The winter sitting room in the charming Dutch Colonial house of Deborah Needleman in upstate New York, which has sections dating back to the late 1700s.
Miguel Flores-Vianna
American houses have long held a particular appeal for House & Garden. Whether they exude old world grandeur or contemporary cool, the sheer variety in scale and in the relationship with the landscape which often characterises American houses provides a rich backdrop for design and decoration. So as the United States celebrates its 250th birthday, we took a look at how the designers of the 2026 House & Garden Top 101 and Hall of Fame – who are recognised for their work in Britain and beyond – have left a distinctive mark on projects across the United States, bringing their sensibility to settings that range from coastal retreats to city apartments.
The houses featured here offer a just glimpse of that rich cultural exchange. Hugh Leslie transforms a rambling former barn in Connecticut into a characterful country retreat, while Nina Campbell brings her assured elegance to a house on the coast of Maine. In Massachusetts, Max Rollitt applies his instinctive understanding of architecture and antiques to a quietly atmospheric home, while in a Hamptons new-build inspired by Lutyens, Bryan O’ Sullivan create a beautifully layered space.
Elsewhere, designers respond to very different landscapes and contexts. Design duo Salvesen Graham took on a historic home in Colorado primed for outdoor living, while Stephanie Barba Mendoza creates a confident mix of mid-century, contemporary and neoclassical elements in a Miami house. Veere Grenney’s barn-style holiday house on the Long Island coast reflects the ease of seaside living, while in upstate New York, Rita Konig’s cottage for Deborah Needleman captures the warmth and informality that have become hallmarks of her interiors. In the city, Remy Renzullo’s former Upper East Side apartment reveals a refined approach to layering history and decoration.
Together, these projects show the sheer diversity of style, taste and architecture that dot the vast landscape of the United States and how designers in the HG101 continue to shape memorable interiors on both sides of the Atlantic.
American houses designed by the HG 101 2026