A beautiful home is easy to recognize. The real challenge is designing a space with intention, where clean lines, seamless lighting, and natural ease make it feel as functional as it is refined.

That finished, resolved feeling is the signature of Short Hills In & Out Design Studio, led by principals Zak Yossry and Sarah Fetouh, both Allied ASID and International Associate AIA members. Together, they approach interiors as inseparable from the surrounding architecture.

Integrated Design

Short Hills In & Out Design Studio began in 2006 with a clear vision to elevate residential design beyond decoration and make it a fully integrated architectural experience. The studio’s philosophy has always centered on designing interiors as an extension of the architecture itself. From the first diagram to the final install, the studio takes a comprehensive approach to every project—from concept through construction—ensuring that spatial planning, custom cabinetry, lighting, and furnishings work together seamlessly. This integrated process allows every element to be considered early rather than layered in later.

“Our goal from the beginning was to create homes that are refined, functional, and enduring, with every detail feeling intentional rather than assembled in parts,” Zak says.

Sarah explains that when the design is properly resolved, the home feels calm, cohesive, and naturally balanced. “When it works, the home moves like a single thought,” she says. “Transitions between spaces feel effortless, materials relate to one another, and design supports how the family lives without calling attention to itself. This ultimately allows the design to feel effortless rather than staged.”

Zak adds: “It feels cohesive, calm, and considered—never layered as an afterthought.”

Creating cohesion starts at the walkthrough, before inspiration boards and finish schedules are developed. The team always begins by reading the architecture of the home. When the team first walks into a house, they immediately read the proportions, natural light, and spatial flow. “We study how rooms relate to one another, how natural light moves through the home, and whether circulation feels intuitive,” Zak says.

Translating those early instincts into clear planning tools helps clients visualize the possibilities with confidence. To make those instincts measurable and easier for clients to trust, the studio has upgraded its toolkit. “We’ve been incorporating advanced design and planning software like 3D modeling, BIM [building information modeling], and virtual walkthrough tools into our process,” Sarah says.

Zak adds that the studio also has introduced virtual reality, allowing clients to explore their home before construction starts. “The biggest improvement is clarity and precision; clients can experience the scale and flow of the home, decisions are made faster, and coordination with contractors is seamless.”

Creating Flow

Short Hills In & Out Design Studio also works from exterior architecture to outdoor living. The team emphasizes that consistency between exterior and interior architecture is essential for a cohesive home. “From the facade to the interiors and outdoor living spaces, we ensure that materials, proportions, and architectural language flow consistently throughout,” Zak says.

When indoor-outdoor living is done well, it doesn’t feel like a feature; it feels natural. “The key is designing transitions that feel architectural rather than decorative,” Sarah explains. To make indoor-outdoor design feel seamless, the team focuses on aligning sightlines, materials, and floor levels. Large openings, consistent flooring, and carefully framed views help interiors flow naturally into exterior spaces.

Millwork, or custom woodwork, is where the studio’s architectural mindset meets the realities of daily life. Sarah notes that thoughtful millwork should feel integrated into the architecture rather than applied afterward. That process begins with understanding how the space will be used, how people move through it, what storage is needed, and how elements relate to the surrounding architecture.

“We rely on the expertise of Downsview Kitchens’ engineers and team to ensure every piece meets exacting standards, from construction to installation,” Zak says.

Sarah highlights the importance of precision in these details, from precise joinery and perfectly aligned seams to carefully considered proportions and the thoughtful use of materials. Subtleties such as continuous grain patterns, hidden hardware, and perfectly mitered corners further elevate the result.

Even lighting, often added at the end of a project, is planned from day one by Short Hills In & Out Design Studio. The team understands that it plays a fundamental architectural role in shaping how spaces are experienced. “Lighting is never an afterthought for us—we bring it in at the very beginning of the design process by developing layered schemes that allow architecture, finishes, and art to look their best,” Zak says.

A Team Approach

Zak describes his partnership with Sarah as two perspectives working toward a single standard. “Sarah and I complement each other by bringing different strengths to every project while sharing the same vision,” he says, adding that Sarah’s background in architecture and art history strengthens the studio’s sense of proportion and composition.

While clients often start with aesthetics—what they love, what they want—Short Hills In & Out Design Studio’s design process often reveals deeper needs related to daily living and functionality. “By the end, the clients realize what they truly needed was function, flow, and thoughtful integration,” Zak says. “And that’s when a beautiful house becomes a home that functions effortlessly.”

Photographs courtesy of Zak Yossry