio’s approach, aligned with the goal of creating items that become a lasting part of the decor in the homes where they are placed.

Personalized Client Service

In addition to its established collections, Aguirre Design offers customization services for clients who want to adapt existing pieces or develop exclusive projects. This kind of work does not always follow a straight line, Mauricio Aguirre said, allowing adjustments based on the specific needs of each commission.

Bespoke projects are developed in partnership with interior designers and architects referred by clients themselves. This arrangement, Aguirre added, makes it possible to serve international demand, since the studio maintains relationships with buyers from different countries.

Its team begins every commission with a conversation with the client, aimed at defining the desired look and the most suitable materials. Shagreen, a type of granular-textured leather used in luxury finishes, is among the upholstery options offered by the studio. Patinated bronze details combined with solid wood are also among the alternatives, according to Aguirre.

Creative resources at the studio remain fully available to clients choosing bespoke pieces. This flexibility allows the team to develop hand-finished elements that complete the overall look of each designed space, Aguirre said.

Families seeking to tell stories through home decor find, at Aguirre Design, a service built around creating items that become part of each home’s identity, Aguirre said. It reinforces the notion that no piece should fully repeat a story already told.

Bronze, Contrast and Transition

From the Poles Apart Collection, a powerful presence shaped by raw geometry and architectural inspiration. Photo : S2H Communications

Named Poles Apart, Aguirre Design’s new collection is described by Mauricio Aguirre as a body of work grounded in contrast. Poles Apart also seeks to explore transitions between opposing elements, drawing a direct analogy to phenomena observed in nature, according to Aguirre.

Paths between rough and polished, or between darkness and light, appear at times abrupt and at times gradual. Both movements are equally valued in the development of the pieces, which aim to represent the coexistence of those opposites, Aguirre said.

From the Poles Apart Collection, sculptural side tables defined by organic geometry, expressive texture and subtle refinement. Photo : S2H Communications

Unlike previous collections, Poles Apart seeks to offer an experience that goes beyond visual observation. Its invitation to the public is described as an opportunity to feel each piece, not just look at it, emphasizing a more sensory presentation of the objects.

From the Poles Apart Collection, a striking study in balance, where sculptural volumes meet functional elegance. Photo : S2H Communications

Cast bronze is the collection’s central material, shaped to give the pieces what Aguirre calls an “almost organic” appearance. Hand-applied textures and patinas aim to simulate the effect of time passing, while worked edges on the pieces are designed to capture variations in light.

From the Poles Apart Collection, an expressive mirror defined by distinctive contours and a contemporary character. Photo : S2H Communications

Surfaces throughout the collection alternate between smooth transitions, compared to stone worn down over the years, and sharper changes, likened to the meeting of cliffs and the sea. These variations make up the collection’s core language, according to Aguirre, allowing opposites to interact within a single piece.

From the Poles Apart Collection, a piece defined by clean lines, a dark base and rounded volumes that lend it a timeless character. Photo : S2H Communications

A pursuit of balance between weight and lightness guides the work of the artisans behind the new collection, in Aguirre’s description.

Showroom in Manhattan

Located in Manhattan, the Aguirre Design showroom brings together decorated spaces featuring furniture built entirely by hand to order by the studio. It was designed to reflect the philosophy guiding all of the brand’s output, rooted in craftsmanship, material quality and careful execution, according to the founder.

Visitors interested in furnishing homes or hospitality spaces can count on the team’s guidance during a visit to the location. Guests can also expect a walkthrough of design collections and limited editions produced exclusively by the New York studio.

Armchairs, coffee tables, cabinets and lighting fixtures make up the collection on display at the space. Each item aims to incorporate sculptural forms, varied textures and finishes that, according to the company, reflect the elegance and refinement central to its identity.

Manhattan’s showroom functions as an extension of the studio’s artistic practice, as the studio describes it, allowing clients direct contact with pieces that unite function and form. It reinforces the brand’s positioning as a studio devoted to the intersection of functional design and artistic expression.

Dedicated personalization areas also form part of the Manhattan space’s layout. There, staff guide clients through material and finish choices for bespoke projects, aligning expectations with the technical possibilities of working entirely by hand, according to Aguirre.

A Defining Trait

Aguirre said the company carries a legacy passed down through generations of the founding family. This heritage translates into pieces that combine contemporary style with a dimension he calls an “artisanal soul,” present in both bold silhouettes and more subtle forms.

Values including elegance, integrity and beauty are cited by Aguirre as defining traits of every collection released by the studio. Design decisions follow these principles from a piece’s initial concept through the final stages of hand finishing carried out in Long Island City, he said.

Handcrafted techniques combined with design innovation are presented as the foundation of the brand’s place in the luxury furniture market. High-quality materials and a meticulous process support, according to Aguirre, the transformation of functional items into objects of sculptural character.

Clarity of vision and sensitivity in handling materials are traits Aguirre attributes to the company operating as a family-run studio. This structure, he said, allows for greater control over every stage of production, helping maintain high quality standards across the full product line.

Website : https://www.aguirredesign.co/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aguirredesign/