Thomas O'Brien
American
Thomas O’Brien is an acclaimed interior and home furnishings designer known for his distinctive ability to blend modern sensibilities with traditional American design. As the founder of Aero Studios and proprietor of the celebrated Aero Ltd. boutique in New York City’s SoHo neighborhood, O’Brien has spent over three decades cultivating a style that fuses vintage character with refined practicality.
A lifelong student of American vernacular antiques and architecture, O’Brien draws deep inspiration from the historical landscapes of both townhouses and farmhouses. His signature style—often described as “warm modernism”—is rooted in a reverence for timeless design elements reimagined for contemporary living. Whether he’s working on a private residence, a retail environment, or a product collection, O’Brien brings together rustic and elegant influences to create spaces and objects that feel both grounded and elevated.
Through his eponymous Thomas O’Brien brand, he designs comprehensive home collections that include furniture, lighting, textiles, tableware, rugs, and bed and bath essentials. These collections reflect his philosophy that everyday living deserves the same level of beauty and thoughtfulness as luxury design.
O’Brien embraces the classic model of a design atelier, where his store acts as a creative lab and a point of discovery. His retail space is a living archive of ideas, constantly evolving and informing his broader work. This dual role as both designer and merchant keeps his vision personal and connected to the physical experience of space and object.
He has collaborated with many of America’s leading heritage brands, designing furnishings for Hickory Chair and Century Furniture, lighting for Visual Comfort, textiles for Lee Jofa, rugs for Safavieh, and tableware for Reed & Barton, among others. In 2000, he launched a landmark collection with Target, bringing his refined aesthetic to a broader audience.
In addition to his design work, O’Brien is a published author. His first book, American Modern, was a best-seller upon its release in 2010, followed by Aero: Beginning to Now in 2013, chronicling the evolution of his studio and philosophy.
O’Brien studied at Cooper Union, where he focused on photography, art, and design. He began his career with Ralph Lauren, contributing to iconic spaces like the Madison Avenue flagship and the designer’s private estate. Today, he lives and works between New York City and Long Island, continuously shaping the narrative of American style in the modern era.
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