A New Creative Hub Comes to Cobble Hill: Manes Studio Opens Its Doors
Brooklyn's design scene has quietly welcomed a new and deeply personal addition. Manes Studio, a combined architecture practice, interior design consultancy, and curated home goods shop, officially opened its doors in mid-May inside a historic brownstone at 484 Henry Street in Cobble Hill. The shop is the brainchild of Josh and Jaclyn (Jack) Manes, a husband-and-wife team who have channeled their professional expertise and personal aesthetic into a single, cohesive space that feels as much like a home as it does a business.
"We're a mom and pop business," said Josh Manes, and the description fits on more than one level. Josh is a licensed architect, Jack is an accomplished interior designer, and together they are parents to a 6-year-old daughter. Their story is one of two creative professionals merging their individual disciplines into something that Cobble Hill — a neighborhood long celebrated for its independent spirit and architecturally rich streetscapes — seems to have been waiting for.
What Is Manes Studio?
Manes Studio is not easy to categorize, and that's entirely intentional. At its core, it operates as a full-service design studio offering architectural services and interior design consultations. But layered into that professional offering is a carefully selected collection of home goods, furnishings, and decorative objects that reflect the couple's shared design sensibility.
The studio functions as a working design office where clients can come for consultations, review plans, and discuss renovation or new-build projects. At the same time, visitors who simply want to browse can explore a thoughtfully assembled selection of items for the home — the kind of objects that feel personal rather than mass-produced, chosen with an eye for quality, craft, and character.
This dual nature is not accidental. It reflects how Josh and Jack actually think about design: not as a set of isolated decisions, but as a holistic practice that connects architecture, interiors, and the everyday objects that fill a space with meaning. Walking into Manes Studio, you get the sense that every item on display has been considered in relation to the others, and to the space itself.
The Brownstone Setting: Architecture as Context
The choice to open in a Cobble Hill brownstone is fitting for a studio whose founders have deep roots in Brooklyn and a genuine appreciation for its architectural heritage. The brownstones of Cobble Hill are some of the most beloved in the borough — built primarily in the mid-to-late 19th century, they carry a warmth and solidity that newer construction rarely replicates. For a design studio focused on thoughtful, enduring work, there could hardly be a more appropriate setting.
484 Henry Street sits in the heart of one of Brooklyn's most walkable and community-oriented neighborhoods. Henry Street itself is lined with independent shops, restaurants, and residential buildings that together create the kind of intimate urban environment that Manes Studio embodies. It is a neighborhood where neighbors know each other, where local businesses become gathering points, and where design — in the broadest sense — is part of everyday life.
The People Behind the Studio
Josh Manes brings a background in architecture to the partnership, with experience that spans residential design, renovations, and new construction. His approach to architecture is grounded in a belief that buildings should serve and reflect the people who inhabit them — that great design is never about imposing a style, but about listening carefully and responding with intelligence and care.
Jaclyn Manes complements Josh's structural thinking with an interior designer's sensitivity to material, texture, light, and atmosphere. Interior design at its best transforms the bones of a space into something that feels lived-in and alive, and Jack's work consistently achieves that quality. Together, they cover the full spectrum from structure to surface, from blueprint to throw pillow.
What makes Manes Studio distinctive is not just the combination of skills, but the shared aesthetic that runs through everything they do. Their taste leans toward the considered and the crafted — natural materials, honest construction, objects with stories. It is a sensibility that resonates deeply with a certain kind of New Yorker: one who values beauty but distrusts pretension, who wants their home to feel personal rather than decorated.
Home Goods With a Point of View
The home goods selection at Manes Studio deserves special attention. In a city saturated with design shops, standing out requires more than just good taste — it requires a genuine point of view. Manes Studio's inventory reflects the couple's professional experience and personal history. These are not items sourced from a trade catalog; they are objects that Josh and Jack have encountered, admired, and chosen to share with their community.
- Handcrafted furniture and furnishing pieces that prioritize material quality and longevity over trend-driven aesthetics.
- Decorative objects that bring character and warmth to a room without overwhelming it.
- Textiles and soft goods selected for texture, color, and the way they interact with light.
- Functional items for the home that balance utility with beauty, reflecting the studio's broader design philosophy.
Each piece in the shop is something the Manes family could imagine in their own home — a standard that keeps the selection honest and personal.
A Studio Built for the Community
One of the most appealing aspects of Manes Studio is its accessibility. While the studio works on full architectural and interior design projects, it also welcomes clients with smaller scopes — a single room refresh, advice on a renovation decision, or simply the purchase of a beautiful object to bring home. This inclusivity is in keeping with the spirit of Cobble Hill itself, a neighborhood that values community over exclusivity.
For longtime Brooklyn residents and newcomers alike, Manes Studio represents a welcome addition to the local landscape. It is the kind of place that anchors a neighborhood — a space where design is not a luxury reserved for the few, but a conversation open to anyone who cares about the places they live.
Visiting Manes Studio
Manes Studio is located at 484 Henry Street in Cobble Hill, Brooklyn. Whether you are looking for professional design services, searching for a unique piece for your home, or simply curious about what thoughtful design looks like in practice, the studio is worth a visit. In a city that moves fast and trends fast, Manes Studio offers something slower, more considered, and entirely worth your time.