STRANGERS is an interior design studio based in Dallas and Lisbon, co-founded by Blake Rives and Emily Morrison Rhoades. We create soulful, intentional spaces that reflect the people who live, work, and gather within them. Each space is designed as an experience - turning routine to ritual.
With backgrounds in hospitality, residential, and commercial design, we bring a versatile perspective to every project - balancing creativity with practicality and story with structure. We collaborate closely with our clients and community of builders, artisans, and artists to craft spaces that feel layered, timeless, and full of character.
At STRANGERS, we’re big believers in supporting emerging artists and makers – that’s where the real magic happens. Mixing vintage finds, contemporary design and bespoke commissions to create interiors that feel collected, not curated.
At the end of the day, we’re here to create spaces that stay with you long after you leave them… even if we start out as strangers
Meet Emily
Cancer. Yin. Mood Maker.
A curious mind with a knack for turning spaces into stories, Emily approaches design with equal parts intuition and imagination. With a decade of experience, she honed her craft in hospitality design at award-winning firms before turning her focus to the luxury residential world - contributing to projects featured in Architectural Digest and Vogue Living
For Emily, design is more than aesthetics — it’s about connection, creativity, and good energy. Splitting her time between Lisbon and Dallas, she draws inspiration from both cities’ vibrant cultures while offering clients access to her network of European makers.
Meet Blake
Aries. Yang. Space Whisperer
Rooted in clarity and craft, Blake approaches his work with calm precision and a quietly obsessive eye for detail. With a decade of experience across hospitality, retail, and residential projects, he has led design for brands like Thompson, Autograph Collection, and Kimpton.
For Blake, great design isn’t about adding more, but editing until everything left feels intentional. Based in Dallas, he brings a grounded energy and an intuitive eye for composition — creating spaces with clarity, warmth, and intention.