Cowboy Hats and Koi Fish Photos? There’s a Reason.

Andrew Torrey has turned the front door of his New York apartment into a teleportation device, whisking visitors off to another place and time whenever they drop by. That, at least, was his intention.

Mr. Torrey, an interior designer, was raised on a farm in rural Kansas, six miles from the closest neighbors. It’s a setting he sorely misses and aims to recreate in his carefully decorated Sutton Place rental.

“I want to be surrounded on all sides by things that I love,” Mr. Torrey said.

New York is nothing without its newcomers, and while the city embraces a multitude of traditions and cultures, many transplants — including a real-life cowboy like Mr. Torrey — still feel out of place.

To stay connected, some interior designers use their professional know-how to remind themselves of the places and people they grew up around. As a result, one can experience the Asian influences of Hawaii, the Western prairie, the artistry of Ukraine and European design without leaving the city.

A Prairie on Sutton Place