ABOUT
"Charli is the ultimate professional in the design industry! We gut-renovated and furnished an apartment in NYC while living in California and needed someone who could grasp our vision and be our advocate, eyes, and ears on the ground. Needless to say, I don't think that even we could have done the job she did. I'm tempted to write a book detailing our whole construction and design process and what Charli contributed at each step along the way, but let me instead give a little list of her skills: consistent and firm construction management that kept us right on schedule (all while keeping the contractor on our side too), a deep wealth of online and brick-and-mortar retailers for any finish, furniture or décor item we needed, the ability to work within a tight budget, professional-quality computer mock-ups when we asked for them, a knack for envisioning scale and design thus avoiding any costly mistakes.
None of the above speaks to Charli's personality, which also makes her a pleasure to work with. Most importantly though, and what makes her outstanding in the field, is the fact that Charli has a great sense of style and is a great listener. In the end, our apartment is the best version of what we wanted because Charli really "got us" and steered our decisions in a way that met our goal. Oh, did I mention that Charli responds at the speed of light? There's no waiting for turn-around time - click "send" and virtually before you can hit "refresh" there's a response. How about the fact that she has a memory like a steel trap? When juggling endless details, purchases, decisions, and contacts, it's a real relief to have someone keeping it all straight on the spot. Finally, Charli is decisive but not pushy. This was a great combination when we were tired or overwhelmed and asked for help; Charli gave her opinion and helped us pull the trigger. When we needed a little time or wanted to figure things out on our own, she never pushed or criticized. In the end, we have a home that we love and where our guests comment on feeling relaxed and comfortable. We are grateful and aware that it wouldn't be the same without having had Charli on our team."
L.C.
Santa Monica, California / New York, New York
"The skinny is: Top in the industry for a reason.
I’m a SUPER type A person who everyone in my life comes to for questions about anything because I’ve probably read about it, researched it, or learned about it from my work investing in stocks. From Charli, on DAY 1 walk through with my contractor, I quickly saw how much I did not even know (that you can’t research) about what a designer does. Its a career for a reason and having good taste is not a designer - going toe-to-toe with architects, contractors, painters, electricians, fabric experts etc. to the point where you are calling out (politely) short cuts or short comings is what you get with Charli, a top designer. Taste is in the bag.
Charli and her team are incredibly reliable, timely, approachable and reachable, responsive and exacting. The August Black holistic approach to a project is only even able to be executed due to Charli’s specific combination of experience, abundance of in-depth knowledge, taste, perception, super duper high standards, and unique ability to cater to any personality and style which knows no bounds. It’s a people business, a design business, an architecture business and a financial business all in one. she knows it and she gets it. Unicorn."
Andrea and Evan M.
New York, New York
"Where do I begin? I'm a novice in the design world (to say the least) and I feel as if I got a full degree in interior design after working with Charli. My husband and I moved into a brand new home and we allowed Charli to use her imagination and work with a blank canvas. The process from start to finish was not only enjoyable, but also fun, exciting, and educational! Charli is incredibly passionate about what she does and it shows above and beyond in her work. She is always available to chat or respond to an email (and with two type-A individuals - this was HUGE!) and never hesitates to tell you exactly how she feels all while being respectful and listening to your design ideas. I could not be more glad she was so honest as I cannot imagine having gone through with some of the ideas that I had! Charli is incredibly knowledgeable and thoughtful and truly cares about the finished product. Our house is beyond what we expected and every day we live here we pinch ourselves - all thanks to Charli. When we started our project Charli was our designer, but now we absolutely consider her our friend."
Jessica and Adam S.
Short Hills, New Jersey
"We had an amazing experience working with Charli and August Black! Our NYC loft looks absolutely fantastic and we couldn't be happier with the result. When my partner and I moved in together, she helped us merge our existing pieces / tastes / styles to create a home that is not only stunning, but uniquely "us". She really listened to us when we described what we wanted, and proposed creative solutions that we wouldn't have come up with ourselves. We've got an unusual space - her innovation and expertise enabled us to really maximize it. She is on top of her game - she is extremely(!) responsive, hardworking, and professional. Not only does she have phenomenal taste, but she worked within our budget and was constantly in touch with us regarding the status of our project. We would highly recommend Charli and August Black! Working her was truly a pleasure, she exceeded our expectations, and we love our new home."
Michelle M. and Brian S.
New York, New York
"Charli from August Black did an incredible job designing my office. We are so happy with the end result and have been getting consistent compliments from anyone who visits. The office is not only beautiful but functional. She created an environment where the team is excited to come to work. She definitely helped us to understand the pieces to splurge on and helped us save wherever possible. There was no detail missed - she thought of everything, including things I would never have thought of such as making sure the electrical outlets were in the right place, making sure that there was proper channeling for the computer wires so the desks looked clean, accessories for every room, etc. Charli was an absolute pleasure to work with. She is insanely organized and on top of everything. Although she is juggling multiple projects and clients, she kept track of every single detail and could recall them at any time. She was always available to us, willing to get on a call to talk through any detail or do last minute site visits. She kept us on track the entire time, never pressuring us to make a fast decision, but also noting where something might be a bit time sensitive. She has extraordinary taste and is very creative. We wound up with a number of unique statement pieces that continue to impress our clients. We are so pleased with how this turned out and would 1000% work with her again!!!"
Jessica and Sean S.
New York, New York
"My company, deVivre Concierge, hired Charli to help design a client's new 3-story apt in Noho. Not only was she was able to jump right in and get working on the project ASAP, but she was adaptable, flexible, responsive, and genuine. She worked tirelessly to get the client's roofdeck prepped for summer entertaining and sourced/designed perfect pieces for the entire apt. We look forward to working with Charli on more projects and no doubt recommend her for all of your interior design needs!"
Eleanor M.
New York, New York
"We worked with Charli Hantman / August Black to decorate and design our apartment in Manhattan from a blank slate, including a full kitchen remodel. I cannot recommend her highly enough; she has excellent taste, listened to us, works items of all price ranges into her vision to make things reasonable but look supremely expensive, and is generally just extremely capable, efficient, and responsive. She seems capable of accomplishing anything thrown at her, whether it's sourcing kitchen tile on a few days notice, making a tiny nursery feel perfect, or commissioning a piece of art. And, most importantly, she is pleasant to work with. You will not regret hiring her, whatever the project."
Julie T.
New York, New York
"Working with Charli and August Black was not only a pleasure but it was fun! Charli understood our needs, our budget, and helped to bring the vision we had for our home into a reality. She showed my husband and I how to seamlessly combine our respective styles to create a space that reflected both our personalities. Charli doesn't push her own style, or particular items on you like other decorators might. Instead she listens to what you want, gives you varying options and then shows you how those will best combine with the other elements you have chosen. She also suggested things that we never would have thought of and ended up absolutely loving. Her attention to detail is unparalleled, she is there to answer any text, email, or silly question (and i had loads!) at all hours. Any project like this faces it's problems, and Charli handled every single one with speed and professionalism. I will absolutely recommend her services to anyone and will definitely be using her again when we move."
Lauren D.
Hoboken, New Jersey
"Charli designed the perfect nursery for our son this summer. She listened to all of our wants and needs, as well as getting a feel for our personalities and taste, and put together a beautiful nursery for our son within our budget. Her knowledge for sourcing materials and pieces was exceptional. It was fun to work with her in designing the nursery and it was clear that she genuinely cared and was (almost) as excited as we were! We look forward to the next project because we know in working with Charli everything will be done beautifully and within the budget. We could not recommend her more!"
Lauren and Jonathan B.
New York, New York
"August Black is an extraordinary design team that worked diligently to transform our office space to accommodate our rapidly growing company. Charli made this project stress free from beginning to end and stayed on top of every detail as the project progressed, from working with contractors to obtaining building documents. I have worked with other teams in the past and not one comes close to August Black. Charli's detailed work, communication & professionalism is quite exceptional. Needless to say, this was a smooth process and the project was completed in a timely manner. I am absolutely satisfied with their services and would highly recommend August Black."
Debbie G.
New York, New York
"Charli helped decorate our apartment in downtown NYC as well as our house in Sag Harbor. Charli has great taste and is a breeze to work with: professional, pleasant, prompt. Friends are shocked by how quickly and beautifully she finished our house. Highly recommend!"
Laura H.
New York, New York
"Charli and team are wonderful to work with. From the very start the project started with extreme organization and and attention to detail. We love working with talented designers as it makes not only our life easier but is the true reason why any client would want to hire a designer. If you're looking for an interior designer look not further then August Black! You will be nothing more then satisfied! Look forward to our next project August Black!"
Wasser's Exclusive Furniture & Interiors
Miami, Florida
"Owner Charli Hantman is hands on throughout the project. Always on it with a great eye! We hired August Black to stage our existing furniture in our new apartment and to add some new things. We received undivided attention throughout the process. Great taste and attention to every detail. Looking forward to finding another project so we can use them again!"
Andrea B.
New York, New York
"I couldn't be more happy with the style and functionality of my bedroom. I work in finance so designing and online shopping just isn't my forte. At first I tried the digital designer sites but they didn't understand my style or space since they never saw it. They also had very rigid steps and add on fee for additional drafts and redesigns. Fortunately, a friend recommended August Black who mentioned they do A-Z. That's when I met with Charli! During our onsite visit, we created the vision and budget for my space which reflects the professional, elegant, rustic glam that I wouldn't have sourced/coordinated/styled on my own. Charli managed all the orders, discounts, coupons, and special deliveries. I also can't believe we stayed within my budget! I now have sconces, a shag throw, a terrarium, and a room that feels like a home."
Ally S.
New York, New York
"I can't say enough nice things about the August Black team! Charli and I worked together to create a happy home for me and my new husband. She not only had exceptional taste and a great eye for key furniture pieces, but she was patient with me when I had difficulty making decisions. She went above and beyond creating the home of my dreams... I look forward to working with her on future home endeavors!"
Rachel M.
New York, New York
"What a pleasure! Working with Charli and the August Black team really made designing my new space an enjoyable experience. Charli clearly took the time to understand my needs and personal style and presented several creative yet functional ideas throughout the time we worked together. Her aesthetic eye is truly exceptional, and even more, her ability to ensure the best use of space is impressive. I definitely could not have designed such a beautiful space without the help of Charli and team. Hoping to work together again soon!"
Jillian L.
New York, New York
"I really enjoyed working with Charli and August Black! She really understood my style and worked very hard to create a home that fit within my budget. I am so happy with the results. I highly recommend August Black for any interior design needs!"
Chelsey H.
New York, New York
"Working with Charli at August Black has always been a great experience. Her time integrity when completing a project is on-time with then she estimated and if there is a change she is quick to communicate the change. We have specified on a few projects both commercial and residential and appreciate her eye for design. We always learn something new about where to use certain light fixtures when we collaborate on a project with her and/or the August Black team. August Black, is a firm I would recommend to anyone remodeling or in need of a fresh update for any space."
Luxury Lighting Direct
New York, New York
Lauren F.
New York, New York
"I worked with Charli and her team at August Black to gut renovate our brooklyn apartment. Charli and her team were patient and helped us figure out what would work for all our functional needs and also what worked aesthetically. Charli had a great eye for mixing and matching our desire for pops of color without having the space look like a circus. She was also great at letting us know when something we thought would work, was a bad idea (we all need that). She kept us updated, was very flexible around our schedules, and was great during some unforeseen challenges. Most importantly she delivered on the wow factor. We were very happy with the final product."
Cavel K.
Brooklyn, New York
Gail M.
Boca Raton, Florida
