P R O F E S S I O N A L P R O F I L E PAULA McDONALD Paula McDonald rolls up her sleeves and gets right to work for residential clients throughout Manhattan who seek her transcendent design and renovation expertise. As the managing director of Paula McDonald Design Build & Interiors, unusual circumstances are a welcome challenge for this seasoned expert who has revitalized down-on-their-luck co-ops, pre-war apartments needing a gut renovation or brownstones requiring a full modernization. McDonald ably handles it all, from procuring New York’s complex building permits, managing construction schedules and approving material deliveries to initiating design concepts and addressing budgetary concerns, all with her trademark professionalism. She is a favorite choice among clients who appreciate her attention to detail, project management experience and artistic eye. The latitude of McDonald’s design services is impressive. “My business model is design-build, which vertically integrates the design, architecture, procurement and construction of the residential projects we engage,” she says. Her mental checklist is the launching point of every new project. “We start with a site visit to define the scope, and move forward to design the space, select materials, finalize the project cost, and expedite the building approvals required for us to file for the landmark and DOB permitting of the project. Once all this is done, we start construction.” Being a multi-tasker with over two decades of experience allows McDonald to conceive innovative ideas, she explains. “As the leader of my firm, our clients engage us to provide the vision, creativity and forward-thinking expertise to deliver residential transformations in line with our clients’ residential endeavors. Our approach includes the building blocks that create the transparency and understanding with them about how we deliver the result of a completed project.” Her extensive background and career drive the company’s success, she says. “It’s founded in my experience, references of the many projects we’ve done to illustrate what we expect, and my success in both design and planning a residential project with the process that allows us to see exactly where we are both in progress and logistics.” While always planning for the best outcomes, there are often stumbling blocks to overcome in a rapid-paced environment like New York City, McDonald reveals. “Communication, working with building management and lack of it, and the pipeline are always challenging!” Yet being highly focused on the entire project helps McDonald and her team exceed clients’ expectations. “There is no doubt that there is an art to the science and delivery of the residential projects we do. And I think that the passion I have for creating and delivering the end result is the greatest joy I have in this. The emotional reaction of my clients says everything!” Reflecting on the successes of the past, McDonald is upbeat about the future of her business. “Although it seems like fleeting moments in time, and it’s a long stretch between beginning the journey with a renovation project to handing over the keys to the apartment to the owners, it’s these moments that drive my passion for the design-build business that specializes in New York City’s residential spaces. I love it!” PAULA McDONALD’S TRANSFORMATIONAL DESIGN-BUILD FIRM REIMAGINES RESIDENTIAL SPACES IN MANHATTAN BY GWEN DONOVAN PAULA McDONALD Managing Director PAULA McDONALD DESIGN BUILD & INTERIORS 27 West 20th Street Suite #706 New York, NY 10011 917.628.9795 Paula@pmddllc.com pmddllc.com All photography by Greg Morris An elegant penthouse renovation on West End Avenue integrated multiple glass doors to the terrace from each living area to capture dramatic city views and abundant natural light. This sleek Sutton Place residence invites entertaining within the kitchen, living room and dining room reimagined by McDonald. The open floor plan of an Upper East Side residence offers a cook’s kitchen featuring a marble mosaic accent wall, upper-end appliances and custom cabinetry by McDonald. As part of an Upper East Side apartment gut renovation, the primary bath was updated from the Prewar era using charming details like large porcelain wall tiles and custom mosaic marble floors.