When interior designer Stephanie Betesh wanted to thank some family friends for the hospitality theyd shown her, she painted them a watercolor card. The gesture inspired the couple to ask Betesh if she might also help with the invitations for their ceremony at the Amangiri resort in Utah. She said yes. The seed for productive collaboration was planted.When the couple began apartment hunting in New York City a few years later, it was Betesh that the wife began texting, asking for her expert opinion. They then hired Beteshs firm, Ember Studio, to overhaul the 2,800-square-foot SoHo loft space they found, inspired by both Beteshs watercolor and wedding styling at Amangiri.David MitchellThe primary bedroom is tucked away from the street and features a restful, moody palette.A Tennessee native, Betesh studied interior design at the University of Texas at Austin before going on to work for the firms of Parts and Labor, Michael Hsu, and the hospitality firm of Liz Lambert.When construction on the apartment began in 2022, Betesh handled all of the architectural design remotely as she was based in Austin, Texas. (She wasnt fully local for the project until late 2023, when she arrived in New York to undertake a residency for the design gallery Colony.) While that proved challenging at times, it also had unique upsides, like getting the chance to source vintage furniture at the Round Top Antiques Fair with the homeowner.David MitchellThe primary bathroom showcases lessons learned from Beteshs years in the hospitality industry.Sometimes we were not sure exactly where a piece was going to go, but it would feel right for the project, says Betesh. The architecture is so clean, and then we've brought in all these objects with such a story and a history that creates a really layered effect. I think that approach makes everything look so much more interesting.Betesh brought cohesion to the loft space by incorporating white oak millwork, hand-finished limewash, and plaster wall treatments. The layout was reoriented around communal living spaces, with a spa-like primary suite and nursery situated at the back of the home, away from the street. The neutral palette was definitely driven by the client, so it was important for me to make sure that we had contrast and also a layering of different textures, says Betesh.See more of this SoHo loftDespite the distance, or perhaps because of it, Beteshs attention to detail is a hallmark of the project. (She even chose the bathrooms soap and bedrooms linens). For a home born of a small but thoughtful gesture, it couldn't be any other way.Sean SantiagoDeputy EditorSean Santiago is ELLE Decor's Deputy Editor, covering news, trends and talents in interior design, hospitality and travel, culture, and luxury shopping. Since starting his career at an interior design firm in 2011, he has gone on to cover the industry for Vogue, Architectural Digest, Sight Unseen, PIN-UP and Domino. He is the author of The Lonny Home (Weldon Owens, 2018), has produced scripted social content for brands including West Elm and Streeteasy, and is sometimes recognized on the street for his Instagram Reels series, #DanceToDecor