What: Bold interiors, typically rooted in shades of black or gray, enhanced with vintage furnishings. Torrey favors highly tactile rooms, frequently mixing wood, brass, leather, and mohair. “If everything is super slick, new, and modern, there’s no story.”
When: After studying music and business at Bethany College in Kansas, Torrey moved to New York in 2000 and worked at a recording studio, then dabbled in public relations and real estate. In 2004, he started assisting New York decorator Michelle Gerson with project installations and eventually had his eureka moment. He launched his own firm, B. A. Torrey Interiors, in 2013.
Why: “Building a home and giving rooms life is such an immersive, engaging experience,” says Torrey. “Even the most mundane aspects of my job—from invoicing to placing orders—are fulfilling because it’s all part of the process.”