Bronxville and Boca Raton interior designer Rajni Alex has a penchant for infusing fine design with international flair. Born in India, Alex moved to Singapore at the age of 22 and became a flight attendant, enabling her to traverse the world. After relocating to New York City in 2001 to join her now-husband, she enrolled at Pace University to earn her MBA in marketing.
Deciding that was not the career path she wanted to pursue, Rajni says, “I followed up on the advice of a friend of mine who worked for designer Brian J. McCarthy and applied for a job with his firm.” Alex started working for McCarthy in 2004 as a design coordinator and moved up the ladder to become a project manager.
After moving to Bronxville and having two children, Alex worked on and off for the award-winning designer for six years. She decided to set out on her own and officially incorporated Rajni Alex Design in 2010.
Discussing her fondness for bold design, Alex says, “Design in India is very diverse, not just in terms of color, but also in regards to texture — with lots of silk fabrics and rich embroidery.”
This inspiration shows up in such places as a kitchen she recently designed (shown here), where Alex combined vibrant ebony-colored cabinets, swirling-patterned marble countertops and backsplash, and a brushed-brass range hood.
Alex says when she lived in Singapore she began developing a love for chinoiserie and then discovered the beauty and sophistication of Gracie and de Gournay wallpapers during her time with McCarthy. “I try to incorporate this passion into my designs, whether it be in the form of chinoiserie wallpaper or Chippendale chairs with a Chinese influence.”
She also gets a lot of her inspiration from her travels. “Whether I’m staying at a hotel, reflecting in nature, or visiting a temple, all this beauty around me knowingly and unknowingly seeps into my soul and my being, and then comes out in one way or another in my work,” says Alex.
“For example, I was in Paris in 2019 for Maison&Objet [an interior design trade fair] and was fortunate enough to view these amazing old buildings with beautiful moulding and gilding,” she says. She also likes to mix the old and the new in her work: “I will take these traditional architectural details that I saw in Paris and fuse them with modern furniture.”
Like every designer, Alex follows her own particular method when working with clients. “What I have found works, doing this for the past 15 years, is getting to know the scope of the project the client wants to undertake, and then, based on this information, charging a flat fee,” she says, though she does add a markup charge on furnishings. “That is because when a client buys a piece of furniture from me, I have my team take care of every detail. That includes placing the order and coordinating the delivery. If there is something wrong, then we take care of it until our client is 100% happy,” Alex says.
The designer also strives to incorporate her client’s taste. “Some designers say, ‘This is my style or my look,’ but I don’t work like that. Clients come to me because they like my taste. If a client has a certain look in mind, I try to understand how they envision using their space and what their lifestyle is like, and then guide them to the place they are envisioning. It’s really a process. It’s not about me, it’s about them,” she says.
Oven
Wolf 30” Series Transitional Double Wall Oven; $9,645
Microwave
Wolf 24” E Series Transitional Drop-Down Door Microwave; $2,215
Table
Cecil (Racetrack) Dining Table; To the Trade, Bradley USA
Dining Chairs
Custom; Michael Trent Coates
Counter Stools
Darcy Counter Stool; $2,982; Interlude Home
Hood
Custom, RDM Renovation Corp.
Hardware
Quinton Collection, $59.70- $99.30; Armac Martin
Range
Wolf 48” Sealed Burner Rangetop; $5,920
Countertop and Backsplash
Calacatta Monet; $160/sq ft; Artistic Tile; White Plains
Kitchen Redecorating Tips From Rajni Alex
- Play with the vertical elements in your kitchen. Installing the upper cabinets about 22 inches off the counter, as opposed to the standard 18 inches, elongates the space and allows you to appreciate the backsplash.
- Lighting is not only important for function, but it can also be a fun decorative element. Adding a chandelier or a pendant over a dining table or an island can create a visual anchor.
- Sometimes having too much cabinetry can make the space feel closed off. Open shelving, even just in the corner, can help the kitchen feel airier and can allow for more decorative elements.
- Keep the kitchen timeless and classic. A kitchen does not have to be white to be both, so have fun with the color and material selection, and don’t be afraid to do something unexpected, such as a brass hood.
- An organized kitchen is an effective kitchen. Remember to thoughtfully plan out the interior of your cabinets so they are fitted with organizers, dividers, and more.
- Don’t be afraid to use marble. There are many ways to protect marble surfaces to prevent scratches, ring marks, and staining.
- Avoid clutter as much as possible. Create separate but intentional areas for appliances, such as a coffee bar or an appliance garage.
The Team
Designer: Rajni Alex
Contractor: RDM Renovation Corp.
Photographer: Adam Kane Macchia
Related: Curated Nest Embraces Livable, Luxurious Home Design in Westchester
