Legendary, lived-in, and finally—livable.

Shanta Trusewich of Studio Sio served as lead interior designer on the full renovation of the Hotel Chelsea in New York City — one of the most significant historic hotel restorations in recent American design history. The project ran from 2018 to 2023, encompassing 200 individually designed guest rooms and suites, all public spaces, custom bespoke furniture throughout, and a full art catalog preservation program. Studio Sio worked in close collaboration with BD Hotels and hotelier Sean MacPherson, as well as the New York State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) to protect the 1884 landmark building's cultural legacy through the renovation process. In 2024, the Hotel Chelsea was awarded a Michelin Key for excellence in hospitality — one of the first hotels in New York City to receive the designation.

The goal was to bring a crumbling icon back to life without stripping it of its charm or its attitude. That meant keeping the grit where it mattered, elevating what needed elevating, and sweating every detail — from a different layout in all 200 rooms, to full bespoke furniture fit-outs, to hand-preserving the hotel's extensive art catalog. Studio Sio oversaw everything from concept to construction, collaborating with consultants, craftspeople, and the much-loved building itself.